H.R. 9479: Remigration Act

This bill would make a number of changes to U.S. immigration and citizenship law, mainly expanding the grounds on which people can lose citizenship or immigration status and creating new review and removal procedures.

Citizenship revocation

The bill would add new reasons for the federal government to take away naturalized citizenship if, within 10 years after naturalization, the person:

• is convicted of fraud involving a government program or benefits,
• knowingly joins or supports a designated foreign terrorist organization,
• is convicted of an aggravated felony, or
• is convicted of certain offenses under federal criminal law chapters dealing with firearms, fraud, terrorism, or related crimes.

If citizenship is revoked, the person would be treated as being in the country without lawful status and would be removable from the United States.

Children born in the United States

The bill would narrow the definition of who is considered born “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States for citizenship purposes. Under the bill, a child born in the U.S. would generally qualify only if at least one parent is:

• a U.S. citizen or national,
• a lawful permanent resident living in the U.S., or
• a noncitizen with lawful status serving on active duty in the armed forces.

The bill also says a person cannot be denied citizenship if that would make them stateless under federal law or U.S. international obligations.

Review of asylum and refugee cases

The bill would create a Department of Homeland Security task force to review asylum grants, refugee admissions, and certain status adjustments made between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025. The task force would examine whether those decisions were supported by evidence, complied with the law at the time, and remain valid based on changed country conditions or other relevant information.

If a review finds a person was not eligible, DHS could terminate asylum or refugee status, or revoke a status adjustment. Before doing so, DHS would have to give written notice and an opportunity to respond. People whose status is terminated or revoked could be placed in removal proceedings.

Immigration status for certain nationals and benefit recipients

The bill would allow the government to revoke visas, lawful permanent residence, or other immigration benefits for nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen who entered the United States during the 10 years before enactment.

It would also revoke lawful permanent resident status for any person who received means-tested public benefits during the 5 years before enactment, making that person deportable.

Nonimmigrant visas and criminal convictions

For people in temporary nonimmigrant status, the bill would end that status automatically if they are convicted of a “serious criminal offense.” The bill defines that term broadly to include felonies, some misdemeanors with potential or imposed jail time above certain thresholds, and certain offenses already listed in immigration law. It would also require revocation of the person’s nonimmigrant visa and make them removable, with some cases eligible for expedited removal.

Deportability for anti-American statements or affiliations

The bill would make a noncitizen deportable if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the person publicly espouses an anti-American belief or affiliation that threatens national security or public safety.

English-language requirement for naturalization

It would change the naturalization English requirement so applicants must demonstrate “functional English literacy,” including reading, writing, speaking, and understanding ordinary English, through a standardized assessment created by DHS. DHS would have to issue regulations setting the test and passing standards within 180 days.

Repatriation of denaturalized people and children

The bill would require people who are denaturalized to leave the United States together with their children, including U.S.-born children, unless the other parent is a U.S. citizen who chooses to keep custody in the United States. It says family separation would not be allowed during removal proceedings except as provided in the bill.

How denaturalization would be handled

Instead of going through federal court in all cases, the bill would allow USCIS to handle denaturalization administratively for certain grounds. It would require procedures for notice, a hearing before an immigration officer, and an appeal to USCIS’s Administrative Appeals Office. Judicial review would be limited to the federal appeals court for the person’s home circuit.

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