2023: Sponsored H.R. 3194 to double chain migration
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3194, the U.S. Citizenship Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.). The legislation would shift spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents to the unlimited immediate family category. Additionally, it expands all other areas of legal immigration, resulting in an increase of nearly 300,000 chain migration green cards each year.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1643 to increase chain migration
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1643, the New Deal for New Americans Act, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). The legislation would increase the average number of family-based chain migration green cards each year by reducing the minimum age for sponsoring parents from 21 to 18.

2021: Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. McGovern 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.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3524 to increase asylum claims Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3524, the Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), that would create 100,000 new green cards each year for five years for asylees from the Northern Triangle countries. The bill does provide funding for additional immigration judges on the border.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4884, the Cuban Family Reunification Act, to increase immigration from Cuba Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4884, the Cuban Family Reunification Act, introduced by Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.). The legislation would reinstate the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program, allowing any Cubans who can successfully reach U.S. soil to receive a visa.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3799, the Reuniting Families Act, to increase legal immigration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3799, the Reuniting Families Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). The legislation would exempt certain family-preference immigrants from numerical limitations and increase annual caps on all adult family-preference categories. The bill would also repeal per-country caps, repeal the 3- and 10-year bars for admission, and increase the visa lottery by 25,000.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 4944, the Reuniting Families Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to increase chain migration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4944, the Reuniting Families Act. This legislation would increase the cap for unmarried sons and daughters of citizens from 23,400 per year to 127,200 per year, increase the cap for married sons and daughters of citizens from 23,400 to 80,640, and increases the siblings cap from 65,000 to 191,520. The bill would also eliminate the per-country caps.

2017: Cosponsored the American Promise Act, introduced by Rep. Nydia Velazquez, to increase chain migration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4253, the American Promise Act. This legislation would grant amnesty to approximately 300,000 illegal aliens who have received Temporary Protected Status, thereby allowing them to sponsor their immediate family for green cards. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.).

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

2023: Sponsored H.R. 3194 to increase the Visa Lottery by 50%
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3194, the U.S. Citizenship Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.). The legislation would create an additional 25,000 green cards each year for the Visa Lottery, bringing the annual total of green cards raffled off each year to 80,000.

2021: Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. McGovern 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.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3799, the Reuniting Families Act, to increase legal immigration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3799, the Reuniting Families Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). The legislation would exempt certain family-preference immigrants from numerical limitations and increase annual caps on all adult family-preference categories. The bill would also repeal per-country caps, repeal the 3- and 10-year bars for admission, and increase the visa lottery by 25,000.

2005-2006: Voted against a bill to eliminate visa lottery.
Rep. McGovern voted against final passage of H.R. 4437 which included a provision to eliminate the visa lottery that each year awards 55,000 visas on a random basis. H.R. 4437 was passed by the House by a vote of 239 to 182.

2005-2006: Voted against an amendment to eliminate visa lottery.
Rep. McGovern voted on the floor of the House against the Goodlatte amendment to H.R. 4437. The Goodlatte Amendment would eliminate the visa lottery program that each year awards 55,000 visas on a random basis. The Amendment passed by a vote of 273 to 148.

Rep. McGovern co-sponsored the WISE Act (H.R. 2851) to expand the U-Visa program.

The WISE Act of 2025 (Pramila Jayapal, D-WA) would add civil violations to U-Visa eligibility, eliminate the U-Visa cap, and make it easier to fraudulently claim U-Visa protection.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 3194 to expand immigrant and nonimmigrant worker visas
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3194, the U.S. Citizenship Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.). The legislation would allow approximately 600,000 nonimmigrants who are "essential" workers to receive green cards. Additionally, the legislation would more than 11 million new employment preference green cards over 10 years, plus offer green cards to any nonimmigrant with an advanced degree in STEM.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1828 to allow U or T visa holders to obtain a work permit
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1828, the POWER Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). The legislation would allow aliens who have applied for U (victims of crime) or T (victims of human trafficking) visas to receive a work permit.

2021: Voted in Favor of H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to increase guest workers Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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: Sponsored H.R. 9474 to expand the U visa Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 9474 introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). The legislation would add civil violations to U visa eligibility -- the visa for victims or witnesses of crime. It also removes the cap on U visas.

2021: Sponsored H.Res. 505 Rep. McGovern sponsored H.Res. 505 introduced by Rep. William Keating (D-Mass.). The resolution calls for increasing the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa cap by 8,000.

2021: Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. McGovern 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.

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

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

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4319, the Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act, to increase U and T visas Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4319, the Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.). The legislation would lift the numerical limitation on U visas and issue work permits to all U and T visa holders while their applications are pending.

2020: Voted in favor of H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to increase unnecessary foreign workers Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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 in favor of H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to expand low-skilled immigration Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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. McGovern voted in favor of H.R. 1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, that provides funding for the federal government for FY2020. H.R. 1865 included a provision that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to nearly double the available H-2B visas for the remainder of FY 2020. Under the same provision, DHS added an additional 30,000 H-2Bs in FY 2019.

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

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 5173, the AMIGOS Act, introduced by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) to increase guest workers Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 5173, the AMIGOS Act. This legislation would end add Portugal to the list of countries eligible for E-1 and E-2 visas.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 4944, the Reuniting Families Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to increase foreign workers Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4944, the Reuniting Families Act. This legislation would exempt anyone who would be eligible for an employment-based green card over the next 10 years from the annual cap. The bill would also eliminate the per-country caps.

2017: Voted in favor of increasing foreign worker visas Rep.McGovern 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 legislation increasing SIVs for Afghanis (Kinzinger) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1544, the Keeping Our Promise to Our Afghan Allies Act. This legislation would increase the number of special immigrant visas for Afghani nationals from 8,500 to 11,000. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.).

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

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

2012: Cosponsored legislation to increase foreign worker imports (Lofgren) Rep. McGovern cosponsored legislation that would provide 50,000 work visas to aliens who have a masters degree or higher in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), from a U.S. institution of higher education. Visas that are unused by the end of each financial year continue past the end of the year. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D - Cal.).

2012: Supported a motion to increase foreign worker visas Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the motion to recommit H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act of 2012 (Rep. Lamar Smith). The bill also eliminates the visa lottery program that grants 55,00 visas annually on a random basis. This motion was an attempt by House Democrats to remove the visa lottery elimination from the bill. This motion, if passed, would have replaced the STEM Jobs Act with Rep. Zoe Lofgrens H.R. 6412, legislation that adds more than 50,000 employment based visas and NOT ended the visa lottery. The motion failed 157-231 (30 Nov. 2012, 11:31 AM).

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to increase the number of foreign workers (Stupak).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2007 (HR 1843). The bill would exempt any alien who has been present in the United States as an H-2B nonimmigrant worker for any one of the previous three fiscal years and who is returning to work as an H-2B from counting against the 66,000-per-year cap on H-2B visas. This potentially triples the number of workers in a year and would make these provisions effective for five years. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to drastically increase foreign-worker importation (Gutierrez).
Rep. McGovern is a cosponsor of H.R. 1645 to establish the H-2C guestworker program, through which 400,000 new workers (plus their spouses and minor children on an unlimited basis) may come to the United States annually. In addition, it would allow the annual cap on H-2C visas to be increased to as many as 600,000. These guestworkers would be allowed to stay up to six years, during which time they could petition for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status at any time. In addition to the H-2C provisions, the STRIVE Act would more than double the number of employment-based (EB) immigrant visas available annually; would exempt EB immigrants seeking admission to work in shortage occupations from numerical caps through fiscal year 2017; would vastly increase the cap on H-1B visas (i.e., a minimum cap of 115,000 per year); would create various permanent exemptions from numerical caps on admission for high skill aliens; would extend the authorized stay of L-1 intracompany transferee/specialized knowledge nonimmigrants (no cap on these visas) for whom applications for LPR status are pending. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2005-2006: Voted against CAFTA, foreign worker importation program (Delay)
Rep. McGovern voted against H.R. 3045, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (CAFTA), on July 28, 2005 (12:03 AM). It is expected that CAFTA would create the expectation of immigration and lead to an increase in illegal immigration. H.R. 3045 was sponsored by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas).

2005-2006: Cosponsored bill to prevent the displacement of American workers for foreign workers (DeLauro)
Rep. McGovern cosponsored of H.R. 3381 to provide much needed protections for American workers by preventing employers using the L-1 visa to hire foreign workers from displacing American workers to hire L-1s. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) was the primary cosponsor.

2005-2006: Voted against an amendment to prohibit foreign-worker importation provisions in Free Trade Agreements.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Tancredo Amendment to H.R. 2862 to prevent the U.S. Trade Representative from including immigration provisions in Free Trade Agreements. The Tancredo Amendment failed by a vote of 106 to 322.

2004: Cosponsored bill to increase low-skill worker importation (Delahunt).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4052 to increase by 40,000 the annual cap for 2004 on H-2B visas for low-kill, temporary foreign workers. Rep. William Delahunt (D-Mass.) was the primary sponsor.

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to protect American workers (Johnson).
H.R. 2849 was a bill to implement reforms of the H-1B and L-1 visa programs aimed at preventing American high-tech workers from being displaced by foreign workers. The legislation included important protections for American workers, including prevailing wage and no-layoff provisions. It also extended current no-layoff provisions for H-1B dependent employers to all H-1B employers. Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) was this bills primary sponsor.

2003-2004: Voted against a bill to increase foreign-worker visas (DeLay).
Rep. McGovern voted against the Chile Free Trade Agreement, H.R. 2738, that would permit an unlimited number of tech and professional workers from Chile to enter the U.S. on L-1 visas. H.R. 2738, sponsored by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), passed by a vote of 270-156.

2003-2004: Voted against a bill to create worker importation program (DeLay).
Rep. McGovern voted against the Singapore Free Trade Agreement, H.R. 2739 that would permit an unlimited number of tech and professional workers to enter the U.S. on L-1 visas. H.R. 2739, sponsored by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), passed by a vote of 272-155.

