Artemis Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 3504

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-05-29T14:03:28Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Artemis Act of 2025 aims to protect individuals from countries with severe religious freedom violations by creating an exception to the expedited removal process under U.S. immigration law. Expedited removal is a fast-track deportation procedure that limits opportunities for individuals to claim asylum or other protections. This bill ensures that people from designated "countries of concern" cannot be subject to this process, potentially allowing them more time to seek relief.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The Act is named the "Artemis Act of 2025."
• Amendment to Immigration Law: It modifies section 235(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which governs expedited removal at U.S. borders.
• New Exception (Subparagraph H): Expedited removal does not apply to non-citizens who are natives or citizens of a "country of concern" or who would be removed to such a country.
• Definition of "Country of Concern": This term refers to countries designated by the U.S. Secretary of State as:
• A "country of particular concern" (CPC) due to systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
• A "special watch list" country under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, indicating significant but less severe violations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Expands existing exceptions to expedited removal by adding a new category (subparagraph H) focused on religious persecution risks.
• Previously, exceptions were limited (e.g., to certain credible fear claims under subparagraph F); now, they explicitly include individuals from CPC or special watch list countries, regardless of other factors.
• This shifts from a primarily procedural focus to one incorporating international religious freedom assessments, linking immigration enforcement to State Department designations.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may see increased asylum claims and processing times for affected individuals, requiring coordination with the State Department for country designations. This could strain resources at ports of entry.
• On Citizens/Immigrants: Provides greater protection for migrants fleeing religious persecution, potentially increasing successful asylum grants and reducing wrongful deportations to dangerous countries.
• On International Relations: Reinforces U.S. commitments to global religious freedom, possibly pressuring designated countries through heightened scrutiny, but could complicate diplomatic ties if seen as interfering in foreign affairs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Immigrants and Refugees: Primarily natives or citizens of CPC or special watch list countries (e.g., current designations include nations like China, Iran, or North Korea for CPC status), who gain procedural safeguards against rapid deportation.
• Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on religious freedom, human rights, and refugee rights (e.g., those aligned with the International Religious Freedom Act) stand to benefit from enhanced protections.
• Government Entities: DHS for enforcement changes; State Department for designations; Congress for oversight of immigration policy.
• Broader U.S. Population: Indirectly affects communities hosting refugees, potentially increasing integration efforts.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens due process protections under the INA by limiting expedited removal, which has faced court challenges for potentially violating asylum rights under international treaties like the 1951 Refugee Convention (incorporated into U.S. law).
• Constitutional: Aligns with Fifth Amendment due process requirements by ensuring fair hearings for those at risk of persecution, reducing risks of arbitrary removal.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan interest in religious liberty (introduced by Democratic representatives), but could spark debates on immigration enforcement rigor versus humanitarian obligations; may influence future foreign aid or sanctions tied to religious freedom designations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-05-20: Introduced in House
• 2025-05-20: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Artemis Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-20 — PDF (2 pages)