2024: Voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361 to increase chain migration with new green cards.
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361, the Border Act of 2024, introduced by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). This legislation would increase family-based and employment green cards by 50,000 annually for five fiscal years.  This is similar to the earlier border legislation introduced by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

2024: Voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815 to increase chain migration with new green cards.
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815, introduced by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash) and Chuch Schumer (D-NY). This legislation would increase family-based and employment green cards by 50,000 annually for five fiscal years.

None

2016: Cosponsored legislation to drastically increase immigration numbers Rep. Duckworth cosponsored H.R. 4798, the Reuniting Families Act. This legislation would recapture unused family-based and employment based visas from 1992-2015 to help clear out the backlog of more than 4 million foreign citizens and make massive increases to chain migration categories.

2024: Voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361 to greatly increase unnecessary workers.
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361, the Border Act of 2024, introduced by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). This legislation would provide a massive surge of cheap labor by handing out 50,000 additional green cards annually for five years, providing amnesty to around 250,000 dependents of H1B aliens who would otherwise age out, and granting instant automatic employment authorization to aliens seeking asylum. This is similar to the earlier border legislation introduced by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

2024: Voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815 to greatly increase unnecessary workers.
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815, introduced by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash) and Chuch Schumer (D-NY). This legislation would provide a massive surge of cheap labor by handing out 50,000 additional green cards annually for five years, providing amnesty to around 250,000 dependents of H1B aliens who would otherwise age out, and granting instant automatic employment authorization to aliens seeking asylum.

2022: Voted in favor of H.R. 2471 to increase in H-2B and EB-5 visas Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, introduced by Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-N.Y.). The legislation authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to double the number of H-2B low-skill, non-agricultural visas for FY2022. Further, the legislation reauthorizes the EB-5 investor visa program. The legislation was signed into law.

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2021: Sponsored S. 1024 to increase health care visas Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 1024, the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). The legislation would recapture 40,000 supposedly unused visas and provide them to health care workers.

2020: Voted in favor of H.R 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act on Senate floor Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, that would weaken interior enforcement and increase foreign worker visas. The bill reduced funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement by $431 million. Further, the bill authorized the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor to increase the number of H-2B visas issued during the 2021 fiscal year.

2019: Voted in favor of H.R. 1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, to increase H-2B visas Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of H.R. 1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, that provides funding for the federal government for FY2020. H.R. 1865 included a provision that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to nearly double the available H-2B visas for the remainder of FY 2020. Under the same provision, DHS added an additional 30,000 H-2Bs in FY 2019.

2019: Voted in favor of the omnibus spending bill, H.J. Res. 31, to increase H-2B visas Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of H.J.Res. 31, the omnibus spending bill. The bill allows for the Secretary of Homeland Security to increase the number of H-2B guest worker visas issued in FY2019.

2018: Voted in favor of the Omnibus Spending Bill to increase H-2B visas Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of the substitute amendment to H.R. 1625, the omnibus spending bill of 2018. The massive spending bill included a provision that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to double the number of H-2B visas in FY2018.

2017: Voted in favor of increasing foreign worker visas Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of H.R. 244, the 2017 omnibus spending bill. A provision of the bill allows DHS to raise the H-2B cap by 70,000 in 2017 by excluding returning H-2B workers. The spending bill, and the H-2B provision, covers half of 2017.

2016: Cosponsored legislation to drastically increase foreign worker numbers Rep. Duckworth cosponsored H.R. 4798, the Reuniting Families Act. This legislation would would recapture unused family-based and employment based visas from 1992-2015 to help clear out the backlog of more than 4 million foreign citizens. The bill would also make massive increases to chain migration categories and codify Pres. Obamas DAPA amnesty.

2015: Voted for the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase foreign guest workers Rep. Duckworth voted in favor of H.R. 2029, the Omnibus Spending bill for 2016. This legislation would increase the number of H-2B low-skilled, non-agricultural guest worker visas issued in 2016 from 66,000 to 264,000. The legislation would exempt foreign workers who had received an H-2B visa in any of the past three years from the 2016 cap.

