Immigration (Border Security)

Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment Act or the WISE Act This bill expands eligibility for U nonimmigrant visas (victims of criminal activity) and prohibits immigration enforcement activities in specified areas. Generally, U visas are for victims of specified crimes (e.g., rape, trafficking, or domestic violence) who assist with the investigation or prosecution of the crime. The bill adds hate crimes, child abuse, and elder abuse as crimes that may qualify a victim for a U visa and removes criteria related to the victim's assistance with the investigation or prosecution of the crime.   Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must provide work authorization to U visa applicants, whereas currently DHS may grant work authorization but is not required to do so. The bill also eliminates the annual numerical cap on U visas.  The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that certain individuals, including U visa applicants and T visa (victims of human trafficking) applicants, shall not be detained while the application is pending. Additionally, the bill provides immigration-related protections, such as by extending the admission period and providing work authorization, to the spouse or child of a nonimmigrant visa holder who subjected that spouse or child to battery or extreme cruelty. Further, the bill prohibits, with some exceptions for exigent circumstances, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection from conducting immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a school, health care facility, place of worship, or other location specified in the bill.

This bill creates a temporary exception to the parole fee for non-citizens (aliens) entering the U.S. for sacred Tribal or religious ceremonies, cultural exchanges, or celebrations. During a two-year period starting from enactment, eligible aliens must undergo a background check, submit a written request to the Secretary of Homeland Security, be enrolled in a tribal cultural program operated by a federally recognized tribe with trust land near the Southwest border, and pay a $200 fee instead of the standard fee. The exception applies only when the Secretary determines the entry would provide a significant public benefit. It directly affects non-citizens seeking to participate in these cultural events and federally recognized tribes operating such programs.

S 2547 ("Kate's Law") increases penalties for non-citizens who enter the U.S. unlawfully or reenter after removal. It raises the mandatory prison term for aliens who enter without inspection (e.g., evading border checks) and later commit crimes punishable by over one year in prison from 2 to 5 years. For reentry offenses, it mandates minimum 10-year prison sentences for those convicted of serious crimes before removal, or who reenter after multiple removals or specific prior convictions. The bill directly affects non-citizens facing immigration enforcement actions under Sections 275 and 276 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

HR 2128, the Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2025, creates a federal grant program to reimburse eligible local governments within 200 miles of the U.S.-Mexico land border for costs related to border security measures, such as additional law enforcement wages. To qualify, communities must be local governments (not sanctuary jurisdictions), submit applications to the DHS Secretary, and cannot use funds for legal aid, housing, healthcare, or other services for immigrants. Grants are capped at $500,000 per community per year, with $25 million authorized annually from 2026-2036. The program requires annual reports to Congress detailing grant usage and implementation, including recommendations for future funding adjustments.

This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to obtain fingerprints from noncitizen children under 14 years old if they suspect the child is a trafficking victim. It also creates a new federal crime for adults (18+) who knowingly use a minor for entry into the U.S. when not a blood relative or guardian, punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison. The law mandates sharing fingerprints with health officials for unaccompanied children and requires annual reports to Congress and monthly public updates on trafficking apprehensions involving false relative claims. It directly affects children entering the U.S., potential traffickers, and federal agencies handling border security and child welfare.

This bill would reform immigration parole by requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant temporary entry only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian needs or significant public benefit, reversing what the bill describes as systemic overuse. It imposes a strict annual cap of 3,000 paroles starting in fiscal year 2029, restricts parole for nationals of designated "countries of concern" without a State Department waiver, and allows states to sue if they claim financial harm exceeding $100 from parole decisions. The bill directly affects immigrants seeking temporary entry and DHS officials administering the program. Key mechanisms include the new cap, country restrictions, and state lawsuit provisions to enforce compliance.

This bill amends federal law to block Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from going to local governments that qualify as "sanctuary jurisdictions." A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as a city or county that restricts sharing immigration status information with federal authorities or refuses to comply with certain immigration detainer requests. The law requires grant recipients to certify they are not sanctuary jurisdictions during the grant period. This directly affects cities and counties with policies limiting cooperation on immigration enforcement, potentially withholding federal funds for housing, infrastructure, and community programs. The exception for jurisdictions not sharing information when victims or witnesses of crimes come forward is included.

HRES 604 is a House resolution condemning violent attacks against U.S. immigration enforcement agents. It specifically references documented incidents in 2025 where ICE and CBP officers were assaulted, injured, or targeted by mobs in cities like San Jose, Los Angeles, and Portland. The resolution formally recognizes the work of these agents and calls for support from elected officials, but it does not create new laws or policies. As a symbolic resolution, it has no legal force and solely expresses the House's position on these incidents.

S 301, the "Border Security is National Security Act," authorizes $10 billion in additional funding for the Department of Defense (DoD) to support border security operations led by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill directs DoD to use these funds for specific border security measures, including surveillance systems, barriers, patrol roads, military aviation, and counter-drone systems. It explicitly states Congress believes the President has constitutional authority to deploy military forces for border security under existing laws and appropriations. The funding remains available until September 30, 2028, with requirements for congressional notification of fund transfers.

HR 506, the "Security First Act," allocates $110 million annually (2025-2028) for border security grants to state/local law enforcement through the Operation Stonegarden program, funded by a new trust fund using seized monetary instruments at the border. It requires the State Department to assess whether major Mexican cartels (like Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation) and gangs (like Tren de Aragua) meet criteria for foreign terrorist organization designation. The bill mandates a detailed technology needs analysis by DHS within one year, evaluating border security tech gaps, new surveillance systems, and infrastructure to address threats like drug trafficking and human smuggling. This analysis must be updated biannually and includes assessing privacy impacts, staffing needs, and coordination with Mexican law enforcement.