Bill Overview
Title: STOP Act
Description: This bill establishes that certain notices of determination from the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security shall have no effect. (Generally, these notices relate to the application of certain provisions that bar certain non-U.S. nationals, referred to as aliens in federal law, from entering the United States.)
Sponsors: Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]
Target Audience
Population: Non-U.S. nationals potentially affiliated with the Taliban or residing in regions with significant Taliban activity
Estimated Size: 0
- The bill aims to stop Taliban operatives from entering the United States, therefore directly affecting potential Taliban operatives who are non-U.S. nationals.
- It impacts all potential immigrants or visitors who could be subject to entry denial under criteria related to Taliban affiliations, increasing the selectivity of entry approvals.
- The State Department and Department of Homeland Security's determinations can affect individuals seeking entry into the United States based on potential national security threats, particularly those related to the Taliban.
- Individuals in countries with significant Taliban activity, such as Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan, will be more scrutinized or affected as a result of this bill.
Reasoning
- The target population is non-U.S. nationals, particularly those applying for U.S. entry from regions with Taliban activity. Within the U.S., the primary impacted individuals would be government employees responsible for implementing this policy, potentially including overstretched resources needing support within budget limits.
- Simulating U.S. citizens gives insights into perceptions of national security and indirect impacts. Government officials, particularly in immigration, will directly implement the policy, which could influence their workload and stress. Budgets may go towards improving processes or increasing manpower for these departments.
- Most U.S. citizens will not directly be affected by the policy unless they work in immigration or national security sectors, but overall perceptions of security may improve for the general populace over time.
Simulated Interviews
Immigration Officer (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy is necessary for national security.
- