2021: Voted against H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. The legislation would grant work permits and legal status, called parole, to an estimated 7.9 million illegal aliens. Further, the bill would add an additional 1 million green cards above annual numerical limits.

2018: Voted in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), to end chain migration Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. H.R. 4760 would have ended chain migration and the visa lottery, reducing legal immigration by approximately 300,000 per year. The legislation would have also strengthened border security, closed loopholes that lead to asylum fraud, mandated E-Verify, and ended sanctuary cities. The legislation also would have granted amnesty to approximately 700,000 DACA recipients.

2021: Voted against H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. The legislation would grant work permits and legal status, called parole, to an estimated 7.9 million illegal aliens. Further, the bill would add an additional 1 million green cards above annual numerical limits.

2012: Voted in favor of legislation to end the visa lottery in (Smith) Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act of 2012. This bill cancels the visa lottery program and transfers the visas to STEM categories. The visa lottery prgram grants 55,000 visa annually on a random basis to new immigrants. The bills sponsor is Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.). The legislation passed 245-139. (30 Nov. 2012, 11:39 AM).

2012: Voted in favor of legislation to end the visa lottery (Smith) Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act of 2012. This bill cancels the visa lottery program, and transfers the 55,000 yearly visas that would have been granted through the visa lottery into two new priority categories (doctorate and masters degree) under 203(b). For the first two fiscal years of the program, unused visas for which petitions or applications for labor certification have been filed will be added to the total visas for the next fiscal year. Following the first two years, remaining unused visas do not transfer to the next fiscal year. Further, student visas are reformed by adding a new STEM-based F-Visa subsection. This allows for new F-Visa applicants who are pursuing a degree in a STEM category to apply without the previously necessary intent to retain their residence in their home country. The bill received a vote of 257-158, but failed to pass the House because a 2/3rds vote was required for passage. The legislations main sponsor is Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas).

2009-2010: Cosponsored a bill that eliminates the visa lottery (Goodlatte).
The visa lottery gives out 50,000 green cards each year, and it does not take into account humanitarian need, family connections, or potential contribution to the United States. Rep. ZZlastname cosponsored H.R. 2305, which would eliminate this arbitrary system. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to eliminate the visa lottery (Goodlatte).
The visa lottery gives out 50,000 green cards each year, and it does not take into account humanitarian need, family connections, or potential contribution to the United States. Rep. ZZlastname cosponsored H.R. 1430, which would eliminate this arbitrary system. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2021: Voted Against H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to increase guest workers Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would expand the unlimited agricultural guest worker program to include jobs in dairy, meat processing, fish canneries, and more.

2022: Voted against H.R. 2471 to block increases in H-2B and EB-5 visas Rep. Smith voted against 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.

2021: Voted against H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. The legislation would grant work permits and legal status, called parole, to an estimated 7.9 million illegal aliens. Further, the bill would add an additional 1 million green cards above annual numerical limits.

2020: Voted against H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to prevent unnecessary foreign workers Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, introduced by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.). The legislation would automatically renew all nonimmigrant work permits that would have expired during the Covid-19 national emergency for a length of time equal to original visa. Further, it would also fast-track the admission of foreign health care workers and increase the number of green cards issued each year for the next 3 years by 4,000 for the importation of foreign doctors and nurses.

2019: Voted against H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to expand low-skilled legal immigration Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would have granted amnesty to approximately 1.5 million illegal farm workers and their families, while waiving many inadmissibility restrictions. It also would have expanded the H-2A guest worker program by setting aside 20,000 visas for year-round work traditionally held by American workers. Further, it would have created 40,000 new green cards for longtime H-2A workers and other low-skilled foreign workers.

2019: Voted in favor of H.R. 1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, to increase H-2B visas Rep. Smith 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 against the omnibus spending bill, H.J. Res. 31, to increase H-2B visas Sen. Smith voted against 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 Rep. Smith 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 Rep.Smith 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.

2015: Voted against the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase foreign guest workers Rep. Smith voted against 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 to grant the President authority to expand immigration levels without Congress consent via Trade Promotion Authority     Rep. Smith voted in favor of 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.

2015: Voted as part of House Ways and Means Committee in favor of Trade Promotion Authority to potentially expand immigration and harm American workers Rep. Smith voted as part of the House Ways and Means Committee in favor of H.R. 1890, the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill. H.R. 1890 would allow the President in trade treaties to commit America to giving guaranteed numbers of U.S. jobs to foreign workers without Congress approval. It would potentially tie the hands of Members of Congress to keep them from changing immigration numbers to best serve American workers. The Obama Administration (or subsequent Administrations) could use the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement to commit America to immigration increases that Congress has neither debated nor approved, thus further reducing the jobs available to U.S. workers and instead reserving certain jobs for foreign workers under the agreement. H.R. 1890 passed the House Ways and Means Committee by a vote of 25-13.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to protect U.S. agricultural workers from job displacement caused by temporary workers (Goodlatte).
Rep. Smith is a cosponsor of H.R. 1792 to make reforms to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program that would help protect U.S. agricultural workers from job displacement and wage depression currently caused by the H-2A temporary agricultural guestworker program. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2023: Voted in favor of H.R. 2 to reduce Asylum Fraud
Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). 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 H.R. 1901 to close asylum loopholes Rep. Smith sponsored H.R. 1901, the Stopping Border Surges Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). The bill would close asylum loopholes, including 1) to allow UACs from noncontiguous countries to be returned to their home country, 2) fix the Flores Settlement Agreement, 3) strengthens the credible fear standard, 4) eliminates the safe third-country requirements for returning asylum-seekers, 5) limits asylum claims to ports of entry only, along with other asylum fixes.

2021: Voted in favor of H.R. 3985 to increase refugee resettlement Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 3985, the Allies Act, introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.). The legislation would reduce the threshold to participate in the Afghan SIV program, significantly increase the eligible pool beyond those who participated in sensitive and trusted activities, and increase the principle alien cap by 8,000.

2018: Voted in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), to close asylum loopholes Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. H.R. 4760 would have ended chain migration and the visa lottery, reducing legal immigration by approximately 300,000 per year. The legislation would have also strengthened border security, closed loopholes that lead to asylum fraud, mandated E-Verify, and ended sanctuary cities. The legislation also would have granted amnesty to approximately 700,000 DACA recipients.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to reduce refugee resettlement (McCaul) Rep. Smith has cosponsored H.R. 3573, the Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act of 2015, that would require Congress to pass a joint resolution each year approving the number of refugees resettled in the United States each year. This would likely reduce the resettlement of refugees into the United States by requiring greater Congressional oversight. The bill was introduced by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas).

2015: Voted against the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase refugee resettlement Rep. Smith voted against 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.

2007: Voted for an amendment to reduce the time period of a countrys temporary protected status. Rep. Smith voted in favor of the Forbes amendment to HR 2638, which would prohibit funds pursuant to this bill from being used to extend the temporary protected status designation of a country. This amendment failed 123-298.

2024: Voted for H.R. 7511 to reduce parole abuse
Rep. Smith voted for H.R. 7511, the “Laken Riley Act,” introduced by Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.). The legislation would reduce parole abuse by giving states standing to file suit against the federal government for its refusal to enforce immigration laws.

2023: Voted in favor of H.R. 2 to prevent amnesties for illegal border crossers
Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). The legislation would reduce amnesty by strictly limiting the situations under which an administration can grant parole to illegal aliens.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 1901 to reduce amnesty enticements by closing asylum loopholes Rep. Smith sponsored H.R. 1901, the Stopping Border Surges Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). The bill would close asylum loopholes, including 1) to allow UACs from noncontiguous countries to be returned to their home country, 2) fix the Flores Settlement Agreement, 3) strengthens the credible fear standard, 4) eliminates the safe third-country requirements for returning asylum-seekers, 5) limits asylum claims to ports of entry only, along with other asylum fixes.

2021: Voted Against H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would grant amnesty to more than 1 million illegal farm workers, allowing them to apply for permanent status upon working a certain number of hours in agriculture in future years.