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill preventing employers from hiring foreign workers to displace American workers (DeLauro).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2702, a bill to provide much needed protections for American workers by preventing employers using the L-1 visa to hire foreign workers and displacing American workers to hire L-1s. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) was the primary sponsor.

1998: Voted for a bill to almost double H-1B foreign high-tech workers (Smith).
Rep. McGovern helped the House pass H.R.3736. Enacted into law, it increased by nearly 150,000 the number of foreign workers high-tech American companies could hire over the next three years. The primary sponsor was Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas).

Rep. McGovern co-sponsored the Lady Liberty Act of 2025 (H.R. 670) to increase the refugee intake ceiling.

The Lady Liberty Act (by Gerry Connolly, D-VA) would establish a refugee intake ceiling of 125,000/year (compared to the 50,000/year recommended by the Jordan Commission). The bill would also provide immunity to local law enforcement who honor an ICE detainer request.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 3194 to add 25,000 asylum visas over 10 years
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3194, the U.S. Citizenship Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.). The legislation would add an additional 25,000 green cards over 10 years to be used for refugees from Syria.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1325 to give work permits to asylum seekers
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1325, the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act, introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). The legislation would provide work permits to all "non-frivolous" and non-detained asylum seekers 30 days after submitting their asylum claim. Work permits would be valid until the asylum seeker receives a final judicial determination.

2023: Voted against H.R. 2 to reduce Asylum Fraud
Rep. McGovern voted against 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.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1643 to increase refugee admissions
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1643, the New Deal for New Americans Act, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). The legislation would increase the average number of refugee admissions each year from 50,000 to 110,000.

2022: Sponsored H.R. 8685 to grant amnesty to Afghan evacuees Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 8685, the Afghan Adjustment Act, introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.). The legislation would grant amnesty to approximately 75,000 Afghan evacuees and their family members who were paroled into the United States and arent eligible for other programs offered for translators and others who assisted U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 3800 to expand refugee and asylum numbers Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3800, the GLOBE Act, introduced by Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.). The legislation would qualify sexual orientation or gender identity under the social groups provision of refugee/asylum law. This change would immediately qualify an estimated 640 million foreign citizens for refugee or asylum status in the U.S.

2022: Sponsored H.R. 6693, Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2022 Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 6693, the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2022, introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). The legislation would allow employment authorization documents to be provided to all non-detained asylum seeker after 30 days of claiming asylum.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 4736 to increase the number of Afghan refugees Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 4736, the Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act, introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). The legislation would extend priority 2 refugee status to approximately 75,000 Afghan refugees who were employed by the U.S. government or a U.S. affiliated NGO.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 3513, the Afghan Allies Protection Act, to increase refugee admissions Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3513, the Afghan Allies Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.). The legislation would set aside an additional 4,000 visas for refugees from Afghanistan.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 3985 to increase refugee resettlement Rep. McGovern sponsored 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.

2021: Sponsored. H.R. 2237, the GRACE Act, to increase refugee admissions Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2237, the GRACE Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would establish a new floor for refugee admissions at 125,000 per year.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 2826 to increase refugee admissions Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 2826 introduced by Rep. Nadia Velazquez (D-NY). The legislation would require the U.S. to admit a minimum of 50,000 climate refugees each year.

2021: Voted in favor of H.R. 3985 to increase refugee resettlement Rep. McGovern 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.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 2662 to encourage asylum fraud Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2662, the Asylum Seeker Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Calif.), to terminate the Migrant Protection Protocol (Remain in Mexico) policy. By Eliminating MPP, it would encourage asylum fraud by allowing unauthorized migrants to claim asylum and be released into the country as they await their asylum hearing.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3524 to increase asylum claims Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3524, the Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), that would create 100,000 new green cards each year for five years for asylees from the Northern Triangle countries. The bill does provide funding for additional immigration judges on the border.

2020: Cosponsored H.R. 3874, the Greater Leadership Overseas for the Benefit of Equality Act, to increase asylum claims Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3874, the Greater Leadership Overseas for the Benefit of Equality Act, introduced by Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.). The legislation would eliminate the asylum filing deadline. The deadline requires individuals wishing to file for asylum to do so within 1 year of entering the country. By removing the deadline, it would allow aliens to file for asylum at any time.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4928, the New Deal for New Americans Act of 2019, to increase refugee admissions Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4928, the New Deal for New Americans Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). The legislation would make it easier for greencard holders to become U.S. citizens, but most importantly, the bill would increase the number of refugees resettled in the United States to 110,000 per year.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4873, the Syrian Partner Protection Act, to increase the number of Syrian immigrants Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4873, the Syrian Partner Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-Co.). The legislation would create a new special immigrant visa for Syrians who worked with the U.S. in Syria. The program would allow for 4,000 visas to be issued each year for 5 years.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3376 to increase refugee admissions Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3376, the Lady Liberty Act, introduced by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), that would establish a refugee floor of at least 110,000 per year.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 2146 to establish a floor for refugee resettlement Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2146, the GRACE Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), that would set a floor for refugee resettlement at 95,000 per year.

2020: Cosponsored H.R. 3775, the Equal Justice for Immigrants Act, to increase the number asylum claims Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3775, the Equal Justice for Immigrants Act, introduced by Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.). The legislation would end the Migrant Protection Policy (Remain in Mexico) that effective ended the 2019 border surge. The legislation would also remove the prohibition on taxpayer funded counsel for detained aliens.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4732 to increase refugee admissions Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4732 introduced by Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.). The legislation would require the admission of a minimum of 50,000 new climate refugees each year.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3918, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, to encourage border surges Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3918, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). The legislation would encourage border surges and child trafficking by limiting the amount of time children can be kept in detention and presuming familial relationship. The bill would also allow for taxpayer funded lawyers for illegal border crossers.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4695, the PACT Act, to increase asylum fraud Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4695, the PACT Act, introduced by Rep. Elliot Engel (D-N.Y.). The legislation would make Syrian Kurds a priority for refugee resettlement, encouraging them to commit asylum fraud.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 1069, the Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act, to encourage border surges and asylum fraud Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1069, the Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). The bill would prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services from operating unlicensed temporary emergency shelters for unaccompanied alien children, including the previously operational shelter in Tornillo, Texas and the shelter in Homestead, Florida.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6135, the Keep Families Together Act, to weaken enforcement and increase refugee fraud Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6135, the Keep Families Together Act, introduced by Rep. Jarrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). The legislation would: 1) severely limit the ability of Customs and Border Protection to detain family units who cross the border illegally, 2) prohibits the prosecution of asylum-seekers for illegal entry until after their asylum claims have been decided, and 3) increase instances of asylum fraud by limiting the feds ability to detain and remove asylum-seekers.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 5694, the Afghan Allies Protection Amendments Act, to increase refugee green cards Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 5694, the Afghan Allies Protection Amendments Act, introduced by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.). The legislation would increase the number of refugees issued green cards by providing an additional 3,500 Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan nationals in 2019. It would also roll over any unused visas to future years.

2017: Cosponsored legislation to increase refugee intake (Lofgren) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1503, the SOLVE Act 2.0. This legislation would nullify President Donald Trumps Executive Order 13780, which temporarily halted refugee intake from terrorist-producing countries. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Cal).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to increase refugee numbers (Lofgren) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 724, the SOLVE Act of 2017. This legislation would nullify Executive Order 13769, thereby increasing the refugee cap by 35,000. The legislations main sponsor is Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Cal.).

2016: Cosponsored legislation to drastically increase immigration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 5851, the Refugee Protection Act. This legislation would make dramatic reforms to the Refugee program making it much easier for foreign nationals to come to the United States and claim refugee status. The bill virtually allows anyone who can make it to the United States to be approved for asylum process -- a number that could potentially affect more than 10 million people.

2015: Voted for the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase refugee resettlement Rep. McGovern 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: Cosponsored legislation to increase foreign worker numbers and refugee/asylee fraud Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2798, the Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act would automatically make all refugees and asylees green card holders, likely increasing the amount of fraud that already exists within the program.

2011: Cosponsored legislation to increase potential for asylum fraud (Lofgren) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2185, the Refugee Protection act of 2011. This legislation would have eliminated the 1-year application deadline for asylum, thus allowing more opportunities to enter in the United States. In addition, it would have waived waive the inadmissibility ban for certain terrorist activities and would require new detention facilities to be located within 50 miles of a major city. Furthermore, it would have expedited and made the overall process for asylum seekers more comfortable by providing them with full medical care, housing, legal representation, toiletries, medication, long distance phone calls, and translators. The bills main sponsor was Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Cal.).

2007: Voted against an amendment to reduce the time period of a countrys temporary protected status. Rep. McGovern voted against 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.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to grant amnesty to Liberian refugees (Kennedy).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored the Liberian Refugee Immigration Protection Act of 2007, a bill which would grant permanent lawful resident status to Liberian national aliens (including those present in the United States who have been ordered excluded, deported, removed, or ordered to depart voluntarily) who were eligible for Temporary Protected Status This bill was sponsored by Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.).

None

2005-2006: Voted for amendment (Nadler) to strip asylum reforms (H.R. 418)
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Nadler Amendment to H.R. 418 to strip asylum reforms that would prevent terrorists from gaming our asylum system. The Nadler Amendment would have stripped provisions to ensure that our asylum system is consistent with our justice system in which the trier of fact is always allowed to use the credibility of the defendant and witnesses in deciding the case. The Nadler Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), failed by a vote of 185-236 on February 10, 2005 (1:55 PM).

2004: Voted against bill to reduce asylum fraud (Hastert)
Rep. McGovern voted against final passage of H.R. 10 that included a provision to reduce asylum fraud by reaffirming that the burden of proof is on the asylum claimant, and that the adjudicator may require corroborating evidence in certain cases. H.R. 10, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), passed by a vote of 282-134.

2004: Voted against reducing asylum fraud by voting in favor of amendment (Smith) to strip provision making it harder for terrorists to get asylum
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Smith Amendment to strip from H.R. 10 the asylum provision to make it harder for terrorists to receive asylum in the U.S. by no longer allowing aliens who allege they will be persecuted because of terrorist ties to automatically receive asylum based on that claim. The Smith Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), failed by a vote of 197-219.

