Deportation Compliance Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1953
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-06: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-03-23T11:03:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Deportation Compliance Act (H.R. 1953) aims to pressure foreign countries to accept their deported nationals or residents by withholding U.S. foreign assistance. It builds on existing U.S. immigration law to enforce repatriation of individuals subject to deportation, promoting compliance with U.S. deportation orders.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Foreign Aid: No federal funds can be used for foreign assistance to a country if:
- The U.S. Secretary of State has invoked section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which allows the U.S. to stop issuing visas to nationals of countries that refuse or delay accepting individuals ordered deported by the U.S.
- After 180 days from that invocation, the country still denies or unreasonably delays accepting its citizens, subjects, nationals, or residents for deportation.
- The restriction applies specifically to countries under ongoing non-compliance following the initial visa sanction period.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current INA section 243(d), the U.S. can impose visa restrictions on non-compliant countries, but this bill introduces a new penalty: a ban on foreign assistance funding after 180 days of continued refusal.
- This expands enforcement tools beyond visa policies to economic aid, creating a stronger financial incentive for compliance without altering the core INA repatriation requirements.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would need to coordinate more closely on tracking compliance and implementing aid restrictions, potentially increasing administrative workload for foreign aid allocation.
- On Citizens and Immigrants: Could expedite deportations by pressuring countries to accept returnees, affecting undocumented immigrants or those with removal orders from countries reliant on U.S. aid.
- On International Relations: May strain diplomatic ties with aid-dependent nations (e.g., in Latin America or Africa), leading to reduced U.S. influence or retaliatory measures, while strengthening U.S. leverage in immigration enforcement.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government: Departments of State (for visa and aid decisions) and Homeland Security (for deportations).
- Foreign Countries: Nations receiving U.S. foreign aid that fail to repatriate their nationals, potentially losing economic support for development, humanitarian, or security programs.
- Immigrants and Deportees: Individuals subject to U.S. removal orders from non-compliant countries, who may face prolonged detention or uncertainty.
- U.S. Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through reallocation of foreign aid budgets.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces executive authority under the INA for immigration enforcement but ties it to foreign aid statutes (e.g., Foreign Assistance Act), requiring clear definitions of "unreasonable delay" to avoid legal challenges over arbitrary application.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power over immigration and foreign commerce (Article I), while respecting presidential foreign affairs discretion; no direct conflicts with due process rights for deportees, as it targets foreign governments.
- Political: Highlights partisan focus on border security and deportation, potentially influencing U.S. aid negotiations and bilateral agreements; could face opposition from aid advocates concerned about humanitarian fallout in recipient countries.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (13)
Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4], Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-06: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-03-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Deportation Compliance Act — issued 2025-03-06 — PDF (2 pages)