Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, introduced legislation this week that would halt nearly all immigration to the United States until a series of federal policy changes are enacted.
The proposal, titled the Pausing All Admissions Until Security Ensured (PAUSE) Act, would allow only temporary tourist visas while the freeze is in place.
Roy said the bill responds to what he describes as an overburdened immigration system and a record-high foreign-born population.
According to his office, about 51.9 million U.S. residents were born outside the country, representing more than 15% of the population.
In a statement, Roy said the legislation targets what he sees as both illegal and legal immigration issues.
He criticized the Biden administration’s border and visa policies, arguing that increased admissions have strained public services, undercut job opportunities for young Americans and placed pressure on families facing rising costs.
“The problem isn’t just illegal immigration; it’s also legal immigration,” Roy said. He added that the system “is supposed to benefit Americans” and called for a temporary halt to admissions “until we fundamentally fix our broken system.”
The PAUSE Act would condition the resumption of immigration on several policy changes passed into law, including ending the application of Plyler v. Doe, revising birthright citizenship rules, limiting family-based immigration, and discontinuing programs such as the Diversity Visa.
The bill also proposes barring entry to members of certain foreign organizations and restricting noncitizens from accessing a range of federal means-tested programs.
Other provisions include prohibiting adjustments of status for H-1B visa holders and ending the Optional Practical Training program for foreign graduates.
The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Keith Self, R-Texas; Brandon Gill, R-Texas; Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.; Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.; Eli Crane, R-Ariz.; and Andy Ogles, R-Tenn.
.png)