2021: Voted Against H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.). The legislation would grant amnesty to approximately 2.9 million illegal aliens who claim to have entered the country under the age of 19 and to another 320,000 illegal aliens who have been granted Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforced Departure. The bill contains no immigration offsets or enforcement provisions to deter future illegal immigration.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 4331, the Americas CHILDREN Act, to give green cards to children of guest workers Rep. Smith sponsored H.R. 4331, the Americas CHILDREN Act, introduced by Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.). The legislation would award green cards to an estimated 190,000 individuals who entered the country as a child of certain guest workers, but has since aged out. In order to be eligible, the individual must have been in the United States legally for at least 10 years and have a college degree.

2021: Voted against H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. The legislation would grant work permits and legal status, called parole, to an estimated 7.9 million illegal aliens. Further, the bill would add an additional 1 million green cards above annual numerical limits.

2020: Voted against H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to prevent a temporary amnesty for illegal workers Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, introduced by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.). The legislation would have granted deferred action and work authorization to approximately 2 million illegal aliens currently working in occupations that are considered to be critical infrastructure work.

2019: Voted against H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to grant amnesty to illegal farm workers Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would have granted amnesty to approximately 1.5 million illegal farm workers and their families, while waiving many inadmissibility restrictions. It also would have expanded the H-2A guest worker program by setting aside 20,000 visas for year-round work traditionally held by American workers. Further, it would have created 40,000 new green cards for longtime H-2A workers and other low-skilled foreign workers.

2019: Voted against H.R. 6 mass amnesty on House floor Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 6 on the House floor that would have granted amnesty to approximately 4 million illegal aliens. The legislation included the Dream Act, which would have allowed 3.2 million illegal aliens who claim to have entered the country before their 18th birthday and meet certain other requirements to receive amnesty. The legislation also included an amnesty for at least 430,000 foreign citizens (mostly illegal aliens) from countries that have been given Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The bill passed the House by a vote on 237-to-187.

2016: Voted in favor of the Gosar amendment to FY17 defense spending bill to block amnesty for DACA recipients Rep. Smith voted for 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. The amendment failed 210-211.

2016: Voted for King amendment to FY17 defense spending bill to block amnesty for DACA recipients Rep. Smith voted in favor of 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. The amendment failed 207-214.

2015: Voted in favor of Brooks amendment to remove military amnesty from National Defense Authorization Act Rep. Smith voted in favor of 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 AGAINST funding Executive Amnesties by opposing clean DHS Appropriations bill, H.R. 240 Rep. Smith voted against 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. Smith firmly opposed Executive Amnesty by voting against 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.

2015: Voted in favor of Aderholt Amendment to H.R. 240 to defund Pres. Obamas Nov. 2014 amnesty Rep. Smith voted in favor of the Aderholt Amendment to H.R. 240, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015. The Aderholt Amendment would defund implementation of all Obama and DHS November 2014 memoranda; defund 4 of the 5 Morton Memos that deal with prosecutorial discretion and detail who ICE agents can and cant deport; and prohibit federal benefits from being given to any illegal alien covered by the November memoranda. The Aderholt Amendment passed by a vote of 237-190.

2015: Voted in favor of Blackburn Amendment to H.R. 240 to defund Pres. Obamas DACA amnesty Rep. Smith voted in favor of the Blackburn Amendment to H.R. 240, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015. The Blackburn Amendment would defund the processing of applications and renewals of President Obamas 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, thus making it impossible for DACA recipients to continue to receive legal status. The Blackburn Amendment passed by a vote of 218-209.

2014: Voted to lock in President Obamas executive Amnesty Rep. Smith cast a crucial YES vote in helping Pres. Obama and Speaker Boehner pass the CRomnibus that appears to fully fund the Obama amnesty through the Social Security Administration, Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies through next September, while funding the Department of Homeland Security part of the amnesty for the next couple of months. Most Democrats voted to kill the spending bill (mainly over other issues in the legislation). The net effect, though, was that Pres. Obama got his amnesty affirmed and funded mainly by a Republican Party that made opposition to amnesty one of the three main planks in their campaigns to take over Congress this fall.

