Border security and immigration

College Employment Accountability Act

This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) from receiving certain federal funds or participating in federal student aid programs if the IHE does not take certain actions to prohibit the employment at the IHE of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who do not have work authorization.

Specifically, the bill prohibits an IHE from receiving federal funds for student assistance or institutional aid if the IHE employs unauthorized individuals in violation of a specified section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). (The section prohibits an employer from knowingly hiring, recruiting or referring for a fee, or continuing to employ a non-U.S. national who lacks work authorization.)

Additionally, the bill requires an IHE that participates in federal student aid programs to participate in the E-Verify system. (This system allows employers and recruiters to verify an individual's eligibility for employment. The system is largely voluntary; however, federal employers, including federal contractors, must use E-Verify. Some IHEs currently participate in the system.)

The bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to, every six months, monitor whether an IHE is participating in the E-Verify system. Further, DHS must notify the Department of Education within 10 days of finding that an IHE (1) employs unauthorized individuals in violation of the INA, or (2) is not participating in the E-Verify system.

No Censors on our Shores Act

This bill makes certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who were involved in conduct that would have been in violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution if it had occurred in the United States (1) inadmissible for entry into the United States, and (2) deportable.

Specifically, the bill applies to an individual who, while serving as a foreign government official, carried out or was responsible for activity against a U.S. citizen located in the United States that would have violated the First Amendment if committed by a U.S. government official in the United States.

Sending Evading Non-Documented Threats Home Especially Migrants Biden Accepted Carelessly and Knowingly Act of 2025 or the SEND THEM BACK Act of 2025

This bill subjects non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who illegally entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021, to expedited removal (i.e., removal without further hearing or review). This applies even if such an individual indicated an intention to apply for asylum or expressed a fear of persecution. The bill does not apply to an individual serving in the Armed Forces as of January 1, 2025.

Grant Integrity and Border Security Act

This bill requires an applicant for a federal grant to certify that the applicant has not violated in the last 10 years, is not currently violating, and will not violate during the term of the grant the federal criminal prohibition against bringing into the United States or harboring certain non-U.S. nationals (i.e., aliens under federal law). Upon determination by the granting agency that a grantee is in violation of this bill, the agency must withhold any federal grant funds from the grantee.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) must report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) individuals convicted of, or who admitted to, such a violation. Additionally, the DOJ must report to OMB if DOJ believes there is a reasonable basis to conclude that an individual has committed such a violation.

Advanced Border Coordination Act of 2025

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish at least two Joint Operations Centers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The centers shall provide centralized operations hubs for (1) coordinating operations between federal, state, local, and tribal agencies as needed; and (2) coordinating and supporting border operations, including detecting criminal activity, such as activity related to transnational criminal organizations and illegal border crossings.

Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act of 2026

This bill addresses issues related to state and local government cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, including by prohibiting limitations on cooperation, revising detainer authority, and restricting funding for certain jurisdictions.

Federal, state, and local government entities, including personnel, must be allowed to (1) comply with or enforce immigration laws or cooperate with immigration enforcement efforts, or (2) inquire about an individual's immigration status. Currently, such government entities must be allowed to share immigration-related information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS must issue a detainer for individuals arrested for any criminal or motor vehicle offense if DHS has probable cause that they are inadmissible or deportable.

Jurisdictions not in compliance with this bill, as determined by DHS, are ineligible for certain funding for law enforcement or immigration. This funding must be reallocated to jurisdictions that are in compliance.

The bill also creates a private right of action for victims of certain crimes to bring against a state or local government that, for example, released the individual who was convicted of the crime despite a detainer.

The bill provides federal immunity for officials and entities in compliance with the bill and removal to federal court for related prosecutions.

DHS may decline transfer of an individual in its custody if the requesting jurisdiction is not in compliance with this bill. DHS is prohibited from transferring an individual with a final order of removal.

Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act

This bill establishes certain criminal grounds for making non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) inadmissible and expands the crimes for which a non-U.S. national is deportable.

First, the bill establishes that a non-U.S. national is inadmissible if the individual has admitted to or is convicted of acts constituting the essential elements of stalking, child abuse, child neglect, child abandonment, a sex offense, conspiracy to commit a sex offense, a violation of certain protection orders, or domestic violence (including physical or sexual abuse or a pattern of coercive behavior when it occurs within certain close relationships).

Next, the bill establishes additional grounds for deportation. Under current law, a non-U.S. national is deportable for certain criminal convictions, including domestic violence, stalking, and child abuse. The bill makes any sex offense (including crimes against minors) or conspiracy to commit a sex offense a basis for deportation. The bill also expands the domestic violence crimes that make a non-U.S. national deportable to include physical or sexual abuse or a pattern of coercive behavior when it occurs within certain close relationships.

