PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 27, 2025
Break the Chain Act
This bill makes various changes related to family-sponsored immigration, such as narrowing the definition of what constitutes an immediate relative and lowering the annual numerical cap on certain classes of family-sponsored visas.
A non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is a parent of a U.S. citizen shall not qualify for a visa for immediate relatives, which is not subject to any direct numerical limits. Currently, the spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of citizens are considered immediate relatives.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The bill also reduces the baseline annual cap for family-sponsored visas from 480,000 to 87,934, and revises the methods for calculating the cap. Currently, the 480,000 cap may be adjusted depending on various factors but shall not be less than 226,000. A spouse or child of a sponsoring lawful permanent resident (also known as a green card holder) shall be subject to the family-sponsored visa cap.
The bill revises the rules for determining whether a non-U.S. national is a child for the purposes of family-sponsored immigration, and establishes that an individual who is married or turns 25 years old prior to a visa becoming available for issuance shall not qualify as a child.
The bill creates a nonimmigrant classification for non-U.S. national parents of adult U.S. citizens, which authorizes such parents for admission into the United States for an initial five-year period. Such parents shall not be authorized for employment or to receive any public benefits.
People & committees
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] · R–FL
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Jan 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-02-27 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed bill would narrow family-based permanent immigration categories to U.S. citizens’ spouses and children and permanent residents’ spouses and children. Parents of citizens age 21 or older could instead receive renewable five-year permission to stay, without authorization to work or eligibility for public benefits. The bill would invalidate specified pending immigration applications while allowing a limited transition for some previously approved applicants.
by striking children, spouses, and parents of a citizen of the United States, except that, in the case of parents, such citizens shall be at least 21 years of age. and inserting children and spouse of a citizen of the United States.
Family-sponsored immigrants described in this subsection are qualified immigrants who are the spouse or a child of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
(W) subject to section 214(s), an alien who is a parent of a citizen of the United States, if the citizen is at least 21 years of age.
The initial period of authorized admission for a nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15)(W) shall be 5 years, but may be extended by the Secretary of Homeland Security for additional 5-year periods if the United States citizen son or daughter of the nonimmigrant is still residing in the United States.
(A) is not authorized to be employed in the United States; and (B) is not eligible for any Federal, State, or local public benefit.
Neither the Secretary of Homeland Security nor the Secretary of State may adjudicate or approve any petition under section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) pending as of the date of enactment of this Act seeking classification of an alien under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) with respect to a parent of a United States citizen, or under section 203(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1153(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4)). Any application for adjustment of status or an immigrant visa based on such a petition shall be invalid.
Visas may be issued to beneficiaries of approved petitions under each category described in subparagraph (A), but only until such time as the number of visas that would have been allocated to that category in fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding the amendments made by this section, have been issued.
Section 1 would name the legislation the Break the Chain Act.
This Act may be cited as the Break the Chain Act.
The bill would remove parents from the quoted immediate-relative category for U.S. citizens, retaining children and a spouse. It would also replace a reference to an immediate relative in a separate clause with a reference specifically to a citizen’s immediate-relative spouse; that clause’s remaining text is not supplied.
(A) in clause (i), by striking children, spouses, and parents of a citizen of the United States, except that, in the case of parents, such citizens shall be at least 21 years of age. and inserting children and spouse of a citizen of the United States.; and (B) in clause (ii), by striking such an immediate relative and inserting the immediate relative spouse of a United States citizen;
The proposed annual worldwide limit for family-sponsored immigrants under section 201(c) would be 87,934 minus a specified count of people previously paroled into the United States. This is a subtraction formula, not a guaranteed allocation of 87,934 visas.
The worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants under this subsection for a fiscal year is equal to 87,934 minus the number computed under paragraph (2).
The number computed under this paragraph for a fiscal year is the number of aliens who were paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) in the second preceding fiscal year
The subtraction would count people paroled into the country in the second preceding fiscal year who did not depart without advance parole within 365 days. They must also either have failed to obtain permanent residence during the two preceding fiscal years or have obtained it through a provision exempt from the worldwide numerical limit, other than section 201(b).
The number computed under this paragraph for a fiscal year is the number of aliens who were paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) in the second preceding fiscal year who— (A) did not depart from the United States (without advance parole) within 365 days; and (B) (i) did not acquire the status of an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence during the two preceding fiscal years; or (ii) acquired such status during such period under a provision of law (other than subsection (b)) that exempts adjustment to such status from the numerical limitation on the worldwide level of immigration under this section.
