Detention Authority Clarification Act

Ted Budd

Republican · NC · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• John Cornyn (R-TX)Original· 2026-05-20
• Lindsey Graham (R-SC)Original· 2026-05-20
• Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)Original· 2026-05-20
• Tim Scott (R-SC)Original· 2026-05-20

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-05-20

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would require the government to automatically detain people who are physically in the United States but haven't been officially admitted through immigration processes, removing the current ability of immigration officials to release them while their cases are being reviewed. The policy would affect undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, and others in the immigration system who are waiting for their legal status to be determined. Currently, officials can decide case-by-case whether detention is necessary, but this bill would make detention mandatory for this group.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4593 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4593 To amend title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require mandatory detention of aliens who are physically present in the United States, but have not been admitted to the United States. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 20, 2026 Mr. Budd (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Graham, and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require mandatory detention of aliens who are physically present in the United States, but have not been admitted to the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Detention Authority Clarification Act''. SEC. 2. INSPECTION AND DETENTION OF CERTAIN ALIENS. (a) Inspection.--Section 235(b)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``an alien seeking admission'' and inserting ``the applicant for admission''. (b) Mandatory Detention.--Section 236(c)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(c)(1)) is amended-- (1) in each of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), by striking the comma at the end and inserting a semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``, or'' at the end and inserting a semicolon; (3) in subparagraph (E)(ii), by striking the comma at the end and inserting ``; or''; and (4) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following: ``(F) is an applicant for admission described in section 235(a)(1),''. <all>

• S2666Foreign Robocall Elimination Act
  Reported by Committee · 2026-06-01
• S4627A bill to increase access to artificial intelligence through programs of the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-21
• SRES713A resolution supporting the United States dollar as the reserve currency of the world and combating the economic influence of the People's Republic of China.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-04-30
• S4374Airpower Acceleration Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-04-22