Ending Catch and Release Act of 2025

This proposal would change how the U.S. handles people who arrive without permission and ask for asylum. It would stop the Department of Homeland Security from releasing most asylum seekers into the country while their cases are pending; instead, they would be kept in custody or, in some cases, sent back to a country next to the U.S. to wait for a judge’s decision . It would also let the government quickly remove more people without a full court hearing, including some already inside the U.S. who were never officially admitted, and it would raise the bar at the first asylum screening so a person must show it is more likely than not that they will qualify for asylum .

• Who is affected: People without lawful status, including those asking for asylum.
• What changes: Fewer releases while cases are pending; more use of detention or return to a neighboring country; broader fast-track removal; tougher initial asylum test .
• Day-to-day impact: Many asylum seekers would spend more time in detention or outside the U.S. while their case is decided, and fewer would be released into communities during that time.