Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026

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Bill ID: 119/hr/1958
Last Updated: August 9, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Taylor, David [R-OH-2]

ID: T000490

Follow the money

The bill

Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026

HR. 1958, 119th Congress — read as touching Private Prisons & Immigration Detention.

The sponsor

Rep. Taylor, David [R-OH-2]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$71,970 raised

22 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

85% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Homeland Security" section, p. 174-176 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

March 18, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another brilliant example of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026 is a masterclass in doublespeak. Ostensibly, its purpose is to "clarify" that aliens who defraud the US government or receive public benefits unlawfully are inadmissible and deportable. How noble. In reality, this bill is a thinly veiled attempt to score cheap political points by appearing tough on immigration while doing nothing to address the systemic issues driving these problems.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to add new grounds for inadmissibility and deportability. Specifically, it targets aliens convicted of various forms of fraud related to government programs or public benefits. The language is deliberately broad, allowing for maximum flexibility in interpreting what constitutes "defrauding" the US government.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are affected: immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers who may have inadvertently committed a minor infraction or been caught up in a bureaucratic snafu. Meanwhile, the real beneficiaries of this bill are politicians seeking to burnish their anti-immigrant credentials and special interest groups looking to exploit fear-mongering for their own gain.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill will likely have a negligible impact on actual immigration policy but will serve as a useful tool for demagogues to whip up xenophobic fervor. The expanded grounds for inadmissibility and deportability will create more opportunities for ICE to terrorize immigrant communities, while the "ineligibility for any immigration relief" provision ensures that those caught up in this dragnet will have limited avenues for appeal.

In short, HR 1958 is a cynical exercise in legislative grandstanding, designed to pander to nativist sentiment rather than address the complex issues driving immigration and public benefit fraud. It's a classic case of treating symptoms while ignoring the underlying disease – a hallmark of incompetent governance.

As I always say, "Everyone lies." In this case, the sponsors of HR 1958 are lying about their true intentions, which have nothing to do with protecting American interests or promoting fairness in immigration policy. They're simply playing politics with people's lives, and that's a disease far more insidious than any form of fraud.

Related Topics

Immigration & Border Security
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Taylor, David [R-OH-2]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$71,970
20 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$5,700
Committees
$0
Individuals
$66,270

No PAC contributions found

1
POLITICAL EDUCATION PATTERNS LOCAL 18 OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS
1 transaction
$5,000
2
ELITE MOVING & TRANSPORT LLC
1 transaction
$700

No committee contributions found

1
ATIKIAN, SETRAK
2 transactions
$6,600
2
SAFARYAN, TIGRAN
2 transactions
$6,600
3
WOESTE, BILL
1 transaction
$3,435
4
SIMS, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,435
5
MELKUMIAN, VIOLETTA
1 transaction
$3,300
6
SAFARYAN, ERNA
1 transaction
$3,300
7
SAFARYAN, SERGEY
1 transaction
$3,300
8
HOUSER, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300
9
TAYLOR, CHERYL
1 transaction
$3,300
10
GARRISON, DAVID
1 transaction
$3,300
11
KUBICKI, JERI JOSH
1 transaction
$3,300
12
SAULS, JAMES E. JR.
1 transaction
$3,300
13
ERNST, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300
14
MANUKYAN, KRISTINA
1 transaction
$3,300
15
TEKULVE, MARK
1 transaction
$3,300
16
BARRETT, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300
17
BYRNE, KERRY
1 transaction
$3,300
18
EDENFIELD, DAWN
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

ID: T000478

Top Contributors

28

1
WINRED EARMARKS
PACARLINGTON, VA
$27,879
Oct 22, 2024
2
WINRED EARMARKS
PACARLINGTON, VA
$21,566
Oct 29, 2024
3
WINRED EARMARKS
PACARLINGTON, VA
$10,970
Nov 25, 2024
4
WINRED EARMARKS
PACARLINGTON, VA
$5,493
Nov 19, 2024
5
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$2,000
Nov 5, 2024
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$2,000
Jun 18, 2024
7
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Jun 18, 2024
8
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,000
Mar 31, 2023
9
TEXTOR, DONALD
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualLOCUST VALLEY, NY
$13,200
Apr 17, 2024
10
WINE, SCOTT
POLARIS • CEO
IndividualEXCELSIOR, MN
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024

Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]

