Congressman Scott believes America draws its strength from our long, proud heritage as a nation of immigrants. He recognizes, however, that the current system needs serious reform and that Georgians across the thirteenth district want bipartisan solutions. Rep. Scott supports a pathway to citizenship, protecting asylum rights, and smart border management. He also believes Congress must begin to address the root causes of migration and offer solutions for guest worker programs that bolster the U.S. workforce while protecting American jobs. A comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy that repairs the damage done by previous administrations and addresses the immediate challenge at the border are essential to succeed.
Immigration Reform
Rep. Scott supported the Bipartisan Senate Border Package which would have addressed the federal government’s failure to manage migration in a way that supports American communities and respects humanitarian needs.
The backlog for immigration judges exceeds 2 million cases. Rep. Scott signed a May 2024 letter to request robust FY25 funding for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) to hire an additional 100-200 judges and shorten hearing timelines.
He proudly supported the Biden-Harris Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families—which as of March 2024 has reunited nearly 800 children with their parents. These were vulnerable children who were separated during Trump’s presidency.
Rep. Scott supports the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 4319) to establish a certified agricultural worker (CAW) program and streamline H-2A temporary guest worker visa. He also voted for $111 million in new FY24 funding to E-Verify.
In late 2023, Rep. Scott led a briefing with USCIS and other agencies to probe migrant workers’ abuses and to expedite DOL’s Farmworker Protection Rule which will increase oversight capacity of working conditions and improve H-2A visa program transparency.
In 2023, he urged the Biden Admin. to expand CBPOne, a free online tool for migrants to schedule appointments and make the process at our border safer and more orderly. The advanced information also creates a more efficient and streamlined process for CBP.
Securing the Border
Successfully requested FY24 funding of $849 million for Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technology at U.S. ports of entry to detect and prohibit the transport of illicit cargo and to hire 1,000 newly CBP agents trained in NII technologies.
He also supports adding over 1,500 new Customs & Border Protection (CBP) personnel —specialized in NII to prevent illegal immigration, human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and terrorism while also guaranteeing ease of travel, trade and commerce.
In 2024 Rep. Scott voted for H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act, to permanently deem all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs subjecting them to stricter regulations.
Rep. Scott opposed more than $2 billion in cuts to the FY25 Border Security Operations budget which zeroed out the Shelter and Services Program (SSP) that provides financial resources to non-federal entities in support of humanitarian services to migrants
ICE detention facilities are currently over capacity. Rep Scott supported a FY25 funding increase for new detention beds to a total of 50,000. Without action from Congress DHS will need to shift funds from other critical missions or reduce its enforcement operations.
He voted against H.R. 5283 and H.R. 3941, two hyper-partisan and immoral GOP bills that would have increased homelessness by preventing the federal government from housing vulnerable migrants in available lands or unused facilities.
Joined calls for new FY24 & FY25 funding authority directing DHS to construct the most practical and effective fencing across the Southern Border and provide for the installation of additional roads, lighting, cameras and sensors to gain stronger operational control.
Asylum
Today, there are approximately only 1,000 Asylum Officers (AO), Rep. Scott supports adding an additional 4,300 AOs through the FY25 funding bill and making the asylum process faster and fairer—particularly during the initial screening process.
Cosigned a February 2024 letter to President Biden urging DHS strengthen requirements for valid asylum claims and allow individuals who pass this strengthened initial screening and who are determined to qualify for asylum, streamlined access to work authorizations.
Rep. Scott vigorously opposed the Trump Administration’s child separation policies and supports the Protecting Unaccompanied Children Act which provides social services and legal representation for unaccompanied minors once they are released from DHS custody.
Rep. Scott urged the House to pass H.R. 1325, the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act allowing asylum seekers to get work authorization as quickly as 30 days after applying for asylum, while minimizing the burden on employers during a historic labor shortage.
Supported the establishment of a humanitarian parole process for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans (CHNV), allowing people from these countries who have a U.S. sponsor in and who pass a background check to enter for a period of 2 years and work lawfully.
Dreamers
To provide a pathway to citizenship for 11 million Dreamers—minors who entered the U.S. on their parent’s temporary work visas but who are now at risk of aging out when they turn 21, Rep. Scott cosponsored H.R. 16, the American Dream and Promise Act.
Rep. Scott called on Congress to pass legislation providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, farmworkers, care workers, and other long-term undocumented individuals who contribute to this country, by paying taxes and contributing to local economies.
In 2024 he supported H.R. 2397, the Homeownership for DREAMers Act, to prohibit federal mortgage providers from limiting insurance eligibility to DACA recipients.
In July, Rep. Scott cosponsored H.R. 8807, the Pell Grant Preservation & Expansion Act, which doubles the maximum Pell award and allows all Dreamers to access financial aid.
