2020: Voted against H.R. 2214 to preserve the presidents authority on immigration Rep. Collins voted against H.R. 2214, the NO BAN Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), that would significantly limit executive authority from being used to prevent future border surges. The bill would restrict the use of 1182(f) that allows the President to suspend immigration for national security reasons and nullify Pres. Trumps executive orders aimed at preventing border surges.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 1412, the Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act, to strengthen interior enforcement Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 1412, the Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act, introduced by Rep. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.). This legislation would require that ICE be notified of any attempts by an illegal alien to purchase a firearm.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to end sanctuary cities (Poe) Rep. Collins has cosponsored H.R. 4032, the States Right of Refugee Refusal Act of 2015. The legislation would prevent the federal government from resettling refugees in states where the government has formally disapproved of resettlement. The bill was introduced by Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas).

2015: Cosponsored legislation to allow states to block refugee resettlement (Poe) Rep. Collins has cosponsored H.R. 4197, the State Refugee Security Act of 2015. The bill allows governors to halt refugee resettlement in their states if there is a security risk to the state. The bill was introduced by Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas).

2015: Cosponsored legislation to require accurate immigration statistics Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 3151, the Arrest Statistics Reporting Act of 2015. This legislation would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to publish detailed arrest statistics for illegal aliens.

2014: Leadership points for signing anti-amnesty letter to President Obama Rep. Collins signed a letter to President Obama urging him to make public what options he has to amnesty illegal aliens via executive action.

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. Collins 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.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) to end Chain Migration Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. This legislation would end Chain Migration by eliminating all adult family categories. The bill would provide a renewable, nonimmigrant visa for parents of U.S. citizens. These provisions would reduce annual legal immigration by more than 250,000 per year.

2013: Voted in Judiciary Committee in favor of H.R. 2131 to increase Chain Migration (Issa) Rep. Collins voted as part of the Judiciary Committee in favor of H.R. 2131, the SKILLS Visa Act. This legislation would add 95,000 new employment-based green cards, thereby increasing chain migration since each new green card holder can sponsor their adult family members for green cards once they become a citizen. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Ca.).

2013-2014: Cosponsoring H.R. 425 to end the accommodation of illegal aliens in 2013-2014 Rep. Collins is a cosponsor of H.R. 425. This bill would restrict any federal funds from being used for the “Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers of Inadmissibility for Certain Immediate Relatives” rule published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which allows illegal aliens to remain in the U.S. while their immigrant visa application is processed. The bill’s main sponsor is Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO).

2020: Voted against H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to prevent unnecessary foreign workers Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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. 1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, to prevent H-2B increases Rep. Collins voted against 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. Collins 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 Goodlatte-Ryan-Denham Amnesty bill, H.R. 6136, that would have increased the number of green cards for foreign workers Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 6136, the Goodlatte-Ryan-Denham Amnesty bill. H.R. 6136 would have ended the Visa Lottery, but shifted the green cards to the employment-based green cards category. The bill would have increased the number of employment-based green cards issued each year from 140,000 to 205,000. The bill failed in the House 121-to-301. The bills main sponsor was Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

2018: Voted in favor of the Omnibus Spending Bill to increase H-2B visas Rep. Collins 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.Collins 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.

2017: Cosponsored the Davis-Oliver Act to reduce unnecessary foreign workers (Labrador) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 2431, the Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill was known as the SAFE Act in previous Congresses. This legislation would empower local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws. This legislation also requires DHS to create a national immigration violators database. This legislation would help reduce illegal immigration by empowering law enforcement officials and making it more difficult for illegal aliens to live and work in local communities. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Id.).

2015: Voted for the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase foreign guest workers Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to reduce foreign worker numbers Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 191, the Repeal Executive Amnesty Act of 2015. This legislation would: 1) Prohibit the Presidents use of granting parole to illegal aliens; 2) Prohibit the Administration from granting work permits to all illegal aliens; 3) Defund all executive actions on immigration, including all memos issued by the Department of Homeland Security; 4) Close the loophole that played a large role in last summers border surge by treating illegal aliens from non-contiguous countries the same as contiguous countries, making them easier to remove; 5) Prohibit illegal aliens from accessing Social Security, medicare, and benefits from the Affordable Care Act; 6) Reinstate the Secure Communities program; 7) Restrict federal funding to municipalities that provide sanctuary to illegal aliens; 8) Prohibit the government from providing legal council to illegal aliens in removal proceedings; and 9) Restrict the Administrations ability to grant and extend Temporary Protected Status to illegal aliens. The bill would also increase pay for ICE agents.

