Border Safety and Security Act of 2025

House Bill

H.R. 318

119th Congress

Border Safety and Security Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 9, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Chip Roy

Representative

Republican

TX-21

Cosponsors

45

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Immigration

Summary

This bill requires DHS to suspend entry of non-U.S. nationals without valid entry documents during any period when DHS cannot detain them or return them to a contiguous country. States may sue DHS to enforce this requirement. The bill also authorizes DHS to suspend entry when necessary to achieve operational control of the border. This addresses situations where asylum seekers with credible fear claims would typically be released pending their hearings, instead requiring their entry be suspended when detention capacity is exceeded.

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires DHS to suspend entry of non-U.S. nationals without valid entry documents during any period when DHS cannot detain them or return them to a contiguous country. States may sue DHS to enforce this requirement. The bill also authorizes DHS to suspend entry when necessary to achieve operational control of the border. This addresses situations where asylum seekers with credible fear claims would typically be released pending their hearings, instead requiring their entry be suspended when detention capacity is exceeded.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Border Safety and Security Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to suspend the entry of any non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) without valid entry documents during any period when DHS cannot detain such an individual or return the individual to a foreign country contiguous to the United States. A state may sue DHS to enforce this requirement.(Under current law, non-U.S. nationals who arrive at the border without entry documents are generally subject to expedited removal. However, if such an individual is found to have a credible fear of persecution, they are typically subject to detention while their asylum claim is being considered.)The bill also authorizes DHS to suspend the entry of non-U.S. nationals without entry documents at the border if DHS determines that such a suspension is necessary to achieve operational control over such a border.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires suspension of entry when detention capacity exceeded
Mandates return to contiguous country or denial of entry
Allows states to sue DHS to enforce requirements
Authorizes entry suspension for border operational control
Addresses release of asylum seekers pending hearings

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

For DHS: Legal mandate to suspend entries during capacity constraints. For asylum seekers: Potential denial of entry rather than release. For states: Legal standing to enforce border entry policies. For border communities: Potentially fewer releases of undocumented individuals. For immigration courts: May affect asylum case processing dynamics.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Immigration

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

318, 119th Congress (2025). "Border Safety and Security Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-318