Upholding the Law at Our Border Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 7, 2023

Upholding the Law at Our Border Act

This bill requires the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to periodically investigate and report on immigration-related issues until there have been fewer than 35,000 apprehensions at the southwest border for three consecutive months.

When required, the reports must address certain issues, including (1) the vetting procedures applicable to non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) seeking entry into the United States who were apprehended along the southwest border, (2) the total number of individuals unlawfully present who have been processed and released into the United States, (3) the number of such individuals who have received parole, and (4) an audit of the parole applications.

The office must submit such reports (and provide briefings on the reports) to the President, Congress, DHS, and the Department of Justice.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] · R–FL

Committees

Judiciary Committee

8 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Feb 7, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 7, 2023
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 7, 2023 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 3263 · Upholding the Law at Our Border Act

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Discuss S.276, 118th Congress: Upholding the Law at Our Border Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/276

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2023-02-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/s276/BILLS-118s276is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.276 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Examine S.276 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.276, 118th Congress: Upholding the Law at Our Border Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/276

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2023-02-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/s276/BILLS-118s276is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.276 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Examine S.276 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.276, 118th Congress: Upholding the Law at Our Border Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/276

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2023-02-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/s276/BILLS-118s276is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

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Discuss S.276, 118th Congress: Upholding the Law at Our Border Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/276

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2023-02-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/s276/BILLS-118s276is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.276 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.