2015: Voted against granting the President authority to expand immigration levels without Congress consent via Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)‚ Rep. Duckworth voted in favor against final passage of Trade Promotion Authority bill, H.R. 2146‚ (NOTE: in order to pass TPA the House of Representatives split the original bill Senate-passed bill H.R. 1314 into two bills, one dealing with Trade Promotion Authority and one dealing with the TransPacific Partnership. As a result, when the legislation came back to the Senate for a final vote, the Senate had to attach the TPA language to another House-originated bill, H.R. 2146 and vote to pass that legislation). This legislation sets up fast-track procedures for the passage of trade deals negotiated by the president. Although Ambassador Froman, the U.S. Trade Representative, repeatedly assured Members of Congress that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will not include immigration provisions that require the United States to change its laws, the Living Agreement provision of TPP means by its very terms that President Obama, or his successor, can change the provisions of the agreement however he chooses with no input whatsoever from Congress and regardless of what TPA instructs‚ H.R. 2146 passed the House by a vote of 218-208.

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2024: Voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361 to reduce asylum fraud.
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361, the Border Act of 2024, introduced by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). This legislation would grant employment authorization instantly to asylum seekers, provide adjustment of status for Afghan nationals illegally paroled into the country, and create a new SIV program for Afghans. This is similar to the earlier border legislation introduced by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

2024: Voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815 to reduce asylum fraud.
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815, introduced by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash) and Chuch Schumer (D-NY). This legislation would grant employment authorization instantly to asylum seekers, provide adjustment of status for Afghan nationals illegally paroled into the country, and create a new SIV program for Afghans.

2023: Voted against S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to reduce Asylum Fraud
Sen. Duckworth voted against S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would significantly reduce asylum fraud by strengthening the credible fear standard to ensure that only those who are more than likely to be awarded asylum by an immigration judge are allowed to continue with the asylum process. Further, it would prohibit individuals who cross the border illegally from claiming asylum and prevent asylum seekers from receiving a work permit for one year after entry.

2021: Sponsored S. 2032 to increase Afghan SIV admissions Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 2032, the Afghan Allies Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). The legislation would expand the Afghan, including and increase to the cap from 26,500 to 46,500 and extending the program until 2024.

2019: Cosponsored S. 2113, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, to weaken enforcement and encourage border surges Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 2113, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The bill would severely limit the separation of families, lock in the Flores Settlement Agreement limiting the amount of time minors can be detained, remove the federal prohibition on taxpayer-funded council for illegal aliens, and increases the number of immigration judges.

2019: Cosponsored S. 292, the Keep Families Together Act, introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 292, the Keep Families Together Act of 2019. This legislation would effectively bar the removal of a child from a parent within 100 miles of the border, creating a large incentive for more illegal aliens to attempt to come to the United States and take advantage of children to do so.

2019: Cosponsored S. 557, the REUNITE Act, introduces by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 557, the REUNITE Act of 2019. This legislation would require the reunification of separated families, require expanded ATD, create local offices of reunification, and allocate $50,000,000 for these purposes. The legislation would encourage more family units to cross the U.S. border illegally.

2017: Cosponsored legislation nullifying Pres. Trumps Refugee Resettlement executive order (Feinstein) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 608. This legislation would nullify Pres. Trumps Jan. 27, 2017 executive order that reduced the refugee cap from 85,000 to 50,000 for FY17. The bills main sponsor is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to nullify President Trumps refugee executive order (Feinstein) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 240. This legislation would nullify Executive Order 13769, thereby increasing the refugee cap by 35,000. The legislations main sponsor is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to nullify President Trumps refugee executive order (Feinstein) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 274. This legislation would nullify Executive Order 13769, thereby increasing the refugee cap by 35,000. The legislations main sponsor is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.).

2015: Voted for the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase refugee resettlement Rep. Duckworth voted in favor of H.R. 2029, the Omnibus Spending bill for 2016. This legislation would fully fund the refugee resettlement program and include increases in funding to accommodate Pres. Obamas proposal to resettle an additional 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States in 2016.