2013: Voted in Judiciary Committee in favor of H.R. 2131 to increase high-tech foreign worker importation (Issa) Rep. Collins voted as part of the Judiciary Committee in favor of H.R. 2131, the SKILLS Visa Act. This legislation would add 95,000 new employment-based green cards and 90,000 new H-1B visas. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Ca.).

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3360 to prevent asylum fraud and prevent border surges Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 3360, the Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), that would end most asylum fraud thereby preventing future border surges. The bill would: 1) strengthen the credible fear standard, 2) limit parole to actual cases of humanitarian need, 3) eliminate the safe third country provision from asylum determinations, and 4) terminates asylum status for any asylum seeker who returns to their home country, prevents fear from gang-related violence from asylum consideration.

2019: Sponsored H.R. 586, the Fix the Immigration Loopholes Act, introduced by Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) Rep. Collins sponsored H.R. 586, the Fix the Immigration Loopholes Act. This legislation would reform the Wilberforce trafficking act, so Unaccompanied Alien Children (UACs) from non-contiguous countries are treated that same as those from contiguous countries. However, the bill would not require prosecution of illegal sponsors of UACs. It would also limit the release of minors to parents or legal guardians and would fix the Flores Settlement Agreement by allowing families to be detained for longer than 20 days. Further, it would strike Special Immigrant Juvenile status for individuals who can be reunified with any one parent or legal guardian. It would also provide asylum fixes, including credible fear, striking safe third agreement requirements, and adding asylum fraud penalties.

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. Collins 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.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) to reduce Asylum fraud Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. This legislation would reduce asylum fraud by reforming the processing of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) detained at the border.

2017: Cosponsored legislation to reform the refugee system (Labrador) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 2826, the Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act. This legislation would: 1) set refugee cap at 60,000, 2) terminate refugee status for those that return to their countries of origin (absent a change in conditions), 3) remove DHSs ability to waive various grounds of inadmissibility for refugee admissions, 4) allow recurrent security vetting of refugees prior to LPR status adjustment, 5) bump back LPR status for refugees from 1 to 3 years, 6) adjust DHSs authority during LPR adjustment, 7) prohibit resettlement in states/localities that refuse resettlement, 8) adjust screening process to reduce fraud, and 9) clarify that displacement or generalized conflicts alone do not qualify an individual for refugee status under the law.

2017: Cosponsored legislation to reform the refugee system Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 2826, the Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act. This legislation would: 1) set refugee cap at 60,000, 2) terminate refugee status for those that return to their countries of origin (absent a change in conditions), 3) remove DHSs ability to waive various grounds of inadmissibility for refugee admissions, 4) allow recurrent security vetting of refugees prior to LPR status adjustment, 5) bump back LPR status for refugees from 1 to 3 years, 6) adjust DHSs authority during LPR adjustment, 7) prohibit resettlement in states/localities that refuse resettlement, 8) adjust screening process to reduce fraud, and 9) clarify that displacement or generalized conflicts alone do not qualify an individual for refugee status under the law. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Id.)

2017: Cosponsored legislation to reform Americas refugee and asylum system (Babin) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 80, the Resettlement Accountability National Security Act of 2017. This legislation would immediately suspend all refugee resettlement until the Government Accountability Office can assess its costs to state and local municipalities and potential national security threats.

2016: Cosponsored legislation to reform the refugee system (Labrador) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 4731, the Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act. This legislation would: 1) set refugee cap at 60,000, 2) terminate refugee status for those that return to their countries of origin (absent a change in conditions), 3) remove DHSs ability to waive various grounds of inadmissibility for refugee admissions, 4) allow recurrent security vetting of refugees prior to LPR status adjustment, 5) bump back LPR status for refugees from 1 to 3 years, 6) adjust DHSs authority during LPR adjustment, 7) prohibit resettlement in states/localities that refuse resettlement, 8) adjust screening process to reduce fraud, and 9) clarify that displacement or generalized conflicts alone do not qualify an individual for refugee status under the law.

2015: Voted for the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase refugee resettlement Rep. Collins 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.

