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119-hr-7708119th Congress

PAPERS Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would ensure the prompt return of personal government-issued documents when someone is released from immigration custody, and narrowly limits when the Department of Homeland Security can keep them. It centers on protecting passports, green cards, work permits, Social Security cards, birth certificates, and similar IDs while imposing clear exceptions and documentation requirements.

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  • Individuals released from custody would get their original covered documents back at release. Covered documents include passports, permanent resident cards, employment authorization documents, birth certificates, driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, and similar government-issued IDs.
  • If a document is retained because it is fraudulent, is contraband or evidence in a pending criminal case, or the person is no longer legally allowed to possess it, the person would receive a written explanation and, unless law blocks it, a certified copy.
  • Agencies would be barred from keeping documents for operational convenience or because of an anticipated future enforcement action and would need internal procedures to record any lawful retention.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Immigration agency must return IDs

If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to return each covered government document when an individual is released from immigration custody. Covered documents would include original passports, green cards, work permits, birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and Social Security cards. DHS would only be allowed to keep a document if it is fraudulent, is contraband or evidence in a pending criminal case, or the person is no longer legally entitled to possess it. If DHS keeps a document for one of those reasons, it would have to give a written explanation and, unless law forbids, a certified copy.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

ME • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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