US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US Federal House Bill HB116

Introduced
2/7/25  
Refer
2/7/25  

Caption

Stopping Border Surges Act This bill modifies immigration law provisions relating to unaccompanied alien minors and to asylum seekers.The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to repatriate certain unaccompanied, inadmissible alien children, generally those not at risk of being trafficking victims nor having a fear of persecution. Currently, only inadmissible unaccompanied aliens from neighboring countries are subject to repatriation, and DHS has discretion whether to repatriate.When the Department of Health and Human Services releases an unaccompanied child to an individual, it shall provide DHS with certain information about that individual, including Social Security number and immigration status.The bill requires a stricter standard to find a credible fear of persecution and imposes additional rules on credible fear interviews.If an alien is granted asylum because of fear of persecution in a country, the alien shall be deemed to have renounced asylum status by returning to that country, if there has been no change in the country's conditions.The bill also (1) expands the definition of what constitutes a frivolous asylum application, (2) imposes additional limitations on eligibility for asylum, (3) shortens the deadline for applying for asylum, and (4) extends the time period an alien seeking asylum must wait before receiving employment authorization.Any individual who knowingly and willfully makes materially false statements or uses fraudulent documents in asylum-related proceedings shall be fined or imprisoned up to 10 years, or both.

Impact

If passed, this bill would significantly affect various agricultural programs and funding allocations related to meat production. The legislation specifically targets cell-cultured meat, which is meat that comes from animal cells and is produced in a laboratory setting. By restricting federal assistance and funding in this area, the bill aims to direct support and resources exclusively toward traditional meat sources, thereby potentially influencing market dynamics and consumer perceptions around meat products.

Summary

House Bill 1116, also known as the 'Right to Eat Authentic and Legitimate Meat Act of 2025' or the 'REAL Meat Act of 2025', seeks to prohibit the use of Federal funds for the support of cell-cultured meat production. The intent of the bill is to limit government spending on a category of food products that some lawmakers consider to be less authentic or traditional than conventional meat. It includes a variety of stipulations aimed at preventing the use of these funds for research, support of meatpacking organizations, and advertising of cell-cultured meat products.

Contention

The pushback against HB 1116 is centered around the growing debate on food innovation, sustainability, and consumer choice. Proponents of the bill may argue that it safeguards traditional meat producers and ensures public trust in food safety. However, opponents could contend that the bill stifles innovation in food production methods that could reduce environmental impacts and improve food security. Notably, the bill does offer an exemption for federal funding used by NASA for cell-cultured meat intended for off-planet consumption, which could raise questions about the broader applications and future of cell-cultured food technologies.

Congress_id

119-HR-116

Policy_area

Immigration

Introduced_date

2025-01-03

Companion Bills

US HB61

Related bill Ensuring United Families at the Border ActThis bill addresses the treatment of children who are non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law), including by statutorily establishing that there is no presumption that such a child (other than an unaccompanied child) should not be detained for immigration purposes.Specifically, the bill states that the detention of such minors shall be governed by specified sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act and not any other provision of law, judicial ruling, or settlement agreement.(A 1997 settlement agreement, commonly known as the Flores agreement, imposes requirements relating to the treatment of detained alien minors, including requiring such minors to be released or placed in a nonsecure facility after a certain amount of time in detention.)If an adult enters the United States unlawfully with their child, the Department of Homeland Security must detain the adult and child together if the only criminal charge against the adult is a misdemeanor for unlawful entry.This bill also prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors or families with minors.

Previously Filed As

US HB302

Workforce; regulating staffing and hiring of aliens with temporary or asylum status in the state

US HB190

Sending Evading Non-Documented Threats Home Especially Migrants Biden Accepted Carelessly and Knowingly Act of 2025 or the SEND THEM BACK Act of 2025This bill subjects non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who illegally entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021, to expedited removal (i.e., removal without further hearing or review). This applies even if such an individual indicated an intention to apply for asylum or expressed a fear of persecution. The bill does not apply to an individual serving in the Armed Forces as of January 1, 2025.

US HB698

Asylum Accountability Act This bill permanently bars a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) from receiving certain immigration-related relief if that individual is ordered removed from the United States after failing to appear at a removal proceeding, unless that failure to appear is due to exceptional circumstances. (Currently, this bar from relief is for 10 years.) Under this bill, such an individual shall be permanently barred from receiving discretionary relief under specified immigration provisions, such as (1) cancellation of removal and adjustment to lawful permanent resident status, (2) being allowed to voluntarily depart from the United States, or (3) being allowed to change from one nonimmigrant classification to another.

US S07564

Establishes a coordinator for asylum seeker services to oversee the integration of services and benefits available to asylum seekers.

US SB1152

immigration verification; public benefits; asylum

US A02243

Establishes a coordinator for asylum seeker services to oversee the integration of services and benefits available to asylum seekers.

US SB53

Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension Act or the PRINTS ActThis bill addresses migrant minor children entering the United States. Specifically, the bill makes it a crime for a person to knowingly use a minor to gain entry to the United States if the minor is not a close relative or if the person is not the minor’s guardian. In addition, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must fingerprint all non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) entering the United States who are younger than 14 years of age if a CBP officer suspects that the child is victim of human trafficking.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must share with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) any fingerprints collected under this bill from an unaccompanied child if that child is transferred to HHS custody.DHS must report to Congress on the number of children fingerprinted annually under this bill. DHS must also publish on a monthly basis the number of individuals apprehended for falsely claiming a child accompanying them into the United States was a close relative.  

US HB175

Deport Alien Gang Members ActThis bill makes non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) associated with criminal gangs inadmissible for entry into the United States and deportable. The bill also establishes procedures to designate groups as criminal gangs.An individual shall be inadmissible if certain officers or agencies know or have reason to believe that the individual is or was a criminal gang member or has participated or aided such a group's illegal activities. An individual who is or was a member of such a gang, has participated or aided such a group's illegal activities, or seeks to enter or has entered the United States in furtherance of such activity shall be deportable.Such individuals must be subject to mandatory detention. Furthermore, such individuals shall not be eligible for (1) asylum; (2) temporary protected status; (3) special immigrant juvenile visas; or (4) parole, unless they are assisting the government in a law enforcement matter.The bill defines a criminal gang as a group of five or more persons (1) where one of its primary purposes is committing specified criminal offenses and its members have engaged in a continuing series of such offenses within the past five years, or (2) that has been designated as a criminal gang by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).The bill also establishes procedures for DHS to designate a group as a criminal gang, including notifying Congress, publishing a notice in the Federal Register, and providing an opportunity for the group to petition for review of the designation.

US HB61

Ensuring United Families at the Border ActThis bill addresses the treatment of children who are non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law), including by statutorily establishing that there is no presumption that such a child (other than an unaccompanied child) should not be detained for immigration purposes.Specifically, the bill states that the detention of such minors shall be governed by specified sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act and not any other provision of law, judicial ruling, or settlement agreement.(A 1997 settlement agreement, commonly known as the Flores agreement, imposes requirements relating to the treatment of detained alien minors, including requiring such minors to be released or placed in a nonsecure facility after a certain amount of time in detention.)If an adult enters the United States unlawfully with their child, the Department of Homeland Security must detain the adult and child together if the only criminal charge against the adult is a misdemeanor for unlawful entry.This bill also prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors or families with minors.

US HB1312

No Asylum for Criminals Act of 2025

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.