BOOT Sharia Law Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4542
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-14: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-18T22:19:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Ban Outsiders Openly Touting Sharia Law Act" or "BOOT Sharia Law Act," aims to restrict certain immigration benefits for non-citizens who support Sharia law or engage in activities opposing the United States Constitution or its form of government. It modifies the Immigration and Nationality Act to create new eligibility barriers related to good moral character, asylum, refugee status, and lawful permanent residence.
Key Provisions
- Bars to Good Moral Character: Adds rules disqualifying non-citizens from showing good moral character if they adhere to or advocate for Sharia law in ways that could violate constitutional or legal rights of others, or if they participate in protests or activities supporting groups designated as terrorism sponsors, those that have attacked U.S. forces, or those opposing the U.S. government structure.
- Refugee Definition Changes: Redefines "refugee" to exclude individuals who use force, coercion, violence, or terror to enforce Islamic values, Sharia law, conversions to Islam, Islamist political goals, or Islam as a state religion. It also introduces a "Jihadist bar" and related presumptions.
- Asylum Restrictions: Expands grounds for denying asylum to include reasonable belief that a person adheres to or advocates Sharia law in rights-violating ways, or has used coercion or violence for similar enforcement purposes.
- Adjustment of Status Limits: Prevents refugees or asylees from becoming lawful permanent residents if they continue such adherence or advocacy after admission, or engage in related violence.
- Rescission of Lawful Permanent Resident Status: Allows the Secretary of Homeland Security or Attorney General to revoke permanent resident status within 10 years if the person was ineligible initially or participates in supporting activities as described, with procedures tied to removal processes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces new disqualifiers in Section 101(f) for good moral character assessments, expanding beyond prior standards.
- Amends the refugee definition in Section 101(a)(42) with additional exclusion categories focused on enforcement of religious or political goals.
- Updates asylum rules in Section 208(b)(2)(A) by adding specific clauses for Sharia-related and violence-based grounds.
- Modifies Section 209 to create a new subsection barring status adjustments for certain post-admission behaviors.
- Revises Section 246(a) to broaden rescission authority for permanent residents, including protest-related activities, while adding a savings clause for removal proceedings.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the Department of Homeland Security and Attorney General in screening and reviewing cases for adherence to Sharia law or opposition activities, potentially requiring more detailed investigations during immigration processes.
- On Citizens or Residents: Indirect effects may occur through heightened scrutiny of demonstrations or expressions of support involving designated groups, though the rules primarily target non-citizens.
- On International Relations: Could influence processing of applications from countries or individuals associated with terrorism designations or Sharia-based systems, possibly affecting diplomatic ties with nations viewed as opposing U.S. principles.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Non-citizens applying for or holding asylum, refugee status, or lawful permanent residence, particularly those with histories involving protests or Sharia advocacy.
- U.S. government entities such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and immigration courts responsible for eligibility determinations and enforcement.
- Organizations or groups involved in immigration advocacy, as well as individuals or entities potentially linked to terrorism designations or government opposition activities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Expands administrative discretion in immigration decisions, allowing rescission based on post-entry conduct within a 10-year window.
- Ties immigration benefits to assessments of support for specific political or religious positions, including organized activities like protests.
- Integrates references to existing terrorism designation processes under Section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act into new eligibility bars.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-14: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Ban Outsiders Openly Touting Sharia Law Act — issued 2026-05-14 — PDF (8 pages)