2015: Voted in favor of legislation to combat border surge (Chaffetz) Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 1153, Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2015, which represents one of the most thorough responses to the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at the Southwest border, in the House Judiciary Committee. Aside from repealing the requirements that resulted in UACs from contiguous countries receiving differing treatment than those from noncontiguous countries, this bill requires immigration officers to order all illegal entrants removed upon screening, absent an asylum claim. In order to encourage cooperation with return, foreign countries who resist repatriation will face cuts to foreign assistance. The definition of UAC is also limited further to those who do not have a parent, legal guardian, sibling over 18, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or cousin in the U.S. Further, the deadline before notification and transfer of UACs to Health and Human Services (HHS) is extended, and HHS is required to share details of the children and those with whom the children are placed with DHS. Additional judges and immigration attorneys are added in an attempt to address the current surge, while CBP is granted unimpeded access to Federal land, which includes the construction of tactical infrastructure. Finally, various changes are made to the asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile visa, and parole systems to severely limit fraud and abuse, while protecting those with legitimate claims. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah).

2015: Voted in favor of legislation to curtail border surge (Carter) Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 1149, the Protection of Children Act of 2015, in the House Judiciary Committee. This legislation takes excellent steps to resolve the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) along the Southwest border. First, it removes the requirement that only UACs from contiguous countries receive expedited removal. In addition, children are no longer required to make their own independent decision to withdraw their applications for admission, and immigration officers who determine such children are inadmissible may withdraw their applications and return them to their home countries. The transfer time of UACs to HHS is extended to allow for review, and various improvements are made to the SIJ visa and asylum programs. Notably, this bill requires detailed information to be reported to DHS regarding the individuals with whom UACs are placed, including name, social security number, and immigration status. DHS is required to then investigate those with unknown immigration status and initiate removal proceedings on those unlawfully present. The bills main sponsor is Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.).

2015: Cosponsored legislation to curtail border surge (Carter) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 1149, the Protection of Children Act of 2015, which takes excellent steps to resolve the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) along the Southwest border. First, it removes the requirement that only UACs from contiguous countries receive expedited removal. In addition, children are no longer required to make their own independent decision to withdraw their applications for admission, and immigration officers who determine such children are inadmissible may withdraw their applications and return them to their home countries. The transfer time of UACs to HHS is extended to allow for review, and various improvements are made to the SIJ visa and asylum programs. Notably, this bill requires detailed information to be reported to DHS regarding the individuals with whom UACs are placed, including name, social security number, and immigration status. DHS is required to then investigate those with unknown immigration status and initiate removal proceedings on those unlawfully present. The bills main sponsor is Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.).

2015: Cosponsored legislation to combat border surge (Chaffetz) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 1153, Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2015, which represents one of the most thorough responses to the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at the Southwest border. Aside from repealing the requirements that resulted in UACs from contiguous countries receiving differing treatment than those from noncontiguous countries, this bill requires immigration officers to order all illegal entrants removed upon screening, absent an asylum claim. In order to encourage cooperation with return, foreign countries who resist repatriation will face cuts to foreign assistance. The definition of UAC is also limited further to those who do not have a parent, legal guardian, sibling over 18, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or cousin in the U.S. Further, the deadline before notification and transfer of UACs to Health and Human Services (HHS) is extended, and HHS is required to share details of the children and those with whom the children are placed with DHS. Additional judges and immigration attorneys are added in an attempt to address the current surge, while CBP is granted unimpeded access to Federal land, which includes the construction of tactical infrastructure. Finally, various changes are made to the asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile visa, and parole systems to severely limit fraud and abuse, while protecting those with legitimate claims.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to reduce refugee fraud Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 191, the Repeal Executive Amnesty Act of 2015. This legislation would: 1) Prohibit the Presidents use of granting parole to illegal aliens; 2) Prohibit the Administration from granting work permits to all illegal aliens; 3) Defund all executive actions on immigration, including all memos issued by the Department of Homeland Security; 4) Close the loophole that played a large role in last summers border surge by treating illegal aliens from non-contiguous countries the same as contiguous countries, making them easier to remove; 5) Prohibit illegal aliens from accessing Social Security, medicare, and benefits from the Affordable Care Act; 6) Reinstate the Secure Communities program; 7) Restrict federal funding to municipalities that provide sanctuary to illegal aliens; 8) Prohibit the government from providing legal council to illegal aliens in removal proceedings; and 9) Restrict the Administrations ability to grant and extend Temporary Protected Status to illegal aliens. The bill would also increase pay for ICE agents.

