Afghan SIV Termination and Security Review Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6443
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-06T15:32:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Afghan SIV Termination and Security Review Act of 2025 (H.R. 6443)
Purpose
This legislation aims to end the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, cancel pending applications, reassess the security status of current beneficiaries, and remove individuals deemed ineligible or a threat to national security. It emphasizes rigorous vetting and congressional authority over immigration categories.
Key Provisions
- Program Termination: Repeals Section 602 of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, closes the program to new applications, and cancels all unadjudicated pending applications.
- Security Reassessment: Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State and Director of National Intelligence, to conduct a full review of all existing Afghan SIV beneficiaries within 18 months. The review includes biometric re-enrollment, updated database checks for criminal and terrorism records, identity document verification, confirmation of prior U.S. government service, and in-person interviews where needed.
- Removability Review: Mandates individualized determinations on whether beneficiaries remain eligible, are inadmissible or removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act, committed fraud in the application process, or pose national security, public safety, or terrorism risks. If issues are found, the Secretary must initiate rescission of SIV status and removal proceedings, with priority for national security cases.
- Prohibition on Reinstatement: Bars reissuance or reinstatement of any rescinded Afghan SIV status under prior authorities.
- Funding Reallocation: Redirects any remaining appropriations from the Afghan SIV program to the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Eliminates the Afghan SIV program entirely, overriding its prior establishment for individuals who assisted U.S. missions in Afghanistan.
- Introduces mandatory post-admission security reviews and removal processes not previously required for this category.
- Shifts funding from immigration-related support to veteran services.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and intelligence community due to required reassessments and proceedings; may strain resources for biometric and database checks.
- Citizens and Beneficiaries: Affects current Afghan SIV holders by subjecting them to new reviews that could lead to status revocation and removal; pending applicants lose eligibility.
- International Relations: Could impact U.S. credibility with allies or partners who assisted in Afghanistan, as the program was designed to protect such individuals.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Afghan SIV applicants and beneficiaries, including those already in the United States.
- U.S. government agencies involved in immigration, security, and veterans' services.
- Congress, through its role in setting immigration policy.
- Potentially, U.S. veterans' organizations benefiting from reallocated funds.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Affirms congressional plenary power over noncitizen admissions and immigration categories, consistent with existing constitutional authority.
- Requires due process in removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Raises questions about retroactive application to existing beneficiaries and potential challenges related to fairness in rescinding previously granted status.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Afghan SIV Termination and Security Review Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (5 pages)