Legislative Bulletin

 

 

Howdy, 

Welcome to the National Immigration Forum's weekly bulletin. Every Friday, our policy team rounds up key developments around immigration policy in Washington and across the country. The bulletin includes items on the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, as well as some coverage at the state and local levels.  

You can find the online version of the bulletin here: [link removed] [link removed]  

With hope, 

Nicci 

***

**LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN - Friday, February 28, 2025**

**DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION POLICY THIS WEEK**Here, we summarize some of the most important recent developments in immigration policy on the federal, legal, state, and local levels.  

Federal 

**Migrant Registry Announcement Raises Legal Questions and Practical Concerns** U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), at the behest of the Trump administration, has announced [link removed] a new policy requiring undocumented immigrants aged 14 and older to register with the federal government, provide fingerprints, and carry proof of registration at all times, with noncompliance punishable by fines of up to $5,000 or six months in jail. The policy, based on a rarely enforced [link removed] provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, is being touted by officials as an encouragement [link removed] to unauthorized immigrants to leave the country voluntarily. Legal experts immediately sounded alarms over the policy’s implications.  

The American Immigration Council [link removed] warns that the registry could expose millions of undocumented immigrants to criminal prosecution or removal proceedings, forcing them into an impossible choice between compliance and increased vulnerability. Heidi Altman of the National Immigration Law Center called [link removed] the move "reminiscent of shameful episodes in U.S. history." Indeed, the newly announced registry eerily echoes discriminatory programs from past eras, such as the post-9/11 National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), which disproportionately targeted [link removed] Muslim immigrants. Legal advocates emphasize [link removed] that pursuing cases against alleged offenders could tie up prosecutorial resources and increase the incarcerated population while providing little practical benefit in terms of enforcement outcomes. 

Furthermore, the registry announcement has already drawn widespread condemnation from immigrant rights groups [link removed], who stress that it will serve to exacerbate fear and distrust in immigrant communities. Scholars question whether it will serve any meaningful enforcement purpose beyond performative deterrence [link removed]. As USCIS prepares to roll out the registration process, the policy is expected to face legal challenges and resistance from advocacy organizations across the country. 

**Trump Administration Expands Migrant Detention to Military Bases** The Trump administration has begun implementing plans to use military bases across the U.S. as detention facilities for undocumented immigrants, starting with Fort Bliss [link removed] near El Paso, Texas. According to an internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo, Fort Bliss will initially detain up to 1,000 immigrants during a 60-day evaluation period [link removed], with the capacity to expand to hold up to 10,000 detainees. The site will serve as a deportation "hub [link removed]" and a model for additional facilities at bases in states like New Jersey, Utah, and Florida. This move is part of a wider effort to address overcrowding at ICE detention centers [link removed], which are operating at full capacity with over 41,000 detainees [link removed], according to the most recent data released by DHS. 

Already, critics have asserted [link removed] that the use of military bases for detention is further evidence of Trump’s militarization [link removed] of immigration enforcement and have highlighted the strain this plan could place on military resources. Military officials have cautioned [link removed] that the impact will depend on the scale of arrests and how long detainees remain in custody. However, military bases in the U.S. are not designed for long-term detention of migrants, and converting or expanding them presents logistical and humanitarian challenges. Past experiences at Fort Bliss, where migrant children reported distress [link removed] and inadequate care under previous administrations, have fueled skepticism about the ability of military facilities to meet detainees’ needs. Advocacy groups have also pointed to the risks of using wartime infrastructure [link removed] for civilian immigration enforcement, citing a lack of oversight and resources. 

The administration has defended the plan as necessary to accelerate deportations and fulfill campaign promises. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has emphasized [link removed] that all available resources, including military aircraft and personnel, will be deployed to support immigration enforcement. With ICE making over 15,000 [link removed] arrests between January 21 and February 13 alone, the administration clearly views the rapid expansion of detention capacity as paramount to its efforts. However, this escalation will lead to further scrutiny over the administration’s treatment of migrant detainees, including unaccompanied children, and the broader implications of using military assets for immigration purposes. 

**Trump Floats Gold Cards for Wealthy Immigrants** President Trump has revealed plans [link removed] for a new pathway to attaining U.S. residency: the Gold Card, which would replace the EB-5 foreign investors program. The EB-5 program [link removed] – which was introduced by Congress in 1990 and allowed foreign investors access to U.S. residency if they invested a minimum of $1.5 million in a U.S. business that created jobs – has had high incidences of fraud [link removed]. It could be replaced with the "Trump Gold Card" program in as little as two weeks. Trump’s new program will offer a path to citizenship after paying $5 million to the government, and, he claims, will require a vetting process that will reduce incidences of fraud.  