2025: (Jan. 20) Sen. Duckworth voted against the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to prevent a type of amnesty through abuse of parole.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by giving parole (a form of amnesty) to classes of inadmissible aliens instead of on a case by case basis. (The bill passed the Senate 64-35 and passed the House 263-156.)

2025: (Jan. 17) Sen. Duckworth voted against cloture to allow the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to move to a final vote.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by giving parole (a form of amnesty) to classes of inadmissible aliens instead of on a case by case basis. (The 61-35 vote allowed the Senate to proceed to the final floor vote.)

2025: (Jan. 15) Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of the Coons amendment (S.Amdt. 23) to the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to remove states' ability to sue the federal government for granting a type of mass amnesty through abuse of parole.
This amendment (by Chris Coons, D-DE) to the Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) would have stripped out the provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by giving parole (a form of amnesty) to classes of inadmissible aliens instead of on a case by case basis. (The amendment failed 46-49.)

2025 (Jan. 09): Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of the first cloture on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5), to proceed to debate and amendments.
The Laken Riley Act (by Sen. Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by granting mass parole (a form of amnesty) instead of on a case by case basis. Sixty votes were necessary to overcome a filibuster. (The cloture vote passed 84-9, allowing the Senate to proceed with amending the legislation.)

2024: Voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361 to grant amnesty to undocumented “Dreamers.”
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361, the Border Act of 2024, introduced by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). This legislation would provide lawful status for the dependents of H-1B aliens after they would otherwise age out of dependent status and allow them to apply for indefinite employment authorization. This is similar to the earlier border legislation introduced by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

2024: Voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815 to grant amnesty to undocumented “Dreamers.”
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815, introduced by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash) and Chuch Schumer (D-NY). This legislation would provide lawful status for the dependents of H-1B aliens after they would otherwise age out of dependent status and allow them to apply for indefinite employment authorization.

2023: Sponsored S. 1392 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens who worked during COVID
Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 1392, the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). The legislation would grant Legal Permanent Residence to illegal aliens who held essential jobs, which includes most jobs, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023: Voted against S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to prevent amnesties for illegal border crossers
Sen. Duckworth voted against S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would reduce amnesty by strictly limiting the situations under which an administration can grant parole to illegal aliens.

2019: Cosponsored S. 2113, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, to weaken enforcement and encourage border surges Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 2113, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The bill would severely limit the separation of families, lock in the Flores Settlement Agreement limiting the amount of time minors can be detained, remove the federal prohibition on taxpayer-funded council for illegal aliens, and increases the number of immigration judges.

2019: Cosponsored S. 879, the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency Act, introduced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 879, the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency Act. This legislation would give Legal Permanent Residency to all foreign citizens (mostly illegal aliens) who have received Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure, including those removed or deported pursuant to a voluntary departure order. Approximately 440,000 foreign citizens would receive LPR status under this bill.

2019: Cosponsored S. 456, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act, introduced by Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 456, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2019. This legislation would grant Legal Permanent Resident status, with no offsets, to refugees from Liberia (with limited inadmissibility), as long as they have been in the United States since Nov. 20, 2014. They would be allowed to work and would be protected during the time their application is pending.

2018: Voted in favor of the McCain-Coons amendment that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens Sen. Duckworth voted for an amendment offered by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The McCain-Coons amendment would grant amnesty to an estimated 3.2 million young-adult illegal aliens. The amendment failed 52-to-47 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2018: Voted in favor of the Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens Sen. Duckworth voted for the amendment offered by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Angus King (I-Maine) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment would have granted amnesty to an estimated 1.8 million young-adult illegal aliens and granted a defacto amnesty to another 850,000 illegal aliens by protecting them from deportations. The amendment failed 54-to-45 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2016: Cosponsored legislation to amnesty illegal aliens Rep. Duckworth cosponsored H.R. 4798, the Reuniting Families Act. This legislation would codify Pres. Obamas DAPA amnesty granting legal status and work permits to 5 million illegal aliens.

