HR 7213, the *Safeguarding Benefits for Americans Act of 2026*, requires U.S. citizenship or nationality for eligibility for most federal assistance programs (like SNAP, housing aid, or Medicaid). It mandates applicants to submit a written declaration under penalty of perjury and provide documentary proof (e.g., birth certificate, SSN) verified through Social Security Administration and DHS databases. The bill affects individuals applying for or receiving federal benefits, with exceptions for children in households where at least one member meets the requirement (e.g., children in SNAP or elderly housing programs). It takes effect 1 year after enactment, requiring all current recipients to meet the new rules within 2 years.
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the definition of "aggravated felonies" by adding "sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence" to the list of crimes triggering mandatory deportation for non-citizens. It directly affects non-citizens convicted of these specific sexual offenses, making them subject to automatic deportation under immigration law. The key change is adding this provision to Section 101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which defines aggravated felonies. This policy shift would expand the scope of offenses classified as deportation triggers without creating new enforcement procedures.
This bill would withhold 50% of federal highway funding from states that issue driver's licenses to people without proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency status, starting in 2027. To comply, states must ban such licenses and allow local/state officials to share immigration status information with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Transportation Secretary would maintain a public database tracking each state's compliance with these requirements. The law directly affects state governments and their access to federal transportation funds, not individual drivers.
HR 3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025, increases penalties for certain immigration violations under the Immigration and Nationality Act. It raises the mandatory prison term for unlawful entry (Section 275) from 2 to 5 years and adds new provisions for aliens who commit crimes after entry. For reentry after removal (Section 276), it increases the base penalty to up to 10 years imprisonment, with enhanced penalties of up to 15 years for those with prior drug or violent crime convictions, and mandatory minimums of 10 years or more for those with prior aggravated felonies, multiple removals, or prior convictions for serious crimes. The bill directly affects noncitizens who enter the U.S. illegally or reenter after being removed, with penalties applying to specific categories of prior criminal conduct.
HR 1935, the Protecting Military Assets Act of 2025, adds new grounds for denying entry to the U.S. and removing non-citizens who violate military property laws. Specifically, it makes individuals inadmissible if they've been convicted of or admitted to entering military, naval, or Coast Guard property without authorization (per 18 U.S.C. § 1382). It also makes such individuals deportable if already in the U.S. The bill directly affects non-citizens convicted under this specific federal offense, strengthening immigration enforcement for violations at military sites. This is a policy change to existing immigration law, not a new criminal offense.
HR 578, "Sarah’s Law," requires mandatory detention for certain non-citizens (aliens) charged with crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury. It directly affects non-citizens facing such charges and their victims' families. Key provisions mandate that the Department of Homeland Security detain these individuals immediately and notify victims or their closest living relatives (like parents or spouses) about the alien’s identity, immigration status, custody details, and removal efforts. The bill adds specific categories of non-citizens to the mandatory detention list, including those whose visas were revoked or who are deportable for prior immigration violations. This creates a formal process for victim notification while expanding detention requirements under immigration law.
This bill repeals the D.C. Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-257), restoring the District of Columbia's prior legal framework regarding immigration enforcement. It directly affects D.C. residents and local government operations by eliminating the 2022 law's restrictions on cooperating with federal immigration authorities. The key mechanism is a straightforward repeal, meaning all provisions of the 2022 law are removed and previous laws governing immigration enforcement in D.C. are reinstated as if the amendment never existed.
HR 5585, the Equal Detention Standards Act of 2025, requires immigration detention facilities operated under agreements with the Department of Homeland Security to follow the U.S. Marshal Service's existing Federal Performance Based Detention Standards. This applies to any facility where individuals are detained under immigration law, beginning on the bill's enactment date. The law mandates these federal standards be used alongside any existing contract terms for facility operations. It directly affects detention facilities and the individuals held within them by establishing uniform operational requirements. The bill does not create new standards but requires existing federal ones to be applied to immigration detention.
The SMART Act eliminates the Diversity Visa Program and establishes a points-based immigration system that prioritizes applicants with higher education, English proficiency, and job offers. It sets an annual cap of 50,000 refugee admissions and redefines family-sponsored immigration to focus on spouses and children rather than parents of U.S. citizens. The bill creates a new visa category for parents of adult U.S. citizens (ages 21+), with restrictions on employment and public benefits. The points-based system requires applicants to accumulate 30 points across categories including education, age, English proficiency, and job offers.
HR 3237, the "No Student Visas for Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025," blocks F-1 student visas (for academic studies) and M-1 visas (for vocational training) for international students seeking to attend schools in jurisdictions designated as "sanctuary jurisdictions." The bill defines a sanctuary jurisdiction as any state or local government with laws obstructing immigration enforcement, such as refusing to comply with ICE detainers or denying access to incarcerated immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security would identify these jurisdictions annually, and institutions located in them would be barred from receiving new student visas under the F or M categories. This policy directly affects international students and educational institutions in designated areas, with no visa issuance permitted for those locations during the fiscal year unless the jurisdiction is reclassified.
