PAPERS Act of 2026

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to return all identification documents to individuals when they are released from immigration custody, with specific exceptions for fraudulent documents, evidence in criminal cases, or documents the individual is no longer legally allowed to possess. It defines covered documents to include passports, green cards, driver's licenses, and social security cards, and mandates that if a document is retained, the individual must receive a certified copy and a written explanation of why. The legislation also explicitly prohibits keeping documents for operational convenience or anticipated future enforcement actions. This change aims to prevent the loss of important personal identification during immigration proceedings.