America First Act
America First Act
Plain Language Summary
# America First Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do** The America First Act would restrict federal benefits and assistance programs for certain non-U.S. immigrants and make changes to the child tax credit. Specifically, it would prohibit asylees, parolees, and people whose deportation has been withheld from receiving benefits like Medicaid, food assistance (SNAP), welfare payments (TANF), and disability payments (SSI).
The bill would also limit these groups' access to Medicare, disaster relief, housing assistance, student aid, and other federal programs based on immigration status. Additionally, the bill would make permanent an increase to the child tax credit that is currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects immigrants in certain legal categories—specifically asylees, parolees, and those granted "withholding of removal" status—by reducing their access to federal safety-net programs. It would also impact eligible families who claim the child tax credit, since the bill would make the expanded credit permanent rather than letting it expire. **Current Status** The bill is currently in committee consideration in the House of Representatives and has not yet been voted on by the full chamber.
CRS Official Summary
America First ActThis bill limits the eligibility of certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) for various federal benefits and grants, makes permanent the child tax credit increase, and requires individuals to provide evidence of satisfactory immigration status prior to receiving specified benefits.The bill prohibits asylees, parolees, and individuals withheld from removal from receiving certain federal benefits, including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), and Supplemental Security Income. The bill further restricts on the basis of immigration status benefits under federal health programs such as Medicare, emergency disaster relief, housing assistance, food assistance, early childhood assistance, student aid, and Community Development Block Grants.The bill also makes permanent the increase in the child tax credit set to expire at the end of 2025. In addition, this tax credit and the earned income tax credit are not available to asylees, parolees, individuals granted temporary protected status, individuals withheld from removal, individuals granted deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status, and non-U.S. nationals with employment-based immigrant visas.Federal aid is reduced for elementary and secondary education by 50% annually to jurisdictions that do not assist federal immigration enforcement actions (deemed sanctuary jurisdictions under the bill).The bill also removes statutory exemptions for Haitian entrants that allows such entrants to receive various aid.Certain benefits are prohibited, including Medicaid and SNAP, until an applicant’s satisfactory immigration status is proved.The bill prohibits tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organizations from using federal funds to support certain non-U.S. nationals.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.