January 3, 2025
Mr. Biggs of Arizona (for himself and Ms. Mace) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to the parole or release of an asylum applicant, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Ending Catch and Release Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Inspection of applicants for admission
Section 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)) is amended by—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
in clause (i)—
(I)
by striking section 212(a)(6)(C)
and inserting section 212(a)(6)(A), 212(a)(6)(C), or
; and
(II)
by striking the period at the end and inserting . The Secretary may not parole or otherwise release the alien into the United States.
; and
(ii)
in clause (ii)—
(I)
by striking section 212(a)(6)(C)
and inserting section 212(a)(6)(A), 212(a)(6)(C), or
; and
(II)
by striking the period at the end and inserting . The Secretary may not parole or otherwise release the alien into the United States.
; and
(B)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
in clause (i), by striking Attorney General
and inserting Secretary
;
(ii)
in clause (ii), by striking the alien shall be detained for further consideration of the application for asylum
and inserting the alien shall either be detained for further consideration of the application for asylum by an immigration judge or if the alien arrived on land from a foreign territory contiguous to the United States, be returned to that territory for further consideration of the application for asylum by an immigration judge. The Secretary may not parole or otherwise release the alien into the United States
;
(iii)
in clause (iii)—
(I)
in subclause (I), by striking the period at the end and adding . The Secretary shall remove the alien within 72 hours. If the alien cannot be removed, the alien shall be detained until removed. The Secretary may not parole or otherwise release the alien into the United States.
;
(II)
in subclause (II), by striking has not
and inserting has or has not
; and
(III)
in subclause (IV), by striking the period at the end and inserting . The Secretary may not parole or otherwise release the alien into the United States.
; and
(iv)
in clause (v), by striking there is a significant possibility, taking into account the credibility of the statements made by the alien in support of the alien's claim and such other facts as are known to the officer, that the alien could establish eligibility for asylum under section 208
and inserting it is more likely than not that the alien will be able to establish eligibility for asylum under section 208
; and
(2)
in paragraph (2)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
by striking and (C)
; and
(ii)
by striking the alien shall be detained for a proceeding under section 240.
and inserting the alien shall be either detained for a proceeding under section 240 or if the alien arrived on land from a foreign territory contiguous to the United States, be returned to that territory pending a proceeding under section 240. The Secretary may not parole or otherwise release the alien into the United States.
; and
(B)
by striking subparagraph (C).