American Citizens First Act
Sponsored By: Senator Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced
Summary
Cuts noncitizen access to most federal public benefits. The American Citizens First Act would bar noncitizens and nonnationals from six major benefit categories and tighten immigration enforcement, denaturalization, and country-specific security rules.
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- Families and noncitizens: Blocks eligibility for six federal benefits for people who are not citizens or nationals. Targeted categories include welfare cash, Medicaid except emergency care, SNAP, federal housing, federal student aid, and refundable tax credits.
- Naturalized citizens and enforcement: Authorizes denaturalization for people who after naturalization are convicted of or credibly found to have joined riots, violent unlawful protests, or acts to overthrow or disrupt the constitutional order. It also broadens expedited removal to apply to people present without admission regardless of when they entered and limits discretionary exceptions except when credible fear claims are upheld on review.
- Afghan entrants, Temporary Protected Status, and refugee policy: Requires a mandatory security review of Afghan refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders admitted or paroled since January 20, 2021 and pauses Afghan SIV and refugee processing and resettlement funding until certification. Creates automatic termination of Temporary Protected Status when a designated nationality’s crime rate exceeds the national average by at least 20 percent with semiannual checks and retroactive coverage for post‑January 20, 2021 designations including Afghanistan, Haiti, Venezuela, and Somalia.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal benefits barred for noncitizens
If enacted, the bill would bar people who are not U.S. citizens or nationals from any "Federal public benefit." This would include welfare cash aid, Medicaid (except emergency care), SNAP food benefits, federal housing help, federal student aid, and the refundable part of tax credits. The ban would apply notwithstanding any other law. The rule would take effect when the law is enacted.
Automatic end of TPS for nationals
If enacted, the bill would add an automatic termination rule for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS would end when the Secretary finds country conditions no longer warrant designation, or when a report shows that nationals' crime rates are at least 20% above the U.S. average. The Secretary must calculate crime rates within 180 days after enactment and every 180 days after. The rule would apply retroactively to designations made after January 20, 2021, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Venezuela, and Somalia.
Broader expedited removal for noncitizens
If enacted, the bill would expand expedited removal to any noncitizen present in the U.S. without admission or parole, no matter when they entered. The Secretary of Homeland Security would have to carry out expedited removals broadly and deny discretionary exceptions. The only narrow exception would be cases where a credible fear of persecution claim is filed and later upheld after review. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
Denaturalization for violent post-naturalization acts
If enacted, the bill would allow the government to strip citizenship from a naturalized person who, after naturalization, is convicted of or credibly found to have joined a riot, an unlawful violent or destructive protest, or an act to overthrow or disrupt the constitutional order. Denaturalization and removal could be pursued in expedited proceedings and would apply regardless of how much time has passed since naturalization. The change would take effect upon enactment.
Security review and pause for Afghans
If enacted, the bill would require a comprehensive security review of each national of Afghanistan admitted or paroled into the U.S. from January 20, 2021 through the law's enactment. The review must include re-interviews and biometric checks. Afghan refugees and special immigrant visa processing would be suspended until the Secretary certifies the review to Congress. Federal funds for resettlement support for Afghan nationals would be prohibited until that certification is submitted.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
AR • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov