IAP testifies before Congress, Rep. Roy introduces PAUSE Act

Happy Thanksgiving! All of us at IAP are looking forward to spending some time with family and friends and giving thanks for people like you who support our work!

It was a busy week as Congress attempted to make up for the six weeks lost due to the government shutdown, and there were several highlights on the issue of immigration.

First, the Immigration Accountability Project's Cofounder and Policy Director Rosemary Jenks testified on the merits of E-Verify before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the House Education and Workforce Committee. E-Verify is the free, online system maintained by the Department of Homeland Security that allows employers to confirm the work authorization of their new hires by verifying the validity of the documents they present.

Rosemary discussed how E-Verify can be an effective tool for deterring illegal immigration and ending the exploitation of cheap, illegal labor by international smuggling cartels and unscrupulous employers. She also advocated for its expansion, including a requirement that all U.S. employers use the system.

"With the proliferation of fraudulent documents, E-Verify removes the burden on employers to be document fraud experts so long as the documents submitted by new hires are reasonably valid on their face….In order to become a truly effective deterrent to illegal immigration, E-Verify should be made mandatory for all employers in the United States."

You can watch Rosemary's full opening statement by clicking on the image below.

Rep. Chip Roy introduces the PAUSE Act

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced legislation this week, H.R. 6225, the Pause Admissions Until Security Ensured (PAUSE) Act, that would pause all admissions into the United States, except for tourist visas, terminate the visa lottery, codify and expand President Trump’s H-1B Proclamation, and end Optional Practical Training (OPT) for foreign students. The moratorium would remain in effect until Congress has adopted legislation that, among other things, would:

• Prohibit adjustment of status so that temporary guest workers have to return home when their visas expire;

• End birthright citizenship;

• End chain migration; and

• Bar noncitizens from federal welfare and loan programs.

IAP worked closely with our friend, Rep. Roy, in drafting this legislation. We are grateful to him for having the courage to take on the issue of legal immigration in such a bold way.

The PAUSE Act was introduced with seven cosponsors, including Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Keith Self (R-TX), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Randy Fine (R-FL), and Eli Crane (R-AZ). Rep. Roy and six of the seven cosponsors are ranked inside IAP Action's top 20.

For a full description of the PAUSE Act, see our fact sheet.

Trump Admin. makes news on Entry/Exit and public benefits for illegal aliens

The Treasury Department announced yesterday that it is drafting rules that limit illegal aliens’ access to tax credits that are intended for U.S. citizens.

The rules would address the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Additional Child Tax Credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and the Saver's Match Credit.

The administration also announced a final rule to, finally, fully implement the Biometric Entry/Exit system. The system was created by Congress in 1996, but full implementation has been delayed for nearly 30 years.

The rule goes into effect on Dec. 26, 2025, and would amend existing DHS regulations to authorize Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect facial biometrics from all noncitizens upon entry and exit at airports, land ports, seaports, and other authorized points of departure.

Immigration Articles

Washington Times: Trump says using foreign guest workers is MAGA

Pres. Trump has recently made comments supporting foreign labor, particularly H-1Bs. IAP’s Rosemary Jenks responds.

Department of State: Mass migration poses an existential threat to Western civilization and undermines the stability of key American allies.

This one is a tweet thread instead of an article, but it’s breaking news worth sharing. The State Department has instructed U.S. embassies to report on the human rights implications and public safety impacts of mass migration.

Next Week

Thanksgiving week has nearly arrived, and Capitol Hill has already emptied for the holiday. They’ll be back on December 1st to finish legislative business before Christmas.