H.R. 1312: No Asylum for Criminals Act of 2025

This bill, titled the No Asylum for Criminals Act of 2025, aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding the eligibility for asylum for individuals who have been convicted of crimes. Here’s a breakdown of the key provisions:

Ineligibility for Asylum

The bill states that individuals (referred to as aliens) who have been finally convicted of a felony or misdemeanor will be ineligible for asylum in the United States. A final conviction can be for any crime classified as such under the relevant jurisdiction, including federal, state, tribal, or local laws.

Definitions

The bill specifies how certain terms are defined:

• Felony: Any crime classified as a felony under the jurisdiction of conviction or any crime that is punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.
• Misdemeanor: Any crime classified as a misdemeanor under the jurisdiction of conviction or any crime that is not punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.

Exception for Political Offenses

There is a provision that allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate certain political offenses committed outside the U.S. as not being considered crimes that would disqualify an individual from seeking asylum. This exception is limited strictly to political offenses that occurred outside of the United States.

Process for Implementation

The bill’s provisions would require regulatory actions by the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish what qualifies as political offenses exempt from the felony or misdemeanor definitions that would otherwise prevent asylum eligibility.

Overall Impact

The overarching intent of the bill is to tighten the asylum process by prohibiting individuals with certain criminal convictions from obtaining asylum status, thereby potentially reducing the number of individuals eligible for such protections in the future.

Relevant Companies

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