Restoring American Sovereignty Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1088
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-26T13:38:00Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Restoring American Sovereignty Act" (H.R. 1088) aims to override a recent executive order that paused certain federal funds, allowing those funds to be redirected specifically for deporting undocumented immigrants from the United States. This bill seeks to prioritize immigration enforcement by ensuring access to paused resources.
Key Provisions
- Fund Availability: The bill permits the President to access and use funds that were paused under Executive Order 14169 (issued January 20, 2025, and published in the Federal Register at 90 Fed. Reg. 8619).
- Override Clause: It states "notwithstanding any other provision of law," meaning this act takes precedence over conflicting laws or regulations, enabling the funds to be used exclusively for deportation purposes.
- Scope: The funds can be applied to remove "illegal aliens" (a term referring to undocumented immigrants) from the U.S.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill directly counters Executive Order 14169 by lifting the pause on specified funds, which previously restricted their use.
- It introduces a congressional mandate that supersedes other legal barriers, potentially altering how executive branch funding decisions are implemented in immigration contexts.
- No broader amendments to immigration statutes (like the Immigration and Nationality Act) are made; the change is narrow and focused on fund usage.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could see increased resources for enforcement operations, potentially speeding up deportations but straining budgets if funds are limited.
- Citizens: U.S. citizens may experience indirect effects through heightened immigration enforcement, such as changes in community dynamics in areas with large immigrant populations, though direct impacts on citizens are minimal.
- Undocumented Immigrants: This could lead to more rapid and widespread deportations, affecting hundreds of thousands of individuals by facilitating their removal from the U.S.
- International Relations: Deportations may increase repatriation pressures on countries of origin (e.g., in Latin America or elsewhere), potentially straining diplomatic ties or requiring more bilateral agreements for returns.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Executive Branch: The President and agencies responsible for immigration enforcement (e.g., DHS, ICE) gain authority to use the funds.
- Undocumented Immigrants: Directly targeted for deportation, facing heightened risk of removal.
- Congress: Sponsors (e.g., Reps. Ogles, Biggs, Tiffany, and Moore) and committees (Foreign Affairs and Judiciary) influence funding priorities.
- Foreign Governments: Nations receiving deportees may need to manage influxes of returnees, impacting migration cooperation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The "notwithstanding" clause could spark legal challenges over separation of powers, as it limits executive discretion on fund pauses while asserting congressional control over appropriations (consistent with Article I of the Constitution, which gives Congress the power of the purse).
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's role in fiscal oversight but may test executive authority under recent orders; no direct constitutional violations are evident, but it highlights tensions in immigration policy implementation.
- Political: Signals a push for stricter immigration enforcement, potentially polarizing debates on border security and executive actions; as an introduced bill (not yet law), it reflects Republican-led priorities in the 119th Congress but faces uncertain passage.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Restoring American Sovereignty Act — issued 2025-02-06 — PDF (2 pages)