Immigration (Work Authorization) in United States

in committee · United States · House Aug 20, 2026

HR 10123: STOP Improper Licensing Act

The STOP Improper Licensing Act requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to audit state procedures for issuing commercial driver's licenses to non-residents within three years of enactment. The audit focuses on identifying cases where licenses were issued without verifying lawful presence or were retained after an individual's legal status expired. States found to have significant compliance issues must implement corrective measures, with those having error rates over 25 percent subject to annual follow-up audits for three years. If a state fails to respond to required actions, the federal government can withhold all FMCSA funding until the state returns to compliance.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization

in committee · United States · House Sep 3, 2026

HR 10297: El Salvador TPS Act of 2026

The El Salvador TPS Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to individuals from El Salvador. This designation would remain in effect until a date 18 months after September 9, 2026. The bill directly affects eligible residents of El Salvador by providing them with legal protection and work authorization during this specified period.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 6, 2026

S 5308: Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026

The Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026 grants Temporary Protected Status to Afghan nationals who have been continuously present in the United States since the bill's enactment, providing them with legal protection and work authorization until July 1, 2029. To qualify, applicants must register with biometric data and pass criminal and national security background checks, while the Department of Homeland Security is required to process these applications within 90 days, subject to a potential extension for specific security concerns. The legislation also allows recipients to apply for waivers on filing fees and permits brief international travel in cases of emergency or extenuating circumstances.

Topics ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Refugees & Asylum Work Authorization

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 15, 2026

S 4983: Harry Reid Immigration Stabilization Act

This bill, the Harry Reid Immigration Stabilization Act, establishes a comprehensive framework to reduce overall immigration numbers, reform asylum procedures, increase penalties for criminal behavior, and enhance border security measures. It directly affects immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, employers, and law enforcement agencies by setting strict caps on family and employment-based visas, requiring a 30-day filing deadline for asylum applications, and expanding the definition of aggravated felonies to include a wider range of crimes. Key mechanisms include mandating that employers verify work eligibility through a telephone verification system, creating a new border crossing fee, and requiring states to verify immigration status to receive certain federal benefits. Additionally, the legislation introduces stricter rules for criminal aliens facing expedited deportation, increases penalties for alien smuggling, and clarifies citizenship requirements for children born to non-citizen parents.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Border Security Enforcement Work Authorization

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 30, 2026

S 5197: State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026

This bill creates a new visa category that allows U.S. states to sponsor foreign nationals to come to the United States temporarily to work, invest capital, or contribute to local economic development. Under this program, a state must first get approval from the federal government to run its own specific rules regarding how these workers are employed and where they live, which can last for up to three years. The legislation requires these sponsored workers to pass background checks, pay bonds if their state chooses, and strictly adhere to the sponsoring state's regulations, with federal penalties including revocation of work authorization and removal for violations. Additionally, the bill includes provisions that generally exclude these workers from receiving federal means-tested benefits and establishes a system where states can adjust their future visa quotas based on how well they comply with program requirements.

Topics ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 28, 2026

S 5155: American Hiring Transparency Act

The American Hiring Transparency Act introduces a new fee for employers who file applications to hire foreign workers, requiring them to pay a charge equal to the standard nonimmigrant visa fee at the time of filing. Starting in fiscal year 2027, this initial fee will be at least $10,000, with the amount adjusted annually for inflation to keep pace with rising costs. The revenue generated from these fees is split evenly between the Department of Labor and the Office of Personnel Management, with half of the Labor Department's share designated for unspecified purposes and the other half used to improve the USAJOBS job platform. This measure applies specifically to employers seeking permanent employment certification and does not allow for any waivers or reductions of the required payment.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Work Authorization Tags Government Transparency

in committee · United States · House Jul 23, 2026

HR 9944: TPS Review Act

The Temporary Protected Status Review Act restores the ability of courts to review decisions by the Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for foreign nationals. Under this bill, the government must publish detailed written findings explaining why a country no longer qualifies for TPS protection, and these decisions would be subject to a legal challenge in federal court. If a TPS designation is terminated, the affected individuals would remain in the United States with their current status and work authorization intact while the legal challenge is pending. Additionally, the legislation requires the government to follow specific administrative procedures, such as considering all available evidence and avoiding bias, before making any termination decisions.

Topics ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2026

S 5097: End H–1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026

This bill, the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, proposes to stop the issuance of H-1B work visas for three years and then restrict them to primary workers rather than their families. It would require employers to prove a shortage of qualified American workers and pay a minimum wage of $200,000 per year, while also banning the use of staffing agencies to hire these workers. The legislation further limits the total number of H-1B visas to 25,000 annually, removes the current lottery system in favor of prioritizing higher wages, and prohibits H-1B workers from holding jobs with more than one employer or working for third-party agencies. Additionally, the bill bars federal government agencies from hiring H-1B workers, eliminates optional training programs for foreign students, and generally prevents nonimmigrant visa holders from changing their status to permanent residents while in the United States.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Work Authorization Minimum Wage

in committee · United States · House Jul 21, 2026

HR 9773: Permanent Trump Secure Border Act

This bill, known as the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act, introduces significant changes to U.S. immigration law affecting asylum seekers, border security, and family detention policies. It tightens asylum eligibility by establishing a "safe third country" rule that bars individuals who transited through other nations without seeking protection there, while simultaneously expanding the list of criminal convictions that disqualify applicants from asylum. The legislation also restricts employment authorization for asylum seekers, limits the use of parole for humanitarian reasons, and mandates the return of land border arrivals to contiguous foreign territories when detention capacity is unavailable. Additionally, the bill clarifies standards for family detention, expands penalties for visa overstays, and modifies protections for unaccompanied children by requiring faster hearings and limiting special immigrant status for those unable to reunite with parents.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Border Security Refugees & Asylum Work Authorization

in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9494: Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2026

The Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2026 allows nationals of Haiti and their immediate family members who have lived continuously in the United States since June 26, 2024, to apply for permanent resident status. To qualify, applicants must submit their request within three years of the bill's enactment and generally cannot have been convicted of aggravated felonies, multiple crimes of moral turpitude, or acts of persecution. The bill also permits eligible individuals with existing deportation orders to apply without first overturning those orders and grants them work authorization while their applications are pending. Additionally, the legislation ensures that granting permanent residence to these applicants does not reduce the number of available immigrant visas for other categories.

Topics ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Enforcement Refugees & Asylum Work Authorization

All immigration bills