2004: Voted in favor of a Motion to Recommit (Maloney) on H.R. 10 to strip provision to reduce asylum fraud
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Maloney Motion to Recommit with Instructions to strip from H.R. 10 a provision to reduce asylum fraud by reaffirming that the burden of proof is on the asylum claimant, and that the adjudicator may require corroborating evidence in certain cases. The Maloney Motion to Recommit, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), failed by a vote of 193-223.

2004: Voted in favor of Motion to Instruct Conferees to strip asylum fraud reducing provisions from H.R. 10
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of a Motion to Instruct Conferees to strip a provision from H.R. 10 to reduce asylum fraud by reaffirming that the burden of proof is on the asylum claimant, and that the adjudicator may require corroborating evidence in certain cases. The Motion to Instruct failed by a vote of 169-229.

2004: Voted in favor of amendment (Menendez) to H.R. 10 to strip provision to reduce asylum fraud
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Menendez Amendment to strip from H.R. 10 a provision to reduce asylum fraud by reaffirming that the burden of proof is on the asylum claimant, and that the adjudicator may require corroborating evidence in certain cases. The Menendez Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), failed by a vote of 203-213.

2025: (Jan. 22) Rep. McGovern voted against the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to prevent a type of amnesty through abuse of parole.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by giving parole (a form of amnesty) to classes of inadmissible aliens instead of on a case by case basis. (The bill passed the Senate 64-35 and passed the House 263-156.)

2025: (Jan. 07) Rep. McGovern voted against the Laken Riley Act (H.R. 29) to prevent a type of amnesty through abuse of parole.
The Laken Riley Act (by Mike Collins, R-GA) included a provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by giving parole (a form of amnesty) to classes of inadmissible aliens instead of on a case by case basis. (The bill passed 264-159, but was not considered by the Senate which focused on passing its own version, S. 5.)

2023: Co-sponsored H.R. 6381 to amnesty certain illegal aliens
Rep. McGovern co-sponsored H.R. 6381, the Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2023, introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). The legislation would create a program to grant lawful status to removed veterans and blocks their removal except in cases of crimes of violence.

2024: Voted against H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act, to hold the federal government accountable for immigration parole abuse
Rep. McGovern voted against H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA). The legislation would give legal standing to states to sue the federal government over its abuse of parole for apprehended illegal aliens.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 3194 to grant amnesty to 11 million illegal aliens
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3194, the U.S. Citizenship Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.). The legislation would grant amnesty to nearly all illegal aliens currently living in the United States.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 16 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 16, the American Dream and Promise Act, introduced by Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Calif.). The legislation would grant amnesty to more than 3 million illegal aliens who either would qualify under the DREAM Act or have received Temporary Protected Status.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1698 to grant amnesty to illegal-alien family members
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1698, the American Families United Act, introduced by Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas). The legislation would allow the federal government to terminate removal proceedings, decline to order removed, grant permission to reapply for admission, or waive one or more grounds of inadmissibility for spouses and children of US citizens.

2023: Voted against H.R. 2 to prevent amnesties for illegal border crossers
Rep. McGovern voted against 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.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1511 to expand amnesties for illegal aliens indefinitely
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1511, the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act , introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would create a rolling amnesty by updating the immigration registry to apply to any illegal alien who has been in the country for at least seven years.

2021: Voted in Favor of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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: Voted in Favor of H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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: Sponsored H.R. 2766, the Families Belong Together Act, to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2766, the Families Belong Together Act, introduced by Joaquin Castro (D-Texas). The legislation would provide humanitarian parole and a path to citizenship to parents and children who were separated during Pres. Trumps tenure.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 6095 to extend TPS to Lebanon Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 6095, the Lebanon TPS Act of 2021, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). The legislation would grant Temporary Protected Status and work permits to Lebanese nationals in the United States, regardless of their immigration status.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 4276 to grant amnesty to Hong Kongers Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 4276, the Hong Kong Peoples Freedom and Choice Act, introduced by Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.). The legislation would grant a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) amnesty to illegal aliens residing in the United States from Hong Kong.

2022: Sponsored H.R. 8433 to create a registry amnesty Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 8433 introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Texas). The legislation would require any illegal aliens who has been in the U.S. continuously for 7 years to be eligible for a green card.

2022: Sponsored H.R. 7708 to grant amnesty to illegal-alien Vietnamese in the U.S. Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 7708, the Honor Our Commitment Act of 2022, introduced by Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.). The legislation would prohibit the detention and removal of approximately 9,000 Vietnamese illegal-aliens who currently reside in the United States.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored 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. 2920, the American Families United Act, to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2920, the American Families United Act, introduced by Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas). The legislation would grant an amnesty with a path to citizenship to illegal-alien family members of U.S. citizens. According to Pew, this would result in amnesty for approximately 3,844,000 illegal aliens.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 161 to grant TPS to Venezuelan nationals Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 161, introduced by Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.). The legislation would grant a temporary amnesty, in the form of temporary protected status, to approximately 130,000 illegal aliens from Venezuela.

2021: Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. McGovern 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.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 2813 to to issue work permits to illegal border crossers Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2813, the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act, introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), that would encourage future border surges by granting work permits after 30 days to anyone who passes a credible fear interview and completes an application for asylum.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4272, the TPS for Victims of Hurricane Dorian Act, to grant TPS to Bahamians Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4272, introduced by Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), the TPS for Victims of Hurricane Dorian Act. The legislation would have granted a temporary protected status to any Bahamian nationals living in the country, regardless of immigration status, at the time of enactment for a period of 18 months.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3799, the Reuniting Families Act, to increase legal immigration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3799, the Reuniting Families Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). The legislation would exempt certain family-preference immigrants from numerical limitations and increase annual caps on all adult family-preference categories. The bill would also repeal per-country caps, repeal the 3- and 10-year bars for admission, and increase the visa lottery by 25,000.

2020: Cosponsored H.R. 5767, the ENSURE Act of 2020, to block Eritreans from deportation Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 5767, the ENSURE Act of 2020, introduced by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). The legislation would offer deferred action and work permits to an estimated 700 Eritreans with final orders of removal who are living in the United States.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4303, the Bahamas TPS Act of 2019, to grant amnesty to Bahamian illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4303, the Bahamas TPS Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.). The legislation would prove Temporary Protected Status to Bahamians who arrive before the bills enactment or are currently in the country illegally.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 2537 to grant amnesty to Iraqi nationals Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2537, the Deferred Removal for Iraqi Nationals Including Minorities Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), that would grant deferred action to Iraqi nationals living in the United States.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3918, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, to reduce rewards for illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3918, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). The legislation would encourage border surges and child trafficking by limiting the amount of time children can be kept in detention and presuming familial relationship. The bill would also allow for taxpayer funded lawyers for illegal border crossers.

2020: Voted in favor of H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to grant a temporary amnesty for illegal workers Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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 in favor of H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to grant amnesty to illegal farm workers Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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 for H.R. 6 mass amnesty on House floor Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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: Cosponsored H.R. 1169, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2019, to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1169, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.). This legislation would grant amnesty to Liberians who have been in the U.S. since November 20, 2014. These aliens would be adjusted to LPR status, with few restrictions, and receive worker permits while their application is pending.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and TPS recipients Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.). The legislation would grant amnesty to approximately 3.2 million illegal aliens who claim that they came to the United States prior to the age of 18 and meet certain requirements. The legislation would also issue green cards to approximately 430,000 foreign citizens who have received Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Most TPS recipients were in the United States illegally prior to receiving the designation.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 641, the Agricultural Worker Program Act, to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 641, the Agricultural Worker Program Act of 2019, , introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). This legislation would grant amnesty to agriculture workers and their spouses and children if present in the U.S. at enactment as well as H-2A workers. It also includes an enforcement freeze for potentially eligible blue card workers and for those in removal proceedings. The bill allows for those who were ordered removed but still here to apply.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 541, the Keep Families Together Act, to expand catch and release Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 541, the Keep Families Together Act, introduced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). This legislation would severely limit the ability of Customs and Border Protection to separate children from parents or legal guardians except for the case of: 1) terminated legal rights, 2) child trauma agencies determine its best, or 3) trafficking/not parent/danger of abuse. $10,000 fine for violation. The legislation would also ban the prosecution of asylum seekers who cross the border illegally for improper entry until after their claim has been adjudicated. 180 BAD in Amnesty

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 5072, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act, introduced by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) to grant amnesty to illegal-alien Liberians Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 5072, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act. This legislation would grant amnesty to Liberians present since Nov. 20, 2014 and their spouse, children, and unmarried sons and daughters.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 4944, the Reuniting Families Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4944, the Reuniting Families Act. This legislation would eliminate the 3- and 10-year bars and exempt illegal aliens under the age of 21 from deportation. The bill would also allow DHS to waive inadmissibility for family unity and would allow any immediate family member whos been removed to receive parole.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 5908, the POWER Act, to grant amnesty to illegal-alien workers Rep. McGovern cosponsored, H.R. 5908, the POWER Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). The legislation would increase the U-visa cap from 10,000 to 30,000 and would allow essentially all workers to get temporary relief when workplace busts occur.

2017: Cosponsored the American Promise Act, introduced by Rep. Nydia Velazquez, to grant amnesty to TPS recipients Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4253, the American Promise Act. This legislation would grant amnesty to approximately 300,000 illegal aliens who have received Temporary Protected Status. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.).

2017: Cosponsored the Dream Act, introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard to grant amnesty to young illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3440, the Dream Act of 2017. This legislation would grant amnesty to an estimated 3.3 million young illegal aliens. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to amnesty illegal aliens (Serrano) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2508, the Child Citizen Protection Act. This legislation would codify former President Obamas DAPA amnesty granting legal status and work permits to 5 million illegal aliens.

2017: Cosponsoring legislation to reward certain illegal aliens with amnesty in exchange for military service in (Denham) Rep. McGovern is a cosponsor of H.R. 60, the ENLIST Act. The ENLIST Act provides amnesty in the form of conditional legal permanent residence to aliens who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. Eligible aliens must have been unlawfully present in the U.S. prior to 2012, continuously present in the U.S. since that date, younger than 15 upon initial entry, and otherwise eligible for enlistment. That conditional status is rescinded if the alien separates from the Armed Forces prior to completing the term of enlistment for anything other than honorable conditions. The bill’s main sponsor is Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA).