2020: Voted against H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to prevent a temporary amnesty for illegal workers Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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. Collins 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.

2019: Sponsored H.R. 586, the Fix the Immigration Loopholes Act, introduced by Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) Rep. Collins sponsored H.R. 586, the Fix the Immigration Loopholes Act. This legislation would reform the Wilberforce trafficking act, so Unaccompanied Alien Children (UACs) from non-contiguous countries are treated that same as those from contiguous countries. However, the bill would not require prosecution of illegal sponsors of UACs. It would also limit the release of minors to parents or legal guardians and would fix the Flores Settlement Agreement by allowing families to be detained for longer than 20 days. Further, it would strike Special Immigrant Juvenile status for individuals who can be reunified with any one parent or legal guardian. It would also provide asylum fixes, including credible fear, striking safe third agreement requirements, and adding asylum fraud penalties.

2018: Voted in favor of the Goodlatte-Ryan-Denham Amnesty bill, H.R. 6136, that would granted amnesty to at least 1.8 million illegal aliens Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 6136, the Goodlatte-Ryan-Denham Amnesty bill. H.R. 6136 would have granted amnesty to at least 1.8 million illegal aliens who meet the conditions outlined in Pres. Obamas unconstitutional DACA executive amnesty. The bill would have also created a special merit-based green card system to provide green cards to amnestied illegal aliens. The bill failed in the House 121-to-301. The bills main sponsor was Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

2017: Cosponsored the Davis-Oliver Act to reduce amnesties (Labrador) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 2431, the Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill was known as the SAFE Act in previous Congresses. This legislation would require Congressional approval to renew Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Through TPS, an estimated 150,000 illegal aliens over 10 years would not receive amnesty under the legislation. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Id.).

2016: Voted in favor of the Gosar amendment to FY17 defense spending bill to block amnesty for DACA recipients Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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. Collins 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: Blocks funding for Pres. Obamas DACA and DAPA executive amnesties (Collins) Rep. Collins sponsored Rep. Doug Collins H.R.206, the Immigration Accountability Act. This legislation would block funding for Pres. Obamas executive DAPA amnesty announced in Nov. 2014 and renewals for his 2012 DACA amnesty. This amnesty would result in work permits for approximately 7.1 million illegal aliens who are parents of U.S. citizens or meet other requirements.

2015: Voted in favor of legislation to combat border surge and reduce amnesties (Chaffetz) Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 1153, Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2015, which represents one of the most thorough responses to the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at the Southwest border, in the House Judiciary Committee. Aside from repealing the requirements that resulted in UACs from contiguous countries receiving differing treatment than those from noncontiguous countries, this bill requires immigration officers to order all illegal entrants removed upon screening, absent an asylum claim. In order to encourage cooperation with return, foreign countries who resist repatriation will face cuts to foreign assistance. The definition of UAC is also limited further to those who do not have a parent, legal guardian, sibling over 18, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or cousin in the U.S. Further, the deadline before notification and transfer of UACs to Health and Human Services (HHS) is extended, and HHS is required to share details of the children and those with whom the children are placed with DHS. Additional judges and immigration attorneys are added in an attempt to address the current surge, while CBP is granted unimpeded access to Federal land, which includes the construction of tactical infrastructure. Finally, various changes are made to the asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile visa, and parole systems to severely limit fraud and abuse, while protecting those with legitimate claims. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah).

