Immigration

The SHIELD Act (HR 3101) would create a federal grant program to expand legal representation for immigrants facing deportation. It authorizes $100 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2027 to fund workforce development, training, and infrastructure for legal services organizations. Eligible recipients include states, local governments, community organizations, and educational institutions that provide immigration legal services. Funds would support recruitment and training of legal staff, technical assistance, and coordination of services to better serve immigrants in deportation proceedings, addressing the current shortage of representation that affects most immigrants in deportation cases who cannot afford attorneys.

HR 584, the "No Medicaid for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2025," would amend the Social Security Act to prohibit states from providing Medicaid coverage to non-citizens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence or permanently residing in the U.S. under legal status. This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants who currently qualify for Medicaid in some states. The key provision inserts a new requirement that states cannot offer Medicaid benefits (except for specific emergency care) to these individuals under any state Medicaid plan or waiver. The change would prevent federal Medicaid funding from being used for this group, effectively eliminating their eligibility.

HRES 881 is a symbolic resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives condemning recent violent attacks on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel and facilities. It specifically references multiple incidents in 2025, including shootings, assaults, and threats against agents across Texas, Oklahoma, California, Illinois, and other states, citing a DHS-reported 1,000% increase in assaults on ICE personnel. The resolution expresses congressional condemnation of all violence against these officers, thanks them for their service, and honors their role in border security and immigration enforcement. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally states the House’s position on these incidents.

The End Solitary Confinement Act would prohibit solitary confinement in all federal prisons, immigration detention facilities, and other federal custody settings, with limited exceptions for emergencies. It requires all incarcerated people to have at least 14 hours per day of out-of-cell interaction in shared spaces, including structured programming, recreation, and social activities. The law establishes a community monitoring body to oversee implementation, creates detailed reporting requirements for facilities, and provides legal remedies for violations. It also incentivizes states to adopt similar standards through federal funding mechanisms, with special protections for vulnerable groups including young people, older adults, people with disabilities, and those with mental health needs.

This resolution designates September 9 as "National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day" (NAIRHHA Day). It directly supports African immigrant and refugee communities in the U.S., which face significantly higher rates of HIV (6x the general population) and hepatitis B (10% prevalence) compared to other groups. The resolution expresses support for raising awareness about these health disparities, reducing stigma, and promoting culturally appropriate prevention, testing, and treatment resources. It is a non-binding symbolic gesture by the House of Representatives, not a policy with new requirements or funding.

Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025 This bill provides a private right of action against state and local jurisdictions with certain policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, and contains additional provisions related to such jurisdictions. Currently, such cooperation is generally not required. An individual (or certain relatives of such an individual) who is the victim of any felony for which an alien has been arrested, convicted, or sentenced to a prison term of at least one year may sue a state or local jurisdiction if the jurisdiction failed to comply with (1) certain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests related to arresting and detaining aliens, and (2) a DHS request to detain the alien in question or provide a notification about the release of the alien. A jurisdiction that accepts certain federal grants may not assert immunity in such a civil action. A jurisdiction (or employee of a jurisdiction) that complies with certain DHS detainer requests shall be deemed to be acting as an agent of DHS. A complying jurisdiction or employee of the jurisdiction shall not be liable in any lawsuit relating to compliance with such requests. In a lawsuit against an employee of the jurisdiction, the United States shall be substituted in as the defendant, and remedies shall be limited to provisions for bringing tort claims against the federal government.

HR 6854, the "No Welfare for Non-Citizens Act," would remove all federal public benefit eligibility for non-citizens under current law. It amends the 1996 welfare law by eliminating exceptions that previously allowed certain non-citizens (like "qualified aliens") to access benefits such as cash assistance and unemployment benefits. The bill repeals existing provisions that permitted limited eligibility and explicitly states non-citizens are ineligible for all federal public benefits. This change would directly affect non-citizens without specific immigration statuses, removing their access to programs like SNAP (food stamps) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) that were previously available under limited circumstances.

The Housing Stability for Dreamers Act prevents federal housing programs from denying mortgage insurance or loans to individuals based on their DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status. It amends key housing laws - including the National Housing Act, Rural Housing Service programs, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and VA loans - to prohibit eligibility restrictions tied to DACA status for single-family mortgages. The bill defines a "DACA recipient" as someone granted deferred action under the 2012 Department of Homeland Security memo. This directly affects DACA recipients seeking home loans through these federally backed programs, ensuring they cannot be denied based solely on immigration status.

S 916 prohibits the detention of pregnant, lactating, or postpartum noncitizens in immigration custody, requiring their immediate release except in rare cases involving credible safety threats. It bans all physical restraints during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery, with strict limits on exceptions. The bill mandates access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including prenatal care, labor services, and postpartum support, while requiring facilities to provide medical consent and maintain detailed reporting on detention practices. These provisions apply directly to noncitizens held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities.

This bill designates certain South African residents as Priority 2 refugees, specifically targeting Caucasian minorities who have faced persecution or fear persecution due to race, ethnicity, or ancestry, along with their eligible immediate family members (spouses, children, and South African citizen parents). It establishes key mechanisms including processing applications in South Africa or third countries, exempting these refugees from U.S. immigration numerical caps, and preventing denial of refugee status based on other visa eligibility. The bill also requires the State and Homeland Security Departments to submit regular public reports detailing pending applications, processing wait times, and denial reasons. This policy directly affects eligible South African nationals seeking U.S. refugee status under this specific humanitarian category.