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, D.C., 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, March 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**

******CHNV Parole Program Terminated**** ** The Trump administration announced [link removed] on March 21 that it would terminate the humanitarian parole program [link removed] for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), affecting over 532,000 [link removed] individuals who entered the U.S. under this Biden-era initiative. The program, which allowed up to 30,000 people per month [link removed] from these four countries to enter the U.S. legally for a two-year period, will officially end on April 24, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated [link removed] that the termination aligns with the Trump administration's goal of prioritizing border security and ending "categorical parole programs." DHS has said it will seek the arrest and deportation of those subject to the policy change if they fail to depart the U.S. in the next 30 days and have not applied for any other immigration benefit, like asylum or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), that they may be eligible for. Officials are encouraging migrants to use the CBP Home smartphone app to register for self-deportation.  All individuals whose lawful grant of parole has not expired by April 24 will have their parole prematurely terminated on that date. The 35-page notice in the Federal Register noted [link removed] that some of those in the U.S. under CHNV might be allowed to remain on a "case-by-case basis".  

Experts argue that ending the program will leave thousands of parolees with undocumented status and harm U.S. businesses relying on these workers. Supporters of the CHNV parole program argued [link removed] that it was a "breakthrough moment" that effectively and humanely managed the southern border crisis through an expedited legal pathway to the U.S. A federal judge is currently overseeing a lawsuit challenging the administration's decision to terminate the program, with another hearing scheduled for April 7.  

******DHS Eliminates Key Civil Rights and Oversight Offices Under Trump**** ** The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on March 21 that it is shutting down three internal watchdog agencies: the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. This move affects approximately 300 employees [link removed] and eliminates offices that handled thousands of complaints connected to the immigration system. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated [link removed] that these offices were deemed "roadblocks" to immigration enforcement, adding bureaucratic hurdles and undermining the department's mission. However, critics of the agency eliminations, including Democratic lawmakers and former DHS officials, argue [link removed] that eliminating these offices is potentially unlawful and removes crucial independent checks on the department.  

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties [link removed] (CRCL), created by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, investigated hundreds of complaints annually about the agency's operations and recommended changes. The two ombudsman offices provided oversight on detention conditions and helped resolve issues with immigration benefits. 

******Deal to Share Tax Information on Immigrants to Facilitate Deportations Nears Finalization**** ** The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly close to finalizing [link removed] an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would allow immigration officials to access sensitive taxpayer data to identify and locate undocumented immigrants [link removed] for deportation. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the deal would permit ICE to submit the names and addresses of suspected undocumented immigrants to the IRS for cross-referencing with tax records. Under the proposed agreement, access to taxpayer information would be limited [link removed] to confirming the addresses of individuals with final removal orders. Only the Homeland Security Secretary and ICE director would be authorized to make such requests.  

The deal would be a significant shift [link removed] in longstanding IRS policy, which has traditionally kept taxpayer information strictly confidential. A former IRS official called [link removed] the potential deal a "shocking breach of trust." Indeed, such an arrangement could undermine trust in the tax system and potentially cost billions in lost tax revenue. Undocumented immigrants contributed [link removed] nearly $100 billion in taxes in 2022, including $57 billion that experts say could be at risk if immigrants fear filing returns. 

******Administration Directs USCIS to Halt Processing Green Cards for Refugees and Asylees  ****** The Trump administration has instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause [link removed] processing green card applications for certain individuals, including approved refugees and asylees. This directive, announced on March 25, 2025, is part of a broader effort to enhance vetting procedures for immigrants and aligns with Executive Order 14161 [link removed] on protecting the U.S. from foreign threats. A USCIS spokesperson told [link removed] reporters, "To better identify fraud, public safety, or national security concerns, USCIS is placing a temporary pause on finalizing certain Adjustment of Status applications pending the completion of additional screening and vetting."   

This move affects refugees [link removed] who have already undergone extensive vetting overseas before entering the U.S., as well as asylees [link removed] who were granted protection after petitioning in immigration court. Both groups typically wait at least a year before applying for green cards. Now, the announced pause leaves these vulnerable populations, who have proven they face persecution in their home countries, in legal limbo. USCIS, which is a fee-funded [link removed] agency, could face reduced income if fewer applications are processed, potentially leading to staff reductions. 

****Detention Expands Nationwide as Concern Builds Over Conditions  **** As the Trump administration ramps up its interior immigration enforcement efforts, it has sought to re-open, expand, and construct additional detention facilities. There are now over 46,000 [link removed](20%20Mar%202025)%20According%20to,when%20ICE%20detained%2049%2C419%20individuals. people detained across the U.S., temporarily exceeding the current funded capacity of 41,000 detention beds. In Texas, the federal government is adding [link removed] thousands of beds to place detained families; the state reportedly [link removed] holds the highest number of immigrants across its 21 detention centers.    

After receiving additional $430 million in federal funding for detention and enforcement [link removed] in the recent full year continuing resolution, the administration is looking to further expand detention capacity. The U.S. Army has announced [link removed] plans to build detention space for an additional 30,000 immigrants on bases across the mainland U.S., and Tom Homan, the administration border czar, stated [link removed] that he is prioritizing "get[ting] beds," even if that requires lowering detention standards.  

The detention push comes amid troubling reports [link removed] about the conditions inside some detention centers. For example, four women who were held at the Krome North Processing Center in Miami – a detention center typically reserved for men – described their experience there as "hell on earth [link removed]," with limited access to food, water, and timely medical care. These reports come after two [link removed] men [link removed] died at the same detention center in the span of a month earlier this year.    

**Legal**

******Program Providing Legal Representation to Unaccompanied Children Abruptly Ended as Administration Expands Information Sharing**** ** The Trump administration has taken two significant actions affecting unaccompanied migrant children. On March 21, the administration notified aid organizations that it would cancel [link removed] a contract funding legal representation for approximately 26,000 unaccompanied children [link removed] who entered the U.S. alone. This move effectively dismantles a federal program that provided crucial legal assistance to these minors in immigration court proceedings.  

Subsequently, on March 24, the administration posted [link removed] a regulatory change [link removed] that could allow the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to share sponsors' immigration status information with law enforcement agencies. This modification also eliminates previous restrictions [link removed] that prevented ORR from denying child release based solely on a sponsor's immigration status. 

Critics argue these changes will have severe consequences. The cancellation of legal aid leaves thousands of children without representation [link removed] in complex immigration proceedings, potentially leading to increased deportation orders for those who miss court dates. The information-sharing policy may deter [link removed] family members from coming forward to sponsor children, fearing arrest or deportation. As these policies take effect, concerns mount over the impact on due process and the welfare of vulnerable migrant children currently residing legally in the U.S. 

******Presidential Memo Seeks to Sanction Immigration Lawyers and Limit Legal Challenges**** ** On March 21, President Trump issued a memorandum [link removed] directing the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to seek sanctions against attorneys engaged in what the administration deems "frivolous, unreasonable, or vexatious litigation" against the United States. The directive specifically targets immigration lawyers, accusing them of "coach[ing] clients to conceal their past or lie about their circumstances when asserting their asylum claims, all in an attempt to circumvent immigration policies enacted to protect our national security and deceive the immigration authorities and courts into granting them undeserved relief." The memo calls for prioritizing the enforcement of regulations governing attorney conduct and discipline in immigration proceedings. The memo also directs a review of attorney conduct in litigation against the government over the past eight years, with potential consequences including loss of security clearances and termination of federal contracts. 

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) quickly responded, saying [link removed] the memo represents a dangerous assault on the legal profession and due process rights. AILA President Kelli Stump stated that the directive seeks to "delegitimize the work of resolute professionals who ensure that immigrants have access to fair legal representation." Legal experts warn [link removed] the order could chill advocacy and limit immigrants' ability to obtain counsel. Left unchallenged, the impact of such threats by the executive branch on judicial independence and the right to legal representation in immigration proceedings could be profound. 

******Alien Enemies Act Litigation Continues**** ** The Trump administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act remains the subject of litigation, with U.S. District Judge James Boasberg considering whether the administration violated his previous order [link removed] halting deportation flights to El Salvador. On March 25, the Department of Justice invoked [link removed] the state secrets privilege in refusing to provide the court with details about the flights, claiming [link removed] disclosure would harm national security and foreign relations. Judge Boasberg has set a deadline of March 3, for plaintiffs to respond to the DOJ's state secrets claim. The dispute occurs amid reporting [link removed] that the government identified the prisoners as purported members of the Tren de Aragua gang primarily on the basis of possessing tattoos, with minimal due process. to El Salvador, where they are being held as prisoners.  

The administration's use of the state secrets privilege on March 25 is unusual [link removed] in this context, as it typically applies to classified evidence, whereas the information at issue primarily relates to flight times, passenger counts, and other logistical details, some of which is already public. Critics argue [link removed] the administration is using the privilege to avoid judicial oversight and evade potential contempt charges for violating the judge's initial order. The case is currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. During a recent hearing, Judge Patricia Millett criticized [link removed] the lack of due process afforded to migrants deported under the Alien Enemies Act, comparing the treatment of Venezuelans unfavorably to that of Nazi detainees during World War II. 

****BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED** ** It is hard to keep up with the constant 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.1159** [link removed] 

**A bill to make aliens who are holders of a passport issued by the Palestinian Authority ineligible for visas, admission, or parole into the United States.** 

Sponsored by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) (0 [link removed] cosponsors) 

03/26/2025 Introduced by Sen. Daines 

03/26/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

**S.1123** [link removed]

** ** 

**A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution of higher education that employs unauthorized**

**alien**

**s from receiving funds from Federal student assistance or Federal institutional aid and to require institutions of higher education to participate in the E-Verify Program in order to be eligible to participate in any program authorized under title IV of such Act.** 

Sponsored by Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) (1 [link removed] cosponsor)  

03/25/2025 Introduced by Sen. Banks 

03/25/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

**H.R.2454** [link removed] 

**A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to preclude the naturalization of any person who has unlawfully entered the United States.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL-7) (3 [link removed] cosponsors) 

03/27/2025 Introduced by Rep. Mills 

03/27/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

**H.R.2374** [link removed] 

**A bill to amend section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to prohibit the provision of Federal financial assistance to public institutions of higher education that provide certain higher education benefits to aliens who are not lawfully present in the United States, and for other purposes.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC-1) (2 [link removed] cosponsors) 

03/26/2025 Introduced by Rep. Mace 

03/26/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Education and Workforce 

**H.R.2367** [link removed] 

**A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution of higher education that employs unauthorized aliens from receiving funds from Federal student assistance or Federal institutional aid and to require institutions of higher education to participate in the E-Verify Program in order to be eligible to participate in any program authorized under title IV of such Act.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN-9) (0 [link removed] cosponsors) 

03/26/2025 Introduced by Rep. Houchin 

03/26/2025 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce and the Committee on Judiciary 

**H.R.2366** [link removed] 

**A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote family unity, and for other purposes.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) (19 [link removed] cosponsors) 

03/26/2025 Introduced by Rep. Escobar 

03/26/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

**H.R.2349** [link removed]

** ** 

**A bill to designate residents of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region as Priority 2**

**refugee**

**s of special humanitarian concern, and for other purposes.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) (12 [link removed] cosponsors) 

03/25/2025 Introduced by Rep. Suhas  

03/25/2025 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

**H.R.2337** [link removed]  

**A bill to amend the**

**Immigration**

**and Nationality Act to clarify birthright citizenship, and for other purposes.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL-7) (1 [link removed] cosponsor)  

03/25/2025 Introduced by Rep. Mills 

03/25/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary 

**H.R.2315** [link removed]  

**A bill to amend the**

**Immigration**

**and Nationality Act to eliminate the Optional Practical Training Program, and for other purposes.** 

Sponsored by Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ-9) (8 [link removed] cosponsors) 

03/25/2025 Introduced by Rep. Gosar 

03/25/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary 

**H.R.2273** [link removed]

** ** 

**A bill to direct the Secretary of State to revoke the**

**visa**

**of any**

**alien**

**admitted to the United States under section 101(a)(15)(F) of the**

**Immigration**

**and Nationality Act who has been convicted of assault in a police officer or an offense related to rioting.** 

Sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX-11) (5 [link removed] cosponsors)  

03/21/2025 Introduced by Rep. Pfluger 

03/21/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary 

****LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR** ** The U.S. Senate will be in session Monday, March 31, through Friday, April 4, while the House of Representatives will meet Monday, March 31, through Thursday, April 3. 

**GOVERNMENT REPORTS** Reports by bodies such as the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General provide invaluable information on immigration policy and practice. Here, we give brief summaries of new immigration-related reports with links to the resources themselves in case you want to learn more. 

**Congressional Research Service (CRS):****Venezuela: Political Crisis and U.S. Policy** [link removed]

**; Publicly Released March 24, 2025** This report provides an overview of the state of Venezuela’s political crisis, detailing concerns about authoritarian governance under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, U.S. foreign policy on Venezuela and sanctions, as well as the economic and humanitarian crises that have caused many Venezuelans to seek Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States. The report makes mention of the termination of the CHNV program, which provided humanitarian parole status for Venezuelans seeking to enter the U.S. 

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

**Exploring the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Across the DHS Enterprise** [link removed] 

**Date:**Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET (House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement) 

**Location:**310 Cannon House Office Building, Washington D.C. 

**Witnesses:**Bryan Farrell (Interim Director, Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, Mississippi State University), Mike Ledbetter (Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, COLSA Corporation), Jerry Hendrix (Executive Director, Rotorcraft Systems Engineering and Simulation Center, the University of Alabama in Huntsville) 

**Rule by District Judges II: Exploring Legislative Solutions to the Bipartisan Problem of Universal Injunctions** [link removed]

**(Full Committee Hearing)** 

**Date:**Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 10:15 AM ET (Senate Committee on the Judiciary) 

**Location:**226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington D.C. 

**Presiding:**Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) 

****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: 

**"Invasion" & "Influx" in a Time of Falling Border Encounters** [link removed]

** **  Border apprehensions are at their lowest levels since 2000, yet recent policies invoke "invasion" and "influx" rhetoric to justify extraordinary enforcement actions. This explainer examines the administration’s invocation of these terms and their implications for U.S. immigration policy.  

**Unaccompanied Alien Children (UCs or UACs) 2025 Update** [link removed] This resource provides a comprehensive overview of unaccompanied children (UACs) in the U.S. immigration system. It covers background information, recent statistics, policy changes, and controversies surrounding UAC tracking and legal representation.

**Temporary Protected Status (TPS): Fact Sheet** [link removed] Our updated resource provides relevant information on TPS, a government protection granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eligible foreign-born individuals who are unable to return home safely due to conditions or circumstances preventing their country from adequately handling their return.

*As of publication (3/28/25 at 12PM ET) 

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

**. Thank you.** 

 

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