# 119-hr-7708: PAPERS Act of 2026

119-hr-7708, PAPERS Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7708
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-7708
- Congress: 119
- Title: PAPERS Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-02-25
- Sponsor: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## 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. - 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.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Immigration agency must return IDs: benefit, low. 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…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3077: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-7708 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7708)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-3077: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3077)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7708 (as of 2026-04-21).