Immigration

This bill blocks federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from being awarded to any state or local government that qualifies as a "sanctuary jurisdiction." A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as one with policies that prevent sharing immigration status information with federal authorities or refusing to comply with immigration detainer requests, *except* when officials are protecting crime victims or witnesses. To receive CDBG funds, jurisdictions must certify they are not sanctuary jurisdictions and will remain so during the grant period. The law directly affects cities or counties with such policies by withholding a key source of federal funding for community projects like housing and infrastructure.

Protecting Sensitive Locations Act This bill prohibits immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a sensitive location except in exigent circumstances, such as the imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person. Sensitive locations include  health care facilities; schools and school bus stops; places that provide assistance for people such as children, pregnant women, and abuse victims; child care facilities; places that provide disaster or emergency services; places of worship; courthouses and lawyers’ offices; facilities used as polling places; certain labor union facilities; and public assistance offices. The prohibition shall apply to Department of Homeland Security officers and agents, as well as state employees pursuing immigration enforcement actions. If an enforcement action is carried out in violation of this prohibition (1) no information resulting from the action may be entered into the record in a resulting removal proceeding, and (2) the affected individual may move to immediately terminate such a proceeding. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall annually report to Congress about enforcement actions taken at sensitive locations in the preceding year.

This bill withholds federal funding for event security assessments from jurisdictions that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, such as by refusing to share immigration status information or comply with detainer requests. To qualify for funding, these jurisdictions must certify compliance with federal immigration laws within 30 days of notification. The withheld funds are redirected to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for enforcement activities, prioritizing public safety threats and border operations. Semiannual reports to Congress will track the funding shifts and their impact on enforcement outcomes.

HR 3464 creates two federal funds to support state and local border security efforts. The DHS fund ($11 billion) provides grants for constructing border barriers, surveillance systems, and relocating undocumented immigrants along the southern border. The DOJ fund ($3.5 billion) funds state efforts to locate, apprehend, prosecute, and detain undocumented immigrants for crimes, including gang activity and human trafficking. Both funds cover eligible expenses from 2021 onward and expire on January 20, 2029, with unused funds returned to the Treasury.

The End Unaccountable Amnesty Act (S 225) makes significant changes to U.S. immigration policy. It restricts Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by requiring new legislation with specific conditions to designate foreign countries, limits TPS designations to 12 months with no automatic extensions, and mandates termination if conditions no longer exist. The bill also reforms immigration parole to limit it to specific humanitarian or public benefit cases, caps parole grants at 1,000 per year, and prohibits certain identification documents like the CBP One app from being used for air travel. Additionally, it repeals provisions for "cancellation of removal" and changes procedures for handling unaccompanied alien children.

The America First Act would restrict eligibility for numerous federal benefit programs based on immigration status. It requires verification of citizenship or lawful immigration status for programs including Medicaid, Medicare, Head Start, school meals, WIC, the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and housing assistance. The bill specifically would deny benefits to individuals who are unlawfully present in the U.S. or who have certain immigration statuses including parolees, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, DACA recipients, and asylum seekers. These provisions would directly affect millions of immigrants and their families who currently qualify for these programs. The bill would also prohibit use of FEMA assistance for certain non-citizens and limit access to postsecondary financial aid based on immigration status.

This bill amends U.S. immigration law to expand the definition of "aliens engaged in terrorist activity" under the Immigration and Nationality Act. It adds specific groups - Hamas, Palestine Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS - to the list of entities whose members or supporters would be barred from entering the U.S. The change replaces a prior reference to the Palestine Liberation Organization's spokesperson with a broader inclusion of these designated groups and their affiliates. Individuals who are members of these groups, act as their spokespersons, or endorse their terrorist activities would now be subject to immigration inadmissibility. This directly affects foreign nationals associated with these organizations seeking U.S. visas or entry.

S 3146 (Restoring Access for Detainees Act) would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide immigration detainees in DHS custody with specific communication services. It mandates 200 free monthly minutes for calls to family or legal representatives, unlimited free minutes for communications with legal entities (like courts, immigration officials, or the UN Refugee Agency), and private communication opportunities with lawyers or oversight officials during initial detention and location changes. The bill also prohibits facilities from restricting legal call duration or monitoring protected communications, while requiring clear public policies on call timing and location. This directly affects detained immigrants seeking legal assistance or family contact during immigration proceedings.

The Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2025 helps immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes who qualify for protections under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). It eliminates annual limits on U visas and special immigrant juvenile visas, grants work authorization within 180 days of filing an application, and prohibits deportation or detention while cases are pending. The bill requires victims to be released from detention unless the government proves they pose a specific threat or may skip court, with clear evidence needed to override this presumption. This directly affects immigrant victims seeking legal relief in the U.S. as they navigate their cases without fear of immediate removal.

The Combating Deceptive Immigration Enforcement Practices Act of 2025 prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from wearing clothing or accessories displaying the word "police" while performing immigration enforcement duties. This rule directly affects federal immigration officers and agents during their official work under the Department of Homeland Security. The bill amends Section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to ban such uniform elements, ensuring officers do not use visual cues that could mislead the public into thinking they are local police. The policy change aims to clarify the distinct role of immigration enforcement versus local law enforcement.