How to Deport With a Defense Budget
House Considers Pentagon Funding Bill with Immigration Crackdowns and Visa Restrictions
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives began consideration this week of a sweeping defense appropriations bill that includes multiple immigration enforcement provisions, including bans on key humanitarian parole programs, restrictions on asylum processing, and expanded arrest authority for federal immigration officers.
The legislation—H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026—was brought to the floor under a structured rule from the House Rules Committee and is sponsored by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
Though the bill focuses on Pentagon funding, Republican lawmakers have inserted several immigration-related riders that extend well beyond traditional defense priorities.
Parole Program Funding Ban
Section 8127 of the bill prohibits any funds from being used to implement or continue the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV)—a key legal pathway used by tens of thousands of migrants to apply for entry from abroad. (H.R. 4016, p. 247)
If enacted, the measure would effectively terminate those programs, which the administration has credited with reducing unauthorized border crossings.
Asylum Processing Restrictions
Section 8126 blocks funding for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employees who are assigned or detailed to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the purpose of screening asylum seekers or processing other immigration benefits. (p. 246)
This could significantly reduce USCIS’s ability to assist in handling asylum claims at the border, particularly under the “credible fear” interview process, which is the first step in determining asylum eligibility.
Arrest Powers for Revoked Visas
In a move that could expand the number of immigrants subject to detention, Section 8123 authorizes ICE to arrest individuals inside the United States whose visas have been revoked, regardless of when or why the revocation occurred. (p. 245)
Immigrant advocacy groups say this could allow ICE to arrest foreign nationals who have lived in the country for years without notice of any visa issues, raising due process concerns.
Hiring Restrictions for Federal Contractors
Section 8122 bars the federal government from entering contracts with companies that employ certain categories of immigrants, including H-2B visa holders—temporary non-agricultural workers—for roles involving security or work on military installations. (p. 244)
Critics argue the provision is discriminatory and could undermine labor recruitment for defense-adjacent industries already facing worker shortages.
Surveillance and Enforcement Continuation
While not naming programs directly, Section 8109 provides general support for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), effectively sustaining programs such as Alternatives to Detention, which include GPS ankle monitors, facial recognition software (SmartLINK), and intensive case monitoring systems. (p. 233)
ICE Air charter deportation flights, often operated with defense contractor logistics support, would also likely continue under the general language permitting transportation and “services abroad.” (pp. 13–14 of underlying appropriations text)
Legislative Status and Political Context
As of Monday, H.R. 4016 has not passed the House and remains under active consideration. It is being considered pursuant to a rule, bundled with other unrelated bills including H.R. 3633 (Digital Asset Market Clarity Act) and H.R. 1919 (Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act) under a structured floor process (House Rules Committee, July 2025).
Democratic lawmakers are expected to oppose the immigration-related provisions, and many of the bill’s riders are likely to be stripped or revised in the Senate. Still, their inclusion in the House version signals the Republican majority’s priorities ahead of the FY2026 budget cycle and intensifies ongoing partisan conflict over immigration enforcement policy.