HR 4092119th CongressIn Committee

Protect RAIL Act

Introduced: Jun 24, 2025

Infrastructure

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Protect Railroads Against Illegal Looters Act (Protect RAIL Act) would add a new ground of inadmissibility and a new ground of deportability for noncitizens (aliens) tied to crimes involving theft from interstate or foreign shipments by carrier. Specifically, anyone convicted of, who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts that constitute the essential elements of an offense under 18 U.S.C. § 659 (theft from interstate or foreign shipments by carrier) or a conspiracy to commit such an offense would be deemed inadmissible to the United States and deportable. The bill labels this offense as connected to protecting railroad shipments and would apply in both admission proceedings and removal proceedings. It was introduced in the House on June 24, 2025, titled the Protect Railroads Against Illegal Looters Act, and referred to the Judiciary Committee; it has not become law.

Key Points

1Adds inadmissibility ground (INA 212(a)(2)(J)) for offenses involving interstate or foreign shipments by carrier, covering:
2- Conviction of the offense under 18 U.S.C. § 659, or a conspiracy to commit it, and
3- Admissions of having committed or acting with the essential elements of such offenses.
4Adds deportability ground (INA 237(a)(2)(G)) for the same set of offenses (conviction or conspiracy to commit § 659 crimes).
5The targeted offense is 18 U.S.C. § 659, which deals with theft or theft-related offenses involving property moving in interstate or foreign commerce by a carrier.
6Short title: “Protect Railroads Against Illegal Looters Act” (Protect RAIL Act).
7No stated exemptions or waivers in the text provided; the bill lays out the new grounds but does not detail exceptions, relief, or procedures beyond the added bases for inadmissibility and deportability.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Noncitizens seeking entry or adjustment of status (admission) and those already in the U.S. facing removal, who have been convicted of or admitted to § 659 offenses or conspiracies.Secondary group/area affected:- U.S. immigration enforcement and adjudication systems (INS/legacy components, DHS/USCIS/EOIR) that process visas, green cards, and deportations.- The rail and interstate commerce sectors, since the bill centers on crimes involving shipments by carrier and is framed as a protection measure for railroad-related shipments.Additional impacts:- Potential expansion of criminal grounds used in immigration proceedings for individuals with theft-related offenses tied to interstate shipments.- Possible due process considerations for individuals who admit to acts or elements of offenses but lack other traditional criminal findings.- Broad interpretation risk: the phrase “essential elements” and the inclusion of “conspiracy” could capture a wide set of conduct tied to § 659, even in cases with limited or peripheral involvement.- The bill would not create new federal offenses; it adds immigration consequences for existing offenses, changing how such offenses affect immigration status.

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