This bill proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the H-1B visa program by pausing new issuances for three years and capping the annual limit at 25,000 visas. It would eliminate the current lottery system, replacing it with a process that prioritizes employers offering the highest wages, while also restricting visa holders to a maximum stay of three years and banning them from holding multiple jobs simultaneously. The legislation further mandates that all H-1B workers be paid at least $200,000 annually, prohibits staffing agencies from sponsoring these visas, and bars federal agencies from hiring or petitioning for H-1B workers. Additionally, the bill would end employment authorization for foreign students and interns, and generally prevent most nonimmigrants from adjusting their status to become permanent residents while in the United States.
The PROTECT Act of 2026 modifies rules for H-1B visa petitions to ensure higher wages and stricter oversight for third-party work arrangements. It requires employers to pay H-1B workers at least the higher of the local market rate or $100,000, adjusted annually for inflation, and limits visas for those working at third-party sites to a maximum of one year unless the job assignment is clearly defined and long-term. Additionally, the bill mandates that visa petitions offering higher compensation be prioritized for approval regardless of filing date. A separate provision exempts health care workers from certain filing fees if the employer can prove they made a good faith effort to hire a U.S. citizen or permanent resident before bringing in foreign staff. These changes apply to all H-1B visa petitions filed on or after the date the law is enacted.
The ASSIMILATION Act fundamentally restructures the U.S. immigration system by replacing family-based and lottery-based admissions with a merit-based approach that prioritizes economic self-sufficiency and national interest. Key provisions include eliminating the Diversity Visa lottery, reducing family-sponsored immigration caps, and raising the English language requirement for naturalization to a B2 proficiency level. The bill also tightens public charge rules by presuming inadmissibility for those who rely on means-tested benefits, mandates universal use of E-Verify for all employers, and imposes stricter financial sponsorship requirements with mandatory bonds. Additionally, it limits H-1B visas to 50,000 annually, restricts asylum for those transiting through other countries, and expands criminal bars for naturalization applicants.
This bill establishes Temporary Protected Status for Iranian nationals currently in the United States who are unable to safely return home due to ongoing armed conflict and human rights abuses, while also addressing legal hardships caused by a government-imposed pause on processing their immigration applications. It defines eligible individuals as those lawfully present in the U.S. since December 2025 who have pending applications for status changes or work authorization that were delayed by this pause, excluding government officials or those with ties to the Iranian regime. Under the legislation, the Department of Homeland Security must grant these individuals temporary legal status and work authorization for an initial 18-month period, with automatic extensions if the processing delay continues, ensuring they do not accrue unlawful presence or face penalties for the government-caused backlog.
The End U Visa Abuse Act proposes to completely eliminate the U visa program, which currently provides immigration benefits and work authorization to alleged crime victims and their family members. The bill is based on findings that the program has been exploited through fraud, including staged crimes and forged law enforcement certifications, leading to a massive backlog of over 400,000 pending applications. By repealing the specific sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act that create the U visa category, the legislation would remove the legal pathway for these individuals to obtain lawful status through this specific mechanism. The text argues that existing alternatives, such as S visas for witnesses or humanitarian parole, are sufficient to assist genuine victims without the risks of abuse associated with the current system.
The New Pathways Act requires the Bureau of Prisons to provide returning federal prisoners with essential identification and documents before their release. For U.S. citizens, the bill mandates that the agency issue a photo ID card and secure necessary proof of citizenship and a Social Security card, even if the prisoner lacks the paperwork to obtain them themselves. Noncitizens eligible for work and residence will receive assistance in getting their immigration status documents and employment authorization. Additionally, the act ensures that individuals released directly from prison without prior custody receive help from the Probation System to create a plan for their reentry into society.
This bill aims to make permanent the rules for Optional Practical Training, which allows international students to work in the United States after completing their studies. It directly affects F-1 visa holders by codifying their ability to gain up to 24 months of work experience related to their field of study, or up to 48 months if they studied science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The legislation also directs the Department of Homeland Security to classify nursing as a STEM field, thereby extending the longer work authorization period to nursing graduates. By adding these provisions to federal law, the bill ensures that these work opportunities remain consistent and legally defined for future students.
The Honor Our Commitment Act of 2026 prevents the government from detaining or deporting specific Vietnamese nationals who entered the United States on or before July 12, 1995, and have lived there continuously. This protection applies to individuals with existing deportation orders, though it does not cover those who pose a security threat or face extradition. The Department of Homeland Security must grant these individuals work authorization and notify them of their rights within 60 days of the law taking effect. Finally, the bill allows people harmed by violations of these rules to seek legal relief in federal court.
This bill establishes the Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP) within the Department of Homeland Security. The program aims to identify and reduce national security, border security, and terrorist threats posed by foreign nationals before they reach the United States border. DHS will coordinate with foreign governments to facilitate the voluntary sharing of biometric and biographic information from these individuals. Partner countries will receive training and equipment to collect this data and compare it against various U.S. national security and counter-terrorism databases. The program is authorized for six years and includes provisions for congressional reporting and a GAO audit.
This bill, titled the Closing the Workforce Gap Act of 2026, modifies the H-2B temporary worker visa program by adjusting numerical limits, strengthening enforcement measures, and adding new requirements for employers. It directly affects employers seeking to hire foreign workers under the H-2B program and the workers themselves. The legislation caps the number of H-2B visas at half the number of certified positions from the previous year, while exempting rural and seasonal locations from this limit. It also increases penalties for employers who misrepresent information or fail to meet program requirements, establishes a formal complaint process for workers, and requires employers to maintain workplace safety plans and report certain employment issues to authorities. Additionally, the bill restricts H-2B petitions to nationals from countries designated as participating based on factors like visa fraud rates and overstay statistics, and prohibits workers from paying fees for recruitment or petition processing.
