Land of the Free Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4800
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T21:27:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4800: Land of the Free Act of 2026
Purpose
This legislation aims to protect free speech by removing a specific rule that allows the government to deport certain non-citizens based on concerns about foreign policy.
Key Provisions
- The bill repeals subparagraph (C) from section 237(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- This change eliminates the ground for deportability that applies to non-citizens whose presence or activities in the United States are reasonably believed to cause serious negative effects on U.S. foreign policy.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- It removes an existing provision in immigration law that previously permitted deportation for foreign policy-related reasons.
- No new rules or exceptions are added; the focus is solely on striking the referenced subparagraph.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Immigration enforcement bodies may have fewer options for removing individuals based on foreign policy assessments.
- On citizens and non-citizens: Non-citizens could face reduced risk of deportation for speech or activities that might otherwise be viewed as conflicting with foreign relations.
- On international relations: The change might limit the use of deportation as a tool in addressing activities tied to overseas policy concerns.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Non-citizens living in or visiting the United States, particularly those engaged in public expression or activism.
- Federal agencies responsible for immigration enforcement and deportation decisions.
- Foreign governments or entities that may have previously influenced U.S. actions through foreign policy concerns.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The repeal ties directly to free speech protections, potentially strengthening safeguards against removal for expressive activities.
- It alters the balance in immigration law by narrowing the scope of deportable offenses without introducing new constitutional tests or requirements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (10)
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-16: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Land of the Free Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-16 — PDF (2 pages)