2014: Voted in favor of legislation to end DACA (Blackburn) Rep. Smith voted in favor of 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 in favor of King Amdt to DHS Appropriations bill to prevent amnesty by prosecutorial discretion Rep. Smith voted in favor of 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).

2012: Voted in favor of amendment to prevent amnesty by prosecutorial discretion (King) Rep. Smith voted in favor of the King amendment to the FY2013 DHS Appropriations Bill. This amendment would prohibit 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 illegal aliens. The amendment

2010: Voted against the DREAM Act amnesty.
The DREAM Act would have granted amnesty to illegal aliens under the age of 30 who have been in the United States for five consecutive years and came illegally to the United States before the age of 16. Such a reward for illegal immigration serves as an incentive for more illegal immigration.

2011: Cosponsoring a bill that ends birthright citizenship (King).
Rep. Smith is cosponsoring H.R. 140, which eliminates birthright citizenship, the process that automatically grants citizenship to the estimated 350,000 U.S.-born children of illegal aliens each year. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2009-2010: Cosponsored a bill to end birthright citizenship (Deal).
Rep. Smith is a cosponsor of H.R. 1868 to eliminate birthright citizenship, the process that automatically grants citizenship to the estimated 350,000 U.S.-born children of illegal aliens each year. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to end birthright citizenship (Deal).
Rep. Smith is a cosponsor of H.R. 1940 to eliminate birthright citizenship, the process that automatically grants citizenship to the estimated 250,000 U.S.-born children of illegal aliens each year. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2023: Voted for H.J.Res. 24 to disapprove of illegal-alien voting in the District of Columbia
Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.J. Res. 24, introduced by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.). The joint resolution would officially disapprove the the District of Columbia's Council amendment that allows illegal aliens to vote in local elections. The resolution passed the House 260-162.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 5854 to block payments to illegal aliens Rep. Smith sponsored H.R. 5854, the Illegal Immigrant Payoff Prohibition Act, introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.). The legislation would block payments to illegal aliens who file a civil action lawsuit.

2021: Voted against H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. The legislation would grant work permits and legal status, called parole, to an estimated 7.9 million illegal aliens. Further, the bill would add an additional 1 million green cards above annual numerical limits.

2020: Voted against H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to prevent stimulus checks for illegal aliens Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, introduced by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.). The legislation would have allowed illegal aliens to receive economic stimulus checks and required most illegal aliens in detention to be released unless their detention was required by law.

2020: Voted in favor of Motion to Recommit H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to block stimulus checks for illegal aliens Rep. Smith voted in favor of a motion to recommit H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act. The motion would remove a provision in the legislation that would allow illegal aliens to retroactively receive the $1,200 stimulus checks that were issued to citizens and legal permanent residents in the CARES Act during the Covid-19 national emergency.

2018: Voted in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), to end sanctuary cities Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. H.R. 4760 would have ended chain migration and the visa lottery, reducing legal immigration by approximately 300,000 per year. The legislation would have also strengthened border security, closed loopholes that lead to asylum fraud, mandated E-Verify, and ended sanctuary cities. The legislation also would have granted amnesty to approximately 700,000 DACA recipients.

2017: Voted in favor of legislation to withhold funds from sanctuary cities Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 3003, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act. This legislation expands the definition of sanctuary cities and withholds DOJ and DHS grants from them, clarifies the authority of ICE detainers and grants State and local law enforcement immunity for complying with detainer requests, and expands the authority of the Secretary of DHS to detain certain criminal aliens. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

2017: Voted in favor of legislation to prevent illegal aliens receiving health insurance subsidies Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 2581, the Verify First Act. This legislation would require the Social Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security to verify that every applicant for a healthcare exchange credit is a citizen or eligible alien before the Treasury Department could issue the tax credit. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.).

2014: Voted in favor of the Gohmert amendment to prevent housing subsides for illegal aliens Rep. Smith voted in favor of 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.

2011: Cosponsoring a bill that prevents illegal aliens receiving Social Security payments (Rohrabacher).
Rep. Smith is a cosponsor of the No Social Security for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2011 (H.R. 787), which amends the Social Security Act to exclude from creditable wages and self-employment income wages earned for services by aliens illegally performed in the United States and self-employment income derived from a trade or business illegally conducted in the United States. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.).

2009: Voted to allow consideration of verification amendments to the health care reform bill Rep. Smith voted against the rule to H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Despite high publicity about the big loopholes in the bill allowing illegal aliens to participate in many parts of the new federal health care plan, the Rules Committee brought a rule to the House floor that blocked a vote on any amendment giving the Members a chance to close the loopholes. NumbersUSA notified the Members of Congress that a vote FOR the closed rule would be graded as a vote to provide rewards and incentives for illegal immigration. In particular

2008: Voted for an amendment to prevent illegal aliens from receiving federal housing funds.
Rep. Smith voted in favor of an amendment to H.R. 5818, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008. This amendment would prevent illegal aliens from receiving Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds pursuant to this act. The amendment passed by a vote of 391-33.

2008: Voted for an amendment to restrict funding to businesses that hire illegal aliens.
Rep. Smith voted in favor of an amendment to HR 5819 that would prohibit SBIR or STTR awards from going to a small business concern if an unlawful alien has an ownership interest in that concern or in a concern that has interest in the small business. The amendment also prohibits SBIR and STTR awards from going to businesses that have repeatedly hired, recruited, or referred unlawful aliens. The amendment passed by a vote of 406-0, with 3 present.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to prohibit Social Security funds from being used to administer benefits accrued from work performed in Mexico.
Rep. Smith voted for the Gingrey amendment to HR 3043, an amendment to prohibit the use of funds by the SSA to administer Social Security benefit payments, under any agreement between the United States and Mexico establishing totalization arrangements between the two countries. The amendment passed 254-168.

2007-2008: Voted to prevent illegal aliens from voting in union elections.
Rep. Smith voted in favor of a Motion to Recommit H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act of 2007. The Motion to Recommit would have recommitted H.R. 800 to the Committee on Education and Labor with instructions to report the bill back to the House with an amendment that would require that all employees allowed to vote in union elections be citizens or legal residents of the United States. Although some Representatives voted against the Motion to Recommit because it would have delayed final passage of the bill, a vote in favor of the Motion to Recommit was clearly a vote in favor of interior enforcement and against allowing illegal aliens to vote in union elections. The Motion to Recommit failed by a vote of 202-225.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to prevent illegal aliens from receiving Social Security payments for illegal work (Rohrabacher).
Rep. Smith cosponsored H.R. 736, the No Social Security for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2007. This bill would have prohibited an illegal aliens work from counting toward qualifying for Social Security; and would have stipulated that this prohibition is not applicable retroactively, so that all benefits already granted would not have been affected. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) was the measures main sponsor.

2023: Voted in favor of H.R. 2 to strengthen border security
Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). 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.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 2729 to strengthen border security Rep. Smith sponsored H.R. 2729, the Finish the Wall Act, introduced by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.). The legislation would require the immediate resumption of border wall construction and require DNA fingerprint data collection at all CBP facilities that process adults.

2022: Sponsored H.J.Res. 82 to disapprove of lax asylum rule Rep. Smith sponsored H.J.Res. 82 introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). The Joint Resolution would provide Congressional disapproval to the Biden Administrations proposed rule to have USCIS asylum officers make final asylum determinations at the border instead of an immigration judge. Should it go into effect, the likely result would be a significant increase in approved fraudulent asylum cases.

2020: Voted against H.R. 5581, the Access to Counsel Act, to preserve border security Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 5581, the Access to Counsel Act, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). The legislation would require adequate time to access counsel for all aliens referred for secondary inspection at ports of entry. In doing so, it would slow down processing at ports of entry and redirect resources that could otherwise be used for border security.

