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

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

2021: Voted against H.R. 5376 to grant amnesty to illegal aliens and issue additional green cards Rep. Emmer 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.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 3496 to increase legal immigration Rep. Emmer sponsored H.R. 3496, the EAGLE Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe. Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would lift per-country caps for employment-based green cards, while also allowing anyone living in the U.S. who has had an approved green card petition for at least 2 years to adjust their status exempt from the numerical limits. Further, it would allow adult children of guest worker visas who have overstayed a visa to obtain a green card.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2019: Voted in favor of the omnibus spending bill, H.J. Res. 31, to increase H-2B visas Sen. Emmer 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.

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

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

2023: Voted in favor of H.R. 2 to reduce Asylum Fraud
Rep. Emmer voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). The legislation would significantly reduce asylum fraud by strengthening the credible fear standard to ensure that only those who are more than likely to be awarded asylum by an immigration judge are allowed to continue with the asylum process. Further, it would prohibit individuals who cross the border illegally from claiming asylum and prevent asylum seekers from receiving a work permit for one year after entry.

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

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

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

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

2024: Voted for H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act, to hold the federal government accountable for immigration parole abuse
Rep. Emmer voted for 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: Voted in favor of H.R. 2 to prevent amnesties for illegal border crossers
Rep. Emmer voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). The legislation would reduce amnesty by strictly limiting the situations under which an administration can grant parole to illegal aliens.

2021: Sponsored H.R. 3496 to grant amnesty to legal Dreamers Rep. Emmer sponsored H.R. 3496, the EAGLE Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe. Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would allow adult children of guest worker visas who have overstayed their visa to obtain a green card.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2017: Cosponsored legislation to weaken REAL ID (Sanford) Rep. Emmer cosponsored H.R. 755, the REAL ID Protection Act. This legislation would prevent states from retaining paper copies of information provided to receive IDs and would prevent states from sharing ID information with other states. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC).

2016: Cosponsored legislation to repeal REAL ID (Zinke) Rep. Emmer has cosponsored H.R. 4375, the Repeal ID Act of 2016. The bill would repeal the REAL ID Act that requires U.S. citizens and legal immigrants to carry tamper-proof and secure forms of identification and to require states to share information. REAL ID would require use of the secure IDs to board airplanes among other things. Its repeal would make it easier for illegal aliens to live and travel in the United States. The bill was introduced by Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.).

2023: Voted in favor of H.R. 2 to strengthen border security
Rep. Emmer voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). The legislation would require DHS to restart border wall construction that has been authorized for and paid for by Congress and strengthen the Secure Fence Act of 2006 by requiring physical barriers along 900 miles of border. The legislation also provides retention bonuses for Border Patrol agents and defunds efforts to resettle illegal border crossers across the country.

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

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

2023: Voted for H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act, to increase interior enforcement
Rep. Emmer voted for 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 in favor of H.R. 5717, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act

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

2023: Voted in favor of H.R. 2 to mandate E-Verify and criminalize visa overstays
Rep. Emmer voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.). The legislation would require most employers to use E-Verify within two years to ensure that new hires are authorized to work in the United States. The legislation provides additional time for agricultural employers to comply. The bill would also make overstaying a visa a felony crime and allow Unaccompanied Alien Children from noncontiguous countries to be returned to their home countries.

2021: Voted Against H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to weaken interior enforcement Rep. Emmer voted against H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). The legislation would halt enforcement efforts against any illegal alien who could qualify for the amnesties regardless if the alien has applied or not.

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

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

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

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

2019: Cosponsored H.R. 74, Grants Law, to require mandatory custody for serious criminal aliens Rep. Emmer cosponsored H.R. 74, Grants Law, introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). This legislation requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement to keep in custody any alien who has been arrested for a serious crime and remove serious criminal aliens from the country within 90 days.

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

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

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

2017: Cosponsored legislation to detain criminal illegal aliens (Biggs) Rep. Emmer cosponsored H.R. 486, Grants Law. This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to detain criminal aliens who commit serious crimes and complete the removal process within 90 days, thereby preventing their release and jeopardizing public safety. The bills main sponsor is Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).

2015: Cosponsored legislation to detain criminal illegal aliens Rep. Emmer cosponsored H.R. 2942, the Stop Catch and Release Act of 2015 (Grants Law). This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to detain criminal aliens who commit serious crimes and complete the removal process within 90 days, thereby preventing their release and jeopardizing public safety.

2024: Spearheaded H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act.
Rep. Emmer spearheaded the House passage of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz Balart (R-Fla.).  H.R. 2 is the most sweeping immigration enforcement measure since 1996 that would close loopholes related to asylum and UACs, and mandate E-Verify nationwide.