2016: Voted against King amendment to FY17 defense spending bill to block amnesty for DACA recipients Rep. Duckworth voted against Rep. Steve Kings amendment to the FY17 Defense Appropriations bill. The King amendment would have prohibited funds from being used by the Department of Defense to enlist DACA recipients into the military. A vote against was a vote in favor of enlisting illegal aliens into the military. The amendment failed 207-214.

2016: Voted against Gosar amendment to FY17 defense spending bill to block amnesty for DACA recipients Rep. Duckworth voted against Rep. Paul Gosars amendment to the FY17 Defense Appropriations bill. The Gosar amendment would have prohibited funds from being used by the Department of Defense to enlist DACA recipients into the military through the MAVNI program. A vote against was a vote in favor of enlisting illegal aliens into the military. The amendment failed 210-211.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to grant amnesty to illegal aliens (Coffman) Rep. Duckworth has cosponsored H.R. 3698, the Military Enlistment Opportunity Act of 2015. This legislation would grant amnesty to illegal aliens who enlist in the military. Its estimated that approximately 40,000 would receive amnesty under this legislation. The bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.).

2015: Voted against Brooks amendment to remove military amnesty from National Defense Authorization Act Rep. Duckworth voted against an amendment by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) to strip an amnesty provision from the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735). The provision stripped by the Brooks Amendment would have encouraged the Secretary of Defense to waive military enlistment requirements for illegal aliens who received amnesty through Pres. Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Brooks Amendment passed 221-to-202.

2015: Voted as part of the House Armed Services Committee in favor of an amendment to allow certain illegal aliens to serve in the military Rep. Duckworth voted as part of the House Armed Services Committee in favor of the Gallego Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735). The Gallego Amendment would have added a provision to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have encouraged the Secretary of Defense to waive military enlistment requirements for illegal aliens who received amnesty through Pres. Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Gallego Amendment passed by a vote of 33-30 but was ultimately removed from the National Defense Authorization Act by the Brooks Amendment.

2015: Voted in FAVOR OF funding Executive Amnesties by opposing clean DHS Appropriations bill, H.R. 240 Rep. Duckworth voted in favor of final passage of H.R. 240, the DHS funding bill passed by the Senate which did not include riders to stop President Obamas unconstitutional Executive Amnesties. Although the House had originally passed H.R. 240 with these riders, the Senate stripped them out, thus fully funding the Executive Amnesties through September 2015. When the House voted on the bill as returned from the Senate, Sen. Duckworth supported Executive Amnesty by voting in favor of final passage (and consequently for a temporary shut down of DHS). Funding the Presidents illegal amnesties not only made Congress complicit in the Presidents lawless behavior, it also undermined the lawsuit filed by 26 states to stop implementation of the amnesties. If Congress is unwilling to fight to protect its own legislative powers, why should the courts fight on Congresss behalf? The bill passed by a vote of 257-167.

2014: Voted against legislation to end DACA (Blackburn) Rep. Duckworth voted against H.R. 5272, legislation introduced by Rep. Marsha Blackurn to defund DACA. The bill represents a serious effort to address the true cause of the current border crisis: President Obamas contempt for immigration law. The bills language prevents the Obama Administration from expanding the existing illegal DACA amnesty program by using the primary power the Constitution reserves for the House of Representatives, the power of the purse. It prohibits the use of federal funds or resources for any further deferred action or work authorization for illegal aliens. The bill passed 216-192-1 (1 August 2014).

2013: Voted against King Amdt to DHS Appropriations bill to prevent amnesty by prosecutorial discretion Rep. Duckworth voted against the King amendment to the FY2014 DHS Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2217). This amendment would have prohibited the Department of Homeland Security from using funds appropriated by Congress to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos. The Morton Memos were a series of three memos issued in 2011 that authorized the use of prosecutorial discretion and/or deferred action to provide amnesty to certain illegal aliens, particularly those brought here as children by their illegal alien parents. The amendment, offered by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), passed by a 224-201 vote (6 June 2013).

2013: Cosponsoring an amnesty for illegal aliens who enlist in armed forces (Coffman) Rep. Duckworth is a cosponsor of H.R. 435, the Military Enlistment Act of 2013. This bill would allow aliens who have resided lawfully in the U.S. for two years or who have received employment authorization through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. These individuals will be adjusted to legal permanent resident (LPR) status upon enlistment. This status is rescinded if the alien is separated from the armed forces prior to an aggregated 5 years of service, unless the separation is under honorable conditions. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO).

Sen. Duckworth co-sponsored the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act (S. 1297) to provide taxpayer-funded attorneys to UACs.

The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 (by Mazie Hirono, D-HI) would mandate legal counsel for Unaccompanied Alien Children who are apprehended after crossing the border illegally.

2021: Voted against Amdt. 54 to S. Con. Res. 5 to block stimulus payments to illegal aliens Sen. Duckworth voted against Amendment #54, introduced by Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have blocked stimulus payments from going to illegal aliens. The amendment was approved 58-42.

2021: Sponsored S. 2081 to expand Pell Grants to illegal aliens Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 2081, the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2021, introduced by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). The legislation would extend federal Pell grants to illegal aliens who qualify under the Dream Act.

2014: Voted against the Gohmert amendment to prevent housing subsides for illegal aliens Rep. Duckworth voted against the Gohmert amendment to H.R. 4745, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, of 2015. The amendment would have reduced funding to HUD for an amount equal to what has been spent in the past on Section 8 housing for illegal aliens. The amendment failed 160-266.

Sen. Duckworth voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) to fund border security.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) provides $170 billion for immigration enforcement, including border wall construction and additional agents. (The resolution passed the Senate 51-50 and later passed the House 218-214).

Sen. Duckworth voted against the FY 2025 Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res. 14) to fund border security.

The Senate-amended FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) provides between $175 - 200 billion for immigration enforcement, including border wall construction and additional agents. (The resolution passed the Senate 51-48 and later passed the House 216-214).
 

Sen. Duckworth co-sponsored the NO BAN Act (S. 391) to strictly limit presidential authority to limit or halt immigration.

The NO BAN Act (by Chris Coons, D-DE) would strictly limit the president’s broad authority found under 8 USC 1182(f) to stop immigration. The authority was used to limit travel into the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic and limit travel by citizens of and visitors to terrorist-producing countries.
 

Sen. Duckworth voted against the FY 2025 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 7) to fund border security.

The FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Lindsey Graham, R-SC) is the first step towards passing the House proposal to provide $200 billion for immigration enforcement, including border wall construction and additional agents. (The resolution passed the Senate 52-48, setting up a conference with the House).
 

Sen. Duckworth co-sponsored the Access to Counsel Act (S. 391) to provide time for illegal border crossers to access legal counsel.

The Access to Counsel Act (by Alex Padilla, D-CA) would require a time period for aliens at ports of entry to access counsel, effectively slowing down crossing at ports of entry for everyone.
 

2024: Voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361 to allow 5,000 illegal entries per day.
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of invoking cloture on S. 4361, the Border Act of 2024, introduced by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). This legislation would codify chaos at the border by allowing up to 5,000 illegal entries per day before border closure is required. The requirements for border closure are time-limited, and much discretion is placed in the hands of the President and his staff to determine how and when to use the authority provided. This is similar to the earlier border legislation introduced by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

2024: Voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815 to allow 5,000 illegal entries per day.
Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of S.Amdt.1388 to H.R.815, introduced by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash) and Chuch Schumer (D-NY). This legislation would codify chaos at the border by allowing up to 5,000 illegal entries per day before border closure is required. The requirements for border closure are time-limited, and much discretion is placed in the hands of the President and his staff to determine how and when to use the authority provided.

2023: Voted against S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to strengthen border security
Sen. Duckworth against S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would require DHS to restart border wall construction that has been authorized for and paid for by Congress and strengthen the Secure Fence Act of 2006 by requiring physical barriers along 900 miles of border. The legislation also provides retention bonuses for Border Patrol agents and defunds efforts to resettle illegal border crossers across the country.

