America First Act
Sponsored By: Representative Arrington
In Committee
Summary
Tighten federal benefit eligibility by linking most programs and major tax credits to citizenship or lawful presence. The bill would narrow the definition of "qualified alien" and bar parolees, deferred action recipients, asylum seekers, temporary protected status holders, and similar statuses from many federal programs.
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- Families: It would raise the base Child Tax Credit to $2,000 and set the maximum refundable portion at $1,700 per child while adding Social Security number and lawful-presence requirements. The Earned Income Tax Credit would require the same citizenship and SSN rules.
- Immigrants and noncitizens: It would disqualify parolees, DACA-eligible deferred action recipients, asylum recipients, TPS holders, persons granted withholding of removal, and the unlawfully present from Medicaid, Medicare enrollment, Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, Head Start, WIC, school meals, FEMA assistance, Community Development Block Grant uses, and many assisted housing programs.
- Schools, housing, and local governments: Jurisdictions labeled as "sanctuary" would face a 50% cut to certain federal education grant allotments with lost funds reallocated to non-sanctuary areas. Federal student financial aid would be limited to U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 1 mixed.
Tighter health coverage for immigrants
If enacted, many noncitizens in listed immigration categories could lose health coverage and subsidies. The bill would bar premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for people with asylum, parole, TPS, deferred action (including DACA), or withholding-of-removal status. It would exclude those same groups from residency-based Medicaid and from enrolling in Medicare. Federally Qualified Health Centers could lose federal Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Public Health Service payments for care given to people who are not lawfully present, except for emergency care.
Housing rules limit immigrant access
If enacted, housing programs and tax rules would tighten around immigration status. The bill would require agencies to confirm every family member's eligibility before giving housing aid. It would make any unit occupied by a disqualified noncitizen ineligible for the low-income housing tax credit. It would also bar some single-family guaranteed loans for units that include listed disqualified aliens and stop agencies from issuing extra eligibility guidance.
Bigger child tax credit but limits
If enacted, the Child Tax Credit base would rise to $2,000 per qualifying child. The refundable portion would be capped at $1,700 per child, with inflation adjustments after 2026. The credit would phase out starting at $400,000 for joint filers and $200,000 for other filers. Returns must report SSNs for you, your spouse, and each child, and some immigration statuses would make a person ineligible.
Head Start immigration eligibility limits
If enacted, Head Start eligibility would be limited by immigration status. A child would be eligible only if a U.S. citizen or an admitted refugee. A child would be ineligible if any parent or guardian is unlawfully present or in listed statuses such as parole, TPS, asylum, deferred action (including DACA), or withholding of removal.
Narrower 'qualified alien' rules
If enacted, the bill would narrow who counts as a "qualified alien" for federal public-benefit rules under PRWORA. It would remove some previously covered categories and exclude housing programs from an exemption pathway. This would reduce benefit eligibility for the affected immigrant groups.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Arrington
TX • R
Cosponsors
Roy
TX • R
Sponsored 1/28/2025
Gill (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Brecheen
OK • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Miller (IL)
IL • R
Sponsored 4/28/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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