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HR1050119th Congress

Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act

Sponsored By: Representative Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

Introduced

Summary

A new criminal gang framework would let the Department of Homeland Security, with the Attorney General, designate groups as criminal gangs and then block immigration benefits and expand detention for people tied to those groups. It would add new inadmissibility and deportability grounds linked to gang membership or participation.

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  • People tied to designated gangs: Groups of five or more could be labeled as gangs. Aliens known or believed to be members or who knowingly join in gang activity would be inadmissible and deportable and could be barred from asylum, temporary protected status (TPS), Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status, and parole except in narrow law enforcement-assistance cases.
  • Department operations and detention: The bill would create a formal designation process that can use classified information, set administrative petition timelines including a two-year window to seek revocation, and require DHS to detain covered aliens and report detention numbers annually starting one year after enactment.
  • Oversight and review: Congress could revoke a designation by statute and courts would have limited judicial review with constrained public disclosure of classified evidence.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 1 mixed.

Detention and parole limits for gang ties

If enacted, DHS would have to detain noncitizens covered by the new gang inadmissibility or deportability rules. Parole would generally be blocked for this group. Parole could be granted only if you assist U.S. law enforcement and the government needs you in the United States for that help. DHS would report each year on how many people it detains under these rules. The first report would be due by March 1 of the year that begins one year after enactment, and then every March 1.

New immigration bars for gang ties

If enacted, the bill would define what counts as a “criminal gang” and tie new immigration rules to that definition. You could be denied a visa or entry, or removed, if U.S. officials know or have reason to believe you were a member, or you took part in gang activities knowing they support crimes. The entry bar would apply abroad. The removal rule would apply inside the United States.

No asylum, TPS, or SIJ for gang ties

If you are, or at any time have been, covered by the new gang rules, you would be ineligible for asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile status, and Temporary Protected Status. TPS authority would move from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security. DHS could detain a person with TPS when other law allows it.

Removal protections narrowed for gang ties

This bill would add the new gang descriptions to the rule that limits removal to certain countries. This could change how those country limits apply in some cases. It would change the statute text used in removal decisions.

How DHS would list criminal gangs

DHS, with the Attorney General, could name groups of five or more people as criminal gangs. DHS would give classified notice to key congressional leaders seven days before naming a group and publish the decision seven days later. Designations would last until revoked or set aside. A group could petition for revocation after two years, and DHS would have 180 days to decide. If no review happens within five years, DHS would review on its own. Courts could review in the D.C. Circuit within 30 days.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/6/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Riley M. [R-WV-2]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 2/6/2025

  • Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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