S. 1589 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, May 5, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryNarrows when DHS can grant immigration parole
Immigration parole lets the federal government give someone official permission to enter and temporarily stay in the United States outside normal visa processes. This bill limits when the Department of Homeland Security can use that authority. It says parole for urgent humanitarian reasons can only apply to medical emergencies, deaths of close family members, and green card holders returning after traveling abroad. Parole for significant public benefit can only be granted to help with law enforcement matters. The bill also says people granted parole for these reasons cannot work while they're in the country, and it carves out specific authority to grant parole to certain Cuban nationals and family members of active-duty military members.
How it affects you
This mainly affects people from other countries seeking to enter the United States temporarily. If you're hoping for parole based on humanitarian or public benefit reasons, the bill narrows the situations where DHS can approve that request. For most Americans, this is a policy change at the federal level affecting who can be allowed to come to the country and under what circumstances, rather than something that directly changes your day-to-day life.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, May 5, 2025)
Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2025
This bill limits the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to grant immigration parole (i.e., give official permission for an individual to enter and temporarily remain in the United States).
Specifically, the bill (1) limits what qualifies as an urgent humanitarian reason or a significant public benefit that would justify granting parole, and (2) prohibits granting parole based on an individual's membership in a defined class of individuals.
An urgent humanitarian reason is limited to medical emergencies, the death of a close family member, and to green card applicants returning to the United States after temporary travel abroad. A significant public benefit is limited to assisting the U.S. government in a law enforcement matter.
Individuals granted parole on the basis of an urgent humanitarian reason or a significant public benefit are not permitted to work while in the United States.
Additionally, the bill provides statutory authority for DHS to grant parole to certain Cuban nationals and to certain family members of active-duty Armed Forces members.
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. 1589
A BILL
Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) · Introduced May 5, 2025 · Immigration · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 5, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.”