EXCLUSIVE: Senator Jim Banks, R-Ind., expressed concern that some of President Trump’s key immigration policies could be undone by a future Democratic administration unless Congress takes immediate action to secure them into law. He’s advocating for a set of seven immigration bills and believes it’s important for Republicans to make legislative achievements as they head into the midterm elections.
Banks emphasized the urgency of his immigration package, which addresses issues like birthright citizenship, visas, and commercial driver’s licenses, aiming to ensure that these policies are cemented going forward.
“I don’t just fear a Democrat majority. I fear a Democrat-Socialist majority because the [Democratic Socialists of America] control today’s Democrat Party,” Banks stated, criticizing their stance on border security, immigration enforcement, and policing.
Though current Senate Democrats do not align with the Democratic Socialists of America, Banks posits that a Democratic Senate in the future could be dominated by the more radical faction of the party.
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Banks voiced disbelief over the Democratic Party’s apparent acceptance of illegal immigrants filling jobs and driving large vehicles. His proposed “Dalilah Law” is named after a first-grader severely injured by an illegal immigrant driving a truck in an accident that involved multiple vehicles in Indiana. The driver, Partap Singh, was licensed in California. The law aims to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses and mandates that driving tests be administered in English only.
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Banks compared the legislation on commercial driver’s licenses to a past Congressional effort to raise the legal drinking age by pressuring states through the threat of federal fund cuts. He noted that several Indiana residents have suffered from accidents involving foreign drivers licensed by states that he claims issue CDLs too easily, like California and New York. He also advocates for Congress to reassert authority over Temporary Protected Status, which he believes has been misused by previous administrations.
“If we legislate it and give Congress power to determine when TPS is appropriate and when it’s not, we can continue to manage these issues even after President Trump is out of office,” Banks added.
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The American Tech Workforce Act, another component of Banks’ package, proposes raising the minimum salary for many H-1B visa roles from $60,000 to $150,000, which could deter companies from hiring many younger foreign workers.
Some immigration attorneys argue that this change may make the U.S. a less appealing option for international students, potentially driving foreign talent to countries like Canada instead. They suggest that many businesses would struggle to meet this new salary threshold, restricting H-1B opportunities to just top-tier tech firms or specialized positions.
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Advocates claim these changes could benefit American graduates entering the job market. Other bills under Banks’ umbrella would allocate additional funding for border security, limit chain migration, and seek to restrict grants to institutions hiring illegal immigrants.
“These seven bills are common sense, covering a wide range of issues like preventing illegal immigrants from driving large trucks, addressing birthright citizenship, prohibiting chain migration, and cracking down on the misuse of H-1B visas for cheaper labor,” Banks stated.
Fox News Digital reached out to Senate Majority Leader John Thune for his thoughts on the package and whether any of the bills might be prioritized as the midterms approach.
