Adds a broad definition of 'criminal gang' and makes current or past membership or knowing participation in such a gang a new ground of inadmissibility and deportability for aliens, plus bars them from asylum, TPS, special immigrant juvenile visas, and most parole, so more aliens are subject to U.S.
Any alien is inadmissible who a consular officer, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney General knows or has reason to believe-- (i) to be or to have been a member of a criminal gang (as defined in section 101(a)(53)); or (ii) to have participated in the activities of a criminal gang (as defined in section 101(a)(53)), knowing or having reason to know that such activities will promote, further, aid, or support the illegal activity of the criminal gang.
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Immigration enforcementstate federal cooperationAI label
Requires mandatory detention of aliens inadmissible or deportable for gang membership or participation and expands the Secretary of Homeland Security's authority to designate groups as criminal gangs (with limited judicial review), so more immigration enforcement against suspected gang members.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, may designate a group, club, organization, or association of 5 or more persons as a criminal gang if the Secretary finds that their conduct is described in section 101(a)(53).
Amends the law to require mandatory detention of aliens who are inadmissible under the new gang provision or deportable under the new gang provision, so more such aliens are detained by immigration authorities.
is inadmissible under section 212(a)(2)(J) or deportable under section 217(a)(2)(G),
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Introduced (completed)
Committee
Passed one chamber
Passed both
President
Law
Stage: Committee · step 2 of 6
Last action
2025-02-06: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Why the model tagged it this way: The bill solely addresses immigration enforcement by expanding grounds for inadmissibility, deportability, mandatory detention, and ineligibility for various immigration benefits based on criminal gang membership or participation, plus creating a formal designation process for criminal gangs by the Secretary of Homeland Security. No provisions address firearms, transgender issues, or abortion.