FEMA for America First Act of 2025

HR 1748, the "FEMA for America First Act of 2025," would amend the federal disaster relief law to restrict FEMA assistance to "qualified aliens" only. This means non-citizens seeking disaster aid would need to meet specific immigration status criteria defined in existing law, excluding certain groups like asylum seekers who haven’t applied for permanent residency, refugees without adjustment applications, and certain parolees. The bill directly affects non-citizen individuals applying for FEMA disaster assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Act. It changes eligibility rules by requiring applicants to hold a "qualified alien" status as defined by the 1996 welfare law, without altering the core disaster relief program structure.