Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Attorney General and Homeland Security Secretary to submit detailed monthly reports to congressional committees and publish specific data on a public website about individuals encountered by border officials who are listed in the terrorist screening database (called "covered aliens"). The reports must include each person's citizenship, geographic location of encounters, reasons for being in the database, immigration status, detention details, and removals - while keeping only the most sensitive security details classified. It directly affects federal agencies (Justice and Homeland Security) and congressional oversight committees, aiming to increase transparency around national security screenings. The law mandates these reports starting 30 days after enactment, with immediate notifications for new encounters within 96 hours.
Sponsored bills
No Funding for Sanctuary Cities Act This bill addresses federal immigration enforcement issues. A government entity may not prohibit its personnel or another government entity from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts or inquiring about an individual's immigration status. Currently, a government entity is only barred from prohibiting the sharing of immigration-related information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A noncomplying state or local government shall be ineligible for certain grants and assistance related to law enforcement, terrorism, and immigration. DHS may (1) decline to transfer a detained non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) to a noncomplying government entity even if that entity has issued a writ or warrant, and (2) issue a detainer if there is probable cause to believe that an individual arrested for any criminal or motor vehicle offense is inadmissible or deportable. DHS may not transfer an individual with a final order of removal to a noncomplying government entity. A victim of certain felonies (including murder and rape) may sue a state or local government entity that had refused to honor an immigration detainer request and released the individual who later committed the crime. Furthermore, the bill (1) expands the categories of offenses requiring mandatory detention, (2) provides legal immunity for a state or local government entity or official temporarily detaining a non-U.S. national under federal authority, (3) provides that an individual may be detained indefinitely while removal proceedings are pending, and (4) restricts a detained non-U.S. national's release on bond.
Maddy summaryHR 6971, the Mandatory Removal Proceedings Act, requires immediate deportation proceedings for non-citizens whose visas are revoked due to security-related reasons. It directly affects immigrants whose visas are canceled under specific security grounds outlined in Section 237(a)(4) of immigration law. The bill eliminates administrative discretion by mandating that the Secretary of Homeland Security "immediately initiate removal proceedings" upon such visa revocations, with no provision for delay. This changes existing law to ensure automatic processing without allowing officials to exercise judgment on whether to proceed. The key mechanism is the automatic triggering of deportation hearings when visas are revoked for security violations.
Maddy summaryThe REMAIN in Mexico Act of 2024 would require the U.S. government to reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a policy that forces certain asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their U.S. immigration cases are processed. It directly affects asylum seekers from Mexico and Central America who are seeking entry to the United States and would be subject to the MPP under this law. The bill mandates implementation of the MPP as described in a 2019 policy memo by former Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen. This would reverse the current administration's decision to end the program, requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico during their immigration proceedings.
Maddy summaryThe Southern Border Transparency Act of 2023 (HR 6523) requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to publish specific immigration data online. It mandates monthly reports on parole grants at ports of entry (including numbers by nationality and family status), quarterly reports on processing outcomes for aliens encountered at the southern border (disaggregated by nationality, demographics, and processing paths), and annual reports on parolees (including employment status and status changes). These reports must be posted on agency websites and submitted to relevant congressional committees. The bill directly affects federal agencies responsible for border processing and aims to increase public and congressional transparency about immigration enforcement practices at the southern border.
Maddy summaryHR 6479 prohibits plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other individuals directly responsible for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that would avoid a public trial or a death penalty sentence. The bill requires the Attorney General to refuse any such plea agreement, ensuring these defendants cannot secure a resolution that skips a public trial or capital punishment. It directly affects only the 9/11 case defendants named in the legislation. The measure mandates that all legal proceedings for these individuals must proceed to trial or result in a death sentence.
Maddy summaryHR 4717, the Locally Led Restoration Act of 2023, amends forest management rules to allow private entities and local groups to propose wildfire hazard fuel removal projects on federal lands. Key provisions require at least 10% of removed vegetation to be "salvage" (dead or dying trees), set a 120-day deadline for federal agencies to respond to proposals, and adjust the timber sale threshold from $10,000 to $55,000 (with future annual inflation adjustments). The bill directly affects private landowners, local governments, and forest management agencies by changing how stewardship contracts for wildfire prevention are processed. It prohibits projects in wilderness areas or roadless zones and mandates environmental reviews before contracts are finalized.
Maddy summaryHR 6074, the State Border Defense Act, authorizes state and local law enforcement officers in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to enforce federal immigration laws prohibiting unlawful entry into the U.S., directly affecting these states' officers and prosecutors. The bill allows state prosecutors to initiate federal immigration prosecutions in U.S. District Court and directly overturns the Supreme Court's 2012 Arizona v. United States ruling. It also permits these states to construct barriers on federal lands or waters to prevent unlawful border crossings, provided the barriers do not hinder border patrol operations or impede lawful travel. The bill explicitly states such barriers cannot be used as a defense against claims of unlawful conduct beyond their stated border security purpose.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes special pay rates for wildland firefighters employed by the Forest Service or Department of the Interior. It creates a percentage increase over standard General Schedule base rates (ranging from 1.5% for GS-15 to 42% for GS-1), provides 450% premium pay for days deployed to qualifying wildfire incidents, and requires rest and recuperation leave following incident deployment. These changes apply specifically to firefighters whose duties primarily relate to wildland fires, not structural fires. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2023, and replaces standard pay rates for affected firefighters. Premium pay is not considered part of basic pay for various compensation calculations.
Maddy summaryHR 5127, the Visitor Visa Wait Time Reduction Act, requires the State Department to report on consular posts with visitor visa interview wait times exceeding 100 days and to take steps to reduce those waits. If wait times at any post exceed 300 days, the Secretary must temporarily reassign State Department personnel to assist consular staff at that location. The bill directly affects U.S. embassies and consulates handling visitor visa applications and the applicants waiting for interviews. It mandates specific administrative actions to address processing delays but does not change visa eligibility or fees. The focus is on improving internal staffing efficiency at consular posts, not altering immigration policy.