2015: Voted AGAINST funding Executive Amnesties by opposing clean DHS Appropriations bill, H.R. 240 Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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: Cosponsored legislation to combat border surge (Chaffetz) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 1153, Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2015, which represents one of the most thorough responses to the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at the Southwest border. Aside from repealing the requirements that resulted in UACs from contiguous countries receiving differing treatment than those from noncontiguous countries, this bill requires immigration officers to order all illegal entrants removed upon screening, absent an asylum claim. In order to encourage cooperation with return, foreign countries who resist repatriation will face cuts to foreign assistance. The definition of UAC is also limited further to those who do not have a parent, legal guardian, sibling over 18, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or cousin in the U.S. Further, the deadline before notification and transfer of UACs to Health and Human Services (HHS) is extended, and HHS is required to share details of the children and those with whom the children are placed with DHS. Additional judges and immigration attorneys are added in an attempt to address the current surge, while CBP is granted unimpeded access to Federal land, which includes the construction of tactical infrastructure. Finally, various changes are made to the asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile visa, and parole systems to severely limit fraud and abuse, while protecting those with legitimate claims.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to repeal President Obamas executive amnesties Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 191, the Repeal Executive Amnesty Act of 2015. This legislation would: 1) Prohibit the Presidents use of granting parole to illegal aliens; 2) Prohibit the Administration from granting work permits to all illegal aliens; 3) Defund all executive actions on immigration, including all memos issued by the Department of Homeland Security; 4) Close the loophole that played a large role in last summers border surge by treating illegal aliens from non-contiguous countries the same as contiguous countries, making them easier to remove; 5) Prohibit illegal aliens from accessing Social Security, medicare, and benefits from the Affordable Care Act; 6) Reinstate the Secure Communities program; 7) Restrict federal funding to municipalities that provide sanctuary to illegal aliens; 8) Prohibit the government from providing legal council to illegal aliens in removal proceedings; and 9) Restrict the Administrations ability to grant and extend Temporary Protected Status to illegal aliens. The bill would also increase pay for ICE agents.

2015: Voted in favor of Aderholt Amendment to H.R. 240 to defund Pres. Obamas Nov. 2014 amnesty Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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. Collins 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. Collins 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. Collins 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).

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 140, the Birthright Citizenship Act, to end Birthright Citizenship Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 140, the Birthright Citizenship Act, introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-IA). H.R. 140 would end the outdated practice of automatically granting citizenship to all children born in the United States. The bill would require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or alien enlisted in the military in order for new borns to automatically receive citizenship.

2015: Cosponsoring a bill that ends birthright citizenship (King). Rep. Collins 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.

2013: Cosponsoring a bill that ends birthright citizenship (King). Rep. Collins 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.

2020: Voted against H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to prevent stimulus checks for illegal aliens Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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. Collins 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.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) to end rewards for illegal aliens Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. This legislation would block illegal aliens from receiving refundable tax credits.

2017: Voted in favor of legislation to withhold funds from sanctuary cities Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to prevent illegal aliens receiving the child tax credit (Ferguson) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 1919, the Child Tax Credit Protection Act of 2017. This legislation would require tax filers to submit a Social Security Number to receive the child tax credit. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.).

2017: Sponsored legislation to reduce illegal alien tax fraud (D. Collins) Rep. Collins sponsored H.R. 819, the Tax Credit Accountability Act of 2017. This legislation would prohibit illegal aliens that receive amnesty through Pres. Obamas executive amnesties from receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit for tax years before receiving amnesty. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.).

2017: Cosponsored the Davis-Oliver Act to reduce rewards to illegal aliens (Labrador) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 2431, the Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill was known as the SAFE Act in previous Congresses. This legislation would empower local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws. This legislation also requires DHS to create a national immigration violators database. This legislation would help reduce illegal immigration by empowering law enforcement officials and making it more difficult for illegal aliens to live and work in local communities. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Id.).

2015: Sponsored legislation to reduce illegal alien tax fraud Rep. Collins sponsored H.R. 3123, the Tax Credit Accountability Act of 2015. This legislation would prohibit illegal aliens that receive amnesty through Pres. Obamas executive amnesties from receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit for tax years before receiving amnesty.

2015: Voted in favor of H.R. 1148 to reduce rewards for illegal aliens Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 1148, the Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill was known as the SAFE Act in the previous Congress. The legislation would prevent cities from providing sanctuary to illegal aliens and would provide funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) that reimburses states for incarcerating illegal aliens. The legislation would help reduce rewards for illegal immigration by preventing cities from providing a safe harbor for illegal aliens. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC).

2015: Cosponsoring H.R. 1148 to reduce rewards for illegal aliens Rep. Collins is cosponsoring H.R. 1148, the Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, sponsored by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC). This bill was known as the SAFE Act in the previous Congress. The legislation would prevent cities from providing sanctuary to illegal aliens and would provide funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) that reimburses states for incarcerating illegal aliens. The legislation would help reduce rewards for illegal immigration by preventing cities from providing a safe harbor for illegal aliens.

