No Student Visas for Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025

No Student Visas for Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025 would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict certain student visas for institutions located in jurisdictions designated as “sanctuary jurisdictions.” Each fiscal year, the Department of Homeland Security would identify sanctuary jurisdictions. For students seeking F-1 visas (for academic study, including language programs) or M-1 visas (for vocational or nonacademic programs) to study at a college, university, high school, elementary school, or other academic or language program in the United States, if the institution is in a sanctuary jurisdiction, the visa may not be issued and the student may not be granted F-1 or M-1 status. There is a limited carve-out: if a state or local jurisdiction is later deemed no longer a sanctuary jurisdiction and DHS reports this to Congress, the prohibition does not apply for that fiscal year. The bill also defines “sanctuary jurisdiction” by listing practices that obstruct immigration enforcement, such as failing to honor ICE detainers or hindering information sharing with federal immigration authorities. The bill was introduced in the House on May 7, 2025, by Representative Hageman with several co-sponsors and referred to the Judiciary Committee. If enacted, it would create a year-by-year, federal restriction aimed at students attending schools located in jurisdictions that the federal government identifies as sanctuary jurisdictions.