Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Xenophobic Watchlist Bill Singles Out Migrants as Security Threats
The measure paints entire countries as suspicious, conflating national origin with terror and stoking fear without adding a shred of real security.
WASHINGTON — On Monday, the House of Representatives has advanced legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publicly report monthly on the number and nationalities of individuals classified as “special interest aliens” encountered while attempting to unlawfully enter the United States.
The bill, H.R. 275, titled the Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2025, was introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on January 9 and reported out of committee with amendments on June 17. It mandates that DHS begin publishing these figures by the seventh day of each month, starting with the first full month after the law’s enactment.
According to the bill, a “special interest alien” is defined as a noncitizen who, based on an analysis of travel patterns, “potentially poses a national security risk to the United States or its interests.”
The monthly reports would include not only the total number of such encounters, but also a breakdown by nationality or country of last habitual residence, geographic region, and point of contact — whether the individual was encountered at a port of entry, between ports of entry, or within the U.S. interior.
The reports must also identify whether any of the individuals came from “covered nations,” a term defined in federal code that generally refers to countries subject to national security-related scrutiny.
In addition to forward-looking reporting, the first report issued under the bill would include retrospective data covering the period from January 20, 2021, through January 19, 2025.
Implications for Immigration and National Security
The bill’s passage would mark the first time DHS is required by law to publish regular public reporting specifically on “special interest aliens.” While the term is not new in immigration and homeland security contexts, it does not indicate criminal activity or confirmed threats. The designation is based on patterns of travel and country of origin, not specific individual behavior.
The reporting requirements reflect a growing legislative emphasis on transparency and surveillance in immigration enforcement, particularly concerning migrants from regions linked—often broadly—to national security interests.
For immigrants and asylum seekers, particularly those from countries categorized as “covered nations,” the bill may signal increased scrutiny and public visibility. Critics of similar policies have warned in the past that such classifications risk conflating national origin with security threat, which could contribute to public misperception and policy stigmatization.
No new enforcement powers are granted by the bill, and it does not alter existing immigration procedures or detention protocols. Its scope is limited to data collection and publication.
If signed into law, the act would require DHS to maintain a public webpage where the reports are posted monthly and simultaneously submitted to both the House and Senate committees on homeland security.
The bill now awaits consideration by the full House and, if passed, would move to the Senate for debate.