Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, both R-ND, on Thursday joined Senators Thom Tillis, R-NC, Tom Cotton, R-Ark., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in introducing the Protect American Taxpayer Dollars from Illegal Immigration Act.

President Biden’s Department of Justice is considering giving out payments of $450,000 per person to illegal immigrants who broke U.S. immigration laws. The legislation prevents illegal immigrants from receiving payments for legal settlements, including money from the Judgement Fund to prevent compensating illegal immigrants at the expense of American taxpayers.

“As the crisis at our nation’s southern border continues, American’s taxpayer dollars should not be used to financially reward individuals for coming to our country illegally,” said Hoeven. “This legislation is about preventing an incentive for illegal immigration.”

“North Dakota families and businesses are struggling with inflation and skyrocketing costs on everything from gas to groceries because of Joe Biden’s spending policies, and now the President wants to hand out hundreds of thousands of dollars to illegal immigrants. The Biden Administration still refuses to even acknowledge the crisis at our southern border. Our Border Patrol is already overwhelmed. The last thing we need is another incentive for more migrants to come here illegally. Our bill prevents hard-earned taxpayer dollars from going to absurd settlements for immigrants who didn’t even come here legally,” said Cramer.

Twenty other senators cosponsored the legislation.