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

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

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

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

2015: Cosponsored legislation to amnesty illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2205, the American Families United Act. This legislation would grant amnesty to an estimated 5 million illegal aliens by allowing the illegal-alien parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to apply for a waiver from the 3-year and 10-year bars. The bill also authorizes judges to decline to order an alien removed, deported, or excluded and terminate related proceedings or grant permission to reapply for admission or for relief from removal where it would result in a separation hardship for the family. The bill also removes the 3-year and 10-year bars for illegal aliens who entered the country under the age of 16 and have a high school diploma or equivalent.

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

2015: Voted against Aderholt Amendment to H.R. 240 to defund Pres. Obamas Nov. 2014 amnesty Rep. McGovern voted against 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 against Blackburn Amendment to H.R. 240 to defund Pres. Obamas DACA amnesty Rep. McGovern voted against 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 against legislation to end DACA (Blackburn) Rep. McGovern voted against H.R. 5272, legislation introduced by Rep. Marsha Blackurn to defund DACA. The bill represents a serious effort to address the true cause of the current border crisis: President Obamas contempt for immigration law. The bills language prevents the Obama Administration from expanding the existing illegal DACA amnesty program by using the primary power the Constitution reserves for the House of Representatives, the power of the purse. It prohibits the use of federal funds or resources for any further deferred action or work authorization for illegal aliens. The bill passed 216-192-1 (1 August 2014).

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

2011: Cosponsored bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty Rep. McGovern is a cosponsor of H.R. 1293, a bill to grant amnesty to illegal aliens from Liberia. H.R. 1293 would grant amnesty to illegal aliens from Liberia who have been continuously present in the United States since January 1, 2011. As well, it allows Liberian nationals who have previously been ordered deported, removed, or excluded to apply for amnesty. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) is the bills main sponsor.

2010: Voted for the DREAM Act amnesty, which would have rewarded illegal aliens with 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. Fortunately, the DREAM Act did not pass.

2009-2010: Cosponsored the DREAM Act, which rewards illegal aliens with amnesty (Berman).
Rep. McGovern is a cosponsor of H.R. 1741, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007. H.R. 1741 would grant amnesty to illegal aliens under the age of 35 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. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty (Gutierrez).
Rep. McGovern is a cosponsor of H.R. 1645 to grant amnesty to nearly all of the 12 million illegal aliens in the United States by one of several routes. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Cosponsored the Haitian Protection Act (Hastings).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 522, the Haitian Protection Act of 2007, a means by which the DHS may grant refugee status to aliens who would otherwise be prohibited from staying in the United States. This bill would encourage immigration fraud. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2006: Voted against an amendment that denies temporary amnesty for certain Central Americans.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Tancredo Amendment to H.R. 5441, the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill of 2007. The Tancredo Amendment would prohibit funds appropriated by H.R. 5441 from being used to administer extensions of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) amnesty for Guatemalans, Hondurans, or Nicaraguans. The Tancredo Amendment failed by a vote of 134-284.

2005-2006: Cosponsored bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty (Davis)
H.R. 3364 is a bill to extend the massive NACARA amnesty for Nicaraguans and Cubans to up to 2.3 million illegal aliens from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) was the primary sponsor.

2005-2006: Cosponsored AgJobs to grant amnesty to illegal aliens working in agriculture (Cannon).
Rep. McGovern was a cosponsor of H.R. 884 to encourage more illegal immigration by rewarding certain illegal aliens who work in agriculture with amnesty. This bills primary sponsor was Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah).

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to grant amnesty to illegal aliens (Cannon).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3142 to reward certain illegal aliens working in agriculture with amnesty. Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) was the primary sponsor.

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty (Diaz-Balart).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2843, an amnesty for illegal aliens from Perus and Colombia. Amnesties have been shown to increase rates of illegal immigration. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Belart (R-Fla.) was the primary sponsor.

2003-2004: Cosponsored a bill to reward college-age illegal aliens with amnesty (Cannon).
H.R. 1684 was a defacto amnesty to grant legal status to certain college-age illegal aliens who would qualify to receive in-state tuition rates. An estimated 500,000 to 600,000 illegal aliens would have qualified for this amnesty. This bills primary sponsor was Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah).

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to grant amnesty to illegal aliens (Davis).
H.R. 1300 was a bill to extend the massive NACARA amnesty for Nicaraguans and Cubans to up to 2.3 million illegal aliens from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. This bills primary sponsor was Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.).

2002: Voted for a resolution to reward illegal immigrants with the Section 245(i) amnesty.
Rep. McGovern voted for H RES 365, a four-month extension of Section 245(i), an amnesty for illegal aliens that rewards illegal immigrants with residency by allowing certain illegal aliens to pay a 1,000 fine, to apply for a green card in this country, and to stay without fear of deportation. H RES 365, sponsored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), passed by a vote of 275 to 137.

2001-2002: Voted for a bill to extend an illegal immigrant amnesty act (Gekas).
Rep. McGovern voted to reward illegal immigrants with amnesty by voting in favor of H.R. 1885, or a four-month extension of Section 245(i). The bills primary sponsor was Rep. George Gekas (R-Penn).

2001-2002: cosponsored bill offering amnesty to illegal aliens from certain countries (Gutierrez)
Rep. McGovern chose to reward illegal aliens with amnesty by cosponsoring H.R. 348, a bill that would extend the NACARA amnesty to certain illegal aliens from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Haiti. The primary sponsor was Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.).

2001-2002: Cosponsored a bill to reward illegal aliens receiving in-state tuition with amnesty (Cannon).
H.R. 1918 would have granted a defacto amnesty by granting legal status to certain college-age illegal aliens who would qualify to receive in-state tuition rates. An estimated 500,000 to 600,000 illegal aliens would have qualified for this amnesty. This bills primary sponsor was Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah).

1999-2000: cosponsored bill to pass another amnesty (Gutierrez).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R.36, which would have rewarded approximately one million illegal aliens from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti, including their spouses and children, with a direct path to U.S. citizenship. The main sponsor of this bill was Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.).

1998: cosponsored a bill to award amnesty to illegal aliens (Gutierrez).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R.3553, which would have awarded amnesty to almost 1.2 million illegal immigrants, in addition to the almost one million who were granted amnesty in 1997. The primary sponsor of this bill was Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.).

1997-1998: Voted against a motion to strip an amensty from a bill.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Rohrabacher Motion to H.R. 2267 to kill the Section 245(i) amnesty that allowed certain illegal aliens to pay a fee and avoid a 1996 laws provision that punishes illegal aliens by barring them for 10 years from entering the U.S. on a legal visa as a student, tourist, worker or immigrant. The Rohrabacher Motion, sponsored by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), failed by a vote of 153-268.

1997-1998: cosponsored a bill to grant amnesty to illegal aliens (Diaz-Balart).
Rep. McGovern supported a bill, H.R.2302, that would have allowed 540,000 illegal immigrants from Central America to apply for amnesty, even though they previously had been denied asylum in the United States. The primary sponsor was Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). Congress eventually passed a much-expanded version of this proposed amnesty by slipping it into an appropriations bill for the District of Columbia (see the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act of 1997).

Rep. McGovern voted against the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) to require states to verify the citizenship status of voters.

The SAVE Act (by Chip Roy, R-TX) would require states to verify the citizenship status of individuals registering to vote in federal elections and to remove non-citizens currently on voter rolls. (The bill passed the House 220-208 and proceeds to the Senate for consideration).
 

2023: Voted against H.J.Res. 24 to disapprove of illegal-alien voting in the District of Columbia
Rep. McGovern voted against 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. 3149 to extend federal healthcare assistance to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3149, the HEAL for Immigrant Families Act, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). The legislation would extend federal healthcare assistance, including Medicare, CHIP, and Obamacare exchange subsidies to illegal aliens. It would also remove the illegally present provision from the Affordable Care Act, allowing illegal aliens full access.

2021: Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. McGovern 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.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4701, the HEAL for Immigrant Women and Families Act of 2019, to allow aliens to access taxpayer benefits Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4701, the HEAL for Immigrant Women and Families Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). The legislation would remove the 5-year ban on an immigrants access to Medicaid and CHIP and allow illegal aliens to purchase taxpayer subsidized healthcare plans.

2020: Voted in favor of H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to provide stimulus checks for illegal aliens Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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 against the Motion to Recommit H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, to protect stimulus checks for illegal aliens Rep. McGovern voted against the 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.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 1571, the Debt-Free College Act of 2019, to give tuition benefits to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1571, the Debt-Free College Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.). This legislation would authorize illegal aliens who meet certain requirements (DACA/DAPA eligible) to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance under the Higher Education Act.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 1298, the Higher Education Dream Act of 2019, to give tuition benefits to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1298, the Higher Education Dream Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.). This legislation would give illegal-alien students who meet certain requirements (DREAM) access to higher education assistance. The legislation also would repeal the IIRIRA restriction , preventing illegal aliens from receiving tuition benefits if those same benefits are not extended to all U.S. citizens.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 641, the Agricultural Worker Program Act, to grant amnesty to illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 641, the Agricultural Worker Program Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). This legislation includes the same criminal restrictions as the DACA amnesty, including near unlimited waivers. Amnesty recipients would also receive employment and travel benefits.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 668, the American Dream Employment Act of 2019 to reward illegal immigration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 668, the American Dream Employment Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.). This legislation would allow DACA amnesty recipients to receive House and Senate jobs.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6525, the Higher Education Dream Act of 2018, to increase rewards for illegal immigration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6525 that would give Dreamer illegal aliens access to higher education assistance. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

2017: Cosponsored legislation to provide legal aid to illegal aliens (Foster) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R 913, the Immigrant Detainee Legal Rights Act. This legislation would require the Department of Justice to create an office to provide illegal alien detainees with legal aid. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to provide free legal counsel to all illegal aliens (Jayapal) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1006, legislation that would provide taxpayer-funded legal counsel to all illegal aliens. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Was.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to provide DREAMers with legal aid (Correa) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 858, the DREAMers, Immigrants, and Refugees (DIRe) Legal Aid Act. This legislation would force the government to donate funds to organizations that provide legal aid to illegal aliens who qualified for President Obamas illegal DACA executive actions. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Luis Correa (D-Cal.).

