This bill would prohibit any state or local government designated as a "sanctuary jurisdiction" from receiving grant funds distributed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A jurisdiction is defined as a sanctuary if it has laws, policies, or practices that restrict officials from sharing information about an individual's immigration status or from complying with federal requests to detain or notify about the release of individuals. The funding restriction would apply to grants distributed 180 days after the bill's enactment. To determine which jurisdictions qualify for this ineligibility, the HUD Secretary is required to consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security.
The GATE Act of 2026 prohibits U.S. national laboratories from admitting or granting access to foreign nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba who are not permanent residents or U.S. citizens. This ban applies to individuals seeking to visit the facilities or work there for more than 30 consecutive days. The Secretary of Energy may issue a written waiver to allow specific exceptions if they determine that the benefits to the United States outweigh national security and economic risks, a decision made in consultation with intelligence officials. Any such waivers must be reported to relevant congressional committees within 30 days, including details on the individual's country of origin and the specific reasons for the exception.
The Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2026 significantly expands the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to detain non-citizens who are facing removal from the United States. The bill removes time limits on detention during removal proceedings and allows for indefinite detention after a final order is issued if specific conditions, such as national security threats or public safety risks, are certified by government officials. It restricts access to bond hearings for many detainees, requiring them instead to prove they are not flight risks or community threats through clear and convincing evidence. Additionally, the legislation establishes administrative review processes that permit detention beyond standard removal periods if an individual fails to cooperate with deportation efforts or poses a continuing danger.
The Ban Birth Tourism Act of 2026 prohibits individuals from entering the United States if their main reason for travel is to have a child born there to gain U.S. citizenship. This law makes such travelers inadmissible upon arrival and subject to deportation if they are found to have entered the country specifically for this purpose. Officials determine whether someone is engaging in birth tourism by assessing if the person's primary goal is obtaining citizenship for a child or if they are likely to give birth within ten months of entry. The bill directly affects foreign nationals planning to visit the U.S. with the intent of using their child's birthplace to secure citizenship status.
The Birthright Citizenship Clarification Act of 2026 would amend federal law to change how citizenship at birth is determined for children born in the United States. Under this proposal, a child born in the U.S. to parents who are present temporarily or unlawfully would not automatically receive citizenship, while also preserving historical exceptions for children of foreign diplomats and those born on foreign ships. The bill specifically defines temporary presence to include holders of student, work, tourist, and other nonimmigrant visas, as well as participants in the Visa Waiver Program. These changes would apply only to individuals born after the law takes effect, leaving the citizenship status of those born before that date unchanged.
The Hire American Act mandates that only U.S. citizens or nationals can be employed by the federal government, with specific exceptions for translators, emergency field workers, international broadcasters, and short-term wildland firefighters. To enforce this rule, the bill requires new hires to sign an affidavit confirming their citizenship status and allows for penalties of fines or imprisonment for individuals who knowingly provide false information. The Office of Personnel Management is tasked with issuing implementation guidance within 180 days and must publish reports detailing any non-citizen appointments made under the allowed exceptions. Additionally, the law extends these employment restrictions to include employees of the United States Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission.
The Protecting Asylum Integrity Act establishes a mandatory fee of at least $100 for individuals undergoing credible fear interviews, which is the initial screening process for those seeking asylum or other protection from removal. This fee must be paid before the interview takes place and is designed to cover the administrative costs associated with these screenings while potentially deterring the filing of meritless claims. Half of the collected fees will be used directly by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to support processing operations, while the other half will go to the general Treasury fund. The bill also includes a provision to adjust the fee amount annually for inflation starting in fiscal year 2027.
This bill, titled the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act, aims to strengthen border security and reform immigration enforcement by directing the Department of Homeland Security to resume and complete the construction of a physical border wall, expand the use of surveillance technology, and increase staffing levels for Border Patrol agents. It also imposes stricter rules on asylum eligibility and employment authorization for applicants, mandates the reopening of specific immigration detention facilities, and requires the return of individuals arriving from contiguous foreign countries to those nations while their claims are processed. Additionally, the legislation expands penalties for visa overstays, limits the use of certain digital tools like the CBP One app, and includes provisions to reduce funding for organizations that facilitate illegal entry or provide services to inadmissible aliens.
The Illegal Immigration Cost Recovery Act increases civil penalties for employers who hire unauthorized workers and for individuals who fail to leave the country or enter improperly. Specifically, the bill raises fines for hiring violations from a maximum of $2,000 to $11,448 and increases penalties for unauthorized entry and failure to depart to a maximum of $1,000 and $1,996, respectively. These higher fines apply to the relevant employers and individuals starting on October 1, 2027, with amounts adjusted annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. The law also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish these updated penalty figures in the Federal Register each year.
The Mandatory E-Verify Act of 2026 makes the E-Verify employment eligibility verification system permanent and mandatory for all employers in the United States, including those who hire, recruit, or refer individuals for jobs. The bill requires employers to use the system within a phased timeline based on company size, ranging from six months for large businesses with 10,000 or more employees to 18 months for smaller businesses with fewer than 20 employees, while exempting agricultural labor verification until 18 months after enactment. Key provisions include increased civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance, the ability for the government to debar repeat violators from federal contracts, and a requirement that states sharing driver's license data with the system remain eligible for certain federal funding. Additionally, the act establishes a self-check feature for individuals to verify their own status, expands data sharing between federal and state agencies to prevent fraud, and creates a good-faith defense for employers who rely on the system's results.