Ending Catch and Release Act of 2025

The Ending Catch and Release Act of 2025 would change how the Department of Homeland Security handles non-citizens without lawful immigration status. Currently, some asylum seekers are released into the United States while their cases are processed. This bill would prohibit such releases in most cases, instead requiring DHS to detain individuals or return them to neighboring countries while their cases are pending.

The bill would also expand expedited removal, a process that removes individuals from the country without a full hearing or review. It would apply expedited removal to people present in the U.S. without being admitted, with certain exceptions. Additionally, the bill would make it harder for asylum seekers to avoid expedited removal by raising the standard for establishing credible fear of persecution. Instead of the current standard of showing a significant possibility of establishing asylum eligibility, asylum officers would need to find it more likely than not that an individual can establish eligibility.

If enacted, these changes would likely result in longer detention periods for asylum seekers and faster removal proceedings for some immigrants. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.