February 13, 2025
Mr. Harris of North Carolina (for himself, Ms. Mace, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Stutzman, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Self, Mr. Biggs of Arizona, and Mr. Ogles) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that an alien who has been convicted of a crime is ineligible for asylum, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the No Asylum for Criminals Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Aliens convicted of crimes ineligible for asylum
Clause (ii) of section 208(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158) is amended—
(1)
by amending clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
(ii)
except as provided in subparagraph (B), the alien has been finally convicted of a felony or misdemeanor; ;
(2)
by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
(B) Exception
The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate by regulation political offenses committed outside the United States that will be not considered to be a crime described in clause (ii). The authority under this subparagraph is limited to political offenses committed outside the United States. ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(E) Definitions
In this paragraph:
(i)
The term
felonymeans—(I)
any crime defined as a felony by the relevant jurisdiction (Federal, State, tribal, or local) of conviction; or
(II)
any crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.
(ii)
The term
misdemeanormeans—(I)
any crime defined as a misdemeanor by the relevant jurisdiction (Federal, State, tribal, or local) of conviction; or
(II)
any crime not punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.