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

2013: Voted as part of House Judiciary Committee in favor of H.R. 2278 to reduce rewards for illegal immigration Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 2278, the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act of 2013, sponsored by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC). The SAFE Act would prevent cities from providing sanctuary to illegal aliens and would provide funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) that reimburses states for incarcerating illegal aliens. The SAFE Act passed the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20 to 15.

2013: Cosponsoring H.R. 2278 to reduce rewards for illegal aliens Rep. Collins is cosponsoring H.R. 2278 the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act of 2013 sponsored by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC). The SAFE Act would prevent cities from providing sanctuary to illegal aliens and would provide funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) that reimburses states for incarcerating illegal aliens. The SAFE Act would help reduce rewards for illegal immigration by preventing cities from providing a safe harbor for illegal aliens.

2020: Voted against H.R. 5581, the Access to Counsel Act, to preserve border security Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) to strengthen border security Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. This legislation would strengthen border security by granting Border Patrol officers access to federal lands. The bill would also authorize funding for the hiring of additional Border Patrol officers and the construction of border fencing.

2015: Voted in favor of legislation to combat border surge and reduce illegal immigration (Chaffetz) Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 1153, Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2015, which represents one of the most thorough responses to the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at the Southwest border, in the House Judiciary Committee. Aside from repealing the requirements that resulted in UACs from contiguous countries receiving differing treatment than those from noncontiguous countries, this bill requires immigration officers to order all illegal entrants removed upon screening, absent an asylum claim. In order to encourage cooperation with return, foreign countries who resist repatriation will face cuts to foreign assistance. The definition of UAC is also limited further to those who do not have a parent, legal guardian, sibling over 18, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or cousin in the U.S. Further, the deadline before notification and transfer of UACs to Health and Human Services (HHS) is extended, and HHS is required to share details of the children and those with whom the children are placed with DHS. Additional judges and immigration attorneys are added in an attempt to address the current surge, while CBP is granted unimpeded access to Federal land, which includes the construction of tactical infrastructure. Finally, various changes are made to the asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile visa, and parole systems to severely limit fraud and abuse, while protecting those with legitimate claims. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah).

2015: Cosponsored legislation to combat border surge (Chaffetz) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 1153, Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2015, which represents one of the most thorough responses to the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at the Southwest border. Aside from repealing the requirements that resulted in UACs from contiguous countries receiving differing treatment than those from noncontiguous countries, this bill requires immigration officers to order all illegal entrants removed upon screening, absent an asylum claim. In order to encourage cooperation with return, foreign countries who resist repatriation will face cuts to foreign assistance. The definition of UAC is also limited further to those who do not have a parent, legal guardian, sibling over 18, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or cousin in the U.S. Further, the deadline before notification and transfer of UACs to Health and Human Services (HHS) is extended, and HHS is required to share details of the children and those with whom the children are placed with DHS. Additional judges and immigration attorneys are added in an attempt to address the current surge, while CBP is granted unimpeded access to Federal land, which includes the construction of tactical infrastructure. Finally, various changes are made to the asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile visa, and parole systems to severely limit fraud and abuse, while protecting those with legitimate claims.

2013-2014: Cosponsoring H.R. 2220 to increase interior enforcement and border security (Poe) Rep. Collins is a cosponsor of H.R. 2220, the SMART Act of 2013. The SMART Act makes efforts to achieve border security along the international border with Mexico. The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to achieve and maintain operational control of only the Southwest border. The Secretary must then report on such actions, which will be reviewed by the GAO, and voted on by the Senate and House in a Joint Resolution of Disapproval on Operational Control within 90 days of receiving the GAOs analysis. A maximum of 10,000 additional National Guard are authorized for deployment at the request of the border state governors to aid in border control activities. The Secretary is also authorized to utilize smart technologies along areas of the border where operational control has not yet been achieved. This bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to transfer used military equipment to appropriate Federal, State, and local law enforcement organizations, calls for an additional 1,500 CBP agents (with preferred procedures for hiring U.S. veterans), and provides grants to local Sheriffs associations for hiring new officers and to areas along the border where access to mobile communications is limited. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of DHS to implement the biometric entry-exit system at all ports of entry within 2 years. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX).

