What does Preamble of PAPERS Act of 2026 do?

This bill proposes to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. The proposed amendment would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to return identification documents to individuals upon their release from custody. The bill's stated purpose is to return identification documents to individuals released from custody.

What does SHORT TITLE. of PAPERS Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Protecting All Personal Effects and Records from Seizure Act of 2026.

What does RETURN OF DOCUMENTS AFTER RELEASE FROM DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND of PAPERS Act of 2026 do?

This section amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to add section 236B regarding the return of documents after release from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody. Generally, upon releasing an individual from custody, the Secretary of Homeland Security must return all covered documents taken from them while in custody. The Secretary may retain a covered document if it is determined to be fraudulent, contraband or evidence in a pending criminal proceeding, or if the individual is no longer legally entitled to possess it. If a document is retained, the Secretary must provide a written explanation and a certified copy of the document, unless prohibited by law. A 'covered document' includes original passports, permanent resident cards, employment authorization documents, birth certificates, driver's licenses, social security cards, and similar government-issued documents. Operational convenience or anticipated future enforcement actions do not justify retaining documents.

Back to bills

PAPERS Act of 2026

Last updated: 2/25/2026 · Introduced: 2/25/2026

Author: Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill mandates the Department of Homeland Security to return identification documents to individuals upon their release from custody, including passports, birth certificates, and social security cards.
The Secretary of Homeland Security can retain documents only if they are fraudulent, contraband, evidence in a criminal case, or the individual is no longer legally entitled to possess them.
If a document is retained, the Secretary must provide a written explanation and a certified copy, unless legally prohibited.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

Verified Votes

No verified votes yet.

Community Votes

No community votes yet. Be the first!

Voting as guest · Sign in for verified votes

Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 1 more.

3 sections

Click "Show details" to explore individual sections. Use the community vote above or visit All Sections to vote per section.

Read official text

Want the full experience?

Create a free account to cast verified votes on each section, get a personalized summary, and track your voting history.

Create Free Account