News

Foreign nationals who have their visa revoked on security-related grounds should be immediately removed from the United States. However, current law allows these foreign nationals to remain in our country at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) discretion. 

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and colleagues introduced the Mandatory Removal Proceedings Act to mandate that DHS initiate removal proceedings for any foreign national whose visa is revoked on security-related grounds.

• “Supporting terrorism disqualifies individuals from having a visa, and we should not allow these individuals to remain in our country based on the whims of this administration. The Mandatory Removal Proceedings Act stands as a decisive measure, ensuring that when a visa is revoked on security grounds, that individual is automatically placed in removal proceedings.”  – Senator Rubio

Rubio was joined in his efforts by Senators J.D. Vance (R-OH), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Ted Cruz (R-TX). 

• “National security demands decisive action. Unfortunately, we’re not getting that from this administration. The Mandatory Removal Proceedings Act draws a clear line: If Secretary Mayorkas won’t act, Congress will. Those aligning with terrorist ideologies forfeit their right to be in the U.S. This is about protecting our nation, plain and simple.” – Senator Lee
• “It is clear that hundreds of thousands of individuals are overstaying visas with impunity, and the Biden administration would rather play politics with immigration and border enforcement than keep Americans safe. I am proud to support legislation that addresses this ongoing problem by mandating that DHS initiate removal proceedings after revoking the visa of an otherwise deportable or inadmissible alien.” – Senator Cruz

U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the House. 

• “I am pleased to lead Senator Marco Rubio’s Mandatory Removal Proceedings Act in the House of Representatives, and I applaud his efforts to tackle this matter in the United States Senate.  At a time when Biden’s Border Crisis is crippling the American people, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to solving this crisis, and the Mandatory Removal Proceedings Act is a significant step in that direction. I am proud to lead this effort in the House and urge my colleagues to join me in holding the Biden Administration and DHS accountable to the American people.” – Congressman Hunt

Flashback … Following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Senator Rubio pushed to include a provision in the national defense bill to revoke visas and initiate deportation proceedings for any foreign national who has endorsed or espoused the terrorist activities of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or any other foreign terrorist organization.