Red Light Act

This bill directs the Department of Transportation to withhold all of a state's share of certain federal highway funds (specifically, funds for the National Highway Performance Program, the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program) in FY2023 and thereafter if such state has enacted a law to provide driver's licenses or other identification cards to aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States.

Asylum Accountability Act

This bill permanently bars a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) from receiving certain immigration-related relief if that individual is ordered removed from the United States after failing to appear at a removal proceeding, unless that failure to appear is due to exceptional circumstances. (Currently, this bar from relief is for 10 years.)

Under this bill, such an individual shall be permanently barred from receiving discretionary relief under specified immigration provisions, such as (1) cancellation of removal and adjustment to lawful permanent resident status, (2) being allowed to voluntarily depart from the United States, or (3) being allowed to change from one nonimmigrant classification to another.

State Immigration Enforcement Act

This bill authorizes state and local governments to enact and enforce laws that penalize conduct prohibited under federal immigration law. Such state and local laws may only impose civil and criminal penalties that do not exceed the penalties imposed by federal law.

The bill also revokes a federal law that preempts (blocks) state and local laws that impose civil or criminal penalties for employing non-U.S. nationals who are not authorized to work in the United States.

Veterans Border Patrol Training Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collaborate with the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a five-year interdepartmental pilot program, under which DHS must use the DOD SkillBridge Program to train and hire transitioning servicemembers as border patrol agents for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Keeping Aid for Municipalities And Localities Accountable Act or the KAMALA Act

This bill prohibits the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to assist non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who are not lawfully admitted permanent residents. The CDBG program is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and provides states, local governments, and Indian tribes with funds for economic and community development.

The bill also specifically prohibits HUD from making a CDBG grant to any state, local government, or Indian tribe that carries out a housing or community development program that assists such individuals.

Ending Catch and Release Act of 2025

This bill changes the treatment of certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) without lawful immigration status, including by prohibiting the release of asylum seekers into the United States while their cases are pending.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may not (with some exceptions) release an individual who is not clearly entitled to admission into the United States while the individual's case is pending, even if the individual is an asylum seeker. DHS may instead detain the individual or return the individual to a neighboring country in certain situations.

The bill also expands expedited removal from the United States (i.e., removal without further hearing or review) to include individuals present in the United States without being admitted, with certain exceptions. Under current law, individuals are subject to expedited removal if they lack proper documentation or obtained an immigration benefit through fraud; such individuals are still subject to expedited removal under the bill.

The bill also modifies the standard for establishing a credible fear of persecution to avoid expedited removal. Generally, an asylum seeker may avoid expedited removal if an asylum officer finds such a credible fear. Under this bill, an officer may find credible fear if it is more likely than not the individual can establish their eligibility for asylum, whereas under current law, the officer may find credible fear if there is a significant possibility that the individual can establish their eligibility.

Voter Integrity Protection Act

This bill imposes additional immigration-related penalties for non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who vote in an election for federal office.

It shall be an aggravated felony for a non-U.S. national who is unlawfully present to violate an existing prohibition against a non-U.S. national voting in a federal election. (An aggravated felony conviction carries various immigration consequences, such as rendering the non-U.S. national inadmissible, deportable, and barred from establishing good moral character for naturalization.)

A non-U.S. national who is unlawfully present and who knowingly violates the prohibition against voting in a federal election shall be deportable.

Ensuring United Families at the Border Act

This bill addresses the treatment of children who are non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law), including by statutorily establishing that there is no presumption that such a child (other than an unaccompanied child) should not be detained for immigration purposes.

Specifically, the bill states that the detention of such minors shall be governed by specified sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act and not any other provision of law, judicial ruling, or settlement agreement.

(A 1997 settlement agreement, commonly known as the Flores agreement, imposes requirements relating to the treatment of detained alien minors, including requiring such minors to be released or placed in a nonsecure facility after a certain amount of time in detention.)

If an adult enters the United States unlawfully with their child, the Department of Homeland Security must detain the adult and child together if the only criminal charge against the adult is a misdemeanor for unlawful entry.

This bill also prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors or families with minors.

Protect Medicaid Act

This bill prohibits federal payment under Medicaid for the administrative costs of providing health benefits to noncitizens who are ineligible for Medicaid based on their immigration status. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on specified information regarding states that provide health benefits to such individuals.

Border Airport Fairness Act of 2025

This bill requires the President to designate certain primary airports near the border as ports of entry and terminate the user fee requirement for customs services at these airports.

Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement Restoration Act or the VOICE Restoration Act

This bill establishes the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The office shall provide assistance to victims of crimes committed by non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who are present in the United States without lawful immigration status.