# 119-s-3318: American Citizens First Act

119-s-3318, American Citizens First Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-AR); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-05).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3318
- As of: 2026-06-05
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3318
- Congress: 119
- Title: American Citizens First Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-12-03
- Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-AR)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-06-05

## Summary

**Would bar noncitizens from most federal public benefits.** The bill also expands fast-track removals, adds denaturalization for certain violent or subversive acts, and creates new reviews and automatic terminations tied to security and crime data. - Families and noncitizens: Would deny noncitizens access to federal public benefits as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1611(c). That list includes welfare or needs-based cash aid, Medicaid except for emergency care, SNAP food assistance, federal housing help, federal student aid, and the refundable portion of federal tax credits. - Naturalized citizens: Would allow denaturalization and expedited removal for naturalized citizens who, after naturalization, are convicted of or credibly found by the Department of Homeland Security to have joined riots, violent protests, property destruction, or acts meant to overthrow or disrupt the constitutional order. - Immigration enforcement and program changes: Would broaden expedited removal to apply regardless of how long someone has been present and narrow discretionary exceptions to credible fear claims that pass review. It would require comprehensive security re‑checks of Afghan refugees, parolees, and special immigrant visa holders admitted from January 20, 2021 onward, suspend Afghan refugee and special immigrant visa processing and resettlement funds until DHS certifies completion, and create automatic termination rules for Temporary Protected Status when DHS finds conditions no longer warrant it or when a designated nationality’s crime rate exceeds the national average by 20 percent, with DHS required to calculate and report these rates every 180 days and apply the rule retroactively to recent designations including Afghanistan, Haiti, Venezuela, and Somalia.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Bar most federal benefits for noncitizens: cost, high. If enacted, the bill would bar people who are not U.S. citizens or nationals from most federal public benefits. That includes welfare cash help, SNAP (food stamps), federal housing aid, federal student aid, and the refundable part of tax credits. Medicaid would be cut except for emergency medical s…
- Automatic end of TPS for some nationals: cost, high. If enacted, the bill would automatically end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of a designated country in two cases. First, if the Secretary finds country conditions no longer warrant TPS. Second, if a semiannual DHS report shows the crime rate among those nationals is at least 20% hig…
- Denaturalization for violent acts: cost, high. If enacted, a naturalized U.S. citizen who, after naturalization, is convicted of or credibly found to have taken part in a riot, violent unlawful protest, property destruction, or acts to overthrow the government could lose citizenship and face removal. The bill would allow denaturalization and re…
- Pause Afghan resettlement and review: cost, high. If enacted, DHS would re-interview and run biometric checks on Afghans admitted as refugees, special immigrant visa holders, or paroled in from January 20, 2021 through enactment. DHS must certify to Congress when the review is complete. While certification is pending, Afghan refugee and SIV proces…
- Broaden expedited removal at the border: cost, medium. If enacted, the bill would let DHS use expedited removal against any person present in the U.S. without admission or parole, no matter how long they have been here. DHS would be required to carry out expedited removal to the fullest extent allowed. DHS could only make exceptions for credible fear o…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2342: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-4615: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
- 119-s-2142: GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-2010: TERMS Act
- 119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-3318 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3318)

## Related
- [119-s-2342: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2342)
- [119-s-4615: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4615)
- [119-s-2142: GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2142)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-2010: TERMS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2010)
- [119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-292)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3318 (as of 2026-06-05).