2016: Voted to invoke cloture on S. 2193 to increase penalties for repeat illegal border crossers and criminal aliens (Cruz) Sen. Sessions voted to invoke cloture and begin debate on S. 2193, Kates Law. S. 2193 would impose increase penalties, including mandatory sentencing requirements, for repeat illegal border crossers and criminal aliens. The bills sponsor is Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)

2016: Cosponsored legislation to increase interior enforcement (Cruz) Sen. Sessions has cosponsored S. 2538, the ICE Agent Support Act of 2016. The bill would provide staffing levels within the Enforcement and Removal Operations division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; require maintenance and updating of systems used by the division to identify and track criminal aliens, deportable aliens, inadmissible aliens, and aliens illegally entering the United States; and purchase of firearms, vehicles, and other safety or apprehension equipment for the division. The bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

2016: Wrote letter urging immigration cuts Rep. Sessions, along with Sen. Jeff Sessions, wrote a letter to his fellow Republicans, urging them to back cuts to immigration numbers.

2016: Cosponsored legislation to reform H-1B and L-1 visas Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 2266, the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act, which would reform and reduce fraud and abuse in the H-1B and L-1 guest-worker visa programs.

2015: Leadership points for coauthoring letter questioning executive amnesty Sen. Sessions coauthored a letter questioning how much President Obamas executive amnesty would cost and where the money would come from.

2014: Leadership points for trying to bring E-Verify legislation to the Senate floor Sen. Jeff Sessions tried to bring two bills, S. 202 and S. 91, to the Senate floor for a vote. S. 202 would mandate use of the E-Verify system and make it permanent and S. 91 would prevent illegal aliens from claiming child tax credit. He was prevented from doing so by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on June 26, 2014.

2013: Leadership in Opposing Amnesty through Committee Memberships Sen. Sessions was the leading member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to stand against S. 744, a mass amnesty and immigration increase bill that passed the Senate in June 2013. Sen. Sessions used his position on the Judiciary Committee to bring attention to and oppose provisions of S. 744 that would increase immigration and create additional job competition and wage depression for American workers. As well, as Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Sen. Sessions brought attention to a number of studies quantifying the negative impact on of doubling legal immigration and amnesty on unemployed and underemployed Americans.

2013: Leadership in Opposing Amnesty through Floor Speeches and Dear Colleague letters Sen. Sessions led the way in opposing the S. 744 mass amnesty and immigration increase bill that passed the Senate in June 2013. Sen. Sessions was a stalwart in standing up for unemployed Americans, regularly taking to the floor of the Senate to make speeches reminding his colleagues to consider the impact of doubling legal immigration and amnesty on unemployed and underemployed Americans. In addition, Senator Sessions, circulated several Dear Colleague letters asking Senators to oppose S. 744.

2014: Leadership points for amendment to mandate E-Verify Sen. Sessions submitted an amendment to mandate use of the E-Verify system. This amendment, submitted to a bill to extend unemployment benefits, was not allowed a vote by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

2013: Publicly warned against House action that could lead to conference with the Senate Sen. Sessions wrote a joint op-ed for Breitbart that reminded Congressmen of the risks to passing any immigration bill including a conference with the Senate amnesty bill.

2013: Voted against invoking cloture on legislation to expand chain migration (Schumer) Sen. Sessions against invoking cloture on S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The motion passed 82-15. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

2013: Voted against legislation to increase chain migration (Schumer) Sen. Sessions voted against S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill, in the Judiciary Committee. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The bill passed in committee 14-4. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing chain migration.
Sen. Sessions voted against a second motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase chain migration by approximately 251,000 per year. The motion to invoke cloture would have limited further debate on the bill and moved it to a final vote. A vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing chain migration.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase chain migration by approximately 251,000 per year. The motion to invoke cloture was a move to initiate debate on the proposal and limit further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing chain migration.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, a bill to increase chain migration by approximately 251,000 per year. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to increase chain migration.
Sen. Sessions voted against the Menendez Amendment (SA 1194) to S. 1348 to increase near-term legal immigration by more than 100,000 each year by changing the cut-off date for reducing the backlog of family-sponsored immigration applicants from May 1, 2005, to January 1, 2007. The Menendez Amendment failed by a vote of 53 to 44.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to expand chain migration.
Sen. Sessions voted against the Clinton Amendment (SA 1183) to S. 1348 to significantly increase legal immigration by adding an unlimited number of spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents to the uncapped immediate relative category that currently is for the spouses, minor children and parents of U.S. citizens only. The spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents currently are allocated some 87,000 visas each year. The Clinton Amendment failed by a vote of 44 to 53.

2006: Voted against a bill that increased chain migration.
Sen. Sessions voted against final passage of S. 2611, a bill to increase chain migration through an annual increase in the family-preference visa cap of 254,000. In addition, S. 2611 includes a one-time-only permanent increase of 105,660 visas for exempt family of unused employment-based visa holders between 2001-2005. S. 2611 passed by a vote of 62 to 36.

2006: Voted against an increase in chain migration.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611, which limited debate on the bill to increase chain migration through an annual increase in the family-preference visa cap of 254,000. In addition, S. 2611 includes a one-time-only permanent increase of 105,660 visas for exempt family of unused employment-based visa holders between 2001-2005. A vote against invoking cloture is essentially a vote against the bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 73 to 25.

2006: Voted against procedural move to increase chain migration Sen. Sessions voted against cloture on SA 3424, a compromise amnesty proposal by Sens. Hagel (R-Neb.) and Martinez (R-Fla.). The purpose of voting against allowing a final vote on this proposal varied from Senator to Senator

2006: Voted in committee against proposal to increase chain migration.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Sessions voted against a proposal by Committee chair Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to increase chain migration through an annual increase in the family-preference visa cap of 254,000. In addition, the Specter proposal included a one-time-only permanent increase of 105,660 visas for exempt families of unused employment-based visa holders between 2001-2005. The Judiciary Committee passed the Specter proposal by a vote of 12 to 6.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to end the Visa Lottery (Cruz) Sen. Sessions has cosponsored S. 2394, the American Jobs First Act of 2015. The bill would make a number of changes to the H-1B program, while also ending the Visa Lottery. The bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

2006: Cosponsored a bill to eliminate the visa lottery (Nelson).
Sen. Sessions was a cosponsor of S. 2368 to eliminate the visa lottery that each year awards 50,000 visas to aliens on a totally random basis. Sen. Benjamin Nelson (D-Neb.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to increase worker protections for H-1Bs (Cruz) Sen. Sessions has cosponsored S. 2394, the American Jobs First Act of 2015. The bill would implement major reforms of the H-1B program including adding a minimum wage provision ($110,000), and increasing the fee for employers to $10,000. More than 90% of H-1Bs issued in 2013 were for positions that paid less than $110,000 per year. The bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

2015: Cosponsored legislation to reduce the number of H-1Bs (Nelson) Sen. Sessions has cosponsored S. 2365, the Protecting American Jobs Act. the bill would reduce the number of H-1Bs issued each year by 15,000 and require DHS issue visas on the basis of descending salaries. The bill was introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).

2015: Voted against the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase foreign guest workers Sen. Sessions 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 against H.R. 2146 to grant President authority to expand immigration levels without Congress consent via Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) Sen. Sessions voted 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 Adjustment Assistance 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 would set 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 Senate by a vote of 60-38.

2015: Voted against granting President authority to expand immigration levels without Congress consent via Trade Promotion Authority in 2015 Sen. Sessions voted against final passage of Trade Promotion Authority bill, H.R. 1314. This legislation would set 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. 1314 passed the Senate by a vote of 62-37.

2013: Voted against invoking cloture on legislation to drastically increase foreign worker visas (Schumer) Sen. Sessions against invoking cloture on S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The motion passed 82-15. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

2013: Voted against legislation to increase foreign worker visas (Schumer) Sen. Sessions voted against S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill, in the Judiciary Committee. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The bill passed in committee 14-4. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing foreign worker importation.
Sen. Sessions voted against a second motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase the importation of both temporary and permanent foreign workers. S. 1639 would increase the importation of temporary foreign workers by 340,000 year and also add 106,877 permanent workers a year for 5 years. The motion to invoke cloture would have limited further debate on the bill and moved it to a final vote. A vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing foreign worker visas.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase importation of temporary and permanent foreign workers. The motion to invoke cloture was a move to initiate debate on the proposal and limit further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor reducing foreign worker importation.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, a bill to increase importation of temporary and permanent foreign workers. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to sunset guestworker provisions of a bill.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Dorgan Amendment (SA 1316) to S. 1348 to sunset the guestworker provisions of the bill in five years. This was the second vote on the Dorgan Amendment which previously failed by a vote of 48 to 49. This time it passed by a vote of 49 to 48.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to protect American workers.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Durbin Amendment to S. 1348 to ensure that employers make efforts to recruit American workers before hiring foreign workers. The Durbin Amendment passed by a vote of 71 to 22.

2007-2008: Voted in favor of amendment to increase fees on H-1B visas.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sanders Amendment to S. 1348 increase the fees employers who wish to import H-1B high-skill nonimmigrant workers from $1,500 to $10,000, with the funds going to scholarships for American high tech students. The Sanders Amendment passed by a vote of 59 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to sunset guestworker provisions of a bill.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Dorgan Amendment to S. 1348 to sunset the guestworker provisions of the bill in five years. The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 48 to 49.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to reduce a proposed guestworker program in a bill.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Bingaman Amendment (SA 1169) to S. 1348. The Bingaman Amendment would reduce the annual importation of workers under the new guestworker programs proposed by S. 1348 from 400,000 to 200,000 workers per year. The Bingaman Amendment passed by a vote 74 of 24.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to remove a proposed guestworker program in a bill.
Sen. Sessions voted against the Dorgan Amendment to S. 1348 to delete the provisions of S. 1348 that would create a new guestworker program for up to 600,000 foreign workers annually. The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 31 to 64.

2006: Voted on Senate floor against S. 2611 to reward illegal aliens with amnesty Sen. Sessions voted against final passage of S. 2611 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Arlen Specter [D-Pa.]) which includes an amnesty (both immediate and deferred) for 10.2 million illegal aliens (6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal alien spouses and/children). S. 2611 passed by a vote of 62 to 36 on May 25, 2006 (5:39 PM).

2006: Voted for an amendment to cap employment-based visas.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Bingaman Amendment to S. 2611, which caps the number of employment-based visas for workers, spouses and children at 650,000. Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation estimates that the Bingaman Amendment would reduce employment-based visas available under S. 2611 by about 150,000 a year. The Bingaman Amendment passed by a vote of 51 to 47.

2006: Voted for an amendment to limit a proposed guestworker program.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Dorgan Amendment to S. 2611, which limits the proposed H-2C guestworker program to five years instead of 10 years. This would have reduced the number of new guestworkers under S. 2611 from two million to one million (200,000 per year for five years instead of 10 years). The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 48 to 49.

2006: Voted against increasing foreign worker visas.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611, which would have limited debate on the bill to increase foreign worker importation by approximately 600,000 visas per year. A vote against invoking cloture is essentially a vote against the bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 73 to 25.

2006: Voted for an amendment that increases guestworker visas.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Hutchison Amendment to S. 2611 to create a Secure Authorized Foreign Employee (SAFE) visa for nationals of a NAFTA or CAFTA. Its effect would have been to create an unnecessary guestworker visa category. The Hutchison Amendment failed by a vote of 31 to 67.

2006: Voted to reduce greencards for foreign workers.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to table the Kyl amendment (SA 3969) to S. 2611. The Kyl amendment would have prevented 200,000 guestworkers a year from adjusting to lawful permanent resident status on the basis of their status as a guestworker. This would have resulted in 2 million less greencards over a decade. The motion to table the Kyl amendment passed by a vote of 58 to 35, effectively killing the amendment.

2006: Voted against an amendment to weaken worker protections.
Sen. Sessions voted against the Kennedy amendment (SA 4066) to S. 2611. The Kennedy amendment weakens Sen. Cornyns amendment (SA 3965) by not requiring Federal certification of the employers need to import foreign workers. The Kennedy amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 43.

2006: Voted in favor of amendment to increase worker protections.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Cornyn amendment (SA 3965) to S. 2611, which provides modest protections to American workers by requiring employers to employ aliens in the position they were hired for and requiring DHS to certify that there is, in fact, a labor shortage in that particular field before visas are made available. The Cornyn amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 48.

2006: Voted against killing an amendment that would cap guestworker visas.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to table the Bingaman Amendment (SA 3981) to S. 2611. The Bingaman Amendment would cap the number of H-2C visas available annually for issuance at 200,000 and remove the 20%-a-year increase in annual guestworker visas. This would reduce the 10-year increase in foreign workers and their dependents from 8.4 million, as provided in the original bill, to two million. The motion to table the Bingaman amendment failed by a vote of 18 to 79 and the Bingaman amendment ultimately passed by voice vote.

2006: Voted against killing an amendment that would strike guestworker provisions.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to table the Dorgan Amendment (SA 4017) to S. 2611. The Dorgan amendment would have stricken the guestworker provisions of the bill that would add an estimated 8.4 million foreign workers and their dependents over the next ten years (according to a May, 2006 study by the Heritage Foundations Robert Rector). The motion to table passed by a voted of 68 to 29, effectively killing the amendment.

2006: Voted against procedural move to increase foreign worker importation Sen. Sessions voted against cloture on SA 3424, a compromise amnesty proposal by Sens. Hagel (R-Neb.) and Martinez (R-Fla.). The purpose of voting against allowing a final vote on this proposal varied from Senator to Senator

2006: Voted in committee against a proposal to increase foreign worker visas.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Sessions voted against a proposal by Committee chair Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to increase foreign workers visas. The Specter proposal includes an annual increase in employment-based visas of 754,660. As well, it includes a one-time-only permanent increase of 90,000 unused employment-based visas (2001-2005). The Specter proposal also includes an annual increase in H-1B workers visas of at least 500,000. The Judiciary Committee passed the Specter proposal by a vote of 12 to 6.

2005-2006: Voted in favor of Byrd Amendment to prevent additional foreign-worker importation
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Byrd Amendment to the Budget Reconciliation bill. The Byrd Amendment would have stripped a provision to increase permanent, employement-based immigration by as many as 366,000 annually. The Byrd Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), failed by a vote of 14 to 85 on November 3, 2005 (2:16 PM).

2005-2006: Voted in committee in favor of amendment (Sessions) to increase worker visa fees
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to the Specter Budget Reconciliation Plan that was attached to the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005, S. 1932. The Sessions Amendment was a substitute amendment to increase L-1 fees by 1,500. The Sessions Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), failed by a vote of 7 to 11.

2005-2006: Voted in committee in favor of amendment (Feinstein) to cut in half proposal to import additional foreign workers in 2005
Sen. Sessions voted as part of the Judiciary Committee in favor of the Feinstein Amendment to the Specter Budget Reconciliation Plan that was attached to Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005. The Feinstein Amendment cut the additional H-1B visas proposed in the Specter proposal in half (from 60,000 to 30,000) and added a 750 fee on L-1 visas. The Feinstein Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), passed by a vote of 10-5.

2005-2006: Voted in committee in favor of amendment (Hatch) to increase overall immigration fees by 5 percent
Sen. Sessions voted as part of the Judiciary Committee in favor of the Hatch Amendment to the Specter Budget Reconciliation Plan that was attached to Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005. The Hatch Amendment was a substitute amendment of House bill to increase overall immigration fees by 5 percent. It would have effectively stripped the overall immigration increase from the budget reconciliation bill. The Hatch Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), failed by a vote of 5-11.

2005-2006: Voted against amendment (Mikulski) that would increase low-skill, foreign-worker importation
Sen. Sessions was one of only six Senators to vote against an amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005. The Mikulski amendment, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), increases the number of H-2B visas for low-skill, temporary, foreign workers from 66,000 to possibly as many as three times the number each year.