2015: Increases rewards for illegal aliens by extending health care benefits (Lujan Grisham) Rep. McGovern cosponsored Rep. Michelle Lujan Grishams HEAL for Immigrant Women and Families Act, H.R.1974, that would offer rewards to illegal aliens by extending taxpayer funded health care benefits to illegal aliens.

2015: Increases rewards for illegal immigration by providing legal counsel to illegal aliens (Jefferies) Rep. McGovern cosponsored Rep. Hakeem Jeffriess Vulnerable Immigrant Voice Act, H.R.1700, would offer rewards to illegal aliens by providing them with a taxpayer funded legal counsel.

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

2009: Voted against allowing consideration of verification amendments to the health care reform bill Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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 healthcare 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, the rule prevented the House from considering the Heller, Deal, and Wilson verification amendments to the bill. By supporting the rule, Rep. McGovern signaled his/her support of a health bill that creates rewards or incentives for illegal immigration. The rule passed 242-192 (7 Nov. 09; 1:33 PM).

2009-2010: Cosponsored the DREAM Act, which rewards illegal aliens with amnesty and in-state tuition (Berman).
Rep. McGovern is a cosponsor of H.R. 1741, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors [DREAM] Act of 2007. H.R. 1741 would grant illegal aliens permanent resident status and allow them to pay in-state tuition at Americas public colleges and universities. Such a reward for illegal immigration serves as an incentive for more illegal immigration. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2008: Voted against an amendment to prevent illegal aliens from receiving federal housing funds.
Rep. McGovern vote against 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. McGovern 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 against an amendment to prohibit Social Security funds from being used to administer benefits accrued from work performed in Mexico.
Rep. McGovern voted against 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 allow illegal aliens to vote in union elections.
Rep. McGovern voted against 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.

2005-2006: Voted for an amendment to aid states in conforming with minimum federally-mandated license standards.
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Obey amendment to H.R. 2360 to provide $100 million to fund grants under the REAL ID Act to assist States in conforming with minimum drivers? license standards. The Obey amendment passed by a vote of 226-198.

2005-2006: Cosponsored AgJobs to protect illegal aliens from prosecution (Cannon).
Rep. McGovern was a cosponsor of H.R. 884 to reward illegal immigration by protecting illegal aliens granted temporary resident status from prosecution for Social Security fraud. This bills primary sponsor was Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah).

2005: Voted against the Rule that incorporated the Managers Amendment to H.R. 418 to reduce rewards for illegal immigration Rep. McGovern voted against the Rule that incorporated the Managers Amendment to H.R. 418 to strike both the section of the bill that explicitly recognizes states ability to issue driving certificates that do not comply with the standards

2005: Voted against H.R. 418 to reduce rewards for illegal immigration Rep. McGovern voted against legal presence requirement that would make illegal aliens ineligible for drivers licenses. As well

2004: Voted against bill to prohibit drivers licenses for illegal aliens (Hastert)
Rep. McGovern voted against final passage of H.R. 10 that included provisions to set federal standards for the issuance of drivers licenses and birth certificates. H.R. 10 prohibited issuance of drivers licenses to illegal aliens and required that drivers licenses of temporary visa holders expire when their visa expires. As well, H.R. 10 contained provisions to prohibit the use of consular-issued ID cards. H.R. 10, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), passed by a vote of 282-134.

2004: Voted in favor of a Motion to Recommit (Maloney) on H.R. 10 to prohibit issuance of drivers licenses to illegal aliens
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Maloney Motion to Recommit with Instructions to strip from H.R. 10 a provision to set federal standards for the issuance of drivers licenses and birth certificates. H.R. 10 prohibited the issuance of drivers licenses to illegal aliens and required that drivers licenses of temporary visa holders expire when their visa expires. As well, H.R. 10 contains provisions to prohibit the use of consular-issued ID cards. The Maloney Motion to Recommit, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), failed by a vote of 193-223.

2004: Voted against prohibiting drivers licenses for illegal aliens by voting in favor of a Motion to Instruct Conferees
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of a Motion to Instruct Conferees to strip a provision from H.R. 10 to set federal standards for the issuance of drivers licenses and birth certificates. H.R. 10 prohibited the issuance of drivers licenses to illegal aliens and required that drivers licenses of temporary visa holders expire when their visa expires. As well, H.R. 10 contained provisions to prohibit the use of consular-issued ID cards. The Motion to Instruct failed by a vote of 169-229.

2004: Voted in favor of amendment (Menendez) to H.R. 10 to strip provisions prohibiting issuance of drivers licenses for illegal aliens
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Menendez Amendment to strip from H.R. 10 a provision to set federal standards for the issuance of drivers licenses and birth certificates. H.R. 10 prohibited the issuance of drivers licenses to illegal aliens and required that drivers licenses of temporary visa holders expire when their visa expires. As well, H.R. 10 contained provisions to prohibit the use of consular-issued ID cards. The Menendez Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), failed by a vote of 203-213.

2004: Voted for amendment (Oxley) allowing use of foreign ID cards in U.S.
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Oxley Amendment to strip the Culberson Amendment from H.R. 5025. The Culberson Amendment would have prohibited the use of matricula consular ID cards. The Oxley Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio), passed by a vote of 222-177.

2004: Voted against amendment (Hayworth) and in favor of rewarding illegal aliens with Social Security benefits.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Hayworth Amendment to H.R. 5006 that would have effectively prevented the U.S.-Mexico totalization agreement from taking effect, and, as a result, prevented Social Security payments to illegal aliens from Mexico. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. J. D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), failed by a vote of 178-225.

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill protecting illegal immigrants from prosecution (Cannon).
Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3142 to reward illegal immigration by protecting illegal aliens granted temporary resident status from prosecution for Social Security fraud. Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) was the primary sponsor.

2003-2004: Voted against an amendment to fight the use of foreign IDs.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Hostettler Amendment to put some major restrictions on consular-issued ID cards that are frequently issued to illegal aliens by foreign governments. These cards make it easier for illegal aliens to gain government services and to otherwise profit from their illegal activity. The Hostettler, sponsored by Rep. John Hostettler (R-Ind.), Amendment passed by a vote of 226-198.

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to grant amnesty to college-age illegal aliens (Cannon).
H.R. 1684 would have rewarded illegal immigration by adjusting the status of certain college-age illegal aliens to legal permanent resident for the purpose of receiving in-state college tuition rates. This bills primary sponsor was Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah).

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

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

Rep. McGovern voted against the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (H.R. 35) to make evading CBP a criminal offense.

The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (by Juan Ciscomani, R-AZ) makes it a criminal offense to evade CBP or other authorities assisting CBP using a motor vehicle within 100 miles of the border. Those convicted, and who are unlawfully present, are permanently ineligible for legal status, including asylum. (The bill passed 264-155 and will be considered by the Senate.)

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

The FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) is the first step towards passing the House proposal to provide $200 billion for immigration enforcement, including border wall construction and additional agents. (The resolution passed the House 217-215, setting up a conference with the Senate).

Rep. McGovern co-sponsored the Access to Counsel Act (H.R. 944) to provide time for illegal border crossers to access legal counsel.

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

Rep. McGovern co-sponsored the NO BAN Act (H.R. 924) to strictly limit presidential authority to limit or halt immigration.

The NO BAN Act (by Judy Chu, D-CA) would strictly limit the president’s broad authority found under 8 USC 1182(f) to stop immigration “whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 3194 to encourage border surges
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3194, the U.S. Citizenship Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.). The legislation would likely create a massive surge of illegal border crossings because of the amnesty, new enforcement guidelines that block removals of illegal aliens, and the green card expansions.

2023: Voted against H.R. 2 to strengthen border security
Rep. McGovern voted against 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.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 2374 to limit immigration enforcement
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 2374, the New Way Forward Act, introduced by Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.). The legislation would strictly limit any type of immigration enforcement at both the border and the interior of the country.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 666 to provide time for illegal border crossers time to access council
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 666, the Access to Counsel Act, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). The legislation would require a time period for aliens at port of entry to access counsel, effective slowing down crossing at ports of entry for everyone.

2022: Sponsored H.R. 3993 to prohibit detention of some illegal-alien women Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3993, the Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act, sponsored by Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas). The legislation would prevent the detention of pregnant and postpartum women who cross the border illegally.

2020: Voted in favor of H.R. 5581, the Access to Counsel Act, to hamper border security Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 2852 to weaken border security Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2852, the Border Zone Reasonableness Restoration Act, introduced by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), that limits the jurisdiction of border patrol officers. Under the bill, the zone where border patrol officers can operate would be reduced from within 100 miles of the border to within 25 miles of the border. Further, the bill would restrict the amount of air space they can patrol.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 2686 to weaken border security Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2686, the Border Property Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), that would block funds from being used for eminent domain in order to construct additional border barriers.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3524 to strengthen border security Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3524, the Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) that would fund additional immigration judges at the southern border.

2020: Cosponsored H.R. 3731, the Strategic and Humane Southern Border Migrant Response Act, to encourage border surges Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3731, the Strategic and Humane Southern Border Migrant Response Act, introduced by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). This legislation would expand Alternatives to Detention, almost guaranteeing that most apprehended aliens would be released. The bill would also prevent the separation of family members, thereby encouraging more border surges of family members.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 5383, the New Way Forward Act, to eliminate most immigration enforcement Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 5383, the New Way Forward Act, introduced by Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.). The legislation would, in effect, eliminate enforcement by: 1) eliminating private prisons, 2) turning all UACs who cross the border illegally over to HHS and releasing most illegal aliens within 48 hours, 3) ending mandatory detention for criminal aliens, 4) reducing the removal period from 90 to 60 days, 5) eliminating several crimes from the list of deportable/inadmissible crimes, 6) eliminating expedited removal, and 7) decriminalizing crossing the border illegally.

