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H.R. 4546: B–VERIFY Act of 2023

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H.R. 4546: B–VERIFY Act of 2023

118th Congress · introduced 2023-07-11 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2023-07-11 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

B–VERIFY Act of 2023

Plain summary

Biometric Verification for Entry and Reconfirming Identity with Forensics Act of 2023 or the B-VERIFY Act of 2023 This bill addresses various immigration-related issues, including by imposing penalties on parents of unaccompanied alien children who arrive in the United States. Under this bill, any applicant for an immigration benefit, including a U.S. national applying for a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) beneficiary, must provide biometric information, including DNA. Furthermore, before the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may release an unaccompanied alien child to a sponsor, the potential sponsor must undergo a background check that includes certain searches, including a Federal Bureau of Investigation National Criminal History Check. (HHS currently conducts background checks of potential sponsors, but is not required to conduct all the checks required by this bill.) HHS must report a potential sponsor to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if the potential sponsor (1) fails to prove a claimed familial relationship with the child, or (2) provides a false identity document. HHS may not use government funds to provide legal counsel to detained unaccompanied alien children. The bill also imposes penalties on the non-U.S. national parents of an unaccompanied alien child who arrives in the United States, including by deeming the parent inadmissible into the United States if the parent does not have lawful permanent resident status. Federal employees must promptly notify ICE if they receive an identification document indicating that an individual is unlawfully present. ICE must promptly place the individual in removal proceedings.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

B–VERIFY Act of 2023

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] · 4 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Brian Babin (R-TX), Mary E. Miller (R-IL)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] reported raising $1.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong118-hr4546 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong118 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong118