Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2025

House Bill

H.R. 551

119th Congress

Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 16, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Roger Williams

Representative

Republican

TX-25

Cosponsors

39

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Immigration

Summary

This bill makes the Migrant Protection Protocols (Remain in Mexico policy) mandatory rather than discretionary. DOJ must return to Mexico any individual who arrived by land from a bordering country while their admission application is pending, unless they are clearly entitled to admission. This changes the current law that allows DOJ to choose between detention or return to Mexico.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill makes the Migrant Protection Protocols (Remain in Mexico policy) mandatory rather than discretionary. DOJ must return to Mexico any individual who arrived by land from a bordering country while their admission application is pending, unless they are clearly entitled to admission. This changes the current law that allows DOJ to choose between detention or return to Mexico.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to remove certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) from the United States while such an individual's application for admission is pending.Specifically, if such an individual arrived by land from a foreign country bordering the United States and the individual is not clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to admission into the United States, DOJ must return that individual to that bordering foreign country while the individual's application for admission is pending. (Currently, DOJ may choose to detain such an individual or return the individual to the bordering foreign country while the application for admission is pending.)

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Makes Remain in Mexico policy mandatory for land arrivals
Removes DOJ discretion in handling pending applications
Applies to arrivals from countries bordering the U.S.
Exception only for those clearly entitled to admission
Requires return during admission application processing

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This legislation would require implementation of policies similar to the Trump administrations Remain in Mexico program that was suspended under Biden. Requiring return to Mexico eliminates the release into the U.S. option while applications are processed. The bill aims to deter border crossings but raises concerns about asylum seeker safety in Mexican border towns.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Immigration

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

551, 119th Congress (2025). "Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-551