# 119-s-2502: Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025

119-s-2502, Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2502
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2502
- Congress: 119
- Title: Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-07-29
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Deny U.S. entry to officials responsible for forced repatriation** of Uyghurs or other people likely to face persecution if returned to the People's Republic of China. The bill would also require referral to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control to consider blocking their property and financial transactions in the United States. - Uyghur and other at-risk communities: Seeks to deter forced returns by targeting officials who order or carry out deportations to China. - Targeted officials: Current or former government officials found responsible or complicit would be barred from U.S. visas, admission, and immigration benefits, subject to a waiver provision. - U.S. enforcement and Treasury: When the bar is applied a referral must go to OFAC to decide whether to use sanctions to block transfers of property and all financial transactions in the United States.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL), 2025-10-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Visa Ban and Treasury Sanctions for Officials: benefit, low. If enacted, the Secretary of State could not issue visas to certain current or former foreign officials. The ban would apply when the Secretary finds an official forced Uyghurs or others likely to face persecution back to China. The Attorney General and Homeland Security would also be barred from a…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-545: Combating Illicit Xylazine Act
- 119-s-4429: Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026
- 119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-2502 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2502)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5238)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-545: Combating Illicit Xylazine Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-545)
- [119-s-4429: Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4429)
- [119-s-1816: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1816)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2502 (as of 2026-08-11).