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HR 3504 117th Congress House

Protect Americans from Foreign Criminals Act of 2021

Official title: To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct criminal history background checks on aliens who unlawfully entered the United States prior to releasi… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct criminal history background checks on aliens who unlawfully entered the United States prior to releasing such aliens from custody, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 1, 2021 See on congress.gov
Immigration
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
May 25, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 25, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 1, 2022

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protect Americans from Foreign Criminals Act of 2021

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct background checks before releasing from custody an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States.

Specifically, before releasing such an individual from detention while removal proceedings are pending, DHS must conduct a background check using criminal history databases covering the United States, the individual's country of origin, and any country that the individual transited through. DHS may not release the individual if the individual is (1) facing charges for (or convicted of) an aggravated felony, (2) a member of a criminal street gang, or (3) subject to mandatory detention on various crime- or security-related grounds.

Furthermore, DHS must review and determine whether the criminal history databases of countries around the world meet standards for accessibility, accuracy, and other factors.

DHS may not release a detained individual if a background check for that individual is required from a country with databases that fail to meet the relevant standards.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Republican 5
R
Fulcher, Russ
Idaho · Jun 21, 2021
Brooks, Mo
· Jun 8, 2021
 R
Babin, Brian
Texas · Jun 1, 2021
Keller, Fred
· May 28, 2021
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · May 25, 2021
Good, Bob
· May 25, 2021
 R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · May 25, 2021
 R
Weber, Randy K. Sr.
Texas · May 25, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3504: Protect Americans from Foreign Criminals Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-3504/
MLA
"H.R. 3504: Protect Americans from Foreign Criminals Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-3504/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3504, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-3504/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3504: Protect Americans from Foreign Criminals Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-3504/)
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