HR 2490, the "No In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants Act," would require states to charge non-citizens not lawfully present in the U.S. the same out-of-state tuition rate at public colleges as other non-residents, or risk losing federal education funding. Specifically, states that offer in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants would become ineligible for Title IV federal student aid funds under the Higher Education Act starting the year after the violation is identified. This provision directly affects public universities in states that currently provide in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants, as they would lose access to federal financial aid programs. The bill does not change state tuition laws directly but ties federal funding eligibility to compliance with the new requirement.
HR 2367, the College Employment Accountability Act, requires colleges and universities receiving federal student aid or institutional funds to comply with immigration laws or risk losing that funding. Specifically, it prohibits institutions from receiving federal aid if they hire individuals without legal work authorization (violating Section 274A of immigration law) and mandates participation in the E-Verify employment verification program. The Department of Homeland Security must monitor compliance every six months and notify the Education Secretary within 10 days if an institution violates immigration rules or fails to use E-Verify. This directly affects all higher education institutions seeking federal financial assistance under the Higher Education Act.
This bill creates an exemption from annual visa caps for foreign nationals who earned a U.S. doctoral degree (or terminal degree in fields without doctoral options) from an accredited U.S. institution. To qualify, they must have a job offer in their field paying above the median wage for that occupation in their area, and meet labor certification requirements. It also allows doctoral students on F-1 visas to pursue permanent residency while studying, removing barriers to dual intent under current immigration rules. The bill directly affects international doctoral students and graduates seeking permanent residency in the U.S. who meet these specific educational and employment criteria.
HR 7608, the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026, prevents the deportation of eligible Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese nationals who entered the U.S. before January 1, 2008, and have continuously resided here since. The bill halts removals for these individuals, grants them permanent work authorization with 5-year permits renewable indefinitely, and eliminates in-person check-ins for immigration supervision. It also requires immigration authorities to reopen past deportation cases for eligible individuals, allowing them to seek relief under the Act’s provisions without retroactive penalties. This directly affects approximately 15,000 long-term Southeast Asian residents, many of whom arrived as child refugees following conflicts the U.S. was involved in.
The Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025 (S 1233) changes visa and immigration rules for foreign students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in STEM fields at U.S. universities. It requires these students to apply for admission *before* starting their program and adds stronger background checks for their student visas. The bill also creates a new pathway to a green card for STEM graduates who secure a job in their field paying at least the median wage for that role, with approved labor certification. This allows students on F-1 visas to pursue permanent residency without violating current visa rules (dual intent), while requiring annual reports on implementation and impacts.
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to improve support for English learners (ELs) and immigrant children/youth. It requires states to collect and report data on teacher diversity (racial, ethnic, gender, linguistic) and to disaggregate student performance data by EL status, disability, ethnicity, race, and native language. The bill mandates states to monitor progress of former ELs and expands funding for programs providing legal/educational resources in students' native languages, culturally responsive educator training, and dual-language program access. It directly affects public schools, educators, and EL students - regardless of immigration status - by strengthening data-driven support systems and resource access.
HR 4316, the "Fight for the American Dream Act," allows individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status to enlist in the U.S. military by amending Title 10 of the U.S. Code to recognize DACA employment authorization as valid documentation for enlistment. It directly affects young immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children and hold DACA, enabling them to serve in the armed forces. Key provisions include updating military eligibility rules to include DACA recipients and revising naturalization processes for military members to clarify terms like "active duty." The bill makes procedural changes to existing military and immigration laws without altering citizenship requirements for service members.
S 2036 ("Putting American Students First Act") amends the Higher Education Act to establish new citizenship and residency requirements for participation in Federal TRIO programs. It explicitly defines eligible individuals as U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, certain aliens with intent to become permanent residents, citizens of Freely Associated States, CNMI residents, or lawful residents of Freely Associated States. The bill prohibits waivers of these requirements under specific appropriations laws and performance partnership authorities. This change directly affects individuals seeking TRIO program benefits, including college access and support services.
The Ensuring Medicaid Eligibility Act of 2025 prohibits the implementation of a 2024 rule that would have streamlined Medicaid application and enrollment processes. It requires states to verify U.S. citizenship or immigration status before enrolling individuals in Medicaid and mandates quarterly verification of income-based eligibility for those relying on income calculations. The bill also blocks federal funding for Medicaid coverage for certain non-citizens, including parolees, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, asylum seekers, and individuals granted withholding of removal. These provisions directly affect non-citizen Medicaid applicants and require states to adjust enrollment and verification procedures.
HR 4696 amends Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to update eligibility for a registry program that provides a pathway to legal status for long-term residents. It changes the requirement from entering the U.S. before January 1, 1972, to entering at least 7 years before the application date. This adjustment bases eligibility on a rolling 7-year window instead of a fixed historical cutoff, allowing more recent long-term residents to qualify. The bill directly affects individuals who entered the U.S. after 1972 but maintained continuous residence for at least seven years prior to applying.
