In committee
NO BAN Act
This bill prohibits the federal government from discriminating based on religion when issuing visas, admitting travelers, or granting immigration benefits. It places stricter limits on presidential authority to restrict foreign entry, requiring specific evidence of a threat, a set end date, and mandatory reports to Congress to keep any ban in effect. The bill also gives individuals and organizations in the United States the right to file federal lawsuits to challenge unlawful travel restrictions.
People affected—The operative text applies broadly to future visa applicants, noncitizens seeking entry, and U.S. persons or entities affected by travel restrictions, but does not specify a quantifiable population size.
Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published
Reach68provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
What this bill touches.
Levels of legal immigration+45Religious exemptions+45
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Foreign nationals seeking U.S. entry or immigration benefitsGain explicit nondiscrimination protections based on religion across nonimmigrant visas, entry decisions, and immigration benefits, alongside a presumption in favor of family-based and humanitarian waivers if entry restrictions are enacted (Sec. 2, Sec. 3(f)(2)(D)).
- U.S.-based individuals and entities harmed by entry restrictionsGain statutory standing to bring civil lawsuits and class actions in federal district court for declaratory or injunctive relief if harmed by unlawful presidential entry restrictions (Sec. 3(f)(5)).
Who it burdens
- The President and Executive Office of the PresidentFaces strict statutory limits on entry ban authority, requiring specific credible facts, a compelling interest, narrow tailoring, prior congressional consultation, and mandatory 48-hour reporting to avoid automatic termination of the restriction (Sec. 3(f)(1)-(3)).
- Department of State and Department of Homeland SecurityRequired to meet extensive briefing, reporting, and publication mandates within 48 hours and every 30 days during an active restriction, as well as compile detailed retrospective data on past presidential travel bans within 90 days (Sec. 3(f)(3)-(4), Sec. 4).
- Commercial airlinesSubject to potential suspension of entry for their passengers if they fail to adhere to DHS regulations on fraudulent document detection and employee training (Sec. 3(f)(6)).