2019: Voted against H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to weaken interior enforcement Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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. Collins 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. Collins 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: Cosponsored H.R. 1412, the Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act, to strengthen interior enforcement Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 1412, the Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act, introduced by Rep. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.). This legislation would require that ICE be notified of any attempts by an illegal alien to purchase a firearm.

2019: Voted against the omnibus spending bill, H.J. Res. 31, to weaken interior enforcement Sen. Collins 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.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 250, the Legal Workforce Act, to require employers to use E-Verify Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 250, the Legal Workforce Act, introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.). The Legal Workforce Act would require all non-Ag employers to use E-Verify within 2 years and all Ag employers within 30 months. The bill would also require the Social Security Administration to contact individuals if they believe their Social Security number has been used fraudulently to obtain a job. The bill was originally drafted by former Rep. Lamar Smith.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6417, the AG and Legal Workforce Act, to mandate E-Verify Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 6417 that would require all employers to use E-Verify. The legislation would also reform the H-2A agricultural guestworker program. The bill includes Rep. Lamar Smiths (R-Texas) Legal Workforce Act. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

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. Collins 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.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) to mandate E-Verify and end sanctuary cities Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 4760, the Securing Americas Future Act. This legislation would require all employers to use E-Verify within 2 years. The bill would also require full implementation of the biometric entry-exit system at all ports of entry and strengthen existing law that prohibit sanctuary cities.

2017: Voted in favor of H.R. 3711 introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith in House Judiciary Committee to mandate E-Verify Rep. Collins voted for H.R. 3711, the Legal Workforce Act of 2017, in the House Judiciary Committee. This legislation would require most employers to use E-Verify within two years of enactment. Large employers, federal, state, and local agencies and federal and state contractors would need to comply within six months. The bill would also make the E-Verify program permanent. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) is the bills main sponsor.

2017: Voted in favor of legislation to withhold funds from sanctuary cities Rep. Collins 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: Cosponsored legislation to strengthen interior enforcement (Buddy Carter) Rep. Collins has cosponsored H.R. 1334, the ALERTED Act of 2017. This legislation would strengthen interior enforcement by allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to consider issuing a detainer for an alien who has violated laws other than those related to controlled substances. The bill was introduced by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.).

2017: Cosponsored the Davis-Oliver Act to increase interior enforcement (Labrador) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 2431, the Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill was known as the SAFE Act in previous Congresses. This legislation would empower local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws. This legislation also requires DHS to create a national immigration violators database. This legislation would help reduce illegal immigration by empowering law enforcement officials and making it more difficult for illegal aliens to live and work in local communities. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Id.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to end sanctuary cities in (Black) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 400, the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. The bill would help end sanctuary policies that aim to protect criminal aliens by defining sanctuary jurisdictions as any state or local jurisdiction that fails to communicate with federal immigration agents and refuses to comply with detainer requests. The bill would also block certain federal funds from sanctuary cities and shield local police from liability when acting on behalf of a federal immigration request.

2016: Cosponsoring legislation to deport criminal aliens Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 5103, the Criminal Alien Detention and Removal Act. This legislation require the deportation of criminal aliens who are subject to supervised release.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to strengthen interior enforcement (B. Carter) Rep. Collins has cosponsored H.R. 4007, the ALERTED Act of 2015. This legislation would strengthen interior enforcement by allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to consider issuing a detainer for an alien who has violated laws other than those related to controlled substances. The bill was introduced by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.).

2015: Voted in favor of H.R. 1148 to increase interior enforcement Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 1148, the Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill was known as the SAFE Act in the previous Congress. This legislation would empower local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws. This legislation also requires DHS to create a national immigration violators database. This legislation would help reduce illegal immigration by empowering law enforcement officials and making it more difficult for illegal aliens to live and work in local communities. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC).

2015: Voted in favor of legislation to curtail border surge (Carter) Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 1149, the Protection of Children Act of 2015, in the House Judiciary Committee. This legislation takes excellent steps to resolve the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) along the Southwest border. First, it removes the requirement that only UACs from contiguous countries receive expedited removal. In addition, children are no longer required to make their own independent decision to withdraw their applications for admission, and immigration officers who determine such children are inadmissible may withdraw their applications and return them to their home countries. The transfer time of UACs to HHS is extended to allow for review, and various improvements are made to the SIJ visa and asylum programs. Notably, this bill requires detailed information to be reported to DHS regarding the individuals with whom UACs are placed, including name, social security number, and immigration status. DHS is required to then investigate those with unknown immigration status and initiate removal proceedings on those unlawfully present. The bills main sponsor is Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.).