2003-2004: Cosponsored resolution to reduce foreign worker importation (Sessions).
Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. Res. 211, expressing the sense of the Senate that the free trade agreements are not the vehicle to enact or change immigration legislation. S. Res. 211, spnosoredy by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), was passed by the Senate on Unanimous Consent.

2003: Voted in favor of worker importation program in Singapore free trade agreement Sen. Sessions voted in favor of H.R. 2739, the Singapore free trade agreement, that permits an unlimited number of workers from Singapore to enter the U.S. each year as treaty traders or investors* who are coming to the U.S. to carry on trade between the U.S. and Singapore or to *establish, develop, administer or provide advice or key technical services* to the operations of a business in which they have invested capital. The Singapore Free Trade Agreement, sponsored by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), passed the Senate by a vote of 66-32.

2003-2004: Voted in favor of bill to increase foreign-worker importation (DeLay)
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Chile Free Trade Agreement, H.R. 2738 that permits an unlimited number of workers in Chile to enter the U.S. on L-1 visas. H.R. 2738, sponsored by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), passed the Senate by a vote of 66-31.

2003-2004: Voted against bill for unlimited worker visas (Grassley).
Sen. Sessions voted as part of the Senate Judiciary Committee against the Chile and Singapore free trade agreements that provide for unlimited tech and professional work visa with indefinite extensions and no protections for American workers. The trade agreements, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 11-4.

2001: Signed a statement against importing more foreign workers.

Rep. Sessions signed a statement issued by the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus in April of 2001 opposing the Bush-Fox amnesty and guestworker proposals that would create some sort of guestworker program for illegal immigrants leading to an amnesty.

2000: Voted for a foreign worker bill with no American worker protections.
Sen. Sessions voted for S. 2045, which nearly tripled the number of foreign high-tech workers. Despite a GAO report finding no evidence of a worker shortage and suggesting fraud in the H-1B program, Sen. Sessions voted for this bill that included no worker protections or anti-fraud measures. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), passed 96-1.

2000: Voted for a bill to grant visas to foreign workers.
Sen. Sessions voted as part of the Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of S.2045 (the Abraham bill). This legislation would nearly triple the number of H-1B visas annually and grant virtual permanent residency to H-1B visas holders and their families. S.2045, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 16-2.

1998: Voted against an amendment, consequently allowing American workers to be fired and repalced with foreign workers.
Sen. Sessions voted against the Kennedy Amendment (A-2418) to S.1723 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Arlen Specter [D-Pa.]) that would have protected American workers from being fired and replaced by a foreign worker (H-1B visa holder). The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), was defeated 38-60.

1998: Voted for a bill to nearly doubling hi-tech worker visas.
Sen. Sessions helped the Senate pass S.1723 in a 78-20 vote. 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 even though U.S. firms were laying off thousands of workers at the time. The primary sponsor was Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.).

1998: Voted against an amendment to offer jobs to Americans first.
Sen. Sessions voted against the Kennedy amendment(A-2417) to S.1723 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Arlen Specter [D-Pa.]) that would have required U.S. firms applying for H-1B visas to check a box on a form attesting that they had first sought an American worker for the job. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), failed 39-59.

1998: Voted against an amendment to reduce the importation of foreign workers.
Sen. Sessions stood solidy against American workers by opposing a Feinstein amendment to S.1723 to reduce the H1B increase from 5 years to 3. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), failed by two votes.

1998: Voted against the Kennedy-Feinstein Amendment, which would have protected American workers.
The Kennedy-Feinstein Amendment to S.1723 would have accomplished two important goals: ensuring no American was laid off or displaced prior to hiring an H1B employee; and, requiring that employers demonstrate they had previously taken timely and effective steps to hire a qualified American. 10 Senators helped defeat this amendment sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

1998: Voted for bill to increase foreign worker importation without protecting American workers.
Sen. Sessions was part of the majority in the Senate Judiciary Committee that voted to send S.1723 to the floor of the Senate without safeguards for American workers. The primary sponsor was Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.).

2015: Voted against the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase foreign guest workers Sen. Sessions 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.

2013: Voted against invoking cloture on legislation to increase refugee and asylum fraud (Schumer) Sen. Sessions against invoking cloture on S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The motion passed 82-15. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

2013: Voted against legislation to increase refugee fraud (Schumer) Sen. Sessions voted against S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill, in the Judiciary Committee. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The bill passed in committee 14-4. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

2001-2002: Cosponsored bill to reduce refugee and asylum fraud (Feinstein).
Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 1627 to require applicants for refugee and asylee status to have biometric identifiers. This would help reduce the number of applicants who are denied refugee status but then fail to leave the country. The primary sponsor was Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

2015: Voted against Attorney General nominee who supports amnesty Sen. Sessions voted against Loretta Lynchs confirmation as Attorney General. The Office of the Attorney General, the top law enforcement office in the country, is a position that should be reserved for qualified individuals with the utmost regard for the rule of law. Unfortunately, while Ms. Lynch served honorably as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, she indicated during the confirmation process that she did not have that regard for duly enacted immigration laws. She deemed reasonable President Obamas unprecedented and unconstitutional amnesties. Her dismissive attitude about the seriousness of enforcing immigration laws was largely explained in her initial answer to Senate questioning about whether the priority for U.S. jobs should be that they go to unlawfully present foreign workers or to legal workers of our nation. Ms. Lynch answered that everybody should be getting U.S. jobs regardless of their legal status, despite the fact that the primary purpose of immigration laws is to protect vulnerable American workers. As a result, NumbersUSA took an unusual step and scored the vote for the confirmation of Ms. Lynch as a vote against against the rule of law, and against the interests of American workers. Ms. Lynch was confirmed by a vote of 56 to 43.

2015: Voted AGAINST McConnell substitute amendment to H.R. 240 to fund Executive Amnesties Sen. Sessions voted AGAINST the McConnell amendment to substitute the text of HR 240 with language that would provide full and unrestricted funding for President Obamas unconstitutional and illegal Executive Amnesties. After a series of 4 failed attempts to invoke cloture and move to debate on H.R. 240 (the House-passed DHS Appropriations bill that included language to de-fund Pres. Obamas Executive Amnesties), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) struck a deal with Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to move a clean DHS bill that would fund the amnesties through September 2015. Voting against the McConnell substitute amendment was a clear sign that a Senator was willing protect struggling American workers who will have to compete for scarce jobs with millions of unlawful immigrants. It was also a vote against ceding Congress constitutional powers to a President who has shown absolute disdain for the rule of law and the separation of powers at the very core of our Constitution. Senators cannot expect the judicial branch to reclaim the legislative powers for which they are unwilling to fight. The McConnell Amendment passed by a vote of 66 to 33.

2015: Voted AGAINST Executive Amnesty by voting in favor of Sessions/Lee motion to allow possibility of de-funding Executive Amnesty in DHS Appropriations Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions/Lee motion to table the amendment tree on H.R. 240. After a series of 4 failed attempts to invoke cloture and move to debate on H.R. 240 (the House-passed DHS Appropriations bill that included language to de-fund Pres. Obamas Executive Amnesties), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) struck a deal with Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to move a clean DHS bill that would fund the amnesties through September 2015. As part of this deal, Majority Leader McConnell filled the amendment tree in order to provide full funding for President Obamas unconstitutional and illegal amnesties and block all other amendments to H.R. 240. This was especially outrageous given that Leader McConnell promised to restore regular order and an open amendment process when he became Senate Leader in January 2015. In response, Senators Sessions (R-AL) and Lee (R-UT) filed a motion to table the amendment tree, thus allowing amendments to the bill and the possibility of restoring the de-funding language. Thus, a vote in favor of the Sessions/Lee motion to table the amendment tree was a vote against amnesty and lawlessness a vote for the open process. The Sessions/Lee motion to table failed by a vote of 34 to 65.