ID: S001228

Top Contributors

22

1
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA
OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Jul 26, 2024
2
A-OK ENTERPRISES, LLC
OrganizationWICHITA, KS
$500
Jul 10, 2024
3
ROSE, DIANA
ASPIRE65 • OWNER
IndividualOLATHE, KS
$6,600
Jul 19, 2024
4
ROSE, GARY
ASPIRE HEALTH PLANS, LLC • INSURANCE SALES
IndividualOLATHE, KS
$6,600
Jul 19, 2024
5
PROCHNOW, JOSEPH
FOCUS WORKFORCES • EXECUTIVE
IndividualOVERLAND PARK, KS
$6,600
Jul 25, 2024
6
NELSON, NORMAN T
SELF • AGRICULTURE
IndividualLONG ISLAND, KS
$6,600
Sep 3, 2024
7
CUTLER, ROBERT S.
C3 • CEO
IndividualOVERLAND PARK, KS
$6,600
Dec 9, 2024
8
BONAVIA, NICHOLAS J.
BONAVIA PROPERTIES • PRESIDENT
IndividualWICHITA, KS
$6,600
May 3, 2024
9
MILLER, RICHARD
MILLER'S PROFESSIONAL IMAGING • CEO
IndividualPITTSBURG, KS
$6,600
Jun 25, 2024
10
PATTERSON, ROB
RMJK ENTERPRISES INC • CEO
IndividualKANSAS CITY, KS
$6,600
Jun 30, 2024

Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

ID: M000194

Top Contributors

28

1
REW INVESTMENTS LLC
OrganizationMT PLEASANT, SC
$3,300
Jul 1, 2024
2
REW INVESTMENTS LLC
OrganizationMT PLEASANT, SC
$2,500
Jul 1, 2024
3
KING & SOCIETY, LLC
OrganizationMOUNT PLEASANT, SC
$2,000
Jul 1, 2024
4
BARBER BROTHERS, LLC
OrganizationMOUNT PLEASANT, SC
$1,000
Jul 1, 2024
5
COASTAL GREEN CBD LLC
OrganizationMYRTLE BEACH, SC
$1,000
Jul 1, 2024
6
MALL DRIVE MANAGEMENT, LLC
OrganizationCHARLESTON, SC
$1,000
Jul 1, 2024
7
SEAGLASS PARTNERS, LLC
OrganizationMOUNT PLEASANT, SC
$1,000
Jul 1, 2024
8
TWIN RIVERS HOLDINGS LLC
OrganizationMOUNT PLEASANT, SC
$1,000
Jul 1, 2024
9
GRIFFITH, JAMES
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualTUCSON, AZ
$6,600
Mar 30, 2023
10
RANNEY, TIM
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualSAINT PETERSBURG, FL
$6,600
Mar 27, 2023

Rep. Onder, Robert [R-MO-3]

ID: O000177

Top Contributors

20

1
O'BRIEN, FRANK
O'BRIEN INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS • OWNER
IndividualSAINT LOUIS, MO
$13,200
Mar 31, 2024
2
ONDER, JAMES G
ONDERLAW, LLC • ATTORNEY
IndividualSAINT LOUIS, MO
$13,200
Mar 26, 2024
3
BURNS, ROBERT
PATRIOT MACHINE • VICE PRESIDENT
IndividualCHESTERFIELD, MO
$13,200
Sep 5, 2024
4
POGUE, RICHARD W.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualWRIGHT CITY, MO
$13,200
Jun 20, 2024
5
SCHULTE, STEVE
HENGES INTERIORS • OWNER
IndividualWELDON SPRING, MO
$13,200
May 8, 2024
6
MUELLER, DOUGLAS
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualO FALLON, MO
$10,000
Mar 6, 2024
7
OBRIEN, JOHN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualLAKE ST LOUIS, MO
$10,000
Mar 11, 2024
8
SMITH, MENLO
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCHESTERFIELD, MO
$7,500
Mar 21, 2024
9
STOFFA, ROBERT
WINDBER HOSPITAL • PHYSICIAN
IndividualLIGONIER, PA
$6,870
Mar 28, 2024
10
KOVAC, AMY
BAIN CO • BUSINESS CONSULTANT
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,818
Mar 30, 2024

Rep. Messmer, Mark [R-IN-8]

ID: M001233

Top Contributors

59

1
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
2
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
3
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
4
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
5
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
6
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
7
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
8
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
9
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
10
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,000
Apr 11, 2024

Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]

ID: L000566

Top Contributors

27

1
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
OrganizationRICHMOND, VA
$1,000
Mar 5, 2024
2
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
OrganizationRICHMOND, VA
$1,000
Sep 18, 2023
3
WATKINS & EAGER PLLC
OrganizationJACKSON, MS
$1,000
Jun 25, 2024
4
SENECA COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
OrganizationTIFFIN, OH
$1,000
Sep 30, 2024
5
BL PARTNERS GROUP LLC
OrganizationARLINGTON, VA
$500
Mar 31, 2024
6
CRAWFORD COUNTY CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION
OrganizationMARYSVILLE, OH
$500
Mar 15, 2024
7
BL PARTNERS GROUP LLC
OrganizationARLINGTON, VA
$500
Jun 18, 2023
8
MURPHY, JAMES
INVENERGY LLC • PRESIDENT
IndividualBARRINGTON, IL
$3,300
Oct 20, 2024
9
TAYLOR, KENNETH
OHIO CAT • PRESIDENT/OWNER
IndividualROCKY RIVER, OH
$3,300
Nov 2, 2024
10
ERGEN, CANDY MRS.
DISH NETWORK • SR ADVISOR
IndividualENGLEWOOD, CO
$3,300
Dec 25, 2023

Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

ID: K000403

Top Contributors

20

1
ULRICH, DAVE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN • PROFESSOR
IndividualALPINE, UT
$10,000
Jun 5, 2024
2
BRENCHLEY, ROXANE
HOMEMAKER • HOMEMAKER
IndividualALPINE, UT
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
3
BRENCHLEY, SHAWN
VIVINT • VP
IndividualALPINE, UT
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
4
JOHNSON, HEATHER
SELF • HOMEMAKER
IndividualOGDEN, UT
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
5
JOHNSON, JOHN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualOGDEN, UT
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
6
KENNEDY, HUGH
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualYPSILANTI, MI
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
7
KENNEDY, JACOB
DEACONESS HOSPITAL • DOCTOR
IndividualEVANSVILLE, IN
$9,900
Mar 15, 2024
8
ULANOFF, DORY
ARCADIS • MARKETING
IndividualYPSILANTI, MI
$9,900
Jan 12, 2024
9
ZUPANCICH, ANTHONY
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI
$9,900
Mar 27, 2024
10
PLUMB, WALTER III
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSALT LAKE CITY, UT
$6,700
Jan 12, 2024

Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]

ID: B001325

Top Contributors

20

1
BENNETT, HEATHER
IndividualTOWNVILLE, SC
$6,600
Feb 12, 2024
2
COX, HOWARD
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSENECA, SC
$6,600
Mar 18, 2024
3
SCOTT, MARILYN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualKOSCIUSKO, MS
$6,600
Feb 12, 2024
4
SEYMORE, GARY W
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualANDERSON, SC
$6,600
Feb 12, 2024
5
MATTEO, CHRIS
UBS • FINANCIAL ADVISOR
IndividualHOBOKEN, NJ
$5,000
Mar 6, 2024
6
CASSELS, W.T. JR.
SOUTHEASTERN FRIGHT LINES • PRESIDENT
IndividualCOLUMBIA, SC
$3,500
Oct 30, 2024
7
CASSELS, W TOBIN III
SOUTHEASTERN FREIGHT LINES • PRESIDENT
IndividualCOLUMBIA, SC
$3,500
Oct 30, 2024
8
ARIAIL, BRANDI C
CROSSWALK HOLDINGS, INC. • INVESTOR
IndividualGREENVILLE, SC
$3,500
Mar 22, 2024
9
FLOYD, KAREN KANES
THE PALLADIAN GROUP INC • PUBLIC RELATIONS
IndividualSPARTANBURG, SC
$3,500
Jun 18, 2024
10
SIMPSON, DARWIN H
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSPARTANBURG, SC
$3,500
Jun 18, 2024

Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

ID: G000603

Top Contributors

22

1
BOERNE STAGE AIRFIELD
OrganizationBOERNE, TX
$2,500
Mar 12, 2024
2
HOLMES LAW
OrganizationDALLAS, TX
$500
Feb 14, 2024
3
WILLIAMS, JOHN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualWESLEY CHAPEL, FL
$6,818
Feb 6, 2024
4
AZRIELI, MATTHEW
BASTE RECORDS • EXECUTIVE
IndividualBOCA RATON, FL
$6,818
Nov 20, 2023
5
BENNETT, MATT
CHRISTIAN UNION • MINISTER
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,818
Nov 20, 2023
6
GILL, BEVERLY
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCLYDE, TX
$6,818
Nov 20, 2023
7
GILL, JUDITH
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCLYDE, TX
$6,818
Nov 20, 2023
8
GILL, RUSSELL
DELTA AIR LINES • PILOT AND RANCHER
IndividualCLYDE, TX
$6,818
Nov 20, 2023
9
GILL, JUDITH
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCLYDE, TX
$6,818
Nov 20, 2023
10
SCHOOLEY, BRUCE
NOBLE PRODUCTIONS INC • SELF-EMPLOYED
IndividualALAMO, CA
$6,818
Nov 20, 2023

Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]

ID: R000612

Top Contributors

21

1
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationRED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Dec 12, 2024
2
EVANS, JOHN B.
NGU RISK MANAGEMENT • PRESIDENT
IndividualHENDERSONVILLE, TN
$13,200
Feb 24, 2023
3
HUDSON, PHILLIP JR.
CUMBERLAND SUPPLY CO. INC. • SHAREHOLDER
IndividualCOOKEVILLE, TN
$13,200
May 20, 2023
4
VADEN, JAMES L.
SELF-EMPLOYED • ORTHODONTIST
IndividualCOOKEVILLE, TN
$13,200
May 8, 2023
5
BARNES, SAM T. DR.
SELF-EMPLOYED • PHYSICIAN
IndividualCOOKEVILLE, TN
$10,000
Feb 12, 2024
6
EVANS, JOHN B.
SELF-EMPLOYED • SALES
IndividualHENDERSONVILLE, TN
$10,000
Feb 27, 2024
7
BARNES, SAM T. DR.
SELF-EMPLOYED • PHYSICIAN
IndividualCOOKEVILLE, TN
$6,600
Dec 8, 2023
8
LIPMAN, ROBERT S.
LIPMAN BROTHERS • EXECUTIVE
IndividualNASHVILLE, TN
$6,600
Nov 9, 2023
9
SMITH, BRAD
RUSSELL STREET VENTURES • CEO
IndividualNASHVILLE, TN
$6,600
Oct 26, 2023
10
SMITH, LAUREN
LH SMITH CONSULTING • PRESIDENT
IndividualNASHVILLE, TN
$6,600
Oct 26, 2023

Donor Network - Rep. Taylor, David [R-OH-2]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 29 nodes and 35 connections

Total contributions: $35

Top Donors - Rep. Taylor, David [R-OH-2]

Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs18 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 helped.

  • Section 2(c) makes aliens who have defrauded the US Government or unlawfully received public benefits ineligible for immigration relief, which could increase demand for private prison services to detain such individuals, as cited in Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act

  • The bill's focus on defrauding the US Government and unlawful receipt of public benefits may lead to increased enforcement efforts, potentially benefiting law enforcement and surveillance technology vendors, as seen in Section 2(a) and (b) amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Department of Homeland Security

Strong
Vector: 65%
Pages: 174-176AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill aligns strongly with Project 2025's emphasis on enforcing immigration laws as written, particularly by expanding grounds for deportability based on criminal conduct involving fraud and abuse of public benefits, which supports prioritizing public safety and national security in immigration enforcement."

Key themes:immigration enforcementcriminal aliensdeportabilitypublic benefit fraudrule of law

— 141 — Department of Homeland Security enforcement. To return ICE to its primary mission, any new Administration that wishes to restore the rule of law to our immigration enforcement efforts should: l Order ICE to stop closing out pending immigration cases and apply the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) as written by Congress.3 The Biden Administration closed out tens of thousands of immigration cases that had already been prepared and were slated for expedited removal processing or hearings before the U.S. Immigration Court. This misguided action constituted an egregious example of lawlessness that allowed thousands of illegal aliens and other immigration violators to go free in the United States. l Direct ICE to stop ignoring criminal aliens identified through the 287(g) program.4 Ultimately, Congress should prevent ICE from ignoring criminal aliens identified by local law enforcement agencies that are partners in the 287(g) program. However, before congressional action, ICE should be directed to take custody of all aliens with records for felonies, crimes of violence, DUIs, previous removals, and any other crime that is considered a national security or public safety threat as defined under current laws. l Eliminate T and U visas. Victimization should not be a basis for an immigration benefit. If an alien who was a trafficking or crime victim is actively and significantly cooperating with law enforcement as a witness, the S visa is already available and should be used. Pending elimination of the T and U visas, the Secretary should significantly restrict eligibility for each visa to prevent fraud. l Issue clear guidance regarding detention and bond for aliens. Thousands of illegal aliens are allowed to bond out of immigration detention only to disappear into the interior of the United States where many commit crimes and many others disappear, never to be heard from again. This occurs primarily because of poorly worded bond regulations, contradictory bond policy memoranda, and poor practices for managing released aliens and the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) Program, which requires significant reform. l Prioritize national security in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). ICE should end its current cozy deference to educational institutions and remove security risks from the program. This requires working with the Department of State to eliminate or significantly reduce the number of visas issued to foreign students from enemy nations.

