S. 3453 – Protect American Taxpayer Dollars from Illegal Immigration Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 8:46 AM UTC

The bill aims to stop federal money from being used to pay legal settlements to people who entered the United States illegally. It bars any federal funds, including the Judgment Fund, from covering settlements for individuals who violated immigration law when the claims stem from their lawful detention as part of a family unit after entry at a port of entry or between ports along the southern border after January 20, 2017. The rule would apply to all such settlements nationwide.

Key Provisions

Prohibits the use of any federal funds, including the Judgment Fund, for legal settlements to individuals who unlawfully entered the U.S. under INA §275(a) when the settlement is based on their lawful detention as part of a family unit after entry at a port or between ports along the southern border after Jan 20 2017.
The prohibition takes effect one day after the act is enacted.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 233.

January 18, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 10, 2022

SenateCalendars

Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

January 10, 2022

SenateCalendars

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 233.

January 18, 2022

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about S. 3453 on the floor

1 Republican2 Democrats

Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Jan 10, 2022

A few moments ago, I went through the typical rule XIV process, which the majority leader always does to place legislation from both minority and majority on the legislative calendar. It is merely…

A few moments ago, I went through the typical rule XIV process, which the majority leader always does to place legislation from both minority and majority on the legislative calendar. It is merely technical.

Now, the Republican leader seems to want to place a bunch of ``gotcha'' bills on the legislative calendar that he thinks would be tough votes for Democrats to take as some kind of payback for pursuing legislation to protect the sacred right to vote.

Well, we Democrats aren't afraid of these votes, so what I propose to the Republican leader is that the Senate hold up-or-down votes at a majority threshold on each of the Republican bills he has outlined tonight, as well as the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Let me say again. In a few moments, I will ask unanimous consent to have the Senate vote on the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and all the so-called tough bills the Republican leader is proposing tonight at a majority threshold.

We believe the right to vote, to protect our democracy, to get rid of dark money from elections, to end gerrymandering to ensure the American people pick their elected leaders, not politicians, is so important, I would hope the Republican leader would go along with this proposal.

Our caucus strongly disagrees with the Republican bills on this list, but for the sake of our democracy and getting to a majority vote on voting rights, we are willing to vote.

So, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Republican leader, that the Senate vote on passage of the following bills in the order listed; that there be no motions or amendments in order to the bills; and that the passage be at a majority threshold, all without intervening action or debate: S. 2747, the Freedom to Vote Act; H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; S. 3452; S. 3453; S. 3454; S. 3455; S. 3456; S. 3457; S. 3458; S. 3459; S. 3460; S. 3461; S. 3462; S. 3463; S. 3464; S. 3465; S. 3466; S. 3467; S. 3468; and S. 3469.

Sen. Elizabeth WarrenD-MA · Jan 18, 2022

Mr. President, I understand that there are 20 bills at the desk due for a second reading en bloc. In order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to…

Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Jan 10, 2022

Madam President, I understand there are 18 bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc. I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · Jan 10, 2022

I object.

Bill Text

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Placed on Calendar SenateIssued January 18, 2022

II

Calendar No. 233

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3453

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 10, 2022

Mr. Tillis (for himself, Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Cornyn) introduced the following bill; which was read the first time

January 18, 2022

Read the second time and placed on the calendar

A BILL

To prohibit the payment of certain legal settlements to individuals who unlawfully entered the United States.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protect American Taxpayer Dollars from Illegal Immigration Act.

2.

Limitation on legal settlements for individuals who unlawfully entered the United States

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds, including amounts deposited into the Judgment Fund established under section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, may be expended for any legal settlement to any individual who violated section 275(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1325(a)) if the claims giving rise to such settlement are based on the lawful detention of such individual as part of a family unit after entry at a port of entry or between ports of entry along the southern border of the United States after January 20, 2017.

(b)

Effective date

This section shall take effect on the date that is 1 day after the date of the enactment of this Act.

January 18, 2022

Read the second time and placed on the calendar