2015: Voted for SECOND Motion to bring H.R. 240 (DHS Appropriations bill) to de-fund Executive Amnesty to Senate floor Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the SECOND cloture motion to allow the Senate to begin debate on the House-passed DHS Appropriations bill (H.R. 240) that includes language to de-fund President Obamas Executive Amnesties, including DACA and his November 2014 amnesty to give work permits to up to 5 million illegal aliens. DHS funding runs out at the end of February 2015 and President Obama has threatened to veto any appropriations bill that includes language to de-fund his amnesties, essentially saying his amnesty is more important than funding for DHS. No Senate Democrats voted to allow the bill to the Senate floor for debate. The motion failed by a vote of 53 - 47 (60 votes required for passage).

2015: Voted for THIRD Motion to bring H.R. 240 (DHS Appropriations bill) to de-fund Executive Amnesty to Senate floor Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the THIRD cloture motion to allow the Senate to begin debate on the House-passed DHS Appropriations bill (H.R. 240) that includes language to de-fund President Obamas Executive Amnesties, including DACA and his November 2014 amnesty to give work permits to up to 5 million illegal aliens. DHS funding runs out at the end of February 2015 and President Obama has threatened to veto any appropriations bill that includes language to de-fund his amnesties, essentially saying his amnesty is more important than funding for DHS. No Senate Democrats voted to allow the bill to the Senate floor for debate. The motion failed by a vote of 52 - 47 (60 votes required for passage).

2015: Voted for FIRST Motion to Proceed to Debate on DHS Appropriations bill (H.R. 240) to de-fund Executive Amnesty Sen. Sessions voted in favor of a cloture motion to allow the Senate to begin debate on the House-passed DHS Appropriations bill (H.R. 240) that includes language to de-fund President Obamas Executive Amnesties, including DACA and his November 2014 amnesty to give work permits to up to 5 million illegal aliens. DHS funding runs out at the end of February 2015 and President Obama has threatened to veto any appropriations bill that includes language to de-fund his amnesties, essentially saying his amnesty is more important than funding for DHS. No Senate Democrats voted to allow the bill to the Senate floor for debate. The motion failed by a vote of 51-48.

2015: Voted for FOURTH Motion to bring H.R. 240 (DHS Appropriations bill) to de-fund Executive Amnesty to Senate floor Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the FOURTH cloture motion to allow the Senate to begin debate on the House-passed DHS Appropriations bill (H.R. 240) that includes language to de-fund President Obamas Executive Amnesties, including DACA and his November 2014 amnesty to give work permits to up to 5 million illegal aliens. DHS funding runs out at the end of February 2015 and President Obama has threatened to veto any appropriations bill that includes language to de-fund his amnesties, essentially saying his amnesty is more important than funding for DHS. No Senate Democrats voted to allow the bill to the Senate floor for debate. The motion failed by a vote of 47-46 (60 votes required for passage).

2014: Voted to Block Obamas Mass Amnesty Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Point of Order raised by Sen. Ted Cruz as to the constitutionality of the executive amnesty issued by President Obama. Doing so during a vote on H.R. 83, the CROmnibus, acted as a vote to stop this unlawful amnesty, and a vote against Sen. Cruzs Point of Order was a vote in favor of the presidents amnesty.

2014: Voted in favor of motion to help end DACA (Sessions) Sen. Sessions voted in favor of an amendment to 2648, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2014. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had already offered the maximum number of amendments (in a practice called filling the tree) to the legislation with the express purpose of preventing Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex) from offering his legislation to defund DACA. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) offered an amendment, # 3751, to remove all of Sen. Reids amendments so that Sen. Cruzs could be considered. This motion failed 43-52.

2014: Cosponsored legislation to defund DACA and prevent recipients finding jobs (Cruz) Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 2631, legislation that prohibits any federal agency or instrumentality from using federal funding or resources to: (1) consider or adjudicate any new or previously denied application of any alien requesting consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals, as authorized by Executive memorandum on August 15, 2012; or (2) authorize any alien to work in the United States who was not lawfully admitted into the United States and who is not in lawful status in the United States on the date of enactment of this Act. The bills sponsor is Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.).

2013: Opposed amendment that promised border security after amnesty for 11 million illegal aliens (Schumer-Corker-Hoeven) Sen.Sessions voted against the Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment to S. 744, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty legislation. This amendment was a political ploy by pro-amnesty Senators to pass a bill (S. 744) that was otherwise headed for defeat. As such, a vote in favor of the amendment is graded here as a vote in favor of the full S. 744 amnesty. The Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment promised a so-called border surge after 11-18 million illegal aliens receive legal protected status, work permits, and de facto amnesty. In fact, however, the amendment would weaken current law (calling for entry-exit system at only airports and seaports as opposed to all ports of entry and calling for single layer border fencing as opposed to double-layer fencing) and weaken the already-loose enforcement provisions of S. 744 by setting up a rolling amnesty for future visa overstayers. The amendment was designed to give cover to Senators who could claim they supported strong border security amendments by voting for the amendment and then voting for final passage of the bill. The amendment passed 67-27 (24 June 2013).

2013: Voted against invoking cloture on legislation to amnesty illegal aliens (Schumer) Sen. Sessions against invoking cloture on S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The motion passed 82-15. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

2013: Voted against legislation to amnesty illegal aliens (Schumer) Sen. Sessions voted against S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill, in the Judiciary Committee. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The bill passed in committee 14-4. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

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

2007-2008: Voted against DREAM Act amnesty for illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2205, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007. S. 2205 would reward up to 2.1 million illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 52 to 44.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against rewarding illegal aliens with amnesty.
Sen. Sessions voted against a second motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would reward up to six million illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture would have limited further debate on the bill and moved it to a final vote. A vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against amnesty for illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would reward illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture was a move to initiate debate on the proposal and limit further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor of reducing amnesties for illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, a bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to bar certain criminals from amnesty.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Cornyn Amendment (SA 1184) to S. 1385 to bar criminal aliens from receiving amnesty. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff has estimated that 15% of illegal aliens are criminals. The Cornyn Amendment failed by a vote of 46 to 51.

2007-2008: Voted in favor of amendment to strip amnesty provisions from a bill.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Vitter Amendment to strip the amnesty provisions from S. 1348. The Vitter Amendment failed by a vote of 29 to 66.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to create a disincentive to apply for amnesty.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Cornyn Amendment (SA 1250) to S. 1348 to discourage applicants from applying for amnesty by eliminating the provisions protecting the confidentiality of the information contained in amnesty applications and, instead, requires the sharing of application-related information upon the request of a law enforcement agency, intelligence, or national security agency, or DHS component when requested in connection with a duly-authorized investigation of a civil violation. The Cornyn Amendment passed by a vote of 57 to 39.

None

2006: Voted against amnesty for illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611, which includes an amnesty (both immediate and deferred) for 10.2 million illegal aliens (6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal alien spouses and/children). A vote against invoking cloture is essentially a vote against the bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 73 to 25.

2006: Voted against amendment to reward 2 million illegal aliens with amnesty Sen. Sessions voted against the Feinstein Amendment to S. 2611 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Arlen Specter [D-Pa.]) to create an orange card that would allow an estimated two million illegal aliens to pay a fine. The amendment failed by a vote of 37 to 61.

2006: Voted for an amendment to end amnesty provisions.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Vitter amendment (SA 3963) to S. 2611, which removes provisions authorizing the earned legalization and agricultural worker amnesty schemes that would grant amnesty to an estimated 16 million illegal aliens and their families (according to a May, 2006 study by the Heritage Foundations Robert Rector). The Vitter amendment failed by a vote of 33 to 66.

2006: Voted for an amendment that postpones amnesty.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Cornyn amendment to S. 2611 to prohibit DHS from implementing the amnesty provisions of S. 2611 unless the agency has certified that this bills border security measures are fully operational. The Cornyn Amendment failed by a vote of 40-55.

