This bill, known as the BAN Act, aims to stop the practice of "birth tourism," which it defines as entering the United States primarily to give birth to a child who would otherwise not be eligible for citizenship. The legislation makes it illegal for pregnant individuals to enter the country for this purpose and extends bans to their family members and any businesses or facilitators who help arrange these trips. Additionally, the bill introduces criminal penalties, including up to ten years in prison, for anyone who lies about a pregnancy or runs a commercial operation that assists in birth tourism. By adding birth tourism as a specific ground of inadmissibility, the law seeks to prevent unauthorized entry while maintaining that legitimate medical travel for necessary treatment remains allowed.
This bill prohibits the certification or recertification of certain individuals as local corrections officers in Michigan if they have worked for specific federal immigration agencies between September 1, 2025, and January 20, 2029. The law directly affects people seeking to become local corrections officers on or after January 1, 2005, by adding a new requirement that they must not have been employed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during that three-year window. While the bill maintains existing requirements for U.S. citizenship, age, and high school education, it introduces this specific employment restriction to prevent federal immigration workers from transitioning into local correction roles.
This bill prohibits Michigan school districts, academies, and intermediate districts from hiring or retaining individuals who worked for specific federal immigration agencies between September 1, 2025, and January 20, 2029. The affected agencies include Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. The law applies to any role within these educational institutions and targets people who were employed by these organizations during that specific future time frame.
The Ban Birth Tourism Act of 2026 prohibits individuals from entering the United States if their main reason for travel is to have a child born there to gain U.S. citizenship. This law makes such travelers inadmissible upon arrival and subject to deportation if they are found to have entered the country specifically for this purpose. Officials determine whether someone is engaging in birth tourism by assessing if the person's primary goal is obtaining citizenship for a child or if they are likely to give birth within ten months of entry. The bill directly affects foreign nationals planning to visit the U.S. with the intent of using their child's birthplace to secure citizenship status.
The American Citizenship Act proposes changes to how birthright citizenship is determined for children born in the United States. Under this bill, a newborn would automatically be a U.S. citizen only if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or has lawful permanent resident status at the time of birth. The legislation explicitly excludes children born to parents who are both undocumented or do not meet these residency requirements from receiving citizenship solely based on their birthplace. Importantly, the bill states that these new rules will not apply retroactively to anyone who was already born before the law takes effect.
The Citizenship Act of 2026 redefines the legal status of individuals currently in the United States without legal admission as "invaders" and removes birthright citizenship from children born to these individuals. This change specifically targets mothers who are unlawfully present in the country or entered for the purpose of giving birth, as well as foreign nationals involved in commercial surrogacy contracts within the U.S. By amending the Immigration and Nationality Act, the bill ensures that citizenship is no longer automatically granted to these specific groups of children, regardless of their place of birth. Additionally, the legislation declares that courts cannot review the government's determination that an invasion is occurring at the border.
The English Language Proficiency Act removes specific exceptions that currently allow certain immigrants to bypass the naturalization requirement of understanding U.S. history, government, and English language skills. By amending the Immigration and Nationality Act, the bill eliminates these exemptions, meaning more applicants must now demonstrate proficiency in these areas to become citizens. This change directly impacts immigrants who previously qualified for waivers based on factors such as age, education, or length of residence in the United States. The legislation aims to standardize the naturalization process by ensuring a consistent set of requirements for all applicants seeking citizenship.
This bill, known as the Birthright CLAIM Act of 2026, modifies existing laws to restrict automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are not U.S. citizens or nationals. Under the new rules, a child born to two non-citizen parents would not be considered a citizen at birth if at least one parent is unlawfully present in the country or lacks lawful permanent residency. Additionally, the legislation extends the residency requirements for children born abroad to U.S. citizens, requiring a longer period of continuous residence before the child can claim citizenship. The bill also introduces a paternity verification process where DNA testing is mandatory to confirm a father's identity before the government issues citizenship documents like passports or Social Security numbers. If paternity cannot be verified through this testing, the child would not receive these documents until the verification is complete.
The Birthright Citizenship Clarification Act of 2026 would amend federal law to change how citizenship at birth is determined for children born in the United States. Under this proposal, a child born in the U.S. to parents who are present temporarily or unlawfully would not automatically receive citizenship, while also preserving historical exceptions for children of foreign diplomats and those born on foreign ships. The bill specifically defines temporary presence to include holders of student, work, tourist, and other nonimmigrant visas, as well as participants in the Visa Waiver Program. These changes would apply only to individuals born after the law takes effect, leaving the citizenship status of those born before that date unchanged.
The Anchors Away Act modifies U.S. immigration laws to expand birthright citizenship and restrict entry for certain pregnant individuals. It clarifies that anyone born in the United States to a parent who is a citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces automatically acquires citizenship. Additionally, the bill makes it illegal for pregnant nonimmigrants who are not married to U.S. citizens to enter the country, though it allows entry for those seeking legitimate medical treatment for childbirth. These changes apply only to people born on or after the law's enactment and to new admission applications filed on or after that date.