The DHS Surveillance Technology Moratorium Act of 2026 temporarily halts the Department of Homeland Security from using funds to start, renew, or expand contracts for surveillance tools used in immigration enforcement, such as facial recognition and predictive analytics. This pause applies to agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, though existing contracts can continue until a review is complete. The bill mandates an independent audit within 180 days to examine data collection practices, privacy impacts, and the accuracy of these technologies, followed by a public report detailing their use and capabilities. The funding ban remains in effect until the audit is finished, a public report is released, and the department demonstrates it has implemented necessary safeguards to protect civil liberties. Once these conditions are met, the moratorium lifts, but the department must submit annual reports on its continued use of these technologies and any related privacy complaints.
The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2026 aims to improve the immigration court process for unaccompanied children by guaranteeing them government-funded legal representation. Under this bill, the Department of Health and Human Services would appoint lawyers for these children as soon as they enter federal custody, ensuring they have an attorney for every stage of their case, even if they turn 18 or are reunited with family while proceedings are pending. The law also requires that children receive copies of their immigration files at least seven days before a hearing and allows them to have a lawyer present during interviews and detention facility visits. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reports on how many children received counsel and establishes rules for pro bono legal services to support these efforts.
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.
The PATH Act allows public housing agencies and owners to establish minimum work requirements for residents receiving federal housing assistance, effective January 1, 2027. These requirements can mandate up to 40 hours per week of activities such as employment, job training, or community service, but they must exclude individuals under 18 or over 62, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and parents of young children. Agencies implementing these rules must provide supportive services like childcare and job search assistance, maintain uniform standards for all tenants in a program, and offer exceptions for those facing hardships like temporary relocation or difficulty finding work. If a resident fails to comply with the work requirements, the agency may terminate their housing assistance after following specific procedural rules.
This House resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to protecting refugees and displaced persons by calling for the restoration of the Refugee Admissions Program and asylum protections. It urges federal officials to lift current bans on refugee entry, resume vetting for approved applicants, and increase humanitarian aid to host countries. The measure highlights the economic contributions of refugees and emphasizes the need for fair, humane policies that align with international obligations and domestic law.
The Oversight of Temporary ICE Holding Cells Act limits how long U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can hold individuals in temporary secure areas before formal processing. Specifically, it prohibits detaining anyone in these holding rooms for longer than 12 hours. The law defines holding rooms as secure spaces used for short-term confinement before intake, court appointments, or transfer to another facility. This restriction directly affects the Department of Homeland Security's operations regarding the temporary detention of immigrants.
The No Safe Haven for Terrorist Families Act expands U.S. immigration rules to bar close relatives of designated terrorists, senior officials of hostile foreign governments, and sanctioned corrupt leaders from entering or remaining in the country. It defines these "covered family members" to include spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and nieces or nephews of the listed threat actors, applying the ban retroactively to existing relationships. The bill mandates that visas issued to these individuals be revoked and that they face deportation without eligibility for most forms of legal relief, such as cancellation of removal. To enforce these measures, government agencies must implement new screening procedures within 180 days and submit annual reports detailing the number of inadmissibility determinations, visa revocations, and removals.
The Respect Tribal IDs Act of 2026 requires the Department of Homeland Security to create and enforce mandatory training for all immigration officers on how to properly interact with enrolled members of Indian tribes and recognize tribal documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. This training must include specific regional information, scenario-based exercises, and annual refreshers, with officers prohibited from performing immigration enforcement duties until they have completed the curriculum. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit a report on the implementation of these training standards to various congressional committees within one year of enactment.
The Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2026 establishes a program to allow noncitizen veterans who were previously removed from or barred from entering the United States to return and obtain permanent resident status. It requires government officials to reopen and terminate removal cases for eligible veterans, provided they were not deported due to violent crimes or serious offenses involving at least five years in prison. The bill also mandates that noncitizen service members and veterans cannot be removed unless convicted of a crime of violence, while granting them access to military benefits and a streamlined path to naturalization. Additionally, the law directs immigration authorities to identify at-risk veterans, seek supervisory approval before initiating removal proceedings against them, and annotate official records with specific details about their military service.
The OPT Fair Tax Act modifies federal tax and Social Security rules to exempt Optional Practical Training (OPT) from being classified as employment for F-1 student visa holders. By amending the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act, the bill ensures that students participating in OPT do not have to pay Social Security or Medicare taxes during their training periods. This change directly affects international students in the United States who are completing practical work experience related to their field of study. The legislation applies to all services performed after the date the bill is enacted.