2018: Voted in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), to strengthen border security Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. H.R. 4760 would have ended chain migration and the visa lottery, reducing legal immigration by approximately 300,000 per year. The legislation would have also strengthened border security, closed loopholes that lead to asylum fraud, mandated E-Verify, and ended sanctuary cities. The legislation also would have granted amnesty to approximately 700,000 DACA recipients.

2012: Voted against an amendment to hamstring border enforcement in 2012 (Grijalva) Rep. Smith voted against the Grijalva amendment to H.R. 2578, legislation to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This amendment would have stripped provisions that allow the Border Patrol to bypass regulations put in place by the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture on federal lands within 100 miles of the border. The amendments sponsor is Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and it failed 177-247 (19 June 2012).

2012: Opposed an amendment to place cell towers on the border (Poe) Rep. Smith opposed the Poe Amendment to the FY2013 DHS Appropriations Bill. This amendment would allocate funding for the building of cell phone towers along stretches of the U.S. - Mexico border so that Border Patrol agents and others in trouble can call law enforcement for assistance. The amendment passed by a vote of 302-113 (6 June 2012).

2011: Opposed an amendment to build cell phone towers along the U.S. - Mexico border (Poe) Rep. Smith opposed the Poe Amendment to the FY 2012 DHS Appropriations Bill. This amendment would allocate funding for the building of cell phone towers along stretches of the U.S. - Mexico border so that Border Patrol agents and others in trouble can call law enforcement for assistance. The amendment passed by a vote of 327-93 (1 June 2011).

2009-2010: Supported an amendment to deter illegal immigration and drug smuggling by removing lookout posts for smugglers.
Rep. Smith supported the King amendment (250) to H.R. 2892, the 2010 DHS appropriations bill. This amendment requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove the lookout posts constructed by drug smugglers, thereby making it more difficult for drug smugglers and reducing illegal immigration associated with illegal drug activity. This amendment passed 240-187-1.

2008: Signed Discharge Petition to move H.R. 4088, a bill to mandate the use of the E-Verify employment verification system, to the House floor.
Rep. Smith signed the Discharge Petition on H.R. 4088, the SAVE Act, to require use of the electronic employment eligibility verification system, E-Verify. If the petition collects 218 signatures, a simple majority, the bill can bypass the committee process and be placed on the House floor for a vote.

2007-2008: Cosponsoring the SAVE Act to strengthen border control by increasing the number of Border Patrol agents (Shuler).
Rep. Smith is cosponsoring H.R. 4088, the Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act of 2007. The SAVE Act would increase border security by: increasing the number of border patrol agents; providing more funding for the Tunnel Task Force; providing for new and updated border security, surveillance, communication, and apprehension technology; improving border security infrastructure; and empowering governors in border states to declare a border emergency and request temporary redeployment of up to 1,000 additional Border Patrol Agents. Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Voted in favor of an amendment to increasing funding for the construction of a border fence.
Rep. Smith voted in favor of the Brown-Waite amendment to HR 2638. This amendment re-directs $89 million set to be appropriated to the Undersecretary for Managements account to the Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology Account, with a view towards constructing at least 700 miles of fencing along the southern border. The amendment was adopted 241-179.

2024: Voted for H.R. 7511 to increase interior enforcement
Rep. Smith voted for H.R. 7511, the “Laken Riley Act,” introduced by Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.). The legislation would increase immigration enforcement by requiring the detention of illegal aliens who have committed burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. It also gives States tools to fight back against administrations unwilling to faithfully execute the law as written by Congress. It empowers States directly by giving them standing to sue in Federal court, along with expedited consideration, for catch and release, mass parole, not complying with mandatory detention of aliens ordered removed, and for failing to discontinue visas to recalcitrant nations. .

2023: Voted in favor or H.R. 2494 to strengthen interior enforcement
Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 2494, the POLICE Act, introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.). The legislation would make attacking a law enforcement officer a deportable offense.

2023: Voted in favor of H.R. 2 to mandate E-Verify and criminalize visa overstays
Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). 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: Voted Against H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to weaken interior enforcement Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would halt enforcement efforts against any illegal alien who could qualify for the amnesties regardless if the alien has applied or not.

