To establish a new ground for inadmissibility for close relatives of foreign terrorists.

Summary of HR 9160 (120th Congress, Session 119)

Purpose and intent

• HR 9160 aims to establish a new ground of inadmissibility to the United States for foreign nationals who are close relatives of foreign terrorists. In practical terms, if enacted, certain family relationships to individuals designated as foreign terrorists could be used as a basis to deny entry or admission to the United States for the relative.

Key provisions and changes

• New inadmissibility ground: The bill creates a statutory ground under which a foreign national may be found ineligible for a visa or admission based on their close familial relationship to a person who is identified as a foreign terrorist.
• Scope of “close relatives”: The bill specifies which relatives are covered (e.g., immediate family members such as spouses, parents, children, and possibly other close family depending on the bill’s text). The exact definitions would determine who is affected.
• Application at entry points: The ground would be invoked during visa processing (consular interviews) and/or at the port of entry, aligning with existing admissibility determinations.
• Relationship to other grounds: The measure would operate alongside existing grounds of inadmissibility for terrorism-related activities or associations, and it would add a distinct pathway based on family linkage to a designated foreign terrorist.
• Designation and procedures: The bill likely incorporates how a person is identified as a “foreign terrorist” for purposes of this ground, including mechanisms for designation, evidence standards, and potential waivers or exceptions (if any are included in the text).
• Waivers or exemptions: If provided, waivers would indicate whether there are circumstances under which a relative could still be admitted (e.g., if the relative can demonstrate no risk, humanitarian considerations, or national interest waivers). The presence and scope of waivers would affect the practical impact.

Who would be affected

• Foreign nationals seeking admission to the United States who are close relatives of individuals designated as foreign terrorists.
• The designated “foreign terrorists” (or their violative associations) would indirectly influence the admissibility status of their relatives.
• U.S. consular officers and port-of-entry personnel responsible for assessing admissibility under immigration law would apply the new ground.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduction and referral: The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Judiciary Committee on June 4, 2026.
• Sponsorship: The bill has several co-sponsors, including Brandon Gill, Tim Burchett, Wesley Hunt, Keith Self, Greg Steube, John Rose, Byron Donalds, and Elise Stefanik, indicating Republican support from multiple caucus members.
• Movement potential: As a House Judiciary Committee referral is the first step, subsequent actions could include committee hearings, markups, and potential floor consideration, followed by Senate action if the bill advances.

Notes and considerations

• The bill’s impact hinges on the definition of “close relatives” and the process for designating someone as a foreign terrorist.
• Potential policy impact includes tightening immigration admissibility for family members of individuals designated as terrorists, raising questions about due process, evidence standards, and possible unintended consequences for families.
• Readers may want to track amendments, waivers, and any pilot or sunset provisions that could modify how broadly the ground is applied.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to focus on specific sections (e.g., definitions, waivers, or enforcement mechanisms) once the bill’s full text becomes available.