Immigration (Refugees & Asylum) in United States

in committee · United States · House Dec 4, 2025

HR 6389: Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025

This bill would protect unaccompanied children by repealing fee requirements and other provisions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" that have created barriers to their access to humanitarian protections. It specifically exempts unaccompanied children from paying fees for asylum applications, employment authorization, and immigration court proceedings, and requires the government to refund fees already paid under the repealed provisions. The bill also repeals provisions allowing for summary removal of children without due process, intrusive body examinations without safeguards, and sharing of sponsor information with immigration enforcement that has led to family separations. These changes would directly affect unaccompanied children seeking asylum or other protections in the United States, ensuring they can access legal processes without financial barriers or heightened risks of exploitation. The bill aims to uphold protections for unaccompanied children established under the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA).

Topics ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Enforcement Refugees & Asylum Work Authorization

in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2025

HR 1792: No Tax Dollars for the United Nation’s Immigration Invasion Act

HR 1792 prohibits U.S. federal funds from being provided to three United Nations agencies: the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study identifying all U.S. funding to these agencies from 2021-2025, including amounts and restrictions, and to assess any funds owed to the U.S. government. It also mandates an audit of the State Department’s Refugee Travel Loan Program. The GAO must submit a report to Congress within 180 days of the bill’s enactment detailing these findings. This bill directly affects federal funding mechanisms for international refugee and migration programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Refugees & Asylum

in committee · United States · House Feb 6, 2025

HR 1050: Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act

This bill would make it easier to remove non-citizens who are members of or associated with criminal gangs from the United States. It defines a "criminal gang" as a group of five or more people whose primary purpose is committing serious crimes including drug offenses, violent crimes, human trafficking, and other specified offenses. The Secretary of Homeland Security, with Attorney General consultation, would have authority to designate groups as criminal gangs, with procedures for review and potential revocation. The bill would block asylum eligibility, temporary protected status, special immigrant juvenile visas, and parole for those designated as gang members, with limited exceptions for those assisting law enforcement.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Enforcement Refugees & Asylum Sanctuary Policies

in committee · United States · House Jan 6, 2026

HR 6946: Temporary Protected Status Reform Act of 2026.

HR 6946, the Temporary Protected Status Reform Act of 2026, would terminate TPS for nationals from Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. It requires these individuals to depart the U.S. within 180 days of the law's enactment, unless they already hold other lawful immigration status (such as permanent residency, asylum, or another non-TPS visa). Employment authorization tied to TPS would expire on the termination date, and the Secretary of Homeland Security cannot redesignate these countries for TPS without new legislation. The bill explicitly states it does not require granting relief or limit existing immigration enforcement authority.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Enforcement Refugees & Asylum Work Authorization

in committee · United States · House Apr 21, 2025

HR 2974: Training and Nutrition Stability

HR 2974 amends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by adding a specific exclusion for income earned through certain employment and training programs. It directly affects SNAP households where members participate in programs like vocational rehabilitation (under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973), refugee employment initiatives (under immigration law), or other defined training programs. The key change removes the requirement to count income from allowances, earnings, or payments received in these specific programs when determining SNAP eligibility. This adjustment means participants in these programs will have that income excluded from their household's calculation, potentially increasing their SNAP benefits. The bill modifies existing SNAP rules without creating new programs or changing benefit levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Refugees & Asylum Apprenticeships Workforce Development

in committee · United States · House Mar 6, 2025

HR 1915: Stop the Cartels Act

The Stop the Cartels Act (HR 1915) aims to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling by enhancing U.S. intelligence efforts focused on Mexico and Central American countries. It requires regular reports on drug trafficking organizations, designates specific cartels (including the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel) as "Special Transnational Criminal Organizations," and withholds federal grants from jurisdictions that violate immigration laws. The bill also establishes refugee application centers in Mexico and Central America, increases immigration judge staffing by 500 positions, and reforms asylum processing to address fraud while ending family separation policies. It repurposes federal drug program funding by increasing substance abuse prevention and treatment grants while repealing several existing programs. The legislation directly affects U.S. immigration enforcement, federal funding allocation to state and local governments, and the processing of asylum claims and refugee applications.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Judges Law Enforcement Enforcement Refugees & Asylum

in committee · United States · Senate May 15, 2025

S 1789: Training and Nutrition Stability Act of 2025

This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to exclude certain income from employment and training programs when determining eligibility for nutrition assistance benefits. It specifically excludes earnings from veterans' education programs (like the Post-9/11 GI Bill), employment training programs, vocational rehabilitation, and refugee employment programs. Households with members participating in these programs will no longer have that income counted toward benefit eligibility thresholds. The change directly affects low-income individuals and families receiving nutrition assistance who also participate in these specific workforce development initiatives.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Refugees & Asylum Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · United States · House Mar 25, 2025

HR 2349: Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act

This bill designates Uyghurs and other Muslim minority group members from Xinjiang who have experienced or fear persecution for peaceful political, religious, or cultural expression as "persons of special humanitarian concern" for refugee resettlement. It provides for Priority 2 processing under the refugee system, waives the presumption that applicants are immigrants, and excludes them from numerical visa limits. The bill requires regular reporting on refugee applications from Xinjiang, including wait times and denial reasons, and encourages other countries to make similar accommodations for Xinjiang refugees. The provisions apply to individuals who fled Xinjiang due to detention, forced labor, family separation, or other human rights abuses documented in the bill's findings. The bill would expire 10 years after enactment.

Topics ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Refugees & Asylum

in committee · United States · House Jul 28, 2025

HR 4765: Securing our Border Act

HR 4765, the "Securing our Border Act," allocates federal funds to enhance border security at land ports of entry. It directs one-third of unobligated funds toward achieving 100% scanning of vehicles using nonintrusive inspection systems by 2034, and two-thirds toward constructing a border wall along the southwest border, requiring quarterly reports on progress and costs. The bill also authorizes recruitment, retention, and relocation bonuses for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, with specific limits (e.g., up to $15,000 for recruitment). Additionally, it amends immigration law to require returning certain migrants to contiguous territory or a safe third country while processing their cases, rather than allowing immediate release. These provisions directly affect CBP operations, border infrastructure, and immigration processing procedures.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement Refugees & Asylum

in committee · United States · Senate May 5, 2025

S 1589: Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2025

S 1589, the Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2025, updates U.S. immigration parole rules to allow temporary entry for specific groups under strict criteria. It permits parole for urgent humanitarian reasons (like life-threatening medical emergencies or family reunification) or significant public benefit (such as assisting law enforcement), but only on a case-by-case basis - not for entire groups. The bill specifically expands eligibility for military family members, Cuban nationals under historical migration agreements, and those needing urgent medical care or organ transplants. Parole lasts up to one year (with possible one-year extensions) and does not grant work authorization except for military families and Cuban nationals, while requiring detailed annual reporting to Congress.

Topics ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Refugees & Asylum Work Authorization

All immigration bills