This legislation, titled the "Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025," seeks to prevent the entry into the United States of foreign government officials responsible for the forced repatriation of certain individuals to the People's Republic of China. Specifically, it targets officials complicit in the forced return of Uyghur individuals or other aliens who are members of ethnic or religious groups likely to face persecution by the Chinese government. The Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Secretary of Homeland Security are authorized to deny visas, admission, or immigration benefits to such individuals. In addition to denying entry, the bill mandates that the Secretary of State refer these matters to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to consider applying sanctions authorities , potentially blocking property and financial transactions of these officials in the United States. A waiver provision allows the Secretary of State to override the denial of entry if it is deemed in the national interest of the United States or if the circumstances leading to ineligibility have sufficiently changed. The Act requires the Secretary of State to submit regular reports to appropriate congressional committees, detailing officials denied admission and justifications for any waivers granted. These reports are due 90 days after enactment and every 180 days thereafter. This section of the Act is set to terminate five years after its enactment.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Immigration
Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-2502| Senate
| Updated: 7/29/2025
This legislation, titled the "Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025," seeks to prevent the entry into the United States of foreign government officials responsible for the forced repatriation of certain individuals to the People's Republic of China. Specifically, it targets officials complicit in the forced return of Uyghur individuals or other aliens who are members of ethnic or religious groups likely to face persecution by the Chinese government. The Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Secretary of Homeland Security are authorized to deny visas, admission, or immigration benefits to such individuals. In addition to denying entry, the bill mandates that the Secretary of State refer these matters to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to consider applying sanctions authorities , potentially blocking property and financial transactions of these officials in the United States. A waiver provision allows the Secretary of State to override the denial of entry if it is deemed in the national interest of the United States or if the circumstances leading to ineligibility have sufficiently changed. The Act requires the Secretary of State to submit regular reports to appropriate congressional committees, detailing officials denied admission and justifications for any waivers granted. These reports are due 90 days after enactment and every 180 days thereafter. This section of the Act is set to terminate five years after its enactment.