Hardline House conservatives are mounting a push to permanently enshrine President Donald Trump's border enforcement policies into federal law by July 4, arguing that executive actions alone are vulnerable to reversal by future administrations.

The push comes as Republicans tout historically low levels of illegal border crossings under Trump's second administration and seek to lock in changes through legislation that would outlast the president's time in office.

The Secure the Border Act is the sweeping House Republican immigration bill that passed the House in May 2023 but never received a Senate vote.

The bill faces slim odds in the Senate, though, as it would need support from some Democrats to pass.

It has become the blueprint for many of the border measures conservatives are now trying to revive and codify under Trump.

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., said Congress has a responsibility to preserve the administration's border security measures by turning them into statute.

"The president has given us the most secure border that, literally, this country has ever had," Clyde said, according to the Hill.

"We plan on keeping it, and we in Congress need to do everything we possibly can to ensure that we do keep it, and that means codifying President Trump's executive orders."

Conservatives backing the effort argue that executive actions can be quickly undone by a future president, pointing to policies implemented under former President Joe Biden that reversed many Trump-era immigration restrictions.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said legislation is necessary to prevent a future administration from reinstating policies that Republicans blame for increased illegal immigration during Biden's presidency.

"We've stopped the flow of the border, and that's great, and we're not releasing people," Roy said.

"But we could have a future Biden-Mayorkas situation where that's happening," he said.

Roy was referring to former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a frequent target of Republican criticism over the administration's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border.

"That shouldn't happen again, so we should codify it," Roy added.

"That's the main point — the bill just codifies essentially what the president is doing."

The legislative effort faces significant hurdles despite Republican control of Congress.

Immigration legislation has historically been difficult to advance, with disagreements often emerging even within the Republican conference over enforcement measures, legal immigration programs, and the scope of federal authority.

Democrats have largely opposed the administration's approach, arguing that immigration reform should include broader changes to the nation's immigration system and protections for certain migrant populations.