Congress settled this question in 1996: illegal border crossers must be detained until they are admitted or removed. Yet for nearly three decades, administrations of both parties refused to enforce that mandate, releasing millions of inadmissible aliens into the interior instead. The current administration is finally enforcing the law as written — and opponents have responded with thousands of habeas petitions asking judges to rewrite the statute from the bench.

The full Fifth Circuit has now cleared the way for enforcement to continue, but another circuit has ruled the other way, and the question appears headed to the Supreme Court. Enforcement that depends on one administration’s willingness and a fragile court posture is not a lasting policy. Please pass H.R. 9773, the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act, and write the detention requirement into law so plainly that no future administration can revive catch-and-release by memo. Americans have waited 30 years for this law to mean what it says.

Greg Raven, Apple Valley, CA

Sent to:
Jay Obernolte