Bill · S. 149· Senate(119-S-149)
Public Safety First Act
- Introduced
- 1/17/2025
- Last activity
- 1/17/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- John Cornyn
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Public Safety First Act aims to change how certain aliens are handled by the Secretary of Homeland Security. This bill would require the Secretary to take aliens into custody if they have been charged with, arrested for, or convicted of specific crimes. These crimes include burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, or assaulting a law enforcement officer. It also covers crimes that result in death or serious bodily injury to another person. The bill mandates that the Secretary issue a detainer for these individuals.
Yes
Does this tighten control of the border?+5
The bill increases enforcement by requiring the Secretary to take into custody aliens charged with specific crimes.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Would immigrants be better off under this?-8
The bill expands the criteria for mandatory detention to include individuals who have only been charged or arrested.
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?-7
The bill mandates the expedited custody of aliens, a group that includes a high proportion of Hispanic Americans.
Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens?-6
The bill increases detention requirements for aliens based on arrests or charges, which can hinder legal status pathways.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Custody of Individuals Charged with Crimes: Under Section 2, the bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue a detiner and "effectively and expeditiously take custody" of aliens charged with or convicted of crimes like theft or assault. This could be seen as a measure to ensure specific individuals are held accountable.
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Clear Definitions for Crimes: Section 2, paragraph (2) establishes that terms like 'burglary', 'theft', and 'serious bodily injury' will use the meanings provided by the specific jurisdiction where the acts occurred. This provides a local standard for what constitutes these offenses.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Mandatory Detention for Charged Individuals: Section 2, paragraph (1)(E) expands the criteria for detention to include those who are merely "charged with" or "arrested for" certain offenses. This means individuals could be taken into custody before a conviction is reached.
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Expanded Scope of Crimes: The bill includes a wide range of offenses, such as "shoplifting" or any crime resulting in "serious bodily injury," which are now triggers for the Secretary to take an alien into custody under Section 2.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Immigrants-8Good For Hispanic Americans-7Good For Low Income Households-3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Border Security+5Improves Pathway To Citizenship-6
- 1/17/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.