The bill would replace section 203(a)’s family visa categories with a category for qualified spouses and children of lawful permanent residents. Their visas would be allocated using the new section 201(c) formula.
Section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)) is amended to read as follows: (a) Spouses and minor children of permanent resident aliens Family-sponsored immigrants described in this subsection are qualified immigrants who are the spouse or a child of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Such immigrants shall be allocated visas in accordance with the number computed under section 201(c).
For the referenced child-age rules under sections 203(a) and (d), the bill would generally use the person’s age when the petition is filed with Homeland Security. However, someone who marries or turns 25 before a visa becomes available would lose eligibility under that age rule.
Subject to paragraph (2), for purposes of subsections (a) and (d), a determination of whether an alien satisfies the age requirement in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of section 101(b)(1) shall be made using the age of the alien on the date on which a petition is filed with the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Notwithstanding the age of an alien on the date on which a petition is filed, an alien who marries or turns 25 years of age prior to a visa becoming available for issuance pursuant to subsection (a) or (d), no longer satisfies the age requirement described in paragraph (1).
The bill would revise related statutory references and delete several provisions to accompany the category changes. Among other changes, it would delete section 201(f)(3) and section 204(k), and remove an exclusion referring to paragraph (4) from section 212(d)(11). The affected existing provisions are not reproduced, so these edits do not by themselves establish their full practical effects.
in subsection (f)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking section 203(a)(2)(A) and inserting section 203(a); (B) by striking paragraph (3); (C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3); and (D) in paragraph (3), as redesignated, by striking (1) through (3) and inserting (1) and (2).
(B) in subsection (f)(1), by striking , 203(a)(1), or 203(a)(3), as appropriate; and (C) by striking subsection (k).
(3) Waivers of inadmissibility Section 212 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(6)(E)(ii), by striking section 203(a)(2) and inserting section 203(a); and (B) in subsection (d)(11), by striking (other than paragraph (4) thereof).
A separate amendment would insert language treating an individual covered by section 204(a)(1)(D)(i)(I) as younger than 21 for deciding the petition and for admission in the specified family categories, regardless of actual age. The supplied text does not reproduce the surrounding eligibility conditions, so it does not establish everyone who would qualify for that treatment.
in subparagraph (D)(i)(I), by striking a petitioner and all that follows through section 204(a)(1)(B)(iii). and inserting an individual younger than 21 years of age for purposes of adjudicating such petition and for purposes of admission as an immediate relative under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) or a family-sponsored immigrant under section 203(a), as appropriate, notwithstanding the actual age of the individual.
The bill would create a W nonimmigrant category—a category for permission to stay rather than permanent residence—for parents of U.S. citizens age 21 or older. The citizen son or daughter would have to petition Homeland Security for the parent to receive a visa or this status.
(e) Creation of nonimmigrant classification for alien parents of adult united states citizens
(W) subject to section 214(s), an alien who is a parent of a citizen of the United States, if the citizen is at least 21 years of age.
The United States citizen son or daughter shall file a petition with the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of the alien parent in order for the alien parent to be issued a visa or otherwise be provided nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(W).
Parents admitted in the proposed W category would initially receive five years. Homeland Security could grant additional five-year periods if the citizen son or daughter still lived in the United States; extensions would be permitted, not required.
The initial period of authorized admission for a nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15)(W) shall be 5 years, but may be extended by the Secretary of Homeland Security for additional 5-year periods if the United States citizen son or daughter of the nonimmigrant is still residing in the United States.
Parents in the proposed W category would not be authorized to work in the United States and would be ineligible for any federal, state, or local public benefit.
A nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15)(W)— (A) is not authorized to be employed in the United States; and (B) is not eligible for any Federal, State, or local public benefit.
To receive a W visa, obtain W status, or enter in that category, a parent would need satisfactory proof that the citizen son or daughter had arranged health insurance for the anticipated U.S. stay at no cost to the parent.
An alien is ineligible to be issued a visa or otherwise be provided nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(W), or to be admitted into the United States as a nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15)(W), unless the alien provides satisfactory proof that the United States citizen son or daughter has arranged for health insurance coverage for the alien, at no cost to the alien, during the anticipated period of the alien’s residence in the United States.
The bill would extend the referenced financial-support affidavit provisions to the W parent category. An affidavit—a formal support undertaking—would be enforceable concerning benefits provided while the parent was physically present in the United States. The full existing affidavit rules are not supplied.
(3) Affidavit of support (A) Ground of inadmissibility Section 212(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(4)(C)) is amended— (i) in the heading by adding at the end the following: and nonimmigrants; and (ii) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking section 201(b)(2) or 203(a) and inserting section 101(a)(15)(W), 201(b)(2), or 203(a).
