Inhofe Joins Group Introducing Legislation to Fully Fund Border Wall

On the day President Trump addresses the American public on funding border security and a southern border wall, U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, along with Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Rounds, John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy, reintroduced the WALL Act. The legislation would fully fund a border wall along the U.S. – Mexico border.

“We need to build the wall,” Inhofe said. “Over the past two weeks, Democrats have refused to secure our border from drugs, human trafficking and crime all because they are determined to oppose any policy of President Trump—even policies they have supported in the past. My bill fully funds the wall by assessing penalties on illegal immigration and closing loopholes that allow unauthorized immigrants to receive federal benefits, protecting the integrity of hardworking American citizens’ tax dollars. It’s that simple.”

The Wall Act also identifies a way to provide the $25 billion needed for a southern border wall.

Require a work-authorized Social Security Number (SSN) to claim refundable tax credits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit:

• Currently only the child needs a SSN, not the parent benefiting from the refundable child tax credit. The WALL Act would require the parent to have a valid work-eligible social security number.
• Before 2003, the Social Security Agency did not distinguish between work-eligible and non-work eligible SSNs. Therefore, there are individuals benefiting from the EITC they are not authorized to receive because they are non-work eligible.

Require welfare applicants (food stamps, TANF, HUD, etc) to verify citizenship:

• Currently someone only needs to “declare” citizenship and provide a SSN to receive some of these benefits.
• The WALL Act enhances citizenship verification prior to granting benefits using E-verify and require a work-authorized SSN for eligibility.

Increasing the minimum fines on illegal border crossers and establishes minimum penalty for visa overstays.

The Wall Act was originally introduced at the end of the previous Congress in December.