H.R. 871House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

RULES Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 3:09 AM UTC

The RULES Act changes the Immigration and Nationality Act to tighten how asylum can be sought. It requires asylum applications to be made only at a U.S. port of entry and bars those applicants from being released into the country while their case is processed. The bill also clarifies that the rule does not cover people who entered without inspection or overstayed their visas, and it expands the responsible officials to include the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Key Provisions

Anyone who arrives at a U.S. port of entry can file an asylum claim there, no matter what their immigration status is.
People who apply for asylum at a port of entry cannot be paroled (released) into the United States while their claim is pending.
The new rule does not apply to individuals who are caught after entering the country without inspection or who have stayed beyond their authorized period.
References to the Attorney General are changed to include the Secretary of Homeland Security where appropriate.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 31, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 31, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 31, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 31, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 871

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 31, 2025

Mrs. Luna (for herself, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Weber of Texas, and Mr. Rulli) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the eligibility requirements for asylum.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Refugees Using Legal Entry Safely Act or RULES Act.

Modification of asylum eligibility

Section 208(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(a)) is amended—

(1)

by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

(1)

Application at ports of entry

(A)

In general

Any alien who arrives at a port of entry of the United States, irrespective of such alien's status, may, only at such a port of entry, apply for asylum in accordance with this section or, as applicable, section 235(b).

(B)

Prohibition on parole or release into the United States

Notwithstanding section 236(a)(2), an alien applying for asylum at a port of entry may not be paroled or released into the United States.

;

(2)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

by striking subparagraph (B);

(B)

in subparagraph (C), by striking Subject to subparagraph (D), paragraph and inserting Paragraph;

(C)

by striking subparagraph (D);

(D)

in subparagraph (E), by striking Subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting Subparagraph (A);

(E)

by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (E) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and

(F)

by adding at the end the following:

(D)

Effect of apprehension in the United States

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any alien who is apprehended by or referred to the Secretary of Homeland Security as an alien who has entered the United States without inspection and admission or who has remained in the United States beyond the alien's period of authorized stay.

; and

(3)

by striking Attorney General each place it appears and inserting Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as applicable,.