2020: Cosponsored H.R. 3563, the Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act, to encourage border surges Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3563, the Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act, introduced by Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas). The legislation would prevent border patrol from detaining pregnant women who cross the border illegally.

2020: Cosponsored H.R. 5581, the Access to Counsel Act, to hamper border security Rep. McGovern cosponsored 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.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3918, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, to encourage border surges Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3918, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). The legislation would encourage border surges and child trafficking by limiting the amount of time children can be kept in detention and presuming familial relationship. The bill would also allow for taxpayer funded lawyers for illegal border crossers.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 1998, the Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2019, reward illegal immigration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1998, the Protect DREAMers Confidentiality Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.). This legislation would block use of DACA information except for preventing fraud, national security purposes related to an individual application, or investigating or prosecuting a felony not related to immigration.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 365, the This Land Is Our Land Act, to prevent additional border barriers Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 365, the This Land Is Our Land Act, introduced by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.). This legislation prohibits any funds from being used to construct new border barriers along the Southern border.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 541, the Keep Families Together Act, to expand catch and release Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 541, the Keep Families Together Act, introduced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). This legislation would severely limit the ability of Customs and Border Protection to separate children from parents or legal guardians except for the case of: 1) terminated legal rights, 2) child trauma agencies determine its best, or 3) trafficking/not parent/danger of abuse. $10,000 fine for violation. The legislation would also ban the prosecution of asylum seekers who cross the border illegally for improper entry until after their claim has been adjudicated. 180 BAD in Amnesty

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6462, the Border Zone Reasonableness Restoration Act of 2018, to weaken border security Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6462 that would shrink the enforcement zone along the border for Customs and Border Protection and restrict warrantless searches and seizures. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6326, the Reunite Separated Families Act, that weakens border security Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6326 that would restrict the deportation of separated parents and requires that all illegal-alien families be detained for no more than 20 days. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6232, the Preventing Family Separation for Immigrants with Disabilities Act Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6232, the Preventing Family Separation for Immigrants with Disabilities Act, introduced by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.). The legislation would allow DHS to detain minors who cross the border illegally with the exception of a few exclusions.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6193, the Central America Family Protection and Reunification Act, to weaken border security Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6193, the Central America Family Protection and Reunification Act. The legislation would make it more difficult for the feds to detain and prosecute family units and unaccompanied minors who cross the border illegally.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6236, the Family Unity Rights and Protection Act Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6236, introduced by Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.). The legislation would allow DHS to detain family units who cross the border illegally and allow for family adjudication.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6135, the Keep Families Together Act, to weaken enforcement and increase refugee fraud Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6135, the Keep Families Together Act, introduced by Rep. Jarrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). The legislation would: 1) severely limit the ability of Customs and Border Protection to detain family units who cross the border illegally, 2) prohibits the prosecution of asylum-seekers for illegal entry until after their asylum claims have been decided, and 3) increase instances of asylum fraud by limiting the feds ability to detain and remove asylum-seekers.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6594, the REUNITE Act, that grants amnesty to TPS recipients Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6594 that would redirect money used for immigration Enforcement and Removal Operations to be used to help reunite illegal-alien families and to provide legal counsel to illegal aliens. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

2017: Cosponsored legislation to prevent construction of border fence in 2017 (Moore) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1477, the No Taxpayer Funding for the Wall Act. This legislation would prevent taxpayer funds being used to build President Trumps planned border fence. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to nullify immigration enforcement executive order (Lofgren) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 920, the Protecting Our Border Communities Act of 2017. This legislation would prevent the government from acting on President Trumps Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements executive order. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Cal.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to prevent border fence completion (Lujan Grisham) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 837, the Build Bridges Not Walls Act. This legislation would prevent the government from acting on any executive order issued by the president that requires the building of a border fence or wall. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to prevent border wall construction (Espaillat) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 739, the This Land is Our Land Act. This legislation would prevent DHS from construction border walls, barriers, or fences on federal lands. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY).

2012: Voted in favor of an amendment to hamstring border enforcement in 2012 (Grijalva) Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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. McGovern 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: Supported an amendment to build cell phone towers along the U.S. - Mexico border (Poe) Rep. McGovern supported 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: Voted against an amendment to deter illegal immigration and drug smuggling by removing lookout posts for smugglers.
Rep. McGovern voted against 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. Rep. McGoverns vote was one to continue allowing illegal drugs and aliens across our border.

2008: Has not Signed Discharge Petition to move H.R. 4088, a bill to increase border security Rep. McGovern has not signed the Discharge Petition on H.R. 4088, the SAVE Act, to increase border security. 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: Voted against an amendment to increase funding for the construction of a border fence.
Rep. McGovern voted against 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.

2006: Voted for a bill to prevent border tunnels.
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of H.R. 4830, the Border Tunnel Protection Act of 2006 to penalize any person who constructs or uses a border tunnel. H.R. 4830 passed by a vote of 422 to 0.

2006: Voted against border fence Rep. McGovern voted against H.R. 6061 to create a 700 mile reinforced fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, and to provide for other barriers for border control. H.R. 6061 passed by a vote of 283-138-1 (1 denotes a vote of present.) on September 14, 2006.

2005-2006: Voted against an amendment that requires complete execution of the previously instituted entry-exit system.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Sullivan Amendment to H.R. 4437 to require full implementation of the automated entry-exit system that was instituted by Congress in 1996. As well, the Sullivan Amendment would have provided for expedited removal of most illegal aliens. The Sullivan Amendment failed by a vote of 163 to 251.

2005-2006: Voted against a bill to build 700 miles of a border fence.
Rep. McGovern voted against final passage of H.R. 4437 which included provisions to create 700 miles of border fencing along the Mexican border and to require implementation of the entry-exit system. H.R. 4437 was passed by the House by a vote of 239 to 182.

2005-2006: Voted against an amendment to reinforce physical structures, including fences, to keep illegal aliens out.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Hunter Amendment to H.R. 4437. The Hunter Amendment would shore up security by building fences and other physical infrastructure to keep out illegal aliens. The Hunter Amendment passed by a vote of 260-159.

2005-2006: Voted against amendment (Goode) to H.R. 1815 to authorize troops on the border
Rep. McGovern voted against authorizing the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the military, under certain conditions, to assist in the performance of border control functions. H. Amdt. 206, sponsored by Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.), passed the House by a vote of 245-184.

None

2004: Voted against bill to increase the number of Border Patrol agents (Hastert)
Rep. McGovern voted against final passage of H.R. 10 that included provisions to increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 2,000 a year for 5 years and to increase the number of ICE inspectors by 1,600 a year for 5 years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions aimed at better screening of airline passengers before they enter the U.S. H.R. 10, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), passed by a vote of 282-134.

2004: Voted in favor of amendment (Souder) to H.R. 10 to help security screeners reduce illegal immigration
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Souder Amendment to H.R. 10 to give all security screening personnel access to law enforcement and intelligence information maintained by DHS. The Souder Amendment sought to help security screeners identify and stop illegal aliens. The Souder Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.), passed by a vote of 410-0.

2004: Voted against amendment (Ose) to H.R. 10 to increase border control with border fence
Rep. McGovern voted against the Ose Amendment to ensure completion of the last 14 miles of the San Diego border fence. This would serve as a physical barrier to additional illegal immigration. The Ose Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Doug Ose (R-Calif.), passed by a vote of 252-160.

2004: Voted in favor of a Motion to Recommit (Maloney) on H.R. 10 to strip provisions to increase border security
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Maloney Motion to Recommit with Instructions to strip from H.R. 10 provisions to increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 2,000 a year for 5 years and to increase the number of ICE inspectors by 1,600 a year for 5 years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions aimed at better screening of airline passengers before they enter the U.S. The Maloney Motion to Recommit, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), failed by a vote of 193-223.

2004: Voted in favor of amendment (Menendez) to H.R. 10 to strip provisions reducing illegal immigration with border security
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Menendez Amendment to strip from H.R. 10 provisions to increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 2,000 a year for 5 years and to increase the number of ICE inspectors by 1,600 a year for 5 years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions aimed at better screening of airline passengers before they enter the U.S. The Menendez Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), failed by a vote of 203-213.

None

2003-2004: Voted against an amendment (Goode) to authorize the use of the military to assist in border control.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Goode Amendment to H.R. 1588 (Duncan) authorizing members of the military, under certain circumstances, to assist in border control efforts. The Goode Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.), passed the House by a vote of 250-179.

2002: Voted against an amendment to authorize the use of the military in border control efforts.
Rep. McGovern voted against H. Amdt. 479 to H.R. 4546 to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the military to assist in border control efforts. The amendment passed 232-183.

2001-2002: Voted against the Traficant Amendment to authorize the use of troops on the border.
Rep. McGovern voted against authorizing the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury to request that members of the Armed Forces assist the INS with border control efforts. The Traficant Amendment to H.R. 2586, sponsored by Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio), passed by a vote of 242-173.

1999-2000: Voted against the Traficant Amendment to authorize the use of the military on the border.
Rep. McGovern voted against authorizing the Secretary of Defense, under certain circumstances, to assign members of the military to assit the Border Patrol in their efforts. The Traficant Amendment to H.R. 1401, sponsored by Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio), passed by a vote of 242-181.

Rep. McGovern co-sponsored the No Round Up Act (H.R. 2129) to repeal the alien registration requirement of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The No Round Up Act (by Pramila Jayapal, D-WA) would repeal the Immigration and Nationality Act’s requirement that foreign citizens who spend more than 30 consecutive days in the United States register with the U.S. government.
 

Rep. McGovern co-sponsored the WISE Act (H.R. 2851) to prohibit immigration enforcement in designated areas.

The WISE Act of 2025 (Pramila Jayapal, D-WA) would prohibit the enforcement of immigration laws in designated public areas and would prohibit the use of certain illegal alien-submitted information to enforce immigration laws.

