This bill establishes a new Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within the Department of Homeland Security, led by an Officer who reports directly to the department head. The Office is tasked with overseeing compliance with civil rights laws, reviewing potential abuses or profiling by employees, and integrating these protections into all department policies and programs. It grants the Officer authority to investigate complaints, issue public reports on findings, and coordinate with other officials to ensure diverse communities are engaged effectively. Additionally, the legislation requires each major department unit to have its own civil rights officer and mandates annual reporting to Congress on the Office's activities and progress.
The Temporary Protected Status Review Act restores the ability of courts to review decisions by the Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for foreign nationals. Under this bill, the government must publish detailed written findings explaining why a country no longer qualifies for TPS protection, and these decisions would be subject to a legal challenge in federal court. If a TPS designation is terminated, the affected individuals would remain in the United States with their current status and work authorization intact while the legal challenge is pending. Additionally, the legislation requires the government to follow specific administrative procedures, such as considering all available evidence and avoiding bias, before making any termination decisions.
The Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2026 allows nationals of Haiti and their immediate family members who have lived continuously in the United States since June 26, 2024, to apply for permanent resident status. To qualify, applicants must submit their request within three years of the bill's enactment and generally cannot have been convicted of aggravated felonies, multiple crimes of moral turpitude, or acts of persecution. The bill also permits eligible individuals with existing deportation orders to apply without first overturning those orders and grants them work authorization while their applications are pending. Additionally, the legislation ensures that granting permanent residence to these applicants does not reduce the number of available immigrant visas for other categories.
The LIFT the BAR Act aims to restore access to federal benefits for lawfully present noncitizens by repealing several restrictions imposed by the 1996 welfare reform law and a 2024 reconciliation bill. Specifically, it would allow eligible noncitizens to receive SNAP food assistance, Medicaid, CHIP, and child nutrition programs, while also updating legal terminology to refer to "noncitizens" rather than "aliens" in relevant statutes. The legislation includes provisions to ensure these individuals can qualify for premium tax credits and would require federal agencies to issue implementation guidance within 180 days of enactment.
The Find Our Families Act of 2026 requires the Department of Homeland Security to create a public online system that allows families to locate individuals detained by Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This system must provide search results within eight hours of detention, display information in multiple languages, and include specific details such as names, dates of birth, and facility locations, while excluding data for minors. The bill also mandates that families be notified within five hours if a detainee is transferred for medical care and establishes new reporting requirements for CBP arrests, including details on the circumstances of the arrest and the number of agents involved. Additionally, the legislation creates a process for families to report errors in detainee information and imposes penalties on employees or contractors who fail to comply with these data-sharing and reporting obligations.
The No Illegal Captivity and Extensions Act of 2026 prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from issuing or enforcing immigration detainers, which are requests for local law enforcement to hold individuals beyond their scheduled release. This change directly affects federal immigration authorities and local police departments by removing the legal basis for holding people based solely on immigration status. The bill achieves this by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to strike specific detention provisions and adding a general ban on detainers, including those used through agreements with other government agencies. Consequently, local law enforcement agencies would no longer be legally required to detain individuals after their criminal sentences are completed if the federal government requests it.
This bill exempts H-1B visa holders working in healthcare from a presidential restriction that requires a $100,000 payment for entry into the United States. It directly affects foreign medical professionals and healthcare workers who hold H-1B nonimmigrant visas. The legislation removes the additional fee requirement for these workers while limiting any fees that may be charged to the standard amount already established under immigration law. The bill defines healthcare workers using the existing definition from the Affordable Care Act and was introduced in the 119th Congress in March 2026.
This bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to launch a national public education campaign about abortion access. The campaign must provide medically accurate information on where to obtain abortion services (including medication abortion), legal rights for out-of-state care, identifying misleading anti-abortion centers, spotting disinformation, and protecting personal health data. It specifically targets underserved communities like people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, rural residents, and those with low incomes, while prohibiting the promotion of misinformation or abstinence-only programs.
This bill allows survivors of human trafficking to seek court orders to vacate convictions or expunge arrests related to non-violent crimes they committed while being trafficked. Survivors can file motions supported by affidavits from anti-trafficking service providers, and courts must determine if the crime was directly caused by trafficking. It applies to all past and future cases, including retroactive relief for convictions, and adds a new "human trafficking defense" in criminal trials. The law requires annual reports tracking how many survivors use this relief and the outcomes of their cases.
HR 2729, the "Carnivals are Real Entertainment Act," creates a new temporary work visa category for carnival and circus workers. It directly affects mobile entertainment providers (like traveling carnivals, circuses, and affiliated food/game concession services) and their workers who perform essential tasks such as transporting, assembling, operating, and maintaining rides and equipment at seasonal fairs and festivals. The bill amends immigration law to define "mobile entertainment workers" as those entering temporarily for functions integral to these operations, subject to labor program requirements similar to other temporary work visas. It requires the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor to issue implementing rules within one year of enactment.
