S. 149 · Where this bill is now
Became law through another bill
Its text was included in S. 5, Public Law 119-1 (per the Congressional Research Service). This bill number itself: In committee.
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRequires detention of noncitizens arrested for theft crimes
This bill sets a rule for the Department of Homeland Security: if someone who isn't a U.S. citizen is arrested or charged with burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting, and they're also unlawfully present in the country or lacked proper entry documents, DHS must detain them rather than release them. The requirement applies whether they've been charged, arrested, convicted, or have admitted to these kinds of crimes.
How it affects you
If you're a noncitizen without legal status or proper entry documents, being arrested for theft-related crimes would trigger mandatory detention by immigration authorities. Immigration enforcement officials would face a legal requirement to hold you rather than making case-by-case decisions about detention. U.S. citizens and those with legal status are not affected by this requirement.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 17, 2025)
Public Safety First Act
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. Specifically, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 149
A BILL
Public Safety First Act
Sponsor: Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) · Introduced Jan 17, 2025 · Immigration · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 17, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.”