House Republicans have passed a bill that would fund restarting former President Donald Trump’s border wall, which was stopped on Joe Biden’s first day in office via executive order.

The Secure the Border Act garnered support from all voting Republicans, except for two, while all 211 voting Democrats opposed the legislation. GOP leadership engaged in negotiations with party members regarding provisions related to seasonal labor and drug cartels right up until its passage. Although the bill is not likely to be passed by the Democrat-controlled Senate, it has the potential to stimulate negotiations in the upper chamber for a more comprehensive agreement, the Daily Caller reported.

The Secure the Border Act mandates the Biden administration to resume construction on sections of the border wall that were originally planned during the Trump administration. Under Trump’s leadership, 452 miles of wall were constructed along the southern border. However, the Biden administration has faced delays in fulfilling its commitment to address certain gaps.

Shortly after assuming office, President Biden overturned the emergency declaration that had served as the basis for border wall construction during the Trump era.

2) This is the second major win for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in three weeks, narrowly approving this plan and the GOP’s debt ceiling bill in late April

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 11, 2023

Furthermore, Biden repealed the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), which compelled asylum seekers to stay in Mexico until their legal cases were resolved. The MPP was officially terminated in 2022, following unsuccessful legal attempts by Republican-led states to compel the Biden administration to uphold it. The Secure the Border Act reintroduces this policy.

Republican lawmakers argued that the imminent expiration of Title 42 by the Biden administration on Thursday night adds urgency to the passage of the border bill. In anticipation of an expected surge in migration, federal agents are being deployed to the southern border, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are receiving instructions to release migrants currently in custody to create more space in shelters, the Daily Caller noted.

“It’s the obvious advertisement shown to everybody around the world that it’s time to invade the southern border and come on across,” Georgia Rep. Mike Collins told the outlet. “You can tell that by the tens of thousands of people lined up there and ready to go. We had 11,000 yesterday.”

In a last-minute effort, GOP leadership introduced revisions to the provisions concerning E-Verify. Concerns were raised by representatives from districts with significant agricultural industries, as they feared that the immediate enforcement and application of the eligibility system to seasonal workers could result in labor shortages. Leadership assured members that they would address this concern during negotiations with the Senate.

“What they committed to is that nothing would go to the president’s desk to be signed into law that didn’t have both the E-Verify provisions and reforms to the ag labor program,” Washington moderate GOP Rep. Dan Newhouse said.