2006: Voted against procedural move to amnesty illegal aliens Sen. Sessions voted against cloture on SA 3424, a compromise amnesty proposal by Sens. Hagel (R-Neb.) and Martinez (R-Fla.). The purpose of voting against allowing a final vote on this proposal varied from Senator to Senator

2006: Voted in committee against a proposal to reward illegal aliens with amnesty.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Sessions voted against a proposal by Committee chair Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to reward illegal aliens with amnesty. The Specter proposal includes an amnesty (both immediate and deferred) for 10.2 million illegal aliens (6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal alien spouses and/children). The Judiciary Committee passed the Specter proposal by a vote of 12 to 6.

2005-2006: Voted against amnesty for agricultural workers
Sen. Sessions voted not to invoke cloture, a procedural move requiring 60 votes to limit debate and ensure a vote on the AgJOBS amnesty amendment, introduced by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), to the Iraq supplemental spending bill. This effectively kept the amnesty for up to 3 million illegal aliens off the final bill. The Senate voted 53 to 45 not to invoke cloture on April 19, 2005.

2003-2004: Voted against DREAM Act, to reward illegal aliens with amnesty (Hatch).
Sen. Sessions voted as part of the Judiciary Committee against S. 1545 to encourage illegal immigration by granting in-state tuition and amnesty to certain college-age illegal aliens. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) was the primary sponsor.

2001: Signed a letter opposing the Section 245(i) amnesty Rep. Sessions signed a letter to Speaker of the House Hastert opposing any reinstatement of the Section 245(i) amnesty that allows certain illegal aliens to pay a $1,000 to adjust their status and stay in the country legally.

2001: Signed a statement against an amnesty.

Rep. Sessions signed a statement issued by the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus in April of 2001 opposing the Bush-Fox amnesty proposals that would reward illegal immigrants from Mexico. This put President Bush on notice that there was Congressional opposition to the amnesty.

2000: Voted against including illegal immigration amnesty in the Senate H-1b bill (Hatch).
Sen. Sessions voted against including an amnesty for illegal aliens from Central America in the Senate H-1B bill (S.2045). This not necessarily a vote against the amnesty, but rather a vote against including it in the H-1B legislation. The move to attach the amnesty failed 43-55.

1997: cosponsored bill to reduce anchor baby citizenship (Bilbray)
Rep. Sessions cosponsored H.R. 7, a bill to end the practice of granting automatic citizenship to babies born to illegal aliens in the U.S. Once citizens, these babies (some 200,000 a year) can then serve as a magnet for their relatives to immigrate to the U.S. The primary sponsor was Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.).

2015: Cosponsoring interior enforcement legislation Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 1640, the Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act. Known as the SAFE Act in the previous Congress, this legislation would empower local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws. This legislation would also require DHS to create a national immigration violators database. This legislation would help reduce illegal immigration by empowering law enforcement officials and making it more difficult for illegal aliens to live and work in local communities.

2015: Voted in favor of an amendment to prevent illegal aliens receiving tax credits (Sessions) Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions amendment to S. Con. Res. 11 in the Senate Budget Committee. This legislation allows Congress to prevent illegal aliens from applying for and receiving the child tax credit.

2013: Voted against invoking cloture on legislation to amnesty illegal aliens (Schumer) Sen. Sessions against invoking cloture on S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The motion passed 82-15. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

2013: Voted against legislation to amnesty illegal aliens (Schumer) Sen. Sessions voted against S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Gang of Eights comprehensive amnesty bill, in the Judiciary Committee. The legislation would amnesty and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11-18 million illegal aliens living in the United States and drastically increase legal immigration to the United States. The legislation does mandate use of the E-Verify system, ends the visa lottery, and increases border patrol manpower (though, without spelling out the duties of the additional agents). The bill passed in committee 14-4. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is bills main sponsor.

2010: Voted for an amendment in support of Arizonas immigration enforcement law.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the DeMint amendment to H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The amendment, SA 4464, would have prevented the Department of Justice from participating in any lawsuit against Arizonas immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. Unfortunately, the amendment failed 43-55 on the Senate floor. By supporting this amendment, Sen. Sessions made it clear that illegal aliens should not be rewarded for breaking immigration laws.

2010: Voted for an amendment in support of Arizonas immigration enforcement law.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the DeMint amendment to H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The amendment, SA 4464, would have prevented the Department of Justice from participating in any lawsuit against Arizonas immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. Unfortunately, the amendment failed 43-55 on the Senate floor. By supporting this amendment, Sen. Sessions made it clear that illegal aliens should not be rewarded for breaking immigration laws.

2009-2010: Voted for an amendment that prevented illegal aliens from acquiring credit cards.
Sen. Sessions supported the Vitter Amendment to H.R. 627, The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act of 2009, and it would have required the banks that issue credit cards to ensure that those granted credit cards are in the United States legally by obliging the banks to verify the identity of applicants using REAL ID-compliant documents. The amendment failed 28-65.

2009-2010: Voted for an amendment that prevented illegal aliens from acquiring credit cards.
Sen. Sessions supported the Vitter Amendment to H.R. 627, The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act of 2009, and it would have required the banks that issue credit cards to ensure that those granted credit cards are in the United States legally by obliging the banks to verify the identity of applicants using REAL ID-compliant documents. The amendment failed 28-65.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to eliminate rewards for illegal immigration.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Coburn Amendment (SA 1311) to S. 1348 to prohibit in-state tuition for illegal aliens and sanctuary cities for illegal aliens. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

2006: Voted against killing an amendment to prevent Social Security for illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to table the Ensign amendment (SA 3985) to S. 2611. The Ensign amendment would have prohibited the payment of Social Security benefits for many illegal aliens. The motion to table the Ensign amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 49, effectively killing the amendment.

2005-2006: Cosponsored a bill to increase penalties for illegal aliens (Schumer).
Sen. Sessions was a cosponsor of S. 2061 to reduce rewards for illegal aliens by increasing penalties for document fraud, false claims of citizenship, and misuse of Social Security numbers and cards. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2005-2006: Voted to not to shield illegal aliens from prosecution for Social Security fraud
Sen. Sessions voted not to invoke cloture, a procedural move requiring 60 votes to limit debate and ensure a vote on the AgJOBS amnesty amendment, introduced by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), to the Iraq supplemental spending bill. This effectively kept the amnesty, which would reward illegal immigration by protecting illegal aliens granted temporary resident status from prosecution for Social Security fraud off the final bill. The Senate voted 53 to 45 not to invoke cloture on April 19, 2005.

2003-2004: Voted against the DREAM Act, to reward illegal aliens with in-state tution rates (Hatch).
Sen. Sessions voted as part of the Judiciary Committee against S. 1545 to encourage illegal immigration by granting in-state tuition rates to certain college-age illegal aliens. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) was the primary sponsor.

2015: Voted in favor of McCain amdt to S. Con. Res. 11 to support expedited removal of illegal aliens Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the McCain amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution, S. Con. Res 11. Sen. McCains original amendment called for the expedited removal of unaccompanied minors from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Those three countries were the source of the unprecedented border surge along the U.S.-Mexico border during the summer of 2014. But his original amendment also included a provision that would allow for the creation of in-country processing of refugees in those three countries. After NumbersUSA pointed out to Senators that the Central American migrants are not fleeing government persecution, and so do not qualify as refugees, but are instead seeking the benefits of the Presidents rewriting of our immigration law, Sen. McCain removed the in-country processing language, and NumbersUSA supported the amendment. Since the amendment was part of a Budget Resolution, it is non-binding and doesnt force a change in the current policy that allows unaccompanied minors from those three countries to be treated differently than those from Mexico or Canada. If the provision, however, remains in the budget resolution thats eventually approved by both chambers of Congress, it allows appropriators later to set spending levels for the 2016 fiscal year that call for the expedited removal of illegal aliens from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The amendment passed 58-to-42 (including the support of three Democrats and one Independent also Sens. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Angus King of Maine, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, and Claire McCaskill of Missouri.

2013: Voted in favor of amendment to increase border security (Cornyn) Sen. Sessions voted against tabling the Cornyn amendment to S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. This amendment would have required 90% operational security along the entire U.S. - Mexico border before illegal aliens could receive citizenship. The amendment failed 43-54 (20 June 2013).

