Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025

The Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025 would bar entry to the United States (and deny immigration benefits or status) for current or former government officials who the Secretary of State determines were responsible for or complicit in forced repatriations of Uyghurs or other groups to the People’s Republic of China. In addition to entry denial, the bill requires the Secretary to refer such cases to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to consider sanctions on the individuals’ property and financial dealings in the U.S. The Secretary of State can grant waivers in limited cases, and the act imposes regular reporting to Congress about who is denied admission and which waivers were granted. The measure has a sunset provision: it ceases to have effect five years after enactment. The bill effectively creates a targeted visa/immigration ban and possible sanctions against officials tied to forced repatriations, while providing a mechanism for oversight and potential exceptions if doing so serves U.S. interests or circumstances change. It is framed as a deterrent and accountability tool to protect Uyghurs and other at-risk groups from forcible returns.