Executive Order 14159

Protecting the American People Against Invasion

Signed January 20, 2025, printed at 90 FR 8443. 21 sections of substance, 3,072 words.

In plain English

This order is about people in the country without legal status. It says the last President let too many in. It tells agencies to remove them.

Read it at the Federal Register →

Sec. 1. Purpose

Over the last 4 years, the prior administration invited, administered, and oversaw an unprecedented flood of illegal immigration into the United States. Millions of illegal aliens crossed our borders or were permitted to fly directly into the United States on commercial flights and allowed to settle in American communities, in violation of longstanding Federal laws. Many of these aliens unlawfully within the United States present significant threats to national security and public safety, committing vile and heinous acts against innocent Americans. Others are engaged in hostile activities, including espionage, economic espionage, and preparations for terror-related activities. Many have abused the generosity of the American people, and their presence in the United States has cost taxpayers billions of dollars at the Federal, State, and local levels. Enforcing our Nation's immigration

In plain English

This sets out the case the order makes. It says the last team let in a flood of people. It says millions crossed or flew in. It says some pose a danger to the public. It names spying and terror planning. It says the cost to taxpayers runs to billions.

Sec. 2. Policy

It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those aliens who threaten the safety or security of the American people. Further, it is the policy of the United States to achieve the total and efficient enforcement of those laws, including through lawful incentives and detention capabilities.

In plain English

This states the policy. Immigration laws must be enforced against everyone who may be removed. People barred from entry count too. Those who threaten safety come first. Enforcement must be full and efficient. Lawful incentives may be used. So may holding people in custody.

Sec. 3. Faithful Execution of the Immigration Laws

In furtherance of the policies described in section 2 of this order: (a) Executive Order 13993 of January 20, 2021 (Revision of Civil Immigration Enforcement Policies and Priorities), Executive Order 14010 of February 2, 2021 (Creating a Comprehensive Regional Framework To Address the Causes of Migration, To Manage Migration Throughout North and Central America, and To Provide Safe and Orderly Processing of Asylum Seekers at the United States Border), Executive Order 14011 of February 2, 2021 (Establishment of Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families), and Executive Order 14012 of February 2, 2021 (Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans) are hereby revoked; and (b) Executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall take all appropriate action to promptly revoke all memoranda, guidance, or

In plain English

This cancels four orders from 2021. One changed who was a target for removal. One dealt with the causes of migration. One set up a task force on families. One dealt with legal entry. Agencies must also drop memos built on them.

Sec. 4. Civil Enforcement Priorities

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action to enable the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to set priorities for their agencies that protect the public safety and national security interests of the American people, including by ensuring the successful enforcement of final orders of removal. Further, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that the primary mission of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations division is the enforcement of the provisions of the INA and other Federal laws related to the illegal entry and unlawful presence of aliens in the United States and the enforcement of the purposes of this order.

In plain English

This tells Homeland Security to set goals. Three of its arms must set their own. One handles removals. One guards the border. One handles citizenship. Orders to remove people must be met. One unit must switch its focus to illegal entry.

Sec. 5. Criminal Enforcement Priorities

The Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall take all appropriate action to prioritize the prosecution of criminal offenses related to the unauthorized entry or continued unauthorized presence of aliens in the United States.

In plain English

This sets a charging priority. Justice must give weight to certain cases. State works with it. So does Homeland Security. The cases involve entering the country unlawfully. Staying on without leave counts too. Those crimes move to the front of the line.

Sec. 6. Federal Homeland Security Task Forces

(a) The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action to jointly establish Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) in all States nationwide. (b) The composition of each HSTF shall be subject to the direction of the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, but shall include representation from any other Federal agencies with law enforcement officers, or agencies with the ability to provide logistics, intelligence, and operational support to the HSTFs, and shall also include representation from relevant State and local law enforcement agencies. The heads of all Federal agencies shall take all appropriate action to provide support to the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that the HSTFs fulfill the objectives in subsection (c) of this section, and any other lawful purpose that fulfills the policy

In plain English

This sets up task forces in every state. Two agency heads run them. Each draws officers from many federal offices. State and local police take part too. Other agencies must lend a hand. That covers supply, intelligence and daily work.

Sec. 7. Identification of Unregistered Illegal Aliens

The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, shall take all appropriate action to: (a) Immediately announce and publicize information about the legal obligation of all previously unregistered aliens in the United States to comply with the requirements of part VII of subchapter II of chapter 12 of title 8, United States Code; (b) Ensure that all previously unregistered aliens in the United States comply with the requirements of part VII of subchapter II of chapter 12 of title 8, United States Code; and (c) Ensure that failure to comply with the legal obligations of part VII of subchapter II of chapter 12 of title 8, United States Code, is treated as a civil and criminal enforcement priority.

In plain English

This is about the duty to sign up. Some people here have never done so. The law says they must. Homeland Security must make that known. It must see that they comply. Those who do not may face civil or criminal action.