In the case of an alien who has been issued a visa or otherwise provided nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(W), an affidavit of support shall be enforceable with respect to benefits provided for an alien while the alien is physically present in the United States.
in subsection (f)(1)(D), by inserting after section 204 the following: or petitioning for the alien to be provided a visa under or accorded status under section 101(a)(15)(W).
The introduced bill specifies October 1, 2025, as the effective date for section 2’s amendments. Its separate restrictions on new and pending petitions use the date of enactment instead. These are proposed timing rules, not evidence that either trigger occurred.
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2025.
filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act
pending as of the date of enactment of this Act
Starting on enactment, the bill would prohibit filing, accepting, deciding, or approving new petitions for citizens’ parents in the immediate-relative category or for the listed section 203(a) categories. Applications based on those petitions for permanent residence through adjustment of status or an immigrant visa would be invalid.
No person may file, and the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State may not accept, adjudicate, or approve any petition under section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act seeking classification of an alien under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) with respect to a parent of a United States citizen, or under section 203(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1153(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4)). Any application for adjustment of status or an immigrant visa based on such a petition shall be invalid.
For petitions already pending on enactment in those same categories, Homeland Security and the State Department could no longer decide or approve them. Applications for adjustment of status or immigrant visas based on those petitions would also be invalid.
Neither the Secretary of Homeland Security nor the Secretary of State may adjudicate or approve any petition under section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) pending as of the date of enactment of this Act seeking classification of an alien under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) with respect to a parent of a United States citizen, or under section 203(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1153(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4)). Any application for adjustment of status or an immigrant visa based on such a petition shall be invalid.
A limited transition would allow visas for people whose petition or status application under section 203(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4), as those provisions existed on September 30, 2020, was approved before enactment. This exception expressly lists those categories, not the immediate-relative parent category.
Notwithstanding the amendments made by this section, an alien with regard to whom a petition or application for status under paragraph (1), (2)(B), (3), or (4) of section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)), as in effect on September 30, 2020, was approved prior to the date of the enactment of this Act, may be issued a visa pursuant to that paragraph in accordance with the availability of visas under subparagraph (B).
For each transition category, visa issuance would stop once the number that would have been allocated to that category in fiscal year 2025 without these amendments had been issued. The bill supplies no numerical totals for those category limits and does not guarantee a visa to every previously approved applicant.
Visas may be issued to beneficiaries of approved petitions under each category described in subparagraph (A), but only until such time as the number of visas that would have been allocated to that category in fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding the amendments made by this section, have been issued. When the number of visas described in the previous sentence have been issued for each category described in subparagraph (A), no additional visas may be issued for that category.
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated January 8, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on the Judiciary on February 27, 2025. It supplies no later legislative action.
Source snapshot updated 2026-01-08T22:10:33Z. 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-02-27. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy change attached to appropriations was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; it does not establish formal earmark status or absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The supplied introduced text contains a limited transition exception to its main restrictions. Classification as a targeted benefit does not establish improper purpose.
People with pre-enactment approvals under the specified section 203(a) categories would retain a limited opportunity to receive visas despite the category changes. This favors an existing approved group over people with pending or new petitions. The exception uses the categories as they existed on September 30, 2020, and ends for each category after its hypothetical fiscal year 2025 allocation has been issued.
Notwithstanding the amendments made by this section, an alien with regard to whom a petition or application for status under paragraph (1), (2)(B), (3), or (4) of section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)), as in effect on September 30, 2020, was approved prior to the date of the enactment of this Act, may be issued a visa pursuant to that paragraph in accordance with the availability of visas under subparagraph (B).
No person may file, and the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State may not accept, adjudicate, or approve any petition under section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act seeking classification of an alien under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) with respect to a parent of a United States citizen, or under section 203(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1153(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4)).
Neither the Secretary of Homeland Security nor the Secretary of State may adjudicate or approve any petition under section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) pending as of the date of enactment of this Act seeking classification of an alien under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) with respect to a parent of a United States citizen, or under section 203(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1153(a)(1), (2)(B), (3), or (4)).
Visas may be issued to beneficiaries of approved petitions under each category described in subparagraph (A), but only until such time as the number of visas that would have been allocated to that category in fiscal year 2025, notwithstanding the amendments made by this section, have been issued. When the number of visas described in the previous sentence have been issued for each category described in subparagraph (A), no additional visas may be issued for that category.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Jan 8, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI