Markup of H.R. 9773, Permanent Trump Secure Border Act

The House Judiciary GOP held a markup session on July 21, 2026, to consider H.R. 9773, the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act. The bill aims to codify immigration enforcement policies initiated during the Trump administration, including tightening asylum laws, expanding detention authority, and criminalizing visa overstays. The committee engaged in extensive debate over provisions related to immigration enforcement funding, detention conditions, legal representation for unaccompanied children, and the treatment of military families. Several amendments were proposed and voted on, including those addressing body cameras for ICE agents, protections for minors overstaying visas, and legal counsel for unaccompanied children. Most amendments seeking to soften enforcement provisions or enhance protections for detainees were rejected, while the bill, as amended, was reported favorably to the House by a narrow margin. The session also featured significant discussion on the use of private detention facilities, oversight of immigration enforcement agencies, and the political implications of naming the bill after former President Trump. Concerns were raised about the bill's impact on immigrant communities, including Ukrainian Americans, and the broader immigration system.