# 117-hr-3504: Protect Americans from Foreign Criminals Act of 2021

117-hr-3504, Protect Americans from Foreign Criminals Act of 2021, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Herrell, Yvette [R-NM-2] (R-NM); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3504
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-3504
- Congress: 117
- Title: Protect Americans from Foreign Criminals Act of 2021
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
- Introduced: 2021-05-25
- Sponsor: Rep. Herrell, Yvette [R-NM-2] (R-NM)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Protect Americans from Foreign Criminals Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct background checks before releasing from custody an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States. Specifically, before releasing such an individual from detention while removal proceedings are pending, DHS must conduct a background check using criminal history databases covering the United States, the individual's country of origin, and any country that the individual transited through. DHS may not release the individual if the individual is (1) facing charges for (or convicted of) an aggravated felony, (2) a member of a criminal street gang, or (3) subject to mandatory detention on various crime- or security-related grounds. Furthermore, DHS must review and determine whether the criminal history databases of countries around the world meet standards for accessibility, accuracy, and other factors. DHS may not release a detained individual if a background check for that individual is required from a country with databases that fail to meet the relevant standards.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Rep. Good, Bob [R-VA-5] (R-VA), 2021-05-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9] (R-AZ), 2021-05-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14] (R-TX), 2021-05-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4] (R-AL), 2021-05-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Keller, Fred [R-PA-12] (R-PA), 2021-05-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36] (R-TX), 2021-06-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brooks, Mo [R-AL-5] (R-AL), 2021-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (R-ID), 2021-06-21T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hjres-65: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "COVID-19…
- 117-hres-548: Denouncing the horrors of socialism.
- 117-hr-2718: Maximum Pressure Act
- 117-hres-118: Expressing support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Republic of Iran and condemning violations of human rights and sta…
- 117-hr-1011: Life at Conception Act
- 117-hr-18: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2021

## Sources
- [117-hr-3504 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3504)

## Related
- [117-hjres-65: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United Stat…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hjres-65)
- [117-hres-548: Denouncing the horrors of socialism.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hres-548)
- [117-hr-2718: Maximum Pressure Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-2718)
- [117-hres-118: Expressing support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, a…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hres-118)
- [117-hr-1011: Life at Conception Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1011)
- [117-hr-18: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-18)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3504 (as of 2025-11-18).