{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/sens-scott-budd-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-prevent-thousands-of-illegal-aliens-from-escaping-mandatory-detention/", "Sens. Scott, Budd, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Prevent Thousands of Illegal Aliens from Escaping Mandatory Detention", "2026-05-22", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Tim Scott", "S001184", "www.scott.senate.gov", "timscott", "https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) introduced the Detention Authority Clarification Act this week, which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to make to make Congress\u2019 intent unambiguous that illegal aliens be subject to detention without bond pending removal from the United States. This is in response to split decisions by federal courts across the country about what should already be clear in section 235 of the INA\u2014all who have entered the United States illegally are subject to mandatory detention.\n\nU.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) joined in introducing the Detention Authority Clarification Act.\n\n\u201cIllegal immigrants who break our laws must be detained while they await deportation,\u201d said Sen. Scott.\u201cThe Detention Authority Clarification Act would make sure that no one can enter our country illegally and evade removal. Illegal immigrants must be detained and deported promptly. This is a nation of laws, and breaking the law has consequences.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are a nation of laws, and those who break these laws by coming to our country illegally must be held accountable for their actions. President Trump has worked hard to reaffirm the integrity of our nation\u2019s immigration system, yet hundreds of federal district court judges are allowing illegal aliens to avoid mandatory detention based on a supposed loophole. The Detention Authority Clarification Act would eliminate any doubt by reaffirming mandatory detention for those who have violated U.S. law by entering the country illegally,\u201d said Sen. Budd.\n\n\u201cAliens who enter our country illegally and threaten American lives must face mandatory detention and should not be able to seek bond to be released into our communities,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn.\u201cThis legislation would clarify current law to stop woke judges from allowing illegal aliens to roam American streets and commit further crimes while they await deportation from the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cIllegal aliens who gained entry under Biden\u2019s open border continue to endanger Americans\u2019 lives and must be removed as swiftly as possible,\u201d said Sen. Blackburn. \u201cThe Detention Authority Clarification Act would ensure that these individuals must be detained without bond until they are promptly deported and are not allowed to evade the consequences of their crimes.\u201d\n\n\u201cDuring the four years under Biden, weak and ineffective enforcement of our nation\u2019s immigration laws created an opportunity for millions of dangerous illegal aliens to pour into our country. Instead of detaining these unvetted and unauthorized individuals, the Biden Administration let these lawbreakers walk free, many of whom went on to prey on innocent Americans, like Laken Riley. I am pleased to join Senator Budd and my colleagues in introducing the Detention Authority Clarification Act to ensure that when illegal immigrants break into our country, they remain in immigration detention until they are deported. This legislation will keep Americans safe and end the cycle of catch and release once and for all,\u201d said Sen. Graham.\n\nThe Detention Authority Clarification Act is supported by the Immigration Accountability Project (IAP).\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, requires the detention of illegal aliens. Previous administrations allowed these illegal aliens to be released on bond. However, the Trump administration now detains these illegal aliens in compliance with the statute and with Congress\u2019 intent. Thousands of detained, illegal aliens have filed lawsuits in federal courts challenging the Trump administration\u2019s interpretation of the INA, and hundreds of federal district judges have granted their request for release. Split panels of circuit court judges on the federal courts of appeals have sided with and against the Trump administration, and one such panel of judges deadlocked entirely on this question.\n\nSpecifically, section 235 of the INA, as amended by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), provides that an alien who enters the U.S., including those who enter illegally, is deemed an \u201capplicant for admission\u201d and is to be subject to detention until the alien is lawfully admitted to the U.S. or removed from the U.S. in the case of an illegal alien.\n\nDetention Authority Clarification Act:\n\nClarifies the intent of section 235 of the INA to eliminate alleged ambiguity by stating that all who have entered the United States illegally are subject to mandatory detention.\n\nRequires mandatory detention for illegal aliens in section 236 of the INA to harmonize the language of sections 235 and 236.\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-23T06:08:46Z", "2026-05-23T06:10:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/sens-scott-budd-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-prevent-thousands-of-illegal-aliens-from-escaping-mandatory-detention/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8103569746017456, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}