2013: Voted in favor of an amendment to increase border security (Paul) Sen. Sessions voted against tabling the Paul amendment to S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. Sen. Pauls amendment would have required Congressional approval before RPI status was given to illegal aliens and required completion of the border fence. The amendment failed 37-61 (19 June 2013).

2013: Voted in favor of amendment to ensure border security (Lee) Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Lee amendment to S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The amendment would have required Congress to sign off on DHS implementation of border security strategies and certify that the strategies are operational. As the bill is written, there is no Congressional oversight or approval needed. The amendment failed 39-52, with a 3/5ths vote needed for passage (19 June 2013).

2013: Voted in favor of amendment to build double-layered border fence (Thune) Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Thune amendment to S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. Sen. Thunes amendment would have required the completion of the 350 miles of reinforced, double-layered fencing described in section 102(b)(1)(A) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 before registered provisional immigrant status could be granted and to require the completion of 700 miles of such fencing before the status of registered provisional immigrants may be adjusted to permanent resident status. The amendment failed 39-54, with a 3/5ths vote necessary for passage (18 June 2013).

2013: Voted in favor of amendment to ensure effective control of the border (Grassley) Sen. Sessions voted against tabling the Grassley amendment to S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The amendment would have prohibited the granting of registered provisional immigrant status until the Secretary has maintained effective control of the borders for 6 months. As written, illegal aliens receive RPI status almost immediately after the bills passage. The amendment failed 43-57 (13 June 2013).

2010: Voted for an amendment that promoted border security and supported Arizonas immigration enforcement law.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the DeMint amendment to H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The amendment, SA 4464, would have prevented the Department of Justice from participating in any lawsuit against Arizonas immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. Unfortunately, the amendment failed 43-55 on the Senate floor. By supporting this amendment, Sen. Sessions made it clear that the federal government is not doing enough to secure the border and states should be allowed to assist in the effort.

2010: Voted for an amendment that promoted border security and supported Arizonas immigration enforcement law.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the DeMint amendment to H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The amendment, SA 4464, would have prevented the Department of Justice from participating in any lawsuit against Arizonas immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. Unfortunately, the amendment failed 43-55 on the Senate floor. By supporting this amendment, Sen. Sessions made it clear that the federal government is not doing enough to secure the border and states should be allowed to assist in the effort.

2010: Voted for an amendment to increase the number of men and women patrolling the border.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the McCain amendment to H.R. 4899, the 2010 Emergency Supplemental bill. This amendment would have funded the deployment of 6,000 National Guardsmen and women to the U.S. - Mexico border, thereby making it more difficult for human, drug, and arms traffickers to cross the border. The amendment failed 51-46 (a 3/5 vote was required for passage).

2010: Voted for an amendment that would have helped stop the flow of drugs across the border.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Cornyn amendment to H.R. 4899, the 2010 Emergency Supplemental bill. This amendment would have increased funding for drug enforcement along the Southwest border. The amendment failed 54-43 (a 3/5 vote was required for passage).

2010: Voted for an amendment that would have helped the Justice Department handle immigration-related cases on the border more efficiently.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Kyl amendment to H.R. 4899, the 2010 Emergency Supplemental bill. This amendment would have increased resources within the Department of Justice to expedite immigration-related cases along the border. The amendment failed 54-44 (a 3/5 vote was required for passage).

2009-2010: Voted for an amendment to complete 700 miles of border fencing.
Sen. Sessions voted for the DeMint amendment to H.R. 2892, the DHS Appropriations bill., which mandates that the 700 miles of border fencing (which was previously approved and appropriated for) be completed. The DeMint amendment passed 54-44.

2009-2010: Voted for an amendment to complete 700 miles of border fencing.
Sen. Sessions voted for the DeMint amendment to H.R. 2892, the DHS Appropriations bill., which mandates that the 700 miles of border fencing (which was previously approved and appropriated for) be completed. The DeMint amendment passed 54-44.

2008: Voted for an amendment to increase border security funding and enforcement.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to S CON RES 70. This amendment would increase funding for border security, guarantee 700 miles of fencing, place 6,000 National Guardsmen on the border, and reimburse state and local law enforcement. The amendment passed 61 to 37.

2008: Joined the Border Security and Enforcement First Immigration Caucus Sen. Sessions joined the Border Security and Enforcement First Immigration Caucus. The principle mission of the Caucus is to promote a true, achievable alternative: attrition through enforcement.

2007-2008: Cosponsoring the SAVE Act to strengthen border control by increasing the number of border patrol agents(Pryor).
Sen. Sessions is cosponsoring S. 2368, the Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act of 2007. The SAVE Act would increase border security by: increasing the number of border patrol agents; providing more funding for the Tunnel Task Force; providing for new and updated border security, surveillance, communication, and apprehension technology; improving border security infrastructure; and empowering governors in border states to declare a border emergency and request temporary redeployment of up to 1,000 additional Border Patrol Agents. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to increase border control.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Coburn Amendment (SA 1311) to S. 1348 to increase border control by requiring construction of the border fence, implementation of US VISIT (entry-exit system), and biometric identification documents. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

2006: Voted for a bill to create a border fence.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of 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 80-19.

2006: Voted for an amendment to fund a border fence.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions amendment to H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The Sessions amendment would provide for $1.8 billion for the construction of 370 miles of border fencing and 461 miles of vehicle barriers along the southern border. The Sessions amendment passed by a vote of 94-3.

2006: Voted for an amendment to extend the border fence.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 5441, the Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The Sessions Amendment would have added 370 miles of fence on the southwest border. The amendment failed by a vote of 29 to 71.

2006: Voted for an amendment that authorizes the National Guard to assist in border patrol efforts.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Ensign Amendment to S. 2611, which authorizes the Governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas to order their states National Guard units to assist the Border Patrol in their efforts. The Ensign Amendment passed by a vote of 83-10.

2006: Voted in favor of an amendment to create a border fence.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions amendment (SA 3979) to S. 2611, which calls for the construction of at least 370 miles of a border fence along the southwest border. The Sessions amendment passed by a vote of 83 to 16.

2006: Cosponsored a bill to construct a fence along the border and increasing the number of Border Patrol agents (Nelson).
Sen. Sessions was a cosponsor of S. 2368 to increase border control by providing for the construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, adding Border Patrol agents, adding facilities and detention beds for detained aliens, and mandating use of an entry-exit system. Sen. Benjamin Nelson (D-Neb.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2005-2006: Cosponsored a bill to build a border fence and increase the number of border patrol agents (Schumer).
Sen. Sessions was a cosponsor of S. 2061 to reduce illegal immigration by increasing border controls. S. 2061 would increase border security by: requiring construction of a border fence along the U.S.-Mexico border; providing for additional Border Patrol agents; and mandating use of the entry-exit system at all ports of entry. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2005-2006: Voted in favor of amendment (Ensign) to DHS appropriations bill to fund U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Ensign Amendment (SA 1219) to H.R. 2360 (Rogers), the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The Ensign Amendment transfers appropriated funds from the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the purpose of hiring 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), failed by a vote of 38 to 60 on July 14, 2005 (10:04 AM).

2005-2006: Voted in favor of Byrd Amendment to fund additional Border Patrol agents
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Byrd Amendment to H.R. 1268 (an emergency supplemental spending bill) to provide funding to hire 650 more border patrol agents. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), passed 65-34 on April 20, 2005 (3:18 PM).

2002: Voted for a bill to increase border control with an alien tracking and identification system.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 that would increase border control efforts by creating an entry-exit system for checking each alien as they enter and leave the U.S. H.R. 3525, sponsored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), passed the Senate unanimously by a vote of 97-0.

2001-2002: Cosponsored bill to increase border control with an alien tracking and identification system (Kennedy).
Sen. Sessions cosponsored the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 to create an entry-exit system that would check every visa holder as they enter and exit the U.S. S. 1749, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), did not come to a vote.