2023: Sponsored S. 342 to allow illegal border crossers to have access to council
Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 342, the Access to Counsel Act, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). The legislation would require a time period for aliens at port of entry to access counsel, effective slowing down crossing at ports of entry for everyone.

2022: Voted against S.J. Res. 46 to disapprove of asylum rule Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of S.J.Res. 46 introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.). The legislation would formally disapprove of the Biden Administration rule to allow asylum officers to grant asylum to illegal border crossers at the border.

2021: Voted against Amdt. 651 to S. Con. Res. 5 to end catch-and-release Sen. Duckworth voted against Amendment #651, introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have ended the practice of catch-and-release at the border. The amendment failed 50-50.

2021: Voted against Amdt. 542 to S. Con. Res. 5 to provide border fence funding Sen. Duckworth voted against Amendment #542, introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have provided funding for border fence construction. The amendment failed 50-50.

2021: Voted against Amdt. 687 to S. Con. Res. 5 to reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy Sen. Duckworth voted against Amendment #687, introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have reinstated the Migrant Protection Protocols, commonly known as the Remain in Mexico policy. The amendment failed 50-50.

2021: Voted against Amdt. 872 to S. Con. Res. 5 to fund border security and interior enforcement Sen. Duckworth voted against Amendment #872, introduced by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have provided funding for border security and interior enforcement. The amendment failed 50-50.

2021: Sponsored S. 1912 to slow down processing at ports of entry Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 1912, the Access to Counsel Act of 2021, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). The legislation would require a time period for anyone deemed to be inadmissible at a port of entry access to counsel. Doing so would significantly clog ports of entry.

2019: Cosponsored S. 2113, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, to weaken enforcement and encourage border surges Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 2113, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The bill would severely limit the separation of families, lock in the Flores Settlement Agreement limiting the amount of time minors can be detained, remove the federal prohibition on taxpayer-funded council for illegal aliens, and increases the number of immigration judges.

2018: Voted in favor of the Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment that would weaken border security Sen. Duckworth voted for the amendment offered by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Angus King (I-Maine) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment would have appropriated some funding for border security, but limited the ability of Customs and Border Patrols role in enforcement. The amendment failed 54-to-45 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2017: Cosponsored legislation nullifying Pres. Trumps border security EO (Carper) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 725. This legislation would nullify Pres. Trumps Jan. 25, 2017 executive order that improves border security and strengthens interior enforcement. The bills main sponsor is Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE).

Sen. Duckworth voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) to fund interior enforcement.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) provides between $170 billion for immigration enforcement, including the government's ability to detain and remove people who are not admissible to the United States. (The resolution passed the Senate 51-50 and later passed the House 218-214).

Sen. Duckworth voted against the FY 2025 Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res. 14) to fund interior enforcement.

The Senate-amended FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) provides between $175 - 200 billion for immigration enforcement, including the government's ability to detain and remove people who are not admissible to the United States. (The resolution passed the Senate 51-48 and later passed the House 216-214).

Sen. Duckworth co-sponsored the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (S. 455) to strictly limit where ICE can enforce the law.

The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (by Richard Blumenthal, D-CT) would prohibit ICE from detaining illegal aliens in certain locations.
 

Sen. Duckworth voted against the FY 2025 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 7) to fund interior enforcement.

The FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Lindsey Graham, R-SC) is the first step towards passing the House proposal to provide $200 billion for immigration enforcement, including the government's ability to detain and remove people who are not admissible to the United States. (The resolution passed the Senate 52-48, setting up a conference with the House).

2025: (Jan. 20) Sen. Duckworth voted against the Ernst amendment (S.Amdt. 8) to the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to expand the list of offenses that would require mandatory detention.
The amendment (by Joni Ernst, R-IA) to The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) added "assault of a law enforcement officer" and "any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person" to the list of offenses requiring mandatory detention. (The amendment passed 75-24 and was included in the final bill.)

2025: (Jan. 20) Sen. Duckworth voted against the Laken Riley Act (S.5) to strengthen detention requirements and give states the ability to sue the federal government for not enforcing immigration laws.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision to require the detention of aliens who have been convicted or arrested for various forms of theft, assault, and bodily harm; also included provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. The bill passed the Senate 64-35 and passed the House 263-156.