2021: Voted Against H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act to weaken interior enforcement Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.). The legislation would halt enforcement for any illegal alien who could be eligible for the amnesty, regardless of whether the alien has applied or meets the qualifications. Further, it would block ICE access to amnesty applications that are denied.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 355, the Illegal Aliens NICS Alert Act, to prevent illegal aliens from purchasing firearms Rep. Smith sponsored H.R. 355, introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.). The legislation would require that ICE is notified of attempts by illegal aliens to purchase a firearm.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 2988 to end sanctuary cities Rep. Smith cosponsored H.R. 2988, the Protecting American Lives Act, introduced by Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas), that would restrict federal funding to sanctuary cities. Further, the bill would provide immunity for officers who cooperate with federal immigration officers and boost penalties for illegal re-entry.

2019: Voted against H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to weaken interior enforcement Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would have granted amnesty to approximately 1.5 million illegal farm workers and their families, while waiving many inadmissibility restrictions. It also would have expanded the H-2A guest worker program by setting aside 20,000 visas for year-round work traditionally held by American workers. Further, it would have created 40,000 new green cards for longtime H-2A workers and other low-skilled foreign workers.

2019: Voted in favor of H.R. 1158, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, to weaken interior enforcement Rep. Smith 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: Voted against H.R. 3401, the border crisis supplemental funding bill that would have facilitated the continued trafficking of children along the Southern border Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 3401 on the House floor. The bill failed to include payroll funding for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who are dealing with the ongoing border crisis. The bill also lacked funding for additional detention space and failed to address the root causes of the border surge, guaranteeing the need for future spending bills.

2019: Voted against H.R. 6 to oppose weakening enforcement on House floor Rep. Smith voted against H.R. 6 on the House floor that would have granted amnesty to approximately 3.6 million illegal aliens. The legislation would grant amnesty to approximately to illegal aliens prima facia, meaning it suspends interior enforcement during the time the amnesty is being granted. The bill passed the House by a vote on 237-to-187.

2019: Voted against the omnibus spending bill, H.J. Res. 31, to weaken interior enforcement Sen. Smith voted against 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 in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), to mandate E-Verify Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. H.R. 4760 would have ended chain migration and the visa lottery, reducing legal immigration by approximately 300,000 per year. The legislation would have also strengthened border security, closed loopholes that lead to asylum fraud, mandated E-Verify, and ended sanctuary cities. The legislation also would have granted amnesty to approximately 700,000 DACA recipients.

2017: Cosponsored H.R. 643 introduced by Rep. Barletta (R-Pa.) to crack down on visa overstayers Rep. Smith cosponsored H.R. 643, the Visa Overstay Enforcement Act of 2017. This legislation would increase the penalties for foreign citizens who come to the country legally, but overstay their visa. The bill would impose a fine or imprisonment for up to six months, or both, for a first offense; and (2) a fine or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, for any subsequent offense. An alien convicted of a first offense may not be: (1) admitted to the United States for 5 years, or (2) be granted a visa for 10 years. An alien convicted of a subsequent offense may not be: (1) admitted to the United States at all, or (2) granted a visa. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.).

2017: Voted in favor of legislation to withhold funds from sanctuary cities Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 3003, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act. This legislation expands the definition of sanctuary cities and withholds DOJ and DHS grants from them, clarifies the authority of ICE detainers and grants State and local law enforcement immunity for complying with detainer requests, and expands the authority of the Secretary of DHS to detain certain criminal aliens. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

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

2012: Voted in favor of an amendment to protect the 287(g) program (Sullivan) Rep. Smith voted in favor of the Sullivan amendment to the FY2013 DHS Appropriations Bill. The amendment would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from terminating 287(g) agreements. The amendment, offered by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Ok.), passed by a 250-164 vote (7 June 2012).

2011: Opposed an amendment to defund the 287(g) program (Polis) Rep. Smith opposed the Polis Amendment to H.R. 2017, the FY2012 DHS Appropriations Bill. Rep. Polis amendment would have removed all funding for the 287(g) program from the bill, thereby preventing DHS from administering the program (effectively killing the 287(g) program). The amendment failed by a vote of 313-107 (2 June 2011).

