A group of Republican Senators introduced legislation to fully fund the $25 billion border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The construction of the border wall is one of the priorities of President Donald Trump. He repeatedly promised that Mexico will pay for it.
On Thursday, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), and John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) introduced the WALL Act. It is the first legislation that identifies funding sources for the border wall.
The Republican senators are proposing to stop the benefits for undocumented immigrants to fund the border wall.
Proposed funding sources for the border wall
Under the WALL Act, parents must have a valid work-eligible social security number (SSN) to claim refundable tax credits. Welfare applicants must verify their citizenship.
In addition, the legislation will raise the minimum fines on border crosses and establishes a minimum penalty for visa overstays.
In a statement, Cruz emphasized that a majority of American including his constituents in Texas want to secure the border. He reiterated his conviction that building a wall is necessary to stop the flow of illegal immigration into the United States.
