HB2273, titled the UPRISERS Act, would require the Secretary of State to revoke the visas of certain noncitizens admitted under student- and exchange-related visa categories if they are convicted of assaulting a police officer or of offenses related to rioting. The bill covers aliens admitted under sections 101(a)(15)(F), (J), or (M) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which include foreign students, exchange visitors, and vocational students.
The bill also amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make those same individuals deportable if convicted of assaulting a police officer or of a riot-related offense. The riot-related conduct is defined broadly to include inciting, organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot, as well as committing violence in furtherance of a riot or aiding and abetting such conduct.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new visa-revocation and deportability ground to federal immigration law for certain noncitizens in F, J, and M visa categories who are convicted of assaulting a police officer or riot-related offenses. It would directly affect the State Department’s visa authority and the Department of Homeland Security’s removal framework by creating mandatory consequences tied to specified criminal convictions. The bill would not create a new criminal offense, but it would expand immigration penalties and could affect foreign students, exchange visitors, vocational students, and the institutions that host them.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge broad legislative sentiment. Based on the bill text and its sponsors, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and law-and-order proposal focused on violence against law enforcement and riot activity. The introduced status and referral to the House Judiciary Committee indicate it was still at an early stage of consideration.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the breadth of the bill’s coverage of “offenses related to rioting,” which includes not only direct violence but also inciting, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or aiding and abetting a riot. Critics could argue that this language is expansive and may sweep in conduct beyond direct violent acts, while supporters are likely to emphasize deterrence and protection of police officers and public order. Another possible issue is that the bill targets only noncitizens in certain visa categories, raising concerns about proportionality, due process, and selective immigration enforcement.