Sec. 8. Civil Fines and Penalties

(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Treasury, shall take all appropriate action to ensure the assessment and collection of all fines and penalties [[Page 8445]] that the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized by law to assess and collect from aliens unlawfully present in the United States, including aliens who unlawfully entered or unlawfully attempted to enter the United States, and from those who facilitate such aliens' presence in the United States. (b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a report to the President regarding their progress implementing the requirements of this section and recommending any additional actions that may need to be taken to achieve its objectives.

In plain English

This is about fines. Homeland Security must collect what the law allows. That covers people here without leave. It also covers those who helped them stay. Treasury must help with the work. A report to the President is due in 90 days.

Sec. 9. Efficient Removals of Recent Entrants and Other Aliens

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action, pursuant to section 235(b)(1)(A)(iii)(I) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(A)(iii)(I)), to apply, in her sole and unreviewable discretion, the provisions of section 235(b)(1)(A)(i) and (ii) of the INA to the aliens designated under section 235(b)(1)(A)(iii)(II). Further, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall promptly take appropriate action to use all other provisions of the immigration laws or any other Federal law, including, but not limited to sections 238 and 240(d) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1228 and 1229a(d)), to ensure the efficient and expedited removal of aliens from the United States.

In plain English

This is about fast removals. Homeland Security must use a quick process. That process skips a hearing in some cases. The choice is hers alone and cannot be appealed. She must also use every other tool the law gives. The aim is to move people out faster.

Sec. 10. Detention Facilities

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall promptly take all appropriate action and allocate all legally available resources or establish contracts to construct, operate, control, or use facilities to detain removable aliens. The Secretary of Homeland Security, further, shall take all appropriate actions to ensure the detention of aliens apprehended for violations of immigration law pending the outcome of their removal proceedings or their removal from the country, to the extent permitted by law.

In plain English

This is about holding people. Homeland Security must build or hire space to hold them. It may sign contracts to do so. People caught breaking entry law are held. They stay held while their case runs. They stay until they are removed.

Sec. 11. Federal-State Agreements

To ensure State and local law enforcement agencies across the United States can assist with the protection of the American people, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, and with the consent of State or local officials as appropriate, take appropriate action, through agreements under section 287(g) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1357(g)) or otherwise, to authorize State and local law enforcement officials, as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines are qualified and appropriate, to perform the functions of immigration officers in relation to the investigation, apprehension, or detention of aliens in the United States under the direction and the supervision of the Secretary of Homeland Security. Such authorization shall be in addition to, rather than in place of, Federal performance of these duties. To the extent permitted by law, the Secretary of

In plain English

This is about state and local police. They may be signed up to do this work. Homeland Security decides who is fit. Those officers may question, arrest and hold people. They work under federal supervision. Federal staff still do the same work as well.

Sec. 12. Encouraging Voluntary Compliance with the Law

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, and subject to adequate safeguards, assurances, bonds, and any other lawful measure, to adopt policies and procedures to encourage aliens unlawfully in the United States to voluntarily depart as soon as possible, including through enhanced usage of the provisions of section 240B of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1229c), international agreements or assistance, or any other measures that encourage aliens unlawfully in the United States to depart as promptly as possible, including through removals of aliens as provided by section 250 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1260).

In plain English

This is about leaving on one's own. Homeland Security must make that easier. It works with State and the Attorney General. Bonds and other safeguards may be used. Deals with other countries may help. The aim is to get people to go sooner.

Sec. 13. Recalcitrant Countries

The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action to: (a) Cooperate and effectively implement, as appropriate, the sanctions provided by section 243(d) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1253(d)), with the Secretary of State, to the maximum extent permitted by law, ensuring that diplomatic [[Page 8446]] efforts and negotiations with foreign states include the foreign states' acceptance of their nationals who are subject to removal from the United States; and (b) Eliminate all documentary barriers, dilatory tactics, or other restrictions that prevent the prompt repatriation of aliens to any foreign state. Any failure or delay by a foreign state to verify the identity of a national of that state shall be considered in carrying out subsection (a) this section, and shall also be considered regarding the issuance of any other sanctions that may be available to

In plain English

This is about countries that will not take people back. State and Homeland Security must press them. The law allows visas for that country to be cut off. Paper barriers and delays must be swept away. A country that drags its feet on identity checks is marked. That counts against it when penalties are weighed.

Sec. 14. Visa Bonds

The Secretary of Treasury shall take all appropriate action, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, to establish a system to facilitate the administration of all bonds that the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security may lawfully require to administer the provisions of the INA.

In plain English

This covers visa bonds. Treasury must set up a system to handle them. State works with it. So does Homeland Security. Either of those two may require a bond by law. The immigration law allows it. The new system would manage every such bond.

Sec. 15.

