S. 4784: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Primarily a defense budget bill, this bill contains several immigration provisions:

Immigration and Visa Provisions

• Sec. 1061. Extension of admission to Guam, Wake Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for certain H-2B nonimmigrants: Extends the statutory exemption allowing temporary H-2B guest workers to be admitted to these specific territories.

• Sec. 1080. Records preservation processes for certain at-risk Afghan allies: Directs the Department of Defense to establish a secure online portal within 180 days to document and preserve biometric and service records for Afghan nationals located outside the United States who served alongside U.S. forces.

• Sec. 1088. Prohibition on use of funds for transfer of individuals located at Camp As Sayliyah: Bars the Pentagon from using authorized funds to transfer Afghan evacuees housed at Camp As Sayliyah to Afghanistan or to any third country where they could face refoulement.

Border Security Provisions

• Sec. 1036. Designation of southwest land border activities, support, and operations as named operation: Formally categorizes military support activities at the border as a named operation.

• Sec. 1043. Extension of briefing requirement regarding civil authorities at the Southwest border: Continues to require congressional briefings on military support provided to civil authorities operating at the border.

• Sec. 1045. Quarterly reports on unmanned aerial system incursions over military installations, sensitive sites, and the southern border: Mandates quarterly reporting on drone incursions.

• Sec. 1092. Plan for domain awareness at the southern land border: Requires a strategic plan to monitor and maintain awareness of the operational environment along the land border.

• Sec. 1263. Report on capabilities and illicit activities of cartels: Requires an assessment of cartel operations and threats.

• Sec. 1267. Continuation of Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel: Ensures the ongoing operation of the task force dedicated to countering cartel activities.