Public Safety First Act

The Public Safety First Act would require the Department of Homeland Security to detain certain non-U.S. citizens who are arrested for property crimes. Specifically, the bill targets individuals who are either unlawfully present in the United States or lacked proper documentation when seeking admission, and who have been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admitted to committing burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.

If enacted, this bill would expand DHS detention authority for non-citizens involved in these specific property crimes. The practical effect would be that individuals matching these criteria could face mandatory detention while their immigration and criminal cases proceed. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been introduced in the Senate in January 2025 and referred to committee for consideration.