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 for certain non-citizens and make changes to the child tax credit. Specifically, it would prohibit asylees (people granted asylum), parolees, and individuals in removal proceedings from receiving benefits like Medicaid, food assistance (SNAP), and cash assistance. The bill would also restrict access to other federal programs including Medicare, disaster relief, housing assistance, student aid, and childcare support based on immigration status. Additionally, the bill would make permanent the increased child tax credit that is currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. **Who It Affects** This bill primarily affects non-citizens in specific immigration categories seeking federal benefits, as well as families benefiting from the expanded child tax credit.
It would also impact state and local agencies that administer these federal programs, which would need to verify immigration status before providing benefits. **Current Status** The bill (S. 62) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. No further action has occurred at this time.
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
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.