PAUSE Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 6225

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-03-26T08:06:30Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Pausing on Admissions Until Security Ensured Act of 2025" (PAUSE Act of 2025) aims to temporarily halt the issuance of visas and the granting of immigration status to non-citizens until U.S. immigration laws are amended to include stricter security measures, limitations on benefits, and restrictions on certain categories of immigrants. It seeks to prioritize national security, reduce public resource usage by immigrants, and reshape family-based and other immigration pathways.

Key Provisions

• Visa and Status Pause (Section 2): No visas or immigration statuses can be issued or granted until laws are changed to:
• Allow states and local governments to deny public school access to non-citizens without legal status (undocumented immigrants).
• Prevent nonimmigrants (temporary visitors or workers) from adjusting to permanent resident status (green cards).
• Limit birthright citizenship (automatic U.S. citizenship for those born on U.S. soil) to children with at least one U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) parent.
• Restrict family-based immigration to only spouses or minor children of U.S. citizens or LPRs.
• Bar legal status for individuals identified as Islamists (those advocating political Islam), observers of Sharia law (Islamic legal principles), members or associates of the Chinese Communist Party, known or suspected terrorists, or affiliates of foreign terrorist groups.
• Deny federal benefits to such ineligible immigrants, including Medicare (health insurance for seniors), emergency Medicaid (except for non-organ transplant care), Supplemental Security Income (SSI, cash aid for low-income elderly/disabled), SNAP (food stamps), premium tax credits and earned income tax credits, WIC (nutrition for women, infants, children), student loans, housing assistance, and small business loans.
• Exception: The pause does not apply to B-2 tourist visas for short-term visitors.
• Effective Date: Takes effect immediately upon enactment; prior applications are revoked, and fees refunded.
• H-1B Visa Fees (Section 3): Imposes a $100,000 fee on employers filing for initial H-1B visas (for skilled workers), extensions, or employer changes, starting in fiscal year 2026.
• End of Optional Practical Training (OPT) Program (Section 4): Prohibits employment authorization for F-1 student visa holders after completing studies; revokes existing approvals and refunds fees.
• Repeal of Diversity Visa Program (Section 5): Eliminates the annual lottery for 50,000 immigrant visas from underrepresented countries; revokes prior selections and refunds fees. Includes technical updates to related immigration laws.
• Definitions (Section 6): Uses standard terms from the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the main U.S. immigration law.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Amendments: Introduces a conditional pause on all visa issuances and status grants, overriding current laws until specified reforms are enacted. This is a major departure from the ongoing administration of visas and statuses.
• Birthright Citizenship: Alters the longstanding interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which currently grants citizenship to nearly all born in the U.S., by requiring parental citizenship or LPR status—potentially excluding many children of undocumented or temporary immigrants.
• Family and Other Immigration Categories: Narrows family reunification to immediate relatives only, eliminating broader preferences; repeals the Diversity Visa (DV) program entirely, ending a key pathway for immigrants from low-admission countries.
• Benefit Restrictions: Expands ineligibility for public benefits beyond current rules (e.g., under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996), targeting a wider range of programs and explicitly barring based on ideology or affiliation.
• Work Programs: Quadruples H-1B fees (from current levels around $1,500–$2,500) and terminates OPT, which allows up to three years of post-study work for STEM graduates, affecting skilled immigration.
• Prior Applications: Mandates revocation and refunds for pending cases, unlike typical immigration processes that allow continuity.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of State would face a backlog halt, administrative burdens from revocations/refunds, and revenue from high H-1B fees (potentially funding enforcement). States could gain flexibility on school enrollment, reducing local education costs but increasing enforcement needs.
• On Citizens and Residents: U.S. citizens with non-citizen family members may face longer separations due to restricted family visas. Taxpayers could see savings from reduced benefit usage, but industries like tech and education might suffer labor shortages without H-1B/OPT workers.
• On Immigrants and Non-Citizens: Millions of potential immigrants, especially from certain countries or backgrounds, would be barred; undocumented families could lose school access for children, exacerbating integration challenges. Revocations could lead to deportations or status losses.
• On International Relations: Could strain ties with countries like China (due to CCP targeting) and Muslim-majority nations (Sharia/Islamist bans), potentially reducing U.S. soft power, tourism, and diplomatic exchanges. Might encourage reciprocal restrictions on U.S. citizens abroad.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Immigrants and Potential Immigrants: Undocumented individuals, temporary visa holders (e.g., students, workers), and applicants from diverse or high-risk countries; specific groups like Muslims, Chinese nationals, or those with ideological affiliations.
• U.S. Citizens and LPRs: Families seeking to sponsor relatives; employers in tech, healthcare, and academia relying on H-1B/OPT talent.
• State and Local Governments: School districts and localities gaining authority over education access but facing potential lawsuits or increased social services demands.
• Employers and Businesses: High costs for H-1B hiring could deter foreign talent recruitment, impacting innovation and economic growth.
• Advocacy Groups: Immigrant rights organizations (e.g., affected by benefit cuts and bans) versus security-focused groups supporting restrictions.
• Federal Agencies: Departments of Homeland Security, State, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, tasked with implementation and benefit enforcement.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: The bill's conditions for lifting the pause require congressional action to amend laws, creating a self-imposed standoff. It could face immediate court challenges for revoking pending applications without due process. Terms like "Islamist" or "Sharia observer" are vague, risking arbitrary enforcement and lawsuits under administrative law.
• Constitutional Implications: The birthright citizenship limit directly challenges the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause, likely triggering Supreme Court review (similar to past cases like United States v. Wong Kim Ark). Bans based on religion (e.g., Sharia) or ideology may violate the First Amendment's free exercise and free speech protections, and equal protection under the 5th/14th Amendments. Denying school access could conflict with Plyler v. Doe (1982), which mandates public education for undocumented children.
• Political Implications: As an introduced bill (H.R. 6225, 119th Congress) sponsored by conservative representatives, it reflects partisan immigration debates, potentially energizing restrictionist voters but alienating moderates and immigrant communities. If passed, it could reshape the 2026 midterm elections; failure might highlight congressional gridlock on reform. Internationally, it signals a hardline U.S. stance, influencing global migration patterns and alliances.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21]

Cosponsors (13)

Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-11-20: Introduced in House
• 2025-11-20: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Pausing on Admissions Until Security Ensured Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (10 pages)