Expel Illegal Chinese Police Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2127
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-14: 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
- 2026-04-23T16:59:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Expel Illegal Chinese Police Act of 2025" (H.R. 2127) aims to counter perceived efforts by the People's Republic of China (PRC) to establish an unauthorized police presence in the United States. It seeks to protect U.S. national security by imposing sanctions on Chinese police departments, their leaders, and associated individuals or entities involved in monitoring, intimidating, or influencing people in the U.S.
Key Provisions
- Sanctions on Foreign Persons: The President must block all property and transactions in the U.S. (or under U.S. control) for:
- PRC provincial, municipal, or other police departments (e.g., in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region or Fujian).
- Senior leaders of these departments.
- Individuals or entities directly involved in creating or maintaining a Chinese police presence in the U.S.
- Those acting under the direction of PRC Public Security Bureaus or the United Front Work Department (a PRC organization focused on influence operations) to covertly monitor or intimidate U.S. residents.
- Immigration Restrictions on Aliens: Certain non-U.S. persons (aliens) become inadmissible to the U.S., ineligible for visas, admission, or parole, and subject to immediate visa revocation if they are:
- Employees of targeted PRC police departments or United Front affiliates.
- Immediate family members (spouse, parent, sibling, or adult child) of such employees.
- Directly involved in establishing a Chinese police or United Front presence in the U.S.
- Waiver Authority: The President can temporarily waive sanctions (up to 30 days) on a case-by-case basis if vital to U.S. national security, with a certification to Congress (potentially classified) at least 15 days in advance.
- Implementation and Penalties: Uses powers from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA, a law allowing the President to regulate international economic transactions during emergencies) for enforcement. Violations carry fines or imprisonment as per IEEPA.
- Limits on U.S. Agency Participation: Federal agencies are prohibited from joining foreign-initiated investigations of sanctioned persons unless the President deems it essential for the health, safety, or well-being of U.S. citizens.
- Definitions: Key terms include "alien" (non-U.S. citizen or national), "foreign person" (non-U.S. person), "immediate family member," "person" (individuals or entities, including governments), and "U.S. person" (U.S. citizens, permanent residents, U.S.-based entities, or anyone in the U.S.).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Builds on IEEPA by mandating specific sanctions against PRC police entities, which were not previously targeted in this way.
- Introduces targeted immigration bars and visa revocations linked to foreign police activities, expanding beyond general inadmissibility grounds in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Adds a new prohibition on U.S. agencies cooperating in foreign investigations related to these entities, creating a novel restriction on intergovernmental collaboration.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The President and agencies like the State Department, Treasury, and Department of Homeland Security must identify and sanction targets, enforce visa rules, and avoid certain investigations, increasing administrative workload and requiring inter-agency coordination.
- Citizens and Residents: Enhances protections against foreign intimidation or surveillance (e.g., targeting diaspora communities), potentially improving safety for U.S.-based individuals of Chinese origin, but could complicate legitimate diplomatic or business interactions.
- International Relations: May escalate tensions with the PRC by directly challenging its overseas influence operations, affecting bilateral ties, trade, or diplomacy; could influence relations with other nations hosting similar PRC activities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government: Executive branch officials responsible for enforcement; Congress receives waiver notifications.
- PRC Entities and Individuals: Police departments, United Front affiliates, their leaders, employees, and family members face asset freezes, travel bans, and exclusion from the U.S.
- U.S. Residents and Communities: Particularly Chinese-American or immigrant groups potentially targeted by PRC monitoring, who may benefit from reduced foreign interference.
- Immigrants and Travelers: Chinese nationals (employees or associates) seeking U.S. entry or visas, including family members, could face denials or deportations.
- Businesses and Financial Institutions: U.S. entities handling transactions with sanctioned persons must comply to avoid penalties.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on IEEPA's broad executive powers for economic sanctions, which courts have generally upheld in national security contexts, but could face challenges if waivers or determinations are seen as arbitrary.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the President's foreign affairs authority under Article II, emphasizing national security, though the mandatory sanctions and agency restrictions might raise separation-of-powers questions regarding congressional oversight.
- Political: Signals a bipartisan U.S. stance against PRC transnational repression (efforts to control people abroad), potentially galvanizing support for human rights but risking retaliation from China, such as economic countermeasures or strained alliances.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-14: 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.
- 2025-03-14: 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.
- 2025-03-14: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Expel Illegal Chinese Police Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-14 — PDF (7 pages)