2013: Voted in favor of invoking cloture on legislation to expand chain migration (Schumer) Sen. Thune in favor of 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.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing chain migration.
Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to increase chain migration.
Sen. Thune voted in favor of the Akaka Amendment to S. 1348 to increase chain migration by exempting children of Filipino World War II veterans naturalized pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1990 from numerical limits on worldwide immigration. The Akaka Amendment passed by a vote of 87 to 9.

2006: Voted against a bill that increased chain migration.
Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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

2021: Sponsored S. 1024 to increase health care visas Sen. Thune sponsored S. 1024, the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). The legislation would recapture 40,000 supposedly unused visas and provide them to health care workers.

2021: Sponsored S. 2207 to exempt forestry workers from H-2Bs Sen. Thune sponsored S. 2207 introduced by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). The legislation would exempt virtually all forestry-related work from the H-2B caps for 5 years.

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

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

2020: Cosponsored S. 3599, the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, to increase green cards for doctors and nurses Sen. Thune cosponsored S. 3599, the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, introduced by Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.). The legislation would recapture 40,000 green cards that would otherwise go unused as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and allow for those green cards to be issued to foreign doctors and nurses with applications submitted within 90 days of the end of the Covid-19 national emergency.

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

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

2019: Cosponsored S. 135, the Prioritizing Help to Business Act, that would increase H-2B visas Sen. Thune cosponsored S. 135, the Prioritizing Help to Business Act, introduced by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). This legislation would allow DHS to issue up to 2,500 additional H-2B visas that are exempt from the annual cap of 66,000 to employers in states that have an unemployment rate below 3.5%.

2018: Voted in favor of the Omnibus Spending Bill to increase H-2B visas Sen. Thune voted in favor of the substitute amendment to H.R. 1625, the omnibus spending bill of 2018. The massive spending bill included a provision that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to double the number of H-2B visas in FY2018.

2017: Voted in favor of increasing foreign worker visas Sen. Thune voted in favor of H.R. 244, the 2017 omnibus spending bill. A provision of the bill allows DHS to raise the H-2B cap by 70,000 in 2017 by excluding returning H-2B workers. The spending bill, and the H-2B provision, covers half of 2017.

2017: Cosponsored legislation increasing H-2B visas (Tillis) Sen. Thune cosponsored S. 792, the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2017. This legislation would exempt returning H-2B workers from the past three years from the annual cap of 66,000. The bills main sponsor is Sen. Thom Tillis (R-UT).

2015: Voted against the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase foreign guest workers Sen. Thune 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 in favor of H.R. 2146 to grant President authority to expand immigration levels without Congress consent via Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) Sen. Thune voted in favor of final passage of Trade Promotion Authority bill, H.R. 2146. (NOTE: in order to pass TPA the House of Representatives split the original bill Senate-passed bill H.R. 1314 into two bills, one dealing with Trade 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 in favor of granting President authority to expand immigration levels without Congress consent via Trade Promotion Authority in 2015 Sen. Thune voted in favor of 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.

2015: Voted as part of Senate Finance Committee in favor of Trade Promotion Authority to potentially expand immigration and harm American workers Sen. Thune voted as part of the Senate Finance Committee against S. 995, the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill. S. 995 would allow the President in trade treaties to commit America to giving guaranteed numbers of U.S. jobs to foreign workers without Congress approval. It would potentially tie the hands of Members of Congress to keep them from changing immigration numbers to best serve American workers. The Obama Administration (or subsequent Administrations) could use the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement to commit America to immigration increases that Congress has neither debated nor approved, thus further reducing the jobs available to U.S. workers and instead reserving certain jobs for foreign workers under the agreement. S. 995 passed the House Ways and Means Committee by a vote of 20-6.

2013: Voted in favor of invoking cloture on legislation to increase foreign worker visas (Schumer) Sen. Thune in favor of 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.

2009-2010: Cosponsored a bill to increase the number of H-2B workers (Mikulski).
Sen. Thune cosponsored the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2009 (S. 388). The bill would have allowed an alien to return as an H-2B nonimmigrant worker without counting against the annual 66,000 cap if they had used an H-2B visa during one of the three previous fiscal years, effectively tripling the number of H-2B workers. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) is the bills main sponsor.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to increase the number of H-2B workers (Mikulski).
Sen. Thune cosponsored the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2009 (S. 988). The bill would have allowed an alien to return as an H-2B nonimmigrant worker without counting against the annual 66,000 cap if they had used an H-2B visa during one of the three previous fiscal years, effectively tripling the number of H-2B workers. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) is the bills main sponsor.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing foreign worker importation.
Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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 against an amendment to increase fees on H-1B visas.
Sen. Thune voted against 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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 to kill an amendment that would strike guestworker provisions.
Sen. Thune voted in favor of 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 Dorgan amendment.