2001-2002: Cosponsored bill to increase border control with an alien tracking and identification system (Feinstein).
Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 1627 to create a comprehensive alien tracking and identification system that would implement an entry-exit system to check every visa holder upon entering and exiting the U.S. The primary sponsor was Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

2016: Voted to begin debate on legislation to end sanctuary cities (Toomey) Sen. Sessions has voted to invoke cloture on S. 3100, the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. The bill would help end sanctuary policies that aim to protect criminal aliens by defining sanctuary jurisdictions as any state or local jurisdiction that fails to communicate with federal immigration agents and refuses to comply with detainer requests. The bill would also block certain federal funds from sanctuary cities and shield local police from liability when acting on behalf of a federal immigration request.

2015: Voted to end Sanctuary Cities in 2015 (Vitter) Sen. Sessions voted in favor of cloture to open debate on S. 2146, the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act. This legislation would withhold certain federal funding from jurisdictions that enact sanctuary policies, require the Department of Homeland Security to create a public list of jurisdictions that have sanctuary policies in effect, protect local law enforcement from liability in holding criminal aliens for ICE pick-up, and increase penalties for illegal re-entry into the United States. The bill is sponsored by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.).

2015: Cosponsoring interior enforcement legislation Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 1640, the Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act. Known as the SAFE Act in the previous Congress, this legislation would empower local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws. This legislation would also require DHS to create a national immigration violators database. This legislation would help reduce illegal immigration by empowering law enforcement officials and making it more difficult for illegal aliens to live and work in local communities.

2015: Cosponsored mandatory E-Verify legislation (Grassley) Sen. Grassley cosponsored S. 202, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act. This legislation would make E-Verify permanent; mandate E-Verify for all federal government agencies, federal contractors, and critical employers as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); require employers, contractors, and subcontractors to verify all new employees within one year; increase civil penalties to between $2,500 and $5,000 for each unauthorized alien, $5,000 to $10,000 per alien for second offenses, and $10,000 to $25,000 per alien for subsequent offenses; debar repeat violators from federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements; prohibit states from weakening the E-Verify law; protect employers from liability for actions taken in good faith; allow employers to voluntarily run prospective employees through E-Verify prior to employment with the consent of the prospective employee; require all employers to verify all current employees after 3 years; require reverification for employees with limited work permits; require employers to turn information over to DHS for any employee terminated due to receiving a final non-confirmation; stipulate information sharing between SSA (Social Security Administration), DHS, and the IRS (Internal Revenue Service); and impose a 20 year prison term for identity theft. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is the bills main sponsor.

2015: Cosponsored legislation to enhance and ensure immigration enforcement Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 1842, the Protecting American Lives Act. This legislation would block all federal funding to jurisdictions that prevent law enforcement agents from fully cooperating with federal immigration agents. The bill would require that jurisdictions notify ICE when they come in lawful contact with illegal aliens. The bill would also impose mandatory sentencing requirements for illegal aliens who re-enter the country after being removed.

2013: Voted in favor of an amendment to implement full entry/exit system (Paul) Sen. Sessions voted against tabling the Paul amendment to S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. Sen. Pauls amendment would have required implementation of a biometric entry/exit system at all points of entry. The amendment failed 37-61 (19 June 2013).

2013: Voted in favor of amendment to require biometric entry/exit system (Vitter) Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Vitter amendment to S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. This amendment would have required the implementation of a biometric entry/exit system (the US-VISIT System) at all ports of entry before illegal aliens could be granted temporary legal status or citizenship. Sen. Vitters amendment failed 36-58, with a 3/5ths vote being required for passage (18 June 2013).

2013: Cosponsored mandatory E-Verify legislation (Grassley) Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 202, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act. This legislation would make E-Verify permanent; mandate E-Verify for all federal government agencies, federal contractors, and critical employers as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); require employers, contractors, and subcontractors to verify all new employees within one year; increase civil penalties to between $2,500 and $5,000 for each unauthorized alien, $5,000 to $10,000 per alien for second offenses, and $10,000 to $25,000 per alien for subsequent offenses; debar repeat violators from federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements; prohibit states from weakening the E-Verify law; protect employers from liability for actions taken in good faith; allow employers to voluntarily run prospective employees through E-Verify prior to employment with the consent of the prospective employee; require all employers to verify all current employees after 3 years; require reverification for employees with limited work permits; require employers to turn information over to DHS for any employee terminated due to receiving a final non-confirmation; stipulate information sharing between SSA (Social Security Administration), DHS, and the IRS (Internal Revenue Service); and impose a 20 year prison term for identity theft. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is the bills main sponsor.

2011: Cosponsored mandatory E-Verify legislation (Grassley) Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 1196, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act. This legislation would make E-Verify permanent; mandate E-Verify for all federal government agencies, federal contractors, and critical employers as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); require employers, contractors, and subcontractors to verify all new employees within one year; increase civil penalties to between $2,500 and $5,000 for each unauthorized alien, $5,000 to $10,000 per alien for second offenses, and $10,000 to $25,000 per alien for subsequent offenses; debar repeat violators from federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements; prohibit states from weakening the E-Verify law; protect employers from liability for actions taken in good faith; allow employers to voluntarily run prospective employees through E-Verify prior to employment with the consent of the prospective employee; require all employers to verify all current employees after 3 years; require reverification for employees with limited work permits; require employers to turn information over to DHS for any employee terminated due to receiving a final non-confirmation; stipulate information sharing between SSA (Social Security Administration), DHS, and the IRS (Internal Revenue Service); and impose a 20 year prison term for identity theft. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is the bills main sponsor.

2010: Voted for an amendment that promoted interior enforcement and supported Arizonas immigration enforcement law.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the DeMint amendment to H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The amendment, SA 4464, would have prevented the Department of Justice from participating in any lawsuit against Arizonas immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. Unfortunately, the amendment failed 43-55 on the Senate floor. By supporting this amendment, Sen. Sessions made it clear that the federal government is not doing enough to prevent illegal aliens from living openly in the United States (including taking American jobs) and states should be allowed to assist in arresting and processing illegal aliens.

2010: Voted for an amendment that promoted interior enforcement and supported Arizonas immigration enforcement law.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the DeMint amendment to H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The amendment, SA 4464, would have prevented the Department of Justice from participating in any lawsuit against Arizonas immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. Unfortunately, the amendment failed 43-55 on the Senate floor. By supporting this amendment, Sen. Sessions made it clear that the federal government is not doing enough to prevent illegal aliens from living openly in the United States (including taking American jobs) and states should be allowed to assist in arresting and processing illegal aliens.

2009-2010: Voted against tabling an amendment that would have denied federal funding to states and localities with sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted against tabling an amendment (SA 2630) sponsored by Sen. David Vitter to the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) spending bill (H.R. 2847). The Vitter Amendment, if adopted, would have prevented federal funds from going to states and municipalities with sanctuary policies in place that protect illegal aliens, criminal aliens, and potential terrorists. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 61 to 38 (7 October 2009, 5:56 PM), effectively killing the amendment.

2009-2010: Voted against tabling an amendment that would have denied federal funding to states and localities with sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted against tabling an amendment (SA 2630) sponsored by Sen. David Vitter to the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) spending bill (H.R. 2847). The Vitter Amendment, if adopted, would have prevented federal funds from going to states and municipalities with sanctuary policies in place that protect illegal aliens, criminal aliens, and potential terrorists. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 61 to 38 (7 October 2009, 5:56 PM), effectively killing the amendment.

2009-2010: Voted for an amendment to permanently reauthorize the E-Verify system.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to table the Sessions amendment to H.R. 2892 (the DHS Appropriations bill) which reestablishes E-Verify permanently, mandates that any business getting a federal contract must run all new hires through E-Verify, and mandates that every existing employee who works on the government contracts must be run through E-Verify. The pre-existing employee provision only applied to the employees actually working on the government contract. The motion to table the Sessions amendment failed 44-53 and the amendment passed with a voice vote. H.R. 2892 was signed into law on October 28, 2009.

