Immigration

HR 2337, the PARENT Act of 2025, would change U.S. birthright citizenship rules by requiring that a person born in the United States must have at least one parent who is either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) at the time of the child's birth. This bill would affect only individuals born in the U.S. after the law takes effect, altering their automatic citizenship status under current law. The key provision amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to define "subject to the jurisdiction" for citizenship purposes to require one parent meeting these specific status criteria. The law would not apply to people born before its enactment date.

This bill increases criminal penalties for individuals who re-enter the U.S. after being deported, removed, or excluded. It sets a maximum 5-year prison sentence for most cases, but adds up to 10 years for those with prior drug/crime convictions or multiple prior removals. For serious cases - such as aggravated felonies or two prior reentry convictions - it mandates a 5-20 year prison term. The law directly affects people who return without authorization after formal immigration removal proceedings.

HR 3739, the "No Loan Forgiveness for Terrorists Act of 2025," amends the Higher Education Act to exclude certain organizations from qualifying for federal public service loan forgiveness (PSLF). It defines "public service job" to exclude employment with organizations that engage in specific illegal activities, including aiding immigration law violations (like illegal border crossings), materially supporting terrorism (including funding cartels or violent acts), facilitating child abuse (such as chemical castration or trafficking children), engaging in illegal discrimination, or violating state tort laws (like trespassing or vandalism). This change directly affects borrowers working for organizations meeting these criteria, barring them from PSLF eligibility. The bill creates a concrete policy exclusion based on employer conduct, not individual employee actions.

Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025 This bill eliminates the Optional Practical Training Program or any successor program, unless Congress expressly authorizes such a program. (The program provides an F-1 student visa holder temporary employment authorization before or after completion of the student's studies, or both.)

HR 1772 designates English as the official language of the United States federal government, requiring all official government functions (like laws, regulations, and public proceedings) to be conducted in English. It directly affects federal agencies, naturalization processes (mandating English ceremonies and language standards for new citizens), and government communications. Key exceptions include language teaching, disability education, national security needs, census activities, and protections for Native American languages under existing law. The bill does not restrict the use of other languages in private settings or ban bilingual services for essential government functions. It amends U.S. Code to establish these requirements, with implementation set for 180 days after enactment.

HR 875 amends immigration law to make non-citizens with DUI convictions inadmissible (preventing entry) and deportable (requiring removal after entry). It applies to any conviction for driving while intoxicated or impaired under state, tribal, or local law, regardless of whether the offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony. The bill directly affects non-citizens convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including impairment from other substances. This policy change expands immigration consequences for DUI offenses beyond current standards.

Legal Workforce Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after and to replace the E-Verify system, which allows employers and recruiters to verify the immigration status of individuals. The bill also mandates the use of such a system, where currently only some employers, such as those with federal contracts, are required to use E-Verify. The bill specifies documents that can establish an individual's identity and employment authorization. During the period starting when a job offer is made until three business days after hiring, the individual must attest to his or her employment authorization, and the employer or recruiter must attest that it has examined the individual's required documents. Employers shall reverify certain types of employees who were not previously verified using E-Verify. The Social Security Administration shall notify employees if their Social Security number has been used multiple times in an unusual manner. DHS shall establish programs for blocking and suspending misused numbers. Employers that are required to use the verification system shall not be liable for any employment-related action based on a good-faith reliance on the system. The bill establishes a phased-in participation deadline for different sizes and categories of employers, including agricultural employers. The bill increases civil penalties related to hiring individuals without work authorization. It also preempts state laws relating to hiring and employment eligibility verification, but states may use their authority of business licensing to penalize employers for failing to comply with the bill's provisions.

S 2111, the American Students First Act of 2025, limits foreign student enrollment at U.S. universities participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. It requires universities to cap nonimmigrant students (on F and M visas) at 10% of their total student population each academic year. Universities may request a waiver from the President or Homeland Security Secretary to increase this cap to 15% for national security reasons or U.S. interests. This bill directly affects all U.S. universities certified under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program by altering their foreign student enrollment rules.

This bill would amend the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization and prohibit its operations within the United States. It would require the President to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization under immigration law and impose new visa restrictions, including immediate revocation of current visas, for individuals identified as members. The bill mandates annual reports from the Secretary of State identifying Muslim Brotherhood branches worldwide and determining which should be designated as terrorist organizations under existing laws. These provisions would directly affect Muslim Brotherhood members, branches, and affiliated organizations seeking entry to or operating within the United States.

HR 4200, the End DED Act, prohibits federal funding for the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program, which provides temporary immigration protections to individuals from specific countries. It directly affects approximately 100,000 people currently covered under DED from nine nations (including Haiti, El Salvador, and Venezuela), who would lose their work authorization and travel privileges if the program is defunded. The bill’s key provision bans all federal funds from being used to implement or administer DED or any successor program. This addresses congressional concerns that DED - a policy created solely by executive action without statutory authority - undermines Congress’s constitutional power over immigration, which it delegated to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) instead.