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This bill would change the rules for seeking asylum in the United States. It says that people can apply for asylum only when they arrive at an official port of entry, such as a border crossing or airport. It would also block people who apply there from being released into the United States while their case is pending. In addition, the bill would make clear that people who are caught inside the country after entering without permission, or after overstaying a legal visit, cannot use this asylum process.
- Asylum applications would be limited to official ports of entry only.
- People applying at a port of entry could not be paroled or released into the United States while waiting for a decision.
- People who are found inside the United States after entering without inspection, or after staying past their allowed time, would not qualify under this rule.
- The bill also makes a technical change by updating some references from the Attorney General to the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as needed.
Official Summaries
Refugees Using Legal Entry Safely Act or RULES Act
This bill requires non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) applying for asylum to arrive and apply at a U.S. port of entry. Applicants are prohibited from being paroled into the U.S. pending approval of such application. Further, individuals apprehended in the U.S. without legal immigration status are ineligible for asylum. Applicants rejected for asylum are barred from applying for asylum in the future. Under current law, an applicant may reapply in changed or extraordinary circumstances.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 200 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 200
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the eligibility
requirements for asylum.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 23, 2025
Mr. Moreno introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the eligibility
requirements for asylum.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Refugees Using Legal Entry Safely
Act'' or ``RULES Act''.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF ASYLUM ELIGIBILITY.
Section 208(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1158(a)) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) Application at ports of entry.--
``(A) In general.--Any alien who arrives at a port
of entry of the United States, irrespective of such
alien's status, may, only at such a port of entry,
apply for asylum in accordance with this section or, as
applicable, section 235(b).
``(B) Prohibition on parole or release into the
united states.--Notwithstanding section 236(a)(2), an
alien applying for asylum at a port of entry may not be
paroled or released into the United States.'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (B)
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``Subject to
subparagraph (D), paragraph'' and inserting
``Paragraph'';
(C) by striking subparagraph (D);
(D) in subparagraph (E), by striking
``Subparagraphs (A) and (B)'' and inserting
``Subparagraph (A)'';
(E) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (E) as
subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
(F) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Effect of apprehension in the united
states.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any alien who
is apprehended by or referred to the Secretary of
Homeland Security as an alien who has entered the
United States without inspection and admission or who
has remained in the United States beyond the alien's
period of authorized stay.''; and
(3) by striking ``Attorney General'' each place it appears
and inserting ``Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland
Security, as applicable,''.
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