Contact Congress about H.R. 2640: Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023

The bill would tighten asylum rules and keep more migrants in custody while cases are pending. It would also limit immigration parole and require employers nationwide to check workers through a federal system.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023 is a House bill in Congress.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects people seeking asylum, families and children at the border, visa holders, employers, and workers. It also affects federal agencies that run immigration detention, child placement, and job-check databases. States and local governments could play a larger role by suing over some enforcement duties or using business-license penalties tied to work checks.

Why this matters: The bill matters because it would change who can enter, stay, work, and seek protection in the United States. It could speed some immigration decisions and reduce unauthorized work. It could also lead to more detention, more quick returns, more lawsuits, and more reliance on federal databases. The full effects on refugees, families, employers, privacy, and government costs are uncertain.

Key provisions in H.R. 2640

• Raises the first asylum screening standard called credible fear. An asylum seeker would have to show they are more likely than not to qualify later, and that their statements are more likely than not true.
• Requires most asylum seekers to apply at an official U.S. port of entry. It also tightens what counts as persecution, political opinion, and membership in a particular social group.
• Blocks or makes asylum harder for people with many felony convictions and some misdemeanors. This includes certain drunk-driving offenses, gang crimes, domestic violence, child abuse, some past asylum denials, long unlawful presence, and unpaid or unfiled taxes, with limited exceptions.
• Creates a travel-route bar for many migrants seeking asylum. If they passed through other countries, they usually must have sought and been denied protection there first, with limited exceptions such as trafficking victims.
• Tightens the firm-resettlement rule. People usually could not get asylum if they could have had lasting legal status in a country they passed through, or lived there at least one year without ongoing persecution.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 2640

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 2640

What is H.R. 2640?

The bill would tighten asylum rules and keep more migrants in custody while cases are pending. It would also limit immigration parole and require employers nationwide to check workers through a federal system.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 2640?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 2640?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

How does Modern Action help me act on H.R. 2640?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.