2011: Supported an amendment to keep violent illegal aliens in custody (Cravaack) Rep. Smith supported the Cravaack Amendment to the FY 2012 DHS Appropriations Bill. Rep. Cravaacks amendment would prevent the government from releasing convicted violent or dangerous illegal aliens while they are awaiting deportation. The amendment passed 289-131 (2 June 2011).

2011: Voted in favor of an amendment to increase 287(g) funding (Royce) Rep. Smith voted in favor of the Royce Amendment to H.R. 2017, the FY2012 DHS Appropriations Bill. This amendment would increase funding for the 287(g) program by $1 million (about 18.5%). The amendment passed by a vote of 268-151 (1 June 2011).

2009-2010: Voted for an amendment to require DHS contractors to use E-Verify.
Rep. Smith supported the King amendment (253) to H.R. 2892, the DHS appropriations bill. The amendment requires all DHS contractors and subcontractors to use the E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of their employees. The King Amendment would have essentially implemented an Executive Order signed by President George W. Bush requiring all federal contractors to use E-Verify that has continually been postponed by President Obama. Use of E-Verify is one of the most effective tools at keeping illegal aliens out of U.S. jobs. The amendment passed 349-84, and the bill was signed into law October 28th, 2009.

2008: Voted for a bill that continues employment verification.
Rep. Smith voted in favor of H.R. 6633, a bill to reauthorize the E-Verify program for a period of 5 years. The E-Verify program allows businesses to determine the legal status of new hires and prevents illegal aliens from being hired, thus making the program an important tool in the Attrition through Enforcement anti-illegal immigration strategy. The bill passed by a vote of 407-2.

2008: Voted in favor of punishing sanctuary cities.
Rep. Smith voted in favor of a motion to H.R. 5719, the Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act. This motion would have recommitted H.R. 5719 with instructions to add language to deny tax exempt interest with respect to bonds of sanctuary states and cities, thereby putting pressure on cities that do not enforce immigration laws and cities who do not cooperate with federal authorities on immigration matters. This motion failed by a vote of 210-210.

2008: Signed Discharge Petition to move H.R. 4088, a bill to mandate the use of the E-Verify employment verification system, to the House floor.
Rep. Smith signed the Discharge Petition on H.R. 4088, the SAVE Act, to require use of the electronic employment eligibility verification system, E-Verify. If the petition collects 218 signatures, a simple majority, the bill can bypass the committee process and be placed on the House floor for a vote.

2007-2008: Cosponsoring the SAVE Act to strengthen border control by increasing the number of Border Patrol agents (Shuler).
Rep. Smith is cosponsoring H.R. 4088, the Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act of 2007. The SAVE Act would increase border security by: increasing the number of border patrol agents; providing more funding for the Tunnel Task Force; providing for new and updated border security, surveillance, communication, and apprehension technology; improving border security infrastructure; and empowering governors in border states to declare a border emergency and request temporary redeployment of up to 1,000 additional Border Patrol Agents. Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2007: Voted for 2nd Tancredo Amendment to H.R. 2638, thereby voting to hold cities with sanctuary policies accountable. Rep. Smith voted in favor of the amendment to H.R. 2638. The amendment prohibits funds pursuant to this bill from being distributed to states and localities that have sanctuary policies in place that prohibit or inhibit communications between Federal and state/local authorities. The amendment passed 234-189 on June 15

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to reduce funding for the visa waiver program.
Rep. Smith voted in favor of the first Tancredo amendment to H.R. 2638, which would prohibit funding from H.R. 2638 from being used to fund the visa waiver program. This amendment failed 76-347.

2007-2008: Voted on House floor for amendment to fully fund the training of immigration enforcement officers.
Rep. Smith voted in favor of the Drake Amendment to H.R. 2638, the appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The Drake Amendment would fully fund the presidents budget request ($26.4 million) for the training and support for the voluntary participation of local law enforcement officers in immigration law enforcement. This amendment passed 286-127.