Reestablishment of the VOICE Office and Addressing Victims of Crimes Committed by Removable Aliens. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall direct the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take all appropriate and lawful action to reestablish within ICE an office to provide proactive, timely, adequate, and professional services to victims of crimes committed by removable aliens, and those victims' family members. The Attorney General shall also ensure that the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 3771 are followed in all Federal prosecutions involving crimes committed by removable aliens.

In plain English

This brings back an office for crime victims. It sits inside ICE. It serves those hurt by people who can be removed. Their families are served too. The Attorney General must also follow a victims rights law. That holds in every federal case of this kind.

Sec. 16. Addressing Actions by the Previous Administration

The Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall promptly take all appropriate action, consistent with law, to rescind the policy decisions of the previous administration that led to the increased or continued presence of illegal aliens in the United States, and align any and all departmental activities with the policies set out by this order and the immigration laws. Such action should include, but is not limited to: (a) ensuring that the parole authority under section 212(d)(5) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)) is exercised on only a case-by-case basis in accordance with the plain language of the statute, and in all circumstances only when an individual alien demonstrates urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit derived from their particular continued presence in the United States arising from such parole; (b) ensuring that

In plain English

This undoes steps by the last team. Three agency heads must act. Steps that let more people stay are to be dropped. Parole must be granted case by case. The law allows it only for urgent need. It may also be granted for clear public benefit.

Sec. 17. Sanctuary Jurisdictions

The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, to the maximum extent possible under law, evaluate and undertake any lawful actions to ensure that so-called ``sanctuary'' jurisdictions, which seek to interfere with the lawful exercise of Federal law enforcement operations, do not receive access to Federal funds. Further, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall evaluate and undertake any other lawful actions, criminal or civil, that they deem warranted based on any such jurisdiction's practices that interfere with the enforcement of Federal law.

In plain English

This is about sanctuary places. Those are towns and states that limit help to federal agents. Two agency heads must look at their funding. They must act to cut off federal money. They may also weigh civil or criminal steps. That depends on what each place does.

Sec. 18. Information Sharing

(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall promptly issue guidance to ensure maximum compliance by Department of Homeland Security personnel with the provisions of 8 U.S.C. 1373 and 8 U.S.C. 1644 and ensure that State and local governments are provided with the information necessary to fulfill law enforcement, citizenship, or immigration status verification requirements authorized by law; and [[Page 8447]] (b) The Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action to stop the trafficking and smuggling of alien children into the United States, including through the sharing of any information necessary to assist in the achievement of that objective.

In plain English

This is about sharing records. Homeland Security must issue guidance to its staff. States must get what the law lets them have. That covers checks on status and on citizens. Three agency heads must also act on child smuggling. Sharing records is one tool named for that.

Sec. 19. Funding Review

The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall: (a) Immediately review and, if appropriate, audit all contracts, grants, or other agreements providing Federal funding to non-governmental organizations supporting or providing services, either directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens, to ensure that such agreements conform to applicable law and are free of waste, fraud, and abuse, and that they do not promote or facilitate violations of our immigration laws; (b) Pause distribution of all further funds pursuant to such agreements pending the results of the review in subsection (a) of this section; (c) Terminate all such agreements determined to be in violation of law or to be sources of waste, fraud, or abuse and prohibit any such future agreements; (d) Coordinate with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that no funding for

In plain English

This is about grants to outside groups. Those groups help people who can be removed. Two agency heads must review every deal. They may audit them as well. Funds are paused while that goes on. Deals found unlawful or wasteful must end. No new ones may be signed.

Sec. 20. Denial of Public Benefits to Illegal Aliens

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall take all appropriate action to ensure that all agencies identify and stop the provision of any public benefits to any illegal alien not authorized to receive them under the provisions of the INA or other relevant statutory provisions.

In plain English

This targets public benefits. The budget office must act. Every agency must check who it pays. It must find people here unlawfully. Payments to them must stop. That applies where the law does not allow the benefit. The immigration law is the main test. Other laws count too.

Sec. 21. Hiring More Agents and Officers

Subject to available appropriations, the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shall take all appropriate action to significantly increase the number of agents and officers available to perform the duties of immigration officers.

In plain English

This adds staff. Homeland Security must hire more people. Two agencies do the work. One guards the border. One enforces the law inside. The aim is many more agents. More officers are wanted too. They would do the work of an immigration officer. Money must be there first.

Sec. 22. Severability

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

It is the policy of the United States to enforce this order to the maximum extent possible to advance the interests of the United States. Accordingly: (a) If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its other provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby; and (b) If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid because of the failure to follow certain procedures, the relevant executive branch officials shall implement those procedural requirements to conform with existing law and with any applicable court orders.

In plain English

This is the severability clause. If a court strikes down part of the order, the rest still stands. It also says to enforce the order as far as the law allows.

Sec. 23. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party [[Page 8448]] against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, January 20, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-02006 Filed 1-28-25; 11:15 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body>

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.