The 'Secure the Border Act of 2023' is a proposed U.S. law aimed at strengthening border security and reforming immigration policies. Key provisions include resuming construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, tightening asylum eligibility by requiring applications at official ports of entry, expanding the list of crimes that disqualify individuals from asylum, increasing penalties for visa overstays, and mandating that all employers use an electronic system to verify the employment eligibility of new hires.
Supporters of the bill, such as Senator Ted Cruz, describe it as the most comprehensive border security legislation in decades, emphasizing its potential to address the ongoing border crisis by resuming wall construction, tightening asylum standards, and increasing penalties for visa overstays. The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) views the bill as a monumental achievement and an important step toward ending the border crisis, highlighting its provisions to enhance physical border security and enforce immigration laws.
Critics argue that the bill's stringent measures could undermine the rights of asylum seekers and lead to humanitarian concerns. They contend that limiting asylum eligibility to those who apply at official ports of entry may not account for individuals fleeing urgent danger who cannot access these ports. Additionally, mandating the use of an electronic employment verification system could impose burdens on employers and potentially lead to discrimination against certain workers.
The Secure America Act, sponsored by Lindsey Graham, does not show direct industry overlaps with the sponsor's top donor industries, which suggests a lower risk of conflicts of interest. However, there is notable lobbying activity in related policy areas, with significant contributions from organizations such as the Securities Investor Protection Corporation ($30,000) and the Security Industry Association ($34,000). While these contributions are substantial, they do not directly correlate with the bill's subject matter, indicating that the potential for conflicts is minimal at this time. Voters should be aware that while there are financial influences in the background, they do not appear to create a direct conflict with the legislation being proposed.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YMCA OF THE USA | YMCA OF THE USA | $110,000 |
| RED BULL NORTH AMERICA, INC. | RED BULL NORTH AMERICA, INC. | $60,000 |
| SECURITY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | SECURITY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | $34,000 |
| SECURITIES INVESTOR PROTECTION CORPORATION | RICH FEUER ANDERSON | $30,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA RAILROADS | THE CACTUS GROUP, LLC | $22,500 |
| POWERUS | SAUNDERS GLOBAL DIPLOMACY | $17,500 |
| SENECA NATION | SPIRIT ROCK CONSULTING | undisclosed |
| JOHN BRIAN LEDBETTER MISSIONS | JOHN BRIAN LEDBETTER MISSIONS | undisclosed |
| ALLIANCE FOR MEDICARE | THE PICARD GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
| GULF PORTS ASSN | PAT YOUNGER | undisclosed |
| FUTURE DEFENSE USA, INC. | DENNIS CARDOZA CONSULTING SERVICES | undisclosed |
| THE KNOT WORLDWIDE INC. | FGS GLOBAL (US) LLC (FKA FGH HOLDINGS LLC) | undisclosed |
| CITY OF FIFE, WA | DESIMONE CONSULTING, LLC | undisclosed |
| UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HEALTH | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | undisclosed |
| MEDTELLS | BLUE TUSK COMMUNICATIONS | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Lindsey Graham, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
Source: GovTrack.us roll call vote data.