2025: (Jan. 17) Sen. Duckworth voted against cloture to allow the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to move to a final vote.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision to require the detention of aliens who have been convicted or arrested for various forms of theft (burglary, larceny & shoplifting); also included provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. (The 61-35 vote allowed the Senate to proceed to the final floor vote.)

2025: (Jan. 15) Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of the Coons amendment (S.Amdt.23) to the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to remove states' ability to sue the federal government for failing to enforce immigration laws.
This amendment (by Chris Coons, D-DE) to the Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) would have stripped out the provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. (The amendment failed 46-49.)

2025 (Jan. 09): Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of the first cloture on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to proceed to debate and amendments.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision to require the detention of aliens who have been convicted or arrested for various forms of theft (burglary, larceny & shoplifting); also included provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. (The cloture vote passed 84-9, allowing the Senate to proceed with amending the legislation.)

2023: Sponsored S. 1208 to weaken interior enforcement.
Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 1208, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2023, introduced by Sen. Cory Booker (R-N.J.). The legislation would require annual in-person inspections of detention facilities, require public disclosure of detention facilities, allow for civil claims for those injured while in detention, require taxpayer-funded transportation for aliens through their court proceedings, limits bond to not impose financial hardship on the alien, and a presumption for release. Additionally, the bill will phase out private detention facilities, require an immigration warrant for all detentions, and ban detention of aliens under 21, over 60, pregnant, LGBTQ, victims or witnesses of crimes, filed a nonfrivolous civil rights or workplace claim, has a serious mental or physical illness, or disability, has been determined to have credible fear, has limited English and isn't given access to language services quickly, or has experienced "gender-based violence."

2023: Sponsored S. 1392 to strictly limit interior enforcement
Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 1392, the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). The legislation would prevent removal of most illegal aliens by creating broad exemptions that would cover most aliens illegaly present in the United States.

2023: Voted against S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to mandate E-Verify and criminalize visa overstays
Sen. Duckworth voted against S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would require most employers to use E-Verify within two years to ensure that new hires are authorized to work in the United States. The legislation provides additional time for agricultural employers to comply. The bill would also make overstaying a visa a felony crime and allow Unaccompanied Alien Children from noncontiguous countries to be returned to their home countries.

2021: Sponsored S. 1186, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, to significantly weaken interior enforcement Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 1186, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, introduced by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). The legislation would make it extremely difficult for DHS to detain illegal aliens and provide those that are detained with a number of benefits. The legislation would also ban contracts with private detention facilities, repeal mandatory detention provisions, limit bond amounts, and ban the use of ankle monitors, among other things.

2022: Sponsored S. 4529 to limit family separation Sen. Duckworth sponsored S. 4529, the Childrens Safe Welcome Act, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The legislation would strictly limit family separation for aliens while in either DHS or HHS custody. The legislation would also ban family detention centers and reinforce the Flores Settlement Agreement that limits the amount of time that DHS can detain children.

2020: Voted in favor of H.R 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act on Senate floor Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, that would weaken interior enforcement and increase foreign worker visas. The bill reduced funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement by $431 million. Further, the bill authorized the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor to increase the number of H-2B visas issued during the 2021 fiscal year.

2019: Cosponsored S. 1591, the End Mass Deportation Act, to weaken interior enforcement Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 1591, the End Mass Deportation Act, introduced by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). The bill would nullify Pres. Trumps interior enforcement executive order issued in Jan. 2017 that established priorities for enforcement, encouraged support for 287(g) agreements, and called for penalties for sanctuary jurisdictions.

2019: Cosponsored S. 2113, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, to weaken enforcement and encourage border surges Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 2113, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The bill would severely limit the separation of families, lock in the Flores Settlement Agreement limiting the amount of time minors can be detained, remove the federal prohibition on taxpayer-funded council for illegal aliens, and increases the number of immigration judges.

2019: Cosponsored S. 2097 that would weaken interior enforcement Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 2097, the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.), that would prohibit ICE from detaining illegal aliens in certain locations.

