Sponsors (4)
The bill streamlines and speeds government naturalization processing by imposing a clear disqualification for unlawful entrants, but does so at the cost of permanently denying citizenship to many long-term residents—creating major rights, family, enforcement, litigation, and fiscal harms.
Lawful entrants (immigrants who entered lawfully) would have clearer precedence for naturalization, simplifying eligibility determinations and reducing ambiguity for applicants.
USCIS adjudicators and associated staff/contractors would face lower adjudicative burden because a bright-line disqualification for unlawful entrants reduces the need for case-by-case waiver analysis, speeding processing and cutting administrative workload.
Long-term residents who entered unlawfully (including people with strong community or family ties) would be categorically barred from naturalization, permanently denying them citizenship regardless of rehabilitation or circumstances.
Families could be separated or face reduced access to benefits and civic participation if a household member is barred from naturalization, harming parents, children, and family stability.
Barred individuals would have fewer legal pathways, likely increasing removals/enforcement actions and immigration court workloads, raising enforcement costs and operational burdens on the justice system.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a categorical, nonwaivable ineligibility for naturalization for any alien who entered the U.S. unlawfully.
Makes anyone who entered the United States unlawfully permanently ineligible for U.S. naturalization. The change amends existing naturalization law to create an absolute bar to citizenship for applicants based solely on unlawful entry, overriding other exceptions or waivers in current statute.
Official title: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to preclude the naturalization of any person who has unlawfully entered the United States.
Introduced March 27, 2025 by Cory Mills · Last progress March 27, 2025