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

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

Rep. McGovern co-sponsored the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (H.R. 1061) to strictly limit where ICE can enforce the law.

The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (by Adriano Espaillat, D-NY) would prohibit ICE from detaining illegal aliens in certain locations.
 

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

The FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) is the first step towards passing the House proposal to provide $200 billion for immigration enforcement, including the government's ability to detain and remove people who are not admissible to the United States. (The resolution passed the House 217-215, setting up a conference with the Senate).

2025: (Jan. 22) Rep. McGovern voted against the Laken Riley Act (S.5) to strengthen detention requirements and give states the ability to sue the federal government for not enforcing immigration laws.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision to require the detention of aliens who have been convicted or arrested for various forms of theft, assault, and bodily harm; also included provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. (The bill passed the Senate 64-35 and passed the House 263-156.)

Rep. McGovern voted against the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act (H.R. 30) to make various forms of domestic abuse a deportable offense.

The Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act (by Nancy Mace, SC) would make aliens deportable from and inadmissible to the United States if they. are convicted of or have admitted to various crimes, including domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, sexual offenses, and violations of certain protection orders. (The bill passed 274-145 and has not yet been considered by the Senate.)

2025: (Jan. 07) Rep. McGovern voted against the Laken Riley Act (H.R. 29) to strengthen detention requirements and give states the ability to sue the federal government for not enforcing immigration laws.
The Laken Riley Act (by Mike Collins, R-GA) included a provision to require the detention of aliens who have been convicted or arrested for various forms of theft (burglary, larceny & shoplifting); also included provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. (The bill passed 264-159, but was not considered by the Senate which focused on passing its own version, S. 5.)

2023: Voted against H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act, to increase interior enforcement
Rep. McGovern voted against H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA). The legislation would give legal standing to states to sue the federal government over its non-enforcement of immigration laws.  The legislation also mandates the detention of illegal aliens for selected crimes.  The legislation passed the House, 251-170.

2024: Voted against H.R. 5717, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act

Rep. McGovern voted against H.R. 5717, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, introduced by Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY). The legislation bars localities that ignore ICE immigration detainer requests from receiving federal funds that are intended to benefit illegal aliens.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 3194 to prohibit most deportations
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3194, the U.S. Citizenship Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.). The legislation would block the deportation of illegal aliens until they've had an opportunity to apply for relief or an adjustment of status.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 3050 to exempt certain illegal aliens from deportaition.
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 3050, the Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act, introduced by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.). The legislation would retroactively redefine convictions to exclude “Nolo contendere” (pleas of no contest), meaning ONLY a final order of guilt from a judge could count against an illegal alien. It would also exempt dismissed, expunged, deferred, annulled, invalidated, withheld, vacated, or pardoned rulings with a judicial recommendation against removal.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1828 to discourage workplace enforcement
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1828, the POWER Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). The legislation would allow aliens who have been victims of labor or employment abuse to apply for a U visa (victims of crime) and to stay and work in the United States while the employer is under investigation. The legislation could discourage enforcement against employers of illegal aliens by rewarding the workers with visas and work permits.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 2697 to expand legal access for illegal aliens
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 2697, the Fairness to Freedom Act, introduced by Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.). The legislation would establish a right to counsel in immigration proceedings. Further, it would create an Office of Immigration Representation and authorizes an amount to be appropriated equal to what is spent on enforcement.

2023: Voted against H.R. 2494 to strengthen interior enforcement
Rep. McGovern voted against 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 against H.R. 2 to mandate E-Verify and criminalize visa overstays
Rep. McGovern voted against 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.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 2374 to limit immigration enforcement
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 2374, the New Way Forward Act, introduced by Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.). The legislation would strictly limit any type of immigration enforcement at both the border and the interior of the country.

2021: Voted in Favor of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act to weaken interior enforcement Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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: Voted in Favor of H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to weaken interior enforcement Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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.

2022: Sponsored H.R. 8349 to limit family separation Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 8349, the Childrens Safe Welcome Act of 2022, introduced by Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.). The legislation would strictly limit family separation for aliens while in either DHS or HHS custody. The legislation would also ban family detention centers and reinforce the Flores Settlement Agreement that limits the amount of time that DHS can detain children.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 5518 to authorize virtual naturalization ceremonies Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 5518, the Virtual Naturalization Act of 2021, introduced by Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas). The legislation would allow for virtual naturalizations, which could lead to fraud because immigrants will no longer have a place to turn in their green cards.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 2222 to ban detention for illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2222, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). The legislation would make it the sense of Congress that detention, even for a short period of time, inflicts severe, irreparable harm on children and should be avoided.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act to weaken interior enforcement Rep. McGovern cosponsored 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. 2925 to defund ICE detention centers Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 2925, the Freedom for Families Act, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). The legislation would cut off funds for family detention or residential centers and moves the funds into alternatives to detention.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 5517 to weaken interior enforcement Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 5517, the Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act, introduced by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.). The legislation would redefine a conviction to exclude all determinations except a final order of guilt from a judge. Further, the term of imprisonment is limited to incarcerations ordered by a court.

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

2020: Cosponsored H.R. 3731, the Strategic and Humane Southern Border Migrant Response Act, to reduce detention of illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3731, the Strategic and Humane Southern Border Migrant Response Act, introduced by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). This legislation would expand Alternatives to Detention, almost guaranteeing that most apprehended aliens would be released. The bill would also prevent the separation of family members, thereby encouraging more border surges of family members.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 4155 to encourage future border surges Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4155, the Funding Attorneys for Indigent Removal (FAIR) Proceedings Act, introduced by Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), that would require taxpayer funded immigration attorneys for certain illegal aliens. Further, the bill would repeal the existing ban on providing public counsel for foreign nationals on immigration matters.

2020: Cosponsored H.R. 5814, the No Public Charge Deportation Act of 2019, to block public charge aliens from removal Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 5814, the No Public Charge Deportation Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). The legislation would remove public charge from the list of grounds for deportability.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 5383, the New Way Forward Act, to eliminate most immigration enforcement Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 5383, the New Way Forward Act, introduced by Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.). The legislation would, in effect, eliminate enforcement by: 1) eliminating private prisons, 2) turning all UACs who cross the border illegally over to HHS and releasing most illegal aliens within 48 hours, 3) ending mandatory detention for criminal aliens, 4) reducing the removal period from 90 to 60 days, 5) eliminating several crimes from the list of deportable/inadmissible crimes, 6) eliminating expedited removal, and 7) decriminalizing crossing the border illegally.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 2729 to weaken interior enforcement Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 2729, the PROTECT Immigration Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) that would terminate the 287(g) program. Further, the bill would limit all immigration enforcement duties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, preventing local law enforcement from investigating, apprehending, or detaining illegal aliens.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 5466, the Prevention of Anti-Immigrant Violence Act of 2019, to expand several visa categories Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 5466, the Prevention of Anti-Immigrant Violence Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.). The legislation would add victims of hate crimes to U visas, increase them from 10,000 a year to 12,000 per year, and designate that 2,000 go to victims of hate crimes.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3799, the Reuniting Families Act, to increase legal immigration Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3799, the Reuniting Families Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). The legislation would exempt certain family-preference immigrants from numerical limitations and increase annual caps on all adult family-preference categories. The bill would also repeal per-country caps, repeal the 3- and 10-year bars for admission, and increase the visa lottery by 25,000.

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 3918, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, to reduce rewards for illegal aliens Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3918, the Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). The legislation would encourage border surges and child trafficking by limiting the amount of time children can be kept in detention and presuming familial relationship. The bill would also allow for taxpayer funded lawyers for illegal border crossers.

2019: Voted in favor of H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to weaken interior enforcement Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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. 1158, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, to prevent weakening interior enforcement Rep. McGovern voted against 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 in favor of H.R. 3401, the border crisis supplemental funding bill, to facilitate the continued trafficking of children along the Southern border Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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 for H.R. 6 to weaken enforcement on House floor Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, to weaken interior enforcement Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.). The legislation would grant amnesty to approximately 3.6 million illegal aliens prima facia, meaning it suspends interior enforcement during the time the amnesty is being granted.

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

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6361, the Establishing a Humane Immigration Enforcement System Act, to abolish immigration and customs enforcement Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6361 that would eliminate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and transfer their duties to other departments. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 4944, the Reuniting Families Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to weaken interior enforcement Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 4944, the Reuniting Families Act. This legislation would eliminate the 3- and 10-year bars and exempt classes of illegal aliens from deportation.

2018: Cosponsored H.R. 6594, the REUNITE Act, that grants amnesty to TPS recipients Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 6594 that would redirect money used for immigration Enforcement and Removal Operations to be used to help reunite illegal-alien families and to provide legal counsel to illegal aliens. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) is the lead sponsor of the legislation.

2017: Cosponsored the Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act, introduced by Rep. Beto ORourke, to weaken interior enforcement Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 3695, the Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act. This legislation would prevent the Department of Homeland Security from using information collected on applications from Pres. Obamas unconstitutional DACA executive amnesty for enforcement purposes. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Beto ORourke (D-Texas).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to prevent DHS from using DACA information (ORourke) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 532, the DREAMer Information Protection Act. This legislation would prevent DHS from using DACA-submitted information in enforcement operations. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Beto ORourke (D-Texas).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to end the 287(g) program (Velazquez) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1446, the No State Resources for Immigration Enforcement Act. This legislation would end the 287(g) program. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY).

2017: Cosponsored legislation weakening interior enforcement (Espaillat) Sen. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 845, the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. This legislation would prevent federal immigration agents from detaining illegal aliens in certain public places. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY).

2017: Cosponsored legislation ending the 287(g) program (Quigley) Sen. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 1236. This legislation would end the 287(g) program by prohibiting the federal government from entering into agreements with states and local jurisdictions to assist with immigration enforcement efforts. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.).

2017: Cosponsored H.R. 921, introduced by Rep. Lofgren (D-Calif.) to nullify Pres. Trumps sanctuary city executive order Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 921, the Community Trust Act of 2017. This legislation would nullify President Trumps Executive Order 13768, which called for immigration laws to be enforced and for sanctuary cities to be stripped of relevant federal funds. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Cal.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to nullify immigration enforcement executive order (Lofgren) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 920, the Protecting Our Border Communities Act of 2017. This legislation would prevent the government from acting on President Trumps Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements executive order. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Cal.).