While Trump has touted the Gold Card as a premium version of a Green Card with expedited residency and citizenship benefits, implementing such a program may require congressional approval, raising questions about its feasibility. Moreover, it is unclear how many people would be interested in pursuing a Gold Visa. Only around 8,000 people obtained a visa through the current EB-5 program during the 12-month period ending September 30, 2022, as reported by the Homeland Security Department’s most recent Yearbook of Immigration Statistics [link removed]. Few details are currently available about the proposed Gold Card program, including if there would be other eligibility criteria beyond the $5 million payment to the government and what the vetting process would entail.  

****Legal** **

**Judge Blocks Executive Order Halting Refugee Resettlement ** On February 25, a federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump’s executive order [link removed] banning admissions of refugees, arguing that the order improperly nullified congressional authority. The decades-old U.S. Refugee Admissions Program [link removed] (USRAP) admits thousands of refugees into the United States every year, and more than 3 million refugees have been admitted since Congress established the program in 1980. The judge’s preliminary injunction requires that the Trump administration continue to admit refugees and unfreeze funding to refugee assistance organizations until the case is decided. 

However, the administration has the right to appeal the temporary decision within 60 days. Even if the federal judge’s ruling does remain in place, it is unclear whether the administration will comply with the order; the administration has indicated [link removed] they may ignore unfavorable court rulings, and agencies have been finding loopholes [link removed] to continue enforcing the president’s orders despite contrary court rulings. 

****State and Local** **

**Colony Ridge Raid Rattles Houston-Area Immigrant Communities ** More than 100 people have been arrested in an immigration raid on Colony Ridge, a majority Latino housing development outside of Houston, according to ICE [link removed]. Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted on X that ICE would specifically target Colony Ridge, looking for "criminals & illegal immigrants." Conservative influencers and news outlets had portrayed [link removed] the housing development as a haven for undocumented people, as well as a hotspot for cartel activity. 

As of this writing, ICE has released limited information [link removed] about the people arrested in the raid. President Trump’s immigration czar, Tom Homan, said [link removed] that the raid was only the "first step" of a more expansive criminal investigation into Colony Ridge and that some of those arrested in the initial raid had warrants out for their arrests, while others were arrested during traffic stops. Residents who were present during the raids said that ICE officers had blocked off surrounding streets and that the arrests have disrupted daily life in the community. Responding to reporters’ questions about the raid’s impact on Colony Ridge, Vanessa Rivera, a local Family Dollar Manager, said [link removed] "I just think it’s crazy, because I understand, like, criminals and all that stuff…But these people, there’s somebody who actually come over here to like work and try to make a living for their family or like send their kids to better schools and stuff like that." 

**287(g) Task Force Agreements Revived Under Trump Administration** The Trump administration has reinstated [link removed] the controversial 287(g) "Task Force Model" agreements, allowing local and state law enforcement officers to question individuals about their immigration status during routine policing and make arrests for immigration violations. The task force model was discontinued [link removed] in 2012 due to widespread racial profiling and costly litigation. However, new agreements establishing task forces have been signed by local law enforcement agencies in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho, and Kansas [link removed]. ICE now says that as of this week, they have jail agreements with 60 law enforcement agencies in 16 states, warrant agreements with 80 law enforcement agencies in 12 states and task force agreements with 15 agencies in six states [link removed]. It is, nevertheless, important to note that many of these agreements were signed in 2019 and 2020.  

Advocates warn that the revived task force agreements could lead to civil rights violations and undermine trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition criticized the program as harmful to public safety, noting that it discourages crime reporting and exposes localities to potential lawsuits. Maricopa County in Arizona, for example, faced over $300 million in legal costs [link removed] stemming from racial profiling lawsuits tied to its previous task force agreement. Despite these concerns, Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has assured participating agencies of reduced training costs and "full-scale indemnification" for legal liabilities.  

While proponents argue that the agreements will help remove dangerous criminals from communities, critics point out that many deportations under similar programs have targeted individuals with no criminal records. A 2011 Migration Policy Institute report [link removed] found that task force agreements generated far fewer immigration arrests than jail-based screening programs. As the program expands, legal experts and immigrant rights groups are raising alarms about its potential impact on civil liberties and community relations. 

BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED It’s challenging to keep up with the deluge of proposed legislation in the 119th Congress. So, every week, we round up federal legislative proposals that have recently been introduced and that are relevant to immigration policy. 

S.762 [link removed]  

**A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny immigration benefits to aliens who carried out, participated in, planned, financed, supported, or otherwise facilitated the October 2023 attacks against Israel.** 

Sponsored by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) (1 [link removed] Cosponsor) 

02/27/2025 Introduced by Sen. Blackburn 

02/27/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

S.707 [link removed]  

**A bill to provide that sanctuary jurisdictions that provide benefits to **

**alien**

**s who are present in the United States without lawful status under the **

**immigration**

** laws are ineligible for Federal funds intended to benefit such **

**alien**

**s.** 

Sponsored by Sen. James E. Risch (R-ID) (10 [link removed] Cosponsors) 

02/25/2025 Introduced by Sen. Risch  

02/25/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

S.696 [link removed]  

**A bill to provide temporary Ukrainian guest status for eligible **

**alien**

**s, and for other purposes.** 

Sponsored by Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) (10 [link removed] Cosponsors) 

02/24/2025 Introduced by Sen. Durbin 

02/24/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

H.R.1748 [link removed]  

**To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide that aliens who are not qualified aliens are ineligible for certain assistance, and for other purposes.** 

Sponsored by Rep. W. Gregory Steube (R-FL-17) (2 [link removed] Cosponsors) 

02/27/2025 Introduced by Rep. Steube 

02/27/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

H.R.1747 [link removed]  

**To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the provisions that relate to family-sponsored immigrants.** 

Sponsored by Rep. W. Gregory Steube (R-FL-17) (0 Cosponsors) 

02/27/2025 Introduced by Rep. Steube 

02/27/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary 

H.R.1714 [link removed]  

**To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress on crimes committed by individuals granted parole under the Immigration and Nationality Act.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX-8) (0 Cosponsors) 

02/27/2025 Introduced by Rep. Luttrell 

02/27/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary 

H.R.1680 [link removed]  

**To amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to expand the prohibition on State noncompliance with enforcement of the immigration laws, and for other purposes.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO-8) (3 [link removed] Cosponsors) 

02/27/2025 Introduced by Rep. Evans 

02/27/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary 

H.R.1589 [link removed]  

**To authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain **

**alien**

**s, and for other purposes.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX) (199 [link removed] Cosponsors) 

02/26/2025 Introduced by Rep. Garcia 

02/26/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

H.R.1547 [link removed]  

**To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify the Commissioner of Social Security when there is a change to the citizenship status, status under the **

**immigration**

** laws, or work authorization status of an individual to whom a social security account number has been issued, and to require that an individual be a citizen or national of the United States to receive benefits under the Social Security Act**. 

Sponsored by Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) (0 [link removed] Cosponsors) 

2/24/2025 Introduced by Rep. Van Drew 

02/24/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR The U.S. Senate will be in session from Monday, February 24th, through Friday, February 28th. The U.S. House of Representatives will be in session from Monday, February 24th, through Thursday, February 27th. 

UPCOMING HEARINGS AND MARKUPS Here, we round up congressional hearings and markups happening in the field or in Washington.*   

Leveraging Technology to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement [link removed] 

**Date: **Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET (House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation) 

**Location:** 2247 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 

**Witnesses:** Mr. John Fabbricatore, Dr. Doug Gilmer, Mr. Simon Hankinson 

A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors [link removed] 

**Date:** Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET (House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform) 

**Location:** HVC-210 Capitol, Washington, D.C. 

**Witnesses: **Michelle Wu (Mayor, City of Boston), Brandon Johnson (Mayor, City of Chicago), Mike Johnston (Mayor, City and County of Denver), Eric Adams (Mayor, City of New York) 

**SPOTLIGHT ON NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM RESOURCES** The Forum is constantly publishing new policy-focused resources that engage with some of the most topical issues around immigration today. Here are a few that are particularly relevant this week: 

**Are Sanctuary Policies Unlawful? State and Municipal Prerogatives to Collaborate with Federal Immigration Authorities** [link removed] 

This new resource explains why sanctuary jurisdictions have the constitutional right to limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement under the anti-commandeering doctrine. It also examines the legal challenges surrounding federal attempts to impose funding conditions on sanctuary jurisdictions. 

**Best Practices for Law Enforcement to Preserve Community Trust in the Context of Increased Immigration Enforcement** [link removed] 

In an environment of heightened tension, fear, and misinformation, fostering strong relationships with immigrant communities is essential. This memo examines challenges faced by law enforcement when engaging with immigrant communities under the second Trump administration.

****Forum Analysis: ** ** **President Trump’s Executive Actions on Border Security** [link removed]  

**President Trump’s Executive Order on the U.S. Refugee Program** [link removed]  

**President Trump’s Executive Actions Relating to Immigration Enforcement and Mass Deportation** [link removed]  *As of publication (2/21/25 at 3PM EST) 

**This Bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive. Please contact Nicci Mattey, Senior Policy & Advocacy Associate at the National Immigration Forum, with comments and suggestions for additional items to be included. Nicci can be reached at [email protected]. Thank you.** 

 

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