Department of Homeland Security

Strong
Vector: 64%
Pages: 174-176AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill directly supports Project 2025’s objective of restoring rigorous ICE enforcement by making fraud against the U.S. government a clear ground for inadmissibility and deportability, thereby targeting criminal aliens who threaten public safety and fiscal integrity."

Key themes:immigration enforcementcriminal inadmissibilityfraud offensesremoval prioritiesrule of law

— 141 — Department of Homeland Security enforcement. To return ICE to its primary mission, any new Administration that wishes to restore the rule of law to our immigration enforcement efforts should: l Order ICE to stop closing out pending immigration cases and apply the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) as written by Congress.3 The Biden Administration closed out tens of thousands of immigration cases that had already been prepared and were slated for expedited removal processing or hearings before the U.S. Immigration Court. This misguided action constituted an egregious example of lawlessness that allowed thousands of illegal aliens and other immigration violators to go free in the United States. l Direct ICE to stop ignoring criminal aliens identified through the 287(g) program.4 Ultimately, Congress should prevent ICE from ignoring criminal aliens identified by local law enforcement agencies that are partners in the 287(g) program. However, before congressional action, ICE should be directed to take custody of all aliens with records for felonies, crimes of violence, DUIs, previous removals, and any other crime that is considered a national security or public safety threat as defined under current laws. l Eliminate T and U visas. Victimization should not be a basis for an immigration benefit. If an alien who was a trafficking or crime victim is actively and significantly cooperating with law enforcement as a witness, the S visa is already available and should be used. Pending elimination of the T and U visas, the Secretary should significantly restrict eligibility for each visa to prevent fraud. l Issue clear guidance regarding detention and bond for aliens. Thousands of illegal aliens are allowed to bond out of immigration detention only to disappear into the interior of the United States where many commit crimes and many others disappear, never to be heard from again. This occurs primarily because of poorly worded bond regulations, contradictory bond policy memoranda, and poor practices for managing released aliens and the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) Program, which requires significant reform. l Prioritize national security in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). ICE should end its current cozy deference to educational institutions and remove security risks from the program. This requires working with the Department of State to eliminate or significantly reduce the number of visas issued to foreign students from enemy nations. — 142 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise Most of the foregoing can be accomplished rapidly and effectively through exec- utive action that is both lawful and appropriate. Additionally, ICE should clarify who is responsible for enforcing its criminal and civil authorities. It should also remove self-imposed limitations on its nationwide jurisdiction. l Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents in the 1811 series should enforce Title 8 and 18 crimes as the biggest part of their portfolio. Alien smuggling, trafficking, and cross-border crime as defined under Title 85 and Title 186 should be the focus of ICE operations. l The role of ICE Deportation Officers should be clarified. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) should be identified as being primarily responsible for enforcing civil immigration regulations, including the civil arrest, detention, and removal of immigration violators anywhere in the United States, without warrant where appropriate, subject only to the civil warrant requirements of the INA where appropriate. l All ICE memoranda identifying “sensitive zones” where ICE personnel are prohibited from operating should be rescinded. Rely on the good judgment of officers in the field to avoid inappropriate situations. l To maximize the efficient use of its resources, ICE should make full use of existing Expedited Removal (ER) authorities. The agency has limited the use of ER to eligible aliens apprehended within 100 miles of the border. This is not a statutory requirement. New Policies U.S. national security and public safety interests would be well-served if ICE were to be combined with CBP and USCIS, as mentioned above. Additionally, ICE/ HSI, along with CBP, should be full participants in the Intelligence Community. The use of Blackies Warrants should be operationalized within ICE. These civil search warrants are commonly used for worksite enforcement when agents have probable cause that illegal aliens are employed at a business. This would stream- line investigations. Safeguarding Americans will require not just securing the border, but con- tinuous vetting and investigations of many aliens who exploited President Biden’s open border for potentially nefarious purposes, including some Afghan evacuees sent directly to the U.S. during America’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Department of Homeland Security

Strong
Vector: 63%
Pages: 177-179AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill aligns strongly with Project 2025's focus on combating immigration benefits fraud, enhancing enforcement capabilities, and strengthening the integrity of immigration systems by targeting fraud related to public benefits and government programs."

Key themes:immigration fraud enforcementpublic benefit frauddeportability groundsUSCIS criminal enforcementintegrity of immigration system

— 144 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise prosecuting criminal and civil denaturalization cases, in combination with the Department of Justice, for aliens who obtained citizenship through fraud or other illicit means. Additionally, USCIS should create a criminal enforcement compo- nent within the agency to investigate immigration benefits fraud under Title 8 (perhaps requiring additional legislative and regulatory authorities for the offi- cers themselves) and to prosecute cases through Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs) with substantive knowledge in the field. Particular attention should be given to addressing increasing incidents of forced labor trafficking in temporary work visa programs. While the Biden regulatory agenda has focused on at least two major rules—the credible fear rule and the public charge rule—USCIS has utilized other policy and internal procedural mechanisms to extend employment authorization to large groups of people who are in the country without legal status. The agency has taken quiet steps to cut corners and lessen adjudicatory standards. During a tran- sition period, a complete audit of agency policies, memoranda, and management directives issued during the Biden Administration should be completed, and rescis- sion documents should be prepared for issuance within the first few days of the incoming Administration. Additionally, regulatory documents should be drafted to review or reverse all regulations promulgated during the Biden Administration. New Policies To advance the national interest, the three core immigration agencies—USCIS, ICE, and CBP—should remerge and have immigration elements outside of DHS (such as ORR of HHS) included. The fragmented immigration enforcement frame- work that developed in the wake of the Homeland Security Act has weakened each agency and should be remediated. Combining these critical agencies would strengthen their capabilities, ensure cooperation, and promote information-shar- ing. Agency responsibilities and the delineation of authorities, such as inconsistent use of deferred action and issuance of NTAs by each agency, have long been a point of contention that would be addressed much more easily if they were recombined into a single entity. Alternatively, new policies for USCIS as it currently exists should focus on mat- ters that can be addressed through administrative action. l The workforce should be realigned and, as necessary, retrained on base eligibility and fraud detection rather than speed in processing. l Training should be returned to Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), which would underscore the enforcement role of USCIS as a vetting agency, and be rebranded accordingly. — 145 — Department of Homeland Security l Management Directives and policies should realign to ensure that the workforce, while adaptable and able to handle the bulk of the USCIS mission, is not allowed to be pulled off mission work to focus on unlawful programs (DACA, mass parole for Afghans, Ukrainians, Venezuelans, etc.), which divert resources away from nuclear family and employment programs. The regulatory agenda should include the immediate submission of notices of proposed rulemaking for the Trump Administration’s public charge rule (includ- ing aspects from its original notice of proposed rulemaking), temporary work visa reform, employment authorization reform rules, asylum bars rule, and a third-country transit rule. At a minimum, an enhanced regulatory agenda should include rules strengthening the integrity of the asylum system, parole reform, and U visa reform that prioritizes relief for victims of heinous crimes and ensures that we protect the truest and most deserving victims of crime. Not all policy changes require formal rulemaking, however, as internal guidance documents are generally exempt under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).7 In this subregulatory space, USCIS policy memos and operational guidance should reduce the validity of employment authorization documents and end the COVID flexibilities, including the reliance on biometrics reuse. USCIS should also enforce existing regulations by rejecting incomplete applications and petitions, ensuring both that they are completed before accepted for filing and that FDNS signs off on all approved applications and petitions before approval notices are sent to the alien or petitioner. Other efforts should be focused on adjudication standards returning to nearly 100 percent interview requirements for all appropriate cases. The incoming Administration should spearhead an immigration legislative agenda focused on creating a merit-based immigration system that rewards high- skilled aliens instead of the current system that favors extended family–based and luck-of-the-draw immigration. To that end, the diversity visa lottery should be repealed, chain migration should be ended while focusing on the nuclear family, and the existing employment visa program should be replaced with a system to award visas only to the “best and brightest.” Internal efforts to limit employment authorization should be matched by con- gressional action to narrow statutory eligibility to work in the United States and mitigate unfair employment competition for U.S. citizens. The oft-abused H-1B program should be transformed into an elite program through which employers are vying to bring in only the top foreign workers at the highest wages so as not to depress American opportunities. Additionally, Congress should: l Improve the integrity of the temporary work visa programs; l Repeal Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations;

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About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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