2017: Cosponsored legislation to prevent border fence completion (Lujan Grisham) Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 837, the Build Bridges Not Walls Act. This legislation would prevent the government from acting on any executive order issued by the president that requires the building of a border fence or wall. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM).

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

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

2013-2014: Cosponsoring H.R. 300 to expand visa waiver program Rep. McGovern is a cosponsor of H.R. 300, the Visa Waiver for Israel Act of 2013. This bill would deem the country of Israel to be a program country for the visa waiver program (VWP) despite the country’s current high rate of visa overstays, which currently makes it ineligible for the program. If enacted, H.R. 300 would allow Israeli citizens to travel to the U.S. without obtaining a visa would likely result in an increased amount of visa overstays and increased illegal immigration. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA).

2012: Voted against an amendment to protect the 287(g) program (Sullivan) Rep. McGovern voted against 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 keep violent illegal aliens in custody (Cravaack) Rep. McGovern voted against 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: Supported an amendment to restrict local enforcement (Polis) Rep. McGovern voted in favor of 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: Voted against an amendment to increase 287(g) funding (Royce) Rep. McGovern voted against 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. McGovern 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. McGovern 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 against punishing sanctuary cities.
Rep. McGovern voted against 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: Has Not Signed Discharge Petition to move H.R. 4088, a bill to increase interior enforcement Rep. McGovern has not 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: Voted on House floor for amendment to fully fund the training of immigration enforcement officers.
Rep. McGovern 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.

2007: Voted in favor of sanctuary cities for illegal aliens Rep. McGovern voted against an amendment (H. Amdt. 294) to H.R. 2638 offered by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO). The Tancredo amendment would prohibit funds from the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations 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 Tancredo Amendment passed by a vote of 234 to 189.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to reduce funding for the visa waiver program.
Rep. McGovern voted against 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.

2006: Voted against a bill that increases interior enforcement by allowing the federal government to remove aliens from El Salvador.
Rep. McGovern voted against H.R. 6095 to clarify state and local law enforcements inherent authority to enforce Federal immigration laws and overturn a decades-old court injunction that impedes the Federal governments ability to remove aliens from El Salvador on an expedited basis. H.R. 6095 passed by a vote of 277-140.

2006: Voted against an amendment that disallows sanctuary cities for illegal aliens.
Rep. McGovern voted against the King Amendment to H.R. 5441, the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill of 2007. The King amendment would deny federal homeland security funding to state and local governments who refuse to share information with Federal immigration authorities.

2006: Voted for an amendment that increased interior enforcement by funding workplace verification.
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Marshall Amendment to H.R. 5441, the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill of 2007. The Marshall Amendment would fund USCISs electronic employment eligibility verification program. It passed by a vote of 358-63.

2005-2006: Voted against an amendment that requires complete execution of the previously instituted entry-exit system.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Sullivan Amendment to H.R. 4437 to require full implementation of the automated entry-exit system that was instituted by Congress in 1996. The Sullivan Amendment failed by a vote of 163 to 251.

2005-2006: Voted against a bill to require their employees legal right to work in the U.S.
Rep. McGovern voted against final passage of H.R. 4437 which would increase interior enforcement by requiring employers to use the Basic Pilot program to verify that new hires have the legal right to work in the United States. As well, it would bring state and local law enforcement agencies more into the enforcement fold and provide funding through both grants and reimbursement for their assistance in federal enforcement efforts. H.R. 4437 was passed by the House by a vote of 239 to 182.

2005-2006: Voted against an amendment to confirm local law enforcement has the authority to enforce current immigration law.
Rep. McGovern voted against the Norwood Amendment to H.R. 4437 to reaffirm state and local law enforcements existing inherent authority to assist in the enforcement of immigration law. It would bring state and local law enforcement agencies more into the enforcement fold and provide funding through both grants and reimbursement for their assistance in federal enforcement efforts. The Norwood Amendment passed by a vote of 237 to 180.

2005-2006: Voted against H. Amdt. 288 (Tancredo) and in favor of sanctuary policies for illegal aliens
Rep. McGovern voted against H. Amdt. 288 to H.R. 2862, the CJS Appropriations bill. The amendment would deny certain federal funding to states and cities that violate federal law by enacting sanctuary policies to protect illegal aliens. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), failed by a vote of 204 to 222 on June 16, 2005 (2:54 PM).

2005-2006: Voted against amendment (Norwood) to H.R. 1817 to clarify State authority concerning immigration law
Rep. McGovern voted against the Norwood Amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill to clarify the existing authority of State and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws and detain illegal aliens on May 18, 2005 (6:31 PM). Rep. Charles Norwood (R-Ga.) was the primary sponsor.

2005-2006: Voted against H. Amdt. 138 (Tancredo) and in favor of sanctuary policies for illegal aliens
Rep. McGovern voted against H. Amdt. 138 to H.R. 2360, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2006. The amendment would deny federal homeland security funding to states and local governments who refuse to share information with Federal immigration authorities. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), failed by a vote of 165 to 258 on May 17, 2005 (5:23 PM).

None

2004: Voted against bill to expand expedited removal provisions (Hastert)
Rep. McGovern voted against final passage of H.R. 10 that included provisions to increase interior enforcement by expanding current expedited removal provisions. H.R. 10 required DHS to utilize expedited removal in the case of all aliens who have entered the U.S. illegally and have not been present here for five years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions that would enhance entry-exit screening measures for people entering and exiting the U.S. H.R. 10, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), passed by a vote of 282-134.

2004: Voted in favor of a Motion to Recommit (Maloney) on H.R. 10 to strip provisions for expedited removal
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of a Maloney Motion to Recommit with Instructions to strip from H.R. 10 provisions to increase interior enforcement by expanding current expedited removal provisions. H.R. 10 required DHS to utilize expedited removal in the case of all aliens who have entered the U.S. illegally and have not been present here for five years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions that would enhance entry-exit screening measures for people entering and exiting the U.S. The Maloney Motion to Recommit, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), failed by a vote of 193-223.

2004: Voted for amendment (Smith) to decrease interior enforcement by stripping expedited removal provisions
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Smith Amendment to H.R. 10 to strip the expanded expedited removal provision from H.R. 10. This is the provision that had the potential to dramatically increase deportations of illegal aliens by eliminating the appeals process. Somewhere around 2.5 million illegal aliens could be subject to the expedited removal provision. The Smith Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), failed by a vote of 203-210.

2004: Voted against expedited removal by voting in favor of a Motion to Instruct Conferees
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of a Motion to Instruct Conferees to strip a provision from H.R. 10 to increase interior enforcement by expanding current expedited removal provisions. H.R. 10 required DHS to utilize expedited removal in the case of all aliens who have entered the U.S. illegally and have not been present here for five years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions that would enhance entry-exit screening measures for people entering and exiting the U.S. The Motion to Instruct failed by a vote of 169-229.

2004: Voted against amendment (Green) to H.R. 10 to create grounds of deportability
Rep. McGovern voted against the Green Amendment to H.R. 10 to make all terrorist-related grounds of inadmissibility, grounds of deportability, as well. The Green Amendment sought to strengthen immigration law with regard to the deportability of alien terrorists. The Green Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Mark Green (R-Wis.), passed by a vote of 283-132.

2004: Voted in favor of amendment (Menendez) to H.R. 10 to strip expedited removal provisions
Rep. McGovern voted in favor of the Menendez Amendment to strip from H.R. 10 provisions to increase interior enforcement by expanding current expedited removal provisions. H.R. 10 required DHS to utilize expedited removal in the case of all aliens who have entered the U.S. illegally and have not been present here for five years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions that would enhance entry-exit screening measures for people entering and exiting the U.S. The Menendez Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), failed by a vote of 203-213.

2004: Voted against the King Amendment to H.R. 4754 (Wolf) to enforce federal laws against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens
Rep. McGovern voted against increasing funding to the Justice Department for enforcing current federal law against sanctuary policies that protect illegal aliens, criminal aliens, and potentially, terrorists. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), failed by a vote of 139-278.

2004: Voted against the Tancredo Amendment to H.R. 4567 (Rogers) that would enforce Federal law against sanctuary policies.
Rep. McGovern voted against prohibiting homeland security funding from going to states or cities that violate Federal law with sanctuary policies that protect illegal aliens, criminal aliens, and potentially, terrorists. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) was the primary sponsor of this amendment.

2003-2004: Voted against bill to increase interior enforcement through workplace verification (Calvert).
Rep. McGovern voted against the Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003 to extend for five years the voluntary workplace verification pilot program. This program is an important component of preventing illegal aliens from taking jobs from legal workers. H.R. 2359, sponsored by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), failed by a vote of 231-170, but eventually passed as S. 1685 and was signed by President George W. Bush.

2024: Cosponsored H.R. 9244 to limit the presidents authority on immigration 

Rep. McGovern cosponsored H.R. 9244, the NO BAN Act, introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), legislation 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.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1075 to expand the H-2A program to Cuban nationals
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1075, the Baseball Diplomacy Act introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.). The legislation would allow Cubans to use the H-2B visa category to play baseball in the United States by removing the embargo on Cuban nationals.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1511 to expand amnesties for illegal aliens indefinitely
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1511, the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act , introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would create a rolling amnesty by updating the immigration registry to apply to any illegal alien who has been in the country for at least seven years.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 1643 to expand legal immigration
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 1643, the New Deal for New Americans Act, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). The legislation includes a number of provisions that would encourage more legal immigration into the United States.

2023: Sponsored H.R. 717 to grant amnesty to illegal-alien servicemembers
Rep. McGovern sponsored H.R. 717, the Repatriate Our Patriots Act, introduced by Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (R-Texas). The legislation would fast track illegal aliens who served in the military to citizenship, cancels all removal proceedings, and brings back all deported veterans.