2019: Voted in favor of H.R. 1158, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, to weaken interior enforcement Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of H.R. 1158, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, that provides funding for the federal government for FY2020. H.R. 1158 effectively prohibits ICE from cooperating with Health and Human Services to detain or remove illegal alien sponsors of unaccompanied alien children (UACs).

2019: Cosponsored S. 879, the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency Act, introduced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 879, the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency Act. This legislation would give Legal Permanent Residency to all foreign citizens (mostly illegal aliens) who have received Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure, including those removed or deported pursuant to a voluntary departure order. Approximately 440,000 foreign citizens would receive LPR status under this bill.

2019: Cosponsored S. 557, the REUNITE Act, introduces by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Cali.) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 557, the REUNITE Act of 2019. This legislation would require the reunification of separated families, allow for attorneys to help alien minors bring suit against the government, allow for the waiving of DNA tests to confirm familial connections. The legislation would encourage more family units to cross the U.S. border illegally.

2019: Voted in favor of the omnibus spending bill, H.J. Res. 31, to weaken interior enforcement Sen. Duckworth voted in favor of H.J.Res. 31, the omnibus spending bill. The bill reduces the funding for detention beds used by ICE to detain criminal aliens and recent illegal border crossers. It also provides protection from enforcement and removal for the illegal-alien sponsors and their families of unaccompanied alien children who cross the border illegally. Further, it prevents the hiring of any new ICE agents for Enforcement and Removal Operations.

2018: Voted against Sen. Toomeys amendment that would punish sanctuary cities Sen. Duckworth voted against an amendment offered by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The Toomey amendment would: 1) block certain Federal grants to sanctuary jurisdictions and reallocate those funds to jurisdictions that uphold Federal law, 2) protect local police from lawsuits for honoring ICE detainer requests, and 3) explicitly allow localities to protect from referral to ICE victims of or witnesses to a crime. The amendment failed 54-to-45 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2018: Voted in favor of the Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment that would weaken interior enforcement Sen. Duckworth voted for the amendment offered by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Angus King (I-Maine) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment would have reprioritized interior enforcement, protecting nearly every illegal alien, including illegal aliens not even in the country yet, for deportation. The amendment failed 54-to-45 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2017: Cosponsored legislation weakening interior enforcement (Blumenthal) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 845, the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. This legislation would prevent federal immigration agents from detaining illegal aliens in certain public places. The bills main sponsor is Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

2017: Cosponsored S. 415, introduced by Sen. Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), to void President Trumps sanctuary city executive order Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 415, legislation that would void President Trumps executive order that prevented sanctuary cities from receiving certain federal funds.

2017: Cosponsored legislation nullifying Pres. Trumps border security EO (Carper) Sen. Duckworth cosponsored S. 725. This legislation would nullify Pres. Trumps Jan. 25, 2017 executive order that improves border security and strengthens interior enforcement. The bills main sponsor is Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE).

2015: Weakens interior enforcement by expanding visa waiver program (Heck) Rep. Duckworth cosponsored Rep. Joe Hecks Jobs Originated through Launching Travel Act, H.R.1401, would allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the maximum refusal rate to allow a certain country to qualify for the visa waiver program. The visa waiver program allows citizens from qualifying countries to legally enter the United States without a visa.

2014: Voted against amendment to deprive sanctuary cities of funds Rep. Duckworth voted against the King amendment to H.R. 4460, the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill. This amendment would deprive sanctuary cities of funds due to them from enforcing federal immigration laws. Sanctuary cities are localities that do not notify federal authorities when illegal aliens are arrested, thereby acting as safe harbors for illegal aliens. The amendment passed 214-194.

2014: Voted Against Amendment to Investigate Release of Illegal Aliens Rep. Duckworth voted against the King amendment to H.R. 4660, the Commerce, Science, and Justice Appropriations Bill. This amendment would appropriate $5 for the Justice Department to investigate the release of 36,007 illegal aliens with criminal convictions by DHS. The amendment passed 218-193.