2009-2010: Voted for an amendment to permanently reauthorize the E-Verify system.
Sen. Sessions voted against a motion to table the Sessions amendment to H.R. 2892 (the DHS Appropriations bill) which reestablishes E-Verify permanently, mandates that any business getting a federal contract must run all new hires through E-Verify, and mandates that every existing employee who works on the government contracts must be run through E-Verify. The pre-existing employee provision only applied to the employees actually working on the government contract. The motion to table the Sessions amendment failed 44-53 and the amendment passed with a voice vote. H.R. 2892 was signed into law on October 28, 2009.

2009-2010: Voted for employment verification by supporting a 5 year extension of E-Verify.
Sen. Sessions voted against tabling Sen. Jeff Sessions amendment to the 2009 Omnibus Spending Bill (H.R. 1105). This amendment would have reauthorized the E-Verify electronic employment eligibility verification program for a period of five years. E-Verify, with a 99.4% accuracy rate, is the most effective tool in keeping illegal aliens out of U.S. jobs. The 5-year extension was an effort to stop the program from being used as a trade-off for various amnesty plans. The Senate leadership decided to table Sessions amendment rather than allow a floor vote. By voting against the tabling of Sen. Sessions amendment, Sen. Sessions supported the long-term reauthorization of E-Verify. The final vote was 50-47.

2009-2010: Voted for employment verification by supporting a 5 year extension of E-Verify.
Sen. Sessions voted against tabling Sen. Jeff Sessions amendment to the 2009 Omnibus Spending Bill (H.R. 1105). This amendment would have reauthorized the E-Verify electronic employment eligibility verification program for a period of five years. E-Verify, with a 99.4% accuracy rate, is the most effective tool in keeping illegal aliens out of U.S. jobs. The 5-year extension was an effort to stop the program from being used as a trade-off for various amnesty plans. The Senate leadership decided to table Sessions amendment rather than allow a floor vote. By voting against the tabling of Sen. Sessions amendment, Sen. Sessions supported the long-term reauthorization of E-Verify. The final vote was 50-47.

2008: Voted for an amendment to increase border security funding and enforcement.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to S CON RES 70. This amendment would increase funding for border security, guarantee 700 miles of fencing, place 6,000 National Guardsmen on the border, and reimburse state and local law enforcement. The amendment passed 61 to 37.

2008: Voted against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted against tabling the Vitter Amendment to S. Con. Res. 70, a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009. The Vitter Amendment would have created a reserve fund to ensure that Federal assistance does not go to sanctuary cities which ignore the immigration laws of the United States and create safe havens for illegal aliens and potential terrorists. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 58 to 40, effectively killing the amendment.

2008: Joined the Border Security and Enforcement First Immigration Caucus Sen. Sessions joined the Border Security and Enforcement First Immigration Caucus. The principle mission of the Caucus is to promote a true, achievable alternative: attrition through enforcement.

2007-2008: Cosponsoring the SAVE Act to increase interior enforcement (Pryor).
Sen. Sessions is cosponsoring S. 2368, the Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act of 2007. The SAVE Act would help reduce illegal immigration by requiring every employer in the United States to eventually use the E-Verify electronic employment eligibility verification system to verify that every employee has the legal right to work in the United States. As well, S. 2368 contains other interior enforcement measures such as increasing the number of ICE agents and training at least 250 State and local law enforcement officers on how to perform federal immigration enforcement procedures. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Voted for increasing interior enforcement by funding state and local law enforcement assistance in enforcing federal immigration laws.
Sen. Sessions voted against tabling the Dole Amendment to H.R. 3093, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008. The Dole Amendment would have appropriated $75 million to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for general support of state and local law enforcements assistance in the enforcement of Federal immigration laws. The vote to table the amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 42, effectively killing the amendment.

2007-2008: Voted against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted against tabling the Vitter Amendment to H.R. 3093, the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) spending bill. The Vitter Amendment would have denied Federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding to state and local governments who refuse to share information with Federal immigration authorities. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 52 to 42, effectively killing the amendment.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to increase interior enforcement.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Coburn Amendment (SA 1311) to S. 1348 to increase interior enforcement by requiring implementation of US VISIT (entry-exit system) and biometric identification documents. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment that deters employers from hiring illegal aliens.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. The Sessions Amendment would prohibit employers who hire illegal aliens from receiving government contracts. The Sessions Amendment passed by a vote of 94-0.

2006: Voted for an amendment to fund immigration investigators.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 5411, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for 2007. The Sessions Amendment would have added $86 million for 800 additional staff to investigate immigration law violations. The amendment failed by a vote of 34 to 66.

2006: Voted for an amendment that allows local law enforcement to assist border patrol agents.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Bingaman Amendment to S. 2454 to authorize grants to state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies near the borders to assist in immigration enforcement. The Bingaman Amendment passed by a vote of 84 to 6.

2006: Cosponsored a bill that provides for the potential of law enforcement officers to enforce current immigration laws (Nelson).
Sen. Sessions was a cosponsor of S. 2368 to increase interior enforcement by mandating use of an entry-exit system, providing for potential involvement of state and local law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of immigration laws, and establishing a permanent and mandatory employment eligibility. Sen. Benjamin Nelson (D-Neb.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2005-2006: Cosponsored a bill by encouraging local law enforcement to participate in immigration enforcement (Schumer).
Sen. Sessions was a cosponsor of S. 2061 to reduce illegal immigration through increased interior enforcement. S. 2061 would increase interior enforcement by encouraging increased involvement of state and local law enforcement in immigration law enforcement and mandating use of the entry-exit system at all ports of entry. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2005-2006: Voted for an amendment to add detention beds to increase interior enforcement.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the McCain amendment to H.R. 2360, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The McCain amendment would have increased the number of detention beds to those called for in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The McCain amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 56.

2005-2006: Cosponsored bill to clarify state authority to enforce immigration laws (Sessions)
Sen. Sessions was a cosponsor of the Homeland Security Enhancement Act of 2005 to clarify state and local law enforcements ability to enforce immigration laws. If enacted, S. 1362 would reduce the flow of new illegal aliens into the United States and also begin to slowly and steadily reducing the current illegal population. Jeff Sessions was this bills primary sponsor.

2005-2006: Voted in favor of Byrd Amendment to fund additional immigration investigators and agents
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Byrd Amendment to H.R. 1268 (an emergency supplemental spending bill) to provide funding to hire 250 new immigration investigators, and 168 new immigration enforcement agents and deportation officers. The Byrd amendment also provides funds for 2,000 additional detention beds as well as funding to train the new personnel. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), passed 65-34 on April 20, 2005 (3:18 PM).

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to reduce illegal immigration through immigration law enforcement (Sessions).
Sen. Sessions cosponsored the Homeland Security Enhancement Act of 2003. S. 1906 sought to clarify state and local law enforcements ability to enforce immigration laws. If enacted, it would have reduced the flow of new illegal aliens into the United States and also begun to slowly and steadily reducing the current illegal population. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) was the primary sponsor.

2002: Voted for a bill to create a comprehensive alien tracking and identification system.
Sen. Sessions voted in favor of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 to significantly reduce future population growth from illegal immigration by making it much harder for temporary visa holders to stay in the country illegally after their visas expire. H.R. 3525 includes an entry-exit system and an integraded data system with biometric identifiers. H.R. 3525, sponsored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), passed the Senate unanimously by a vote of 97-0.

2001-2002: Cosponsored bill to decrease illegal immigration with an alien tracking and identification system (Kennedy).
Sen. Sessions cosponsored the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 to create a comprehensive alien tracking and identification system by implementing an entry-exit system with an integrated database of biometric identifiers for every visa holder. This would have greatly reduced the ability for a visa holder to overstay their visa and become an illegal alien in the U.S. S. 1749, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), did not come to a vote.

2001-2002: Cosponsored bill to increase interior enforcement with alien tracking and identification system (Feinstein).
Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 1627 to create a comprehensive alien tracking and identification system. This would have reduced the opportunities for an alien in the U.S. to overstay a visa and become an illegal alien. The primary sponsor was Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).