House Freedom Caucus Accuses GOP Leadership of Stalling Border Security Bills

House Freedom Caucus members are pressing Speaker Mike Johnson to bring border security legislation to a vote, claiming he previously promised action in exchange for their support on other bills, according to a source familiar with the discussions cited by the Daily Signal. Johnson’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the alleged agreement.

The dispute centers on H.R.9199, the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act, which would make permanent a series of strict immigration measures modeled on executive orders signed by President Donald Trump. The bill proposes expanded border wall construction, tougher penalties for visa overstays, enhanced vetting, and mandatory reporting on foreign drug cartels. Supporters argue these steps are needed to prevent future administrations from reversing Trump-era border policies.

The push comes as Republicans, despite holding a House majority, have struggled to pass major border security legislation since the Laken Riley Act in spring 2025. The debate reflects ongoing divisions within the GOP over how aggressively to pursue immigration reforms and whether party leadership is prioritizing messaging over legislative action.

Freedom Caucus Demands Action

Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Andy Harris said the group is determined to codify Trump’s border directives, warning that Democratic administrations could quickly undo them. Harris told the Daily Signal, “President Trump delivered on his promise to close the southern border with executive action. Now we need to codify President Trump’s border policies into law so no future radical administration, like another Biden administration, can erase our border security with a single pen stroke.”

Rep. Chip Roy, who introduced the legislation in 2025, argued that the country’s border security should not depend on which party controls the White House. “Trump successfully halted the Democrats’ premeditated border invasion, but we risk losing this progress if we fail to codify his agenda into law,” Roy said.

Rep. Eli Crane echoed these concerns, warning that Democrats could “unravel these effective deterrents with the stroke of a pen” if they regain the presidency. Crane also linked the border debate to broader partisan disputes, saying, “Given that they unleashed a crisis on our nation for four years and have gone to great lengths to oppose voter ID, they will undoubtedly attempt to launch another invasion.”

“It’s time for Congress to stop talking and start acting.”

— Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas

Trump’s Executive Orders and Legislative Efforts

During his second term, President Trump issued a series of executive orders that, according to the National Immigration Forum, effectively closed the southern border to migrants, including asylum seekers. One proclamation, “Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion,” cited Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution and invoked the Immigration and Nationality Act to suspend entry at the border and block asylum requests. The orders also restarted military involvement and other enforcement measures from Trump’s first term.

Conservatives in Congress argue that these executive actions, while effective, are vulnerable to reversal by future administrations. They say codifying the measures into law is the only way to ensure lasting border security. The Freedom Caucus has also pointed to other stalled bills, including H.R.2 and the SAVE America Act, as evidence that GOP leadership is not prioritizing substantive legislative change.

GOP Leadership Faces Criticism

Members of the Freedom Caucus have accused House and Senate leaders of focusing on messaging rather than passing legislation. “We already have sound legislation on the table in H.R.2. This bill would prevent any future administration from flooding our communities with criminal aliens, narcotics, and human trafficking,” Crane said.

Roy added that “if Congress believes in national sovereignty and the rule of law, it must codify President Trump’s border policies into permanent law.”

Despite these criticisms, Speaker Johnson and other GOP leaders have not publicly addressed the allegations or outlined a timeline for bringing the border bills to a vote. The Daily Signal reported that Johnson’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Democratic leaders have not issued a response to the renewed push for codifying Trump’s border policies. The debate over border security and immigration enforcement remains a central issue dividing Congress, with both parties staking out sharply different positions on the path forward.