2006: Voted against procedural move to increase foreign worker importation Sen. Thune 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: Cosponsored a bill to increase number of low-skill workers present in the U.S. at any one time (Mikulski).
Sen. Thune was a cosponsor of S. 2844, which extends for three years an exemption for any H-2B alien (for temporary, or seasonal low-skill workers) who has been counted against the 66,000-visa cap during any of the three previous three fiscal years. S. 2284 has the potential to triple the number of H-2B workers in the United States at any given time. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2005-2006: Voted against Byrd Amendment that would prevent additional foreign-worker importation
Sen. Thune voted against 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 against CAFTA, foreign worker importation program (Grassley)
Sen. Thune voted against S. 1307, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (CAFTA). It is expected that CAFTA would create the expectation of immigration and lead to an increase in illegal immigration. S. 1307, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), passed by a vote of 54 to 45 on June 30, 2005.

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

2023: Voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to reduce Asylum Fraud
Sen. Thune voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would significantly reduce asylum fraud by strengthening the credible fear standard to ensure that only those who are more than likely to be awarded asylum by an immigration judge are allowed to continue with the asylum process. Further, it would prohibit individuals who cross the border illegally from claiming asylum and prevent asylum seekers from receiving a work permit for one year after entry.

2023: Sponsored S. 348 to block parole for illegal aliens who claim asylum
Sen. Thune sponsored S. 348, the Asylum Abuse Reduction Act, introduced by Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). The legislation would block parole for aliens who arrive illegally and claim asylum and for CBP to refer them to a U.S. embassy or consulate. Further, it would block asylum for aliens who transit a third country in which they would not face persecution.

2021: Sponsored S. 2032 to increase Afghan SIV admissions Sen. Thune sponsored S. 2032, the Afghan Allies Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). The legislation would expand the Afghan, including and increase to the cap from 26,500 to 46,500 and extending the program until 2024.

2015: Voted against the FY2016 Omnibus Spending bill to increase foreign guest workers Sen. Thune 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 in favor of invoking cloture on legislation to increase refugee and asylum fraud (Schumer) Sen. Thune in favor of 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.

2023: Voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to prevent amnesties for illegal border crossers
Sen. Thune voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would reduce amnesty by strictly limiting the situations under which an administration can grant parole to illegal aliens.

2023: Sponsored S. 348 to block parole for illegal aliens who claim asylum
Sen. Thune sponsored S. 348, the Asylum Abuse Reduction Act, introduced by Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). The legislation would block parole for aliens who arrive illegally and claim asylum and for CBP to refer them to a U.S. embassy or consulate. Further, it would block asylum for aliens who transit a third country in which they would not face persecution.

2018: Voted against Sen. Grassleys amendment to the Senate DACA bill that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens Sen. Thune voted against an amendment offered by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The Grassley amendment would: 1) grant amnesty to an estimated 1.8 million DACA-eligible illegal aliens, 2) end Chain Migration and the Visa Lottery, 3) repurpose the Chain and Lottery green cards for clearing out the backlog of 4 million, and 4) authorize spending for increased border security The amendment failed 39-to-60 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2018: Voted against the McCain-Coons amendment that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens Sen. Thune voted against an amendment offered by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The McCain-Coons amendment would grant amnesty to an estimated 3.2 million young-adult illegal aliens. The amendment failed 52-to-47 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2018: Voted against the Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens Sen. Thune voted against an amendment offered by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Angus King (I-Maine) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment would have granted amnesty to an estimated 1.8 million young-adult illegal aliens and granted a defacto amnesty to another 850,000 illegal aliens by protecting them from deportations. The amendment failed 54-to-45 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2015: Voted against Attorney General nominee who supports amnesty Sen. Thune 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 in FAVOR OF McConnell substitute amendment to H.R. 240 to fund Executive Amnesties Sen. Thune voted in FAVOR OF 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 in favor of the McConnell substitute amendment was a vote against protecting struggling American workers who will have to compete for scarce jobs with millions of unlawful immigrants. It was also a vote to cede 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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.

2014: Voted to Block Obamas Mass Amnesty Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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.

2013: Opposed amendment that promised border security after amnesty for 11 million illegal aliens (Schumer-Corker-Hoeven) Sen.Thune 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 in favor of invoking cloture on legislation to amnesty illegal aliens (Schumer) Sen. Thune in favor of 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.

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.

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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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

2005-2006: Voted against amnesty for agricultural workers
Sen. Thune 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.

2015: Voted for FOURTH Motion to bring H.R. 240 (DHS Appropriations bill) to de-fund Executive Amnesty to Senate floor Sen. Thune 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).

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

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

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

2023: Sponsored S.J.Res. 5 to disapprove of illegal-alien voting in DC
Sen. Thune sponsored S.J.Res. 5 introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). The resolution would disapprove of the D.C. Council's amendment to allow noncitizens to vote in elections.

2022: Sponsored S. 3154 blocking settlement cash to illegal aliens Sen. Thune sponsored S. 3154, the Prohibiting Taxpayer Funded Settlements for Illegal Immigrants Act, introduced by Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.). The legislation would block settlement cash from going to families who were separated after crossing the border illegally.

2021: Voted in favor of Amdt. 54 to S. Con. Res. 5 to block stimulus payments to illegal aliens Sen. Thune voted in favor of Amendment #54, introduced by Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have blocked stimulus payments from going to illegal aliens. The amendment was approved 58-42.

2013: Voted in favor of invoking cloture on legislation to amnesty illegal aliens (Schumer) Sen. Thune in favor of 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.

2012: Cosponsoring legislation to end the illegal alien child tax credit loophole Sen. Thune is cosponsoring S. 3083, legislation to end the child tax credit loophole that illegal aliens claim, defrauding American taxpayers of billions of dollars each year. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is the bills main sponsor.

2010: Voted for an amendment in support of Arizonas immigration enforcement law.
Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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: Voted to not to shield illegal aliens from prosecution for Social Security fraud
Sen. Thune 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.

2023: Voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to strengthen border security
Sen. Thune voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would require DHS to restart border wall construction that has been authorized for and paid for by Congress and strengthen the Secure Fence Act of 2006 by requiring physical barriers along 900 miles of border. The legislation also provides retention bonuses for Border Patrol agents and defunds efforts to resettle illegal border crossers across the country.

2023: Sponsored S. 208 to suspend the end of Title 42 for 60 days
Sen. Thune sponsored S. 208, the Public Health and Border Security Act, introduced by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.). The legislation would prevent the ending of the Title 42 border health policy put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic for 60 days.

2022: Sponsored S. 4036 to continue Title 42 due to the COVID-19 pandemic Sen. Thune sponsored S. 4036, the Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022, introduced by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.). The legislation would block the Biden Administration from ending the Title 42 policy that prevents illegal border crossers from claiming asylum due to the COVID-19 pandemic for 60 days.

2021: Voted in favor of Amdt. 872 to S. Con. Res. 5 to fund border security and interior enforcement Sen. Thune voted in favor of Amendment #872, introduced by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have provided funding for border security and interior enforcement. The amendment failed 50-50.

2021: Voted in favor of Amdt. 651 to S. Con. Res. 5 to end catch-and-release Sen. Thune voted in favor of Amendment #651, introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have ended the practice of catch-and-release at the border. The amendment failed 50-50.

2021: Voted in favor of Amdt. 542 to S. Con. Res. 5 to provide border fence funding Sen. Thune voted in favor of Amendment #542, introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have provided funding for border fence construction. The amendment failed 50-50.

2022: Voted in favor of S.J. Res. 46 to disapprove of asylum rule Sen. Thune voted in favor of S.J.Res. 46 introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.). The legislation would formally disapprove of the Biden Administration rule to allow asylum officers to grant asylum to illegal border crossers at the border.

2021: Voted in favor of Amdt. 687 to S. Con. Res. 5 to reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy Sen. Thune voted in favor of Amendment #687, introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), to S. Con. Res. 5, the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill. The amendment would have reinstated the Migrant Protection Protocols, commonly known as the Remain in Mexico policy. The amendment failed 50-50.

2018: Voted against the Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment that would weaken border security Sen. Thune voted against an amendment offered by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Angus King (I-Maine) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment would have appropriated some funding for border security, but limited the ability of Customs and Border Patrols role in enforcement. The amendment failed 54-to-45 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2015: Voted in favor of McCain amdt to S. Con. Res. 11 to support expedited removal of illegal aliens Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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).

2010: Voted for an amendment to increase the number of men and women patrolling the border.
Sen. Thune 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 the Justice Department handle immigration-related cases on the border more efficiently.
Sen. Thune 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).

2010: Voted for an amendment that would have helped stop the flow of drugs across the border.
Sen. Thune 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).

2009-2010: Voted for an amendment to complete 700 miles of border fencing.
Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to increase border control.
Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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.

2005-2006: Voted in favor of amendment (Ensign) to DHS appropriations bill to fund U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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 an amendment to authorize the use of the military in border control efforts.
Rep. Thune voted in favor of H. Amdt. 479 to H.R. 4546 to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the military to assist in border control efforts. The amendment passed 232-183.

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

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

2024: Cosponsored S. 5183 to add certain sex crimes to list of deportable offenses 

Sen. Thune cosponsored S. 5183, the Be GONE Act, introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). The legislation would add sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence to the aggravated felony list.

2023: Sponsored S. 160 to require detention of illegal aliens charged with serious crimes
Sen. Thune sponsored S. 160, Sarah's Law, introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). The legislation would require the detention of aliens who are charged with a crime that resulted in the death of serious bodily injury of another person.

2023: Voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to mandate E-Verify and criminalize visa overstays
Sen. Thune voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would require most employers to use E-Verify within two years to ensure that new hires are authorized to work in the United States. The legislation provides additional time for agricultural employers to comply. The bill would also make overstaying a visa a felony crime and allow Unaccompanied Alien Children from noncontiguous countries to be returned to their home countries.

2023: Sponsored S. 733 to add certain crimes to the list of inadmissibles
Sen. Thune sponsored S. 733, the Reverse Entry for Migrant Offenders and Violence Expulsion Act, introduced by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). The legislation would clarify that kidnapping and sexual abuse convictions make an alien inadmissible and deportable.

2023: Sponsored S. 156 to mandate E-Verify
Sen. Thune cosponsored S. 156, the Accountability Through Verification Act, introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). The legislation would require all employers to use E-Verify to check the work authorization for all new hires. Further, the legislation would require employers to run all existing employees who have not yet been checked within one year and increase penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal workers.

2023: Sponsored S. 333 to remove time limits on the detention of illegal aliens
Sen. Thune sponsored S. 333, the Keep Our Communities Safe Act, introduced by Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). The legislation would allow ICE to detain illegal aliens beyond the current 6 month limit.

2023: Sponsored S. 348 to block parole for illegal aliens who claim asylum
Sen. Thune sponsored S. 348, the Asylum Abuse Reduction Act, introduced by Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). The legislation would block parole for aliens who arrive illegally and claim asylum and for CBP to refer them to a U.S. embassy or consulate. Further, it would block asylum for aliens who transit a third country in which they would not face persecution.

2022: Sponsored S. 4324 to add certain crimes to the inadmissible list Sen. Thune sponsored S. 4324, the Reverse Entry for Migrant Offenders and Violence Expulsion Act, introduced by Rep. John Thune (R-S.D.). The legislation would add conviction for kidnapping or sexual abuse to the inadmissibility and deportable list of crimes.

2021: Sponsored S. 71, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act, to require employers to use E-Verify Sen. Thune sponsored S. 71, introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). The legislation would require all businesses to use E-Verify within one year for both new hires and existing employees. Further, the legislation would require information sharing between the relevant agencies to eliminate fraud.

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

2019: Voted in favor of H.R. 1158, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, to weaken interior enforcement Sen. Thune voted in favor of H.R. 1158, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, that provides funding for the federal government for FY2020. H.R. 1158 effectively prohibits ICE from cooperating with Health and Human Services to detain or remove illegal alien sponsors of unaccompanied alien children (UACs).

2019: Cosponsored S. 556 to require all businesses to use E-Verify Sen. Thune cosponsored S. 556, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act, introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). S. 556 would require all businesses to begin using E-Verify on all new hires within one year and require employers to run all existing employees through the system within three years. The legislation also increases penalties for employers who employ illegal aliens, includes provisions to detect identity fraud, and requires the Social Security Administration to detect multiple uses of the same SS number.

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

2018: Voted against the Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment that would weaken interior enforcement Sen. Thune voted against an amendment offered by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Angus King (I-Maine) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The Schumer-Collins-Rounds-King amendment would have reprioritized interior enforcement, protecting nearly every illegal alien, including illegal aliens not even in the country yet, for deportation. The amendment failed 54-to-45 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2018: Voted for Sen. Toomeys amendment that would punish sanctuary cities Sen. Thune voted in favor of an amendment offered by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to the Senate shell bill for granting amnesty to illegal aliens. The Toomey amendment would: 1) block certain Federal grants to sanctuary jurisdictions and reallocate those funds to jurisdictions that uphold Federal law, 2) protect local police from lawsuits for honoring ICE detainer requests, and 3) explicitly allow localities to protect from referral to ICE victims of or witnesses to a crime. The amendment failed 54-to-45 (needed 60 votes to pass).

2017: Cosponsored mandatory E-Verify legislation (Grassley) Sen. Thune cosponsored S. 179, 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.

2016: Voted to begin debate on legislation to end sanctuary cities (Toomey) Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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.).

2013: Voted in favor of an amendment to implement full entry/exit system (Paul) Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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).

2010: Voted for an amendment that promoted interior enforcement and supported Arizonas immigration enforcement law.
Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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.

2007-2008: Voted for increasing interior enforcement by funding state and local law enforcement assistance in enforcing federal immigration laws.
Sen. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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. Thune 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.

2005-2006: Voted for an amendment to add detention beds to increase interior enforcement.
Sen. Thune 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: Voted in favor of Byrd Amendment to fund additional immigration investigators and agents
Sen. Thune 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).