2015: Voted in favor of legislation to mandate E-Verify (Smith) Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 1147, the Legal Workforce Act of 2015, in the House Judiciary Committee. This legislation would require most employers to use E-Verify within two years of enactment. Large employers, federal, state, and local agencies and federal and state contractors would need to comply within six months. The bill would also make the E-Verify program permanent. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) is the bills main sponsor.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to curtail border surge (Carter) Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 1149, the Protection of Children Act of 2015, which takes excellent steps to resolve the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) along the Southwest border. First, it removes the requirement that only UACs from contiguous countries receive expedited removal. In addition, children are no longer required to make their own independent decision to withdraw their applications for admission, and immigration officers who determine such children are inadmissible may withdraw their applications and return them to their home countries. The transfer time of UACs to HHS is extended to allow for review, and various improvements are made to the SIJ visa and asylum programs. Notably, this bill requires detailed information to be reported to DHS regarding the individuals with whom UACs are placed, including name, social security number, and immigration status. DHS is required to then investigate those with unknown immigration status and initiate removal proceedings on those unlawfully present. The bills main sponsor is Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.).

2015: Cosponsoring H.R. 1148 to increase interior enforcement Rep. Collins is cosponsoring H.R. 1148, the Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, sponsored by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC). This bill was known as the SAFE Act in the previous Congress. This legislation would empower local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws. This legislation also requires DHS to create a national immigration violators database. This legislation would help reduce illegal immigration by empowering law enforcement officials and making it more difficult for illegal aliens to live and work in local communities.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to increase interior immigration enforcement. Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 191, the Repeal Executive Amnesty Act of 2015. This legislation would: 1) Prohibit the Presidents use of granting parole to illegal aliens; 2) Prohibit the Administration from granting work permits to all illegal aliens; 3) Defund all executive actions on immigration, including all memos issued by the Department of Homeland Security; 4) Close the loophole that played a large role in last summers border surge by treating illegal aliens from non-contiguous countries the same as contiguous countries, making them easier to remove; 5) Prohibit illegal aliens from accessing Social Security, medicare, and benefits from the Affordable Care Act; 6) Reinstate the Secure Communities program; 7) Restrict federal funding to municipalities that provide sanctuary to illegal aliens; 8) Prohibit the government from providing legal council to illegal aliens in removal proceedings; and 9) Restrict the Administrations ability to grant and extend Temporary Protected Status to illegal aliens. The bill would also increase pay for ICE agents.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to block funding for sanctuary cities Rep. Collins cosponsored H.R. 3437, the Protecting American Lives Act. This legislation would block SCAAP funding and other law enforcement grants to local jurisdictions that pass ordinances or otherwise prevent local officials from cooperating the federal immigration agents.

2014: Voted in favor of amendment to deprive sanctuary cities of funds Rep. Collins 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. Collins 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.

2013: Voted as part of House Judiciary Committee in favor of H.R. 2278 to strengthen interior enforcement Rep. Collins voted in favor of H.R. 2278, the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act of 2013, sponsored by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC). The SAFE Act would empower local law enforcement agents to enforce immigration laws. As well the SAFE Act requires DHS to create a national immigration violators database. The SAFE Act would help reduce illegal immigration by empowering law enforcement officials and making it more difficult for illegal aliens to live and work in local communities. H.R. 2278 passed the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20 to 15.

2013: Cosponsoring H.R. 2278 to increase interior enforcment Rep. Collins is cosponsoring H.R. 2278, the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act of 2013, sponsored by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC). The SAFE Act would empower local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws. The SAFE Act also requires DHS to create a national immigration violators database. The SAFE Act would help reduce illegal immigration by empowering law enforcement officials and making it more difficult for illegal aliens to live and work in local communities.

2013-2014: Cosponsoring H.R. 2220 to increase interior enforcement (Poe) Rep. Collins is a cosponsor of H.R. 2220, the SMART Act of 2013. The SMART Act would increase interior enforcement by requiring the Secretary of DHS to implement the biometric entry-exit system at all ports of entry within 2 years. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX).