[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4526 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4526
To establish a new ground for inadmissibility for close relatives of
foreign terrorists.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 14, 2026
Mr. Cotton introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a new ground for inadmissibility for close relatives of
foreign terrorists.
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 ``No Safe Haven for Terrorist Families
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States has a sovereign right and duty to
protect its national security by denying safe haven to
individuals whose close family ties to enemies of the United
States create unacceptable risks.
(2) Current inadmissibility provisions related to terrorism
are too narrow and discretionary to systematically evaluate the
inadmissibility of--
(A) family members of designated terrorists;
(B) senior officials of state sponsors of terrorism
and other foreign adversaries; and
(C) sanctioned kleptocrats.
(3) Close family members of active threats often share
access to networks, resources, and influence that can harm the
United States.
(4) Providing visas, lawful permanent residence, or other
immigration benefits to close relatives of individuals referred
to in paragraph (2) undermines our national security and
emboldens our foreign adversaries.
SEC. 3. INADMISSIBILITY AND DEPORTABILITY OF COVERED FAMILY MEMBERS OF
COVERED FOREIGN THREAT ACTORS.
(a) Inadmissibility.--Section 212(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(B), by adding at the end the
following: ``This subparagraph may not be construed to limit
the application of paragraph (11)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(11) Covered family members of covered foreign threat
actors.--
``(A) In general.--Any alien who is a covered
family member of a covered foreign threat actor is
inadmissible.
``(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Covered family member.--The term
`covered family member' means any alien who
is--
``(I) the spouse or former spouse
of a covered foreign threat actor;
``(II) a parent or parent-in-law of
a covered foreign threat actor;
``(III) a child or stepchild of a
covered foreign threat actor (whether
or not such relationship is current);
``(IV) a sibling (including a half-
blood sibling) of a covered foreign
threat actor;
``(V) a grandparent or grandchild
of a covered foreign threat actor; or
``(VI) a niece or nephew of a
covered foreign threat actor.
``(ii) Covered foreign threat actor.--The
term `covered foreign threat actor' means any
individual who--
``(I) is or was designated as a
Specially Designated Global Terrorist
under Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C.
1701 note; relating to blocking
property and prohibiting transactions
with persons who commit, threaten to
commit, or support terrorism) or any
successor authority;
``(II) is or was a senior leader or
official (at the director level or
higher) of a foreign terrorist
organization so designated under
section 219(a);
``(III) is or was a senior official
(at the deputy minister level or
higher, or equivalent) of the
government of--
``(aa) a state sponsor of
terrorism so designated under
section 1754(c) of the Export
Control Reform Act of 2018 (50
U.S.C. 4813(c)) or any
successor provision; or
``(bb) any country that is
a foreign adversary (as defined
in section 8(c) of the Secure
and Trusted Communications
Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C.
1607(c)), including the Islamic
Republic of Iran, the People's
Republic of China, the Russian
Federation, the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea, and
the Republic of Cuba; or
``(IV) is or was sanctioned under
the Global Magnitsky Human Rights
Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et
seq.), the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et
seq.), or any other Federal law for
significant corruption, kleptocracy, or
human rights abuses directly tied to a
hostile foreign government or regime.
``(C) Retroactive application.--This paragraph
shall apply to any alien regardless of when the family
relationship was formed or when the covered foreign
threat actor was so designated.''.
(b) Deportability.--Section 237(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(8) Covered family members of covered foreign threat
actors.--Any alien described in section 212(a)(11)(A) is
deportable.''.
SEC. 4. MANDATORY VISA REVOCATION AND REMOVAL.
(a) Visa Revocation.--Section 221(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)) is amended by adding at the end the
following: ``The Secretary of State shall revoke any visa or other
documentation previously issued to any alien who is inadmissible under
section 212(a)(11) not later than 30 days after such alien's
inadmissibility has been determined.''.
(b) Removal Proceedings.--Any alien within the United States who is
inadmissible under section 212(a)(11) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act, as added by section 3, shall be subject to removal
proceedings in accordance with section 240 of such Act (8 U.S.C.
1229a). The Secretary of Homeland Security shall prioritize the removal
of all such aliens.
(c) No Discretionary Relief.--Aliens who are inadmissible under
section 212(a)(11) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by
section 3, are not eligible for cancellation of removal, adjustment of
status, or any other form of discretionary relief from removal, except
as expressly provided in this Act.
SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION AND REPORTING.
(a) Screening Requirements.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Secretary
of Homeland Security shall implement enhanced screening procedures to
identify covered family relationships using all available intelligence,
law enforcement, and sanctions databases.
(b) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that
includes, with respect to the reporting period--
(1) the number of aliens who were determined to be
inadmissible under section 212(a)(11) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act, as added by section 3;
(2) the number of visas issued to aliens described in
paragraph (1) that were revoked;
(3) the number of removals of aliens described in paragraph
(1) that were carried out; and
(4) a summary of any waivers granted to aliens described in
paragraph (1), including a justification for each such waiver.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall--
(1) take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act;
and
(2) apply to--
(A) all applications for visas, admissions, and
adjustments of status pending on or after such date;
and
(B) all aliens who were previously admitted to the
United States or granted lawful status in the United
States.
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