SECURE STEM Act

HR 6487, the SECURE STEM Act, prohibits U.S. visa issuance and admission for nationals of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba seeking certain STEM-related visas (including H-1B, J-1, and student visas). It also bans these individuals from working at federal national research laboratories. The law allows limited national interest waivers for specific cases, requiring joint approval from the State and Homeland Security Secretaries. It mandates biannual reports to Congress detailing waiver approvals, justifications, and recipient information. The bill directly affects foreign nationals from the specified countries pursuing STEM education or research roles in the U.S. federal labs.