This bill changes how the U.S. handles people who arrive at the southern border and apply for permission to enter the country. Right now, the government can choose to either keep these people in detention while their case is being reviewed, or send them back to the country they came from. This bill would remove that choice and require the government to send them back to the bordering country (like Mexico) while their application is being processed. The key requirement is that the person must not be clearly and obviously entitled to enter the U.S. In other words, if someone arrives at the border and their case for admission isn't obviously strong, they would be returned to wait for their decision rather than being held in the U.S. This applies specifically to people who arrived by land at the U.S. border with a neighboring country. The change essentially makes what is currently optional into a mandatory requirement for immigration officials.

Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2025

Blackburn, Marsha

Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to remove certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) from the United States while such an individual's application for admission is pending.Specifically, if such an individual arrived by land from a foreign country bordering the United States and the individual is not clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to admission into the United States, DOJ must return that individual to that bordering foreign country while the individual's application for admission is pending. (Currently, DOJ may choose to detain such an individual or return the individual to the bordering foreign country while the application for admission is pending.)