HR 6679 United States House · 118th Congress

No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act

This bill denies immigration benefits to non-citizens who participated in or supported Hamas attacks against Israel starting October 7, 2023. It amends immigration law to make such individuals "inadmissible" (denying entry or benefits) and ineligible for any immigration relief, including asylum. The bill specifically targets those who carried out, planned, financed, or facilitated attacks by Hamas beginning on October 7, 2023, adding Hamas to existing prohibitions on groups like the Palestine Liberation Organization. It directly affects non-citizens involved in these specific attacks, blocking their ability to seek refuge or legal status in the U.S. under current immigration law.

Issues: ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics: Refugees & Asylum

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2023

Committee Review

Feb 2024

House Passage

Jan 2024

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Dec 7, 2023 Last action Feb 1, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 3 edits · Jan 31, 2024

MINOR

The Engrossed version adds two new provisions to the No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act: a conforming amendment that extends removal (deportation) authority to existing visa holders or permanent residents who participated in Hamas attacks on Israel, and an annual reporting requirement mandating DHS to report to Congress on enforcement actions taken under the new law. A minor wording change adds the word 'any' before 'relief' to strengthen the ineligibility language.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from only barring new entry (inadmissibility) to also authorizing removal of existing residents and visa holders, and added an oversight mechanism through mandatory annual reporting to Congress.

ENFORCEMENT

New section 2(c) amends INA Section 237(a)(4)(B) to add the new Hamas terrorism ground (subparagraph H) as a basis for removal. This means not only are new arrivals barred, but existing lawful permanent residents and visa holders who participated in the October 7, 2023 attacks can now be deported.

New section 2(d) requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit an annual report to Congress, starting one year after enactment, detailing the number of aliens found inadmissible under the new provision and the number found removable under it.

REQUIREMENT

In section 2(b), the phrase 'ineligible for relief' was changed to 'ineligible for any relief,' adding the word 'any' to emphasize that no form of immigration relief is available to those who participated in Hamas attacks against Israel.

Floor votes · House Jan 31, 2024

How they voted

422–2

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 431

Jan 31, 2024

D Democratic213

207 Yea 2 Nay 4

97% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican217

214 Yea 3

98% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 1, 2024

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

upper

Jan 31, 2024

Lower · Passed

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 422 - 2, 1 Present (Roll no. 28).

lower

Jan 31, 2024

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 422 - 2, 1 Present (Roll no. 28).

lower

Jan 31, 2024

Introduced

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 980, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rose amendment No. 1.

lower

Jan 29, 2024

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 980 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5585, H.R. 6678, H.R. 6679 and H.R. 6976. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 5585, H.R. 6678, H.R. 6679, and H.R. 6976 under a structured rule. Rule provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.

lower

Jan 25, 2024

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 118-358.

lower

Jan 18, 2024

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 0.

lower

Jan 18, 2024

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Dec 7, 2023

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

lower

Dec 7, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors