Sponsors (11)
The bill removes a specific deportability ground to protect some noncitizens (including HHS-certified vulnerable individuals) from removal and modestly reduce DHS caseloads, at the cost of narrowing enforcement tools and likely shifting enforcement effort and expense to other, potentially more resource-intensive approaches while raising public concern in some communities.
Noncitizens who commit minor nonimmigrant-status violations will no longer be removable under this specific deportability ground, reducing the risk of deportation for some immigrants.
Individuals certified by HHS (including some people with disabilities) who were previously at risk of removal for related noncompliance would be exempted from removal under this provision, protecting vulnerable participants in HHS programs.
DHS would see a reduced enforcement caseload for removals that relied solely on this statutory ground, potentially freeing federal resources for other priorities.
DHS may need to pursue alternative enforcement or litigation strategies to remove individuals previously removable under the deleted provision, potentially increasing enforcement costs and workload.
Some noncitizens who violate nonimmigrant terms could remain in the U.S. because this removal ground is eliminated, which could increase public concern about immigration enforcement in border and other communities.
HHS may lose an administrative tool (a certification tied to deportability) for addressing noncompliance with health-related conditions, complicating interagency efforts to enforce program requirements and manage participant compliance.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Removes a statutory deportability ground for certain nonimmigrant-status violations and HHS-certified failures to comply by striking 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(4)(C).
Official title: Protect free speech by repealing the ground for deportability under section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act relating to aliens whose presence or activities in the United States are reasonably believed to have serious adverse foreign policy consequences.
Introduced June 16, 2026 by Alejandro Padilla · Last progress June 16, 2026
Removes a specific deportability ground from federal immigration law by striking a subparagraph of 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(4) that currently makes certain nonimmigrant-status violations and some HHS-certified failures to comply deportable offenses. The change narrows the statutory list of grounds for removal, so people who would have been deportable solely under the deleted subparagraph may no longer be removable on that basis unless another law applies. The bill contains only that change and a short-title clause. It does not itself create new benefits, funding, or procedures beyond altering the statutory deportability provision.