The End Unaccountable Amnesty Act reforms immigration policy by restricting executive authority over Temporary Protected Status and parole, tightening eligibility for unaccompanied children, repealing cancellation of removal, and prohibiting the use of certain government documents for air travel.
Troy Nehls
Representative
TX-22
The **End Unaccountable Amnesty Act** seeks to restrict executive authority over immigration by shifting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and parole designations to congressional oversight. The bill also tightens eligibility for unaccompanied minors, repeals "cancellation of removal" as a form of immigration relief, and prohibits the use of certain DHS-issued documents for air travel. Additionally, it imposes strict annual caps on parole grants and mandates the removal of sponsors who are unlawfully present in the United States.
End Unaccountable Amnesty Act Mandates Congressional Approval for TPS and Caps Humanitarian Parole at 1,000 People Annually.
The End Unaccountable Amnesty Act fundamentally reshapes how the U.S. handles temporary residents and humanitarian cases by shifting power from federal agencies to Congress. Under this bill, the Secretary of Homeland Security can no longer designate a country for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on their own; instead, it would require an act of Congress to grant or extend these protections. Additionally, the bill sets a hard cap on 'parole'—a tool often used to let people enter the country for urgent reasons—limiting it to just 1,000 individuals per year and restricting its use to very specific medical or legal emergencies (Section 6).
The End of Executive Discretion
For years, the executive branch has had the authority to allow people from war-torn or disaster-stricken countries to stay in the U.S. temporarily. This bill changes the game by requiring a new law for every TPS designation, which must include a 12-month expiration date and a specific headcount of who is eligible (Section 2). For a family already living here under TPS, this means their legal status would depend on a yearly vote in Congress rather than administrative review. Furthermore, the bill completely eliminates 'cancellation of removal' (Section 4), a long-standing legal path that allowed some non-citizens to ask a judge to stop their deportation based on deep ties to the U.S., such as having American children or a clean record.
New Rules for Kids and Sponsors
The bill also speeds up the timeline for unaccompanied children arriving at the border, requiring a court hearing within 14 days of screening (Section 3). While faster hearings might sound efficient, the bill also changes the requirement for these children from having a lawyer appointed to simply having the 'opportunity' to find one, which could leave many kids navigating a complex legal system alone. There’s also a significant shift for those who step up to care for these children: the government would be required to share a sponsor’s personal info, like their Social Security number and immigration status, with enforcement agencies. If a sponsor is found to be in the country illegally, the bill mandates that the government start deportation proceedings against them within 30 days.
Travel Restrictions and Legal Fallout
If you’ve seen news about migrants using the CBP One app to check in for flights, this bill would end that practice. It prohibits the TSA from accepting the app or 'Notices to Appear' as valid ID for air travel, and it penalizes airlines that allow passengers to board with these documents (Section 5). Finally, the bill adds a unique layer of accountability: it gives states or individuals the right to sue the federal government if they suffer more than $1,000 in financial harm because these new parole rules weren't followed (Section 6). This could lead to a wave of litigation as local governments seek to recoup costs they attribute to federal immigration decisions.