Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., is pressing the Senate to take up a package of seven immigration bills that he says would codify President Donald Trump's signature priorities into law before Republicans risk losing their congressional majority in the midterm elections. The legislation targets birthright citizenship, H-1B visa thresholds, commercial driver's licenses for non-citizens, chain migration and federal grants to colleges employing undocumented immigrants.
Banks argues the timing is critical as Republicans face an uncertain political landscape heading into November. 'I don't just fear a Democrat majority. I fear a Democrat-Socialist majority because the DSA who control today's Democrat Party support wide open borders,' Banks told Fox News Digital. He contends that without legislative action, future Democratic-controlled Congresses could undo Trump administration immigration enforcement measures.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers have not publicly aligned with Sen. Banks' specific package, though immigration attorneys and policy analysts have raised concerns about several provisions. The American Tech Workforce Act, which would raise the minimum salary threshold for H-1B visa positions from $60,000 to $150,000, has drawn particular scrutiny.
Critics argue the change would significantly reduce U.S. competitiveness in attracting international talent. Texas immigration firm Reddy Neumann & Brown wrote on its website: 'Many employers would be unable or unwilling to meet this threshold, effectively limiting H-1B hiring to top tech companies or highly specialized roles.' The firm added that such changes could make America 'far less attractive as a study destination' and push foreign graduates toward Canada.
Proponents of raising the salary floor have countered that the change would give American college graduates better odds of entering the job market after graduation, arguing current H-1B regulations allow companies to hire cheaper foreign labor over domestic workers. The debate reflects longstanding tensions between business interests seeking skilled workers and labor advocates who say visa programs suppress wages for Americans.
What the Right Is Saying
Banks frames his legislative agenda as essential national security and public safety legislation. He pointed specifically to his 'Dalilah Law,' named after Dalilah Coleman, a first-grader critically injured when an illegal immigrant driving a commercial truck caused a multi-car pileup on an Indiana highway.
'I cannot believe that the Democrats are so radical and extreme today that they're OK with what's happened to our country with illegals taking jobs for Americans or allowing illegals to be behind the wheel of semi-trucks,' Banks said. The bill would require states to stop providing commercial driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and certain foreign nationals, revoke existing licenses held by non-citizens without legal status and administer CDL tests only in English.
Banks compared his approach to Congress' Reagan-era strategy of threatening federal transportation funds to raise the drinking age nationwide. He argued that states including California, Pennsylvania and New York 'hand CDLs out like candy,' and said multiple Hoosiers have been injured or killed in crashes involving foreign drivers licensed through what he called CDL mills. On Temporary Protected Status authority, Banks wants Congress to reclaim control from executive branch agencies, arguing Democratic administrations have previously abused the designation.
What the Numbers Show
The American Tech Workforce Act would increase the H-1B minimum salary requirement by 150 percent, from $60,000 to $150,000 annually. The Trump administration has also launched investigations into 75 truck driver schools for potential fraud that may have helped non-citizens obtain commercial licenses, according to multiple reports.
The seven-bill package includes legislation targeting birthright citizenship, restricting chain migration, providing additional border security funding to the War Department and withholding certain federal grants from colleges employing undocumented immigrants. Fox News Digital reached out to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., for comment on whether any of the bills would be expedited ahead of the midterm elections but did not receive a response by publication time.
The Bottom Line
The legislative push reflects Republicans' broader strategy of institutionalizing Trump administration policies through statutory law rather than executive action, which can be more easily reversed by future administrations. With midterm control of Congress uncertain, Banks and allies are working to create what they call 'common sense' immigration precedents that would require congressional action to undo.
What happens next: The package faces an uncertain path in the Senate, where Democrats could mount procedural obstacles or call for extended debate. Even if some bills pass the Senate, they would need House approval before reaching Trump's desk. Observers should watch whether Thune schedules any of these measures for floor votes as the midterm calendar tightens, and whether any bipartisan support emerges for individual provisions like the CDL reforms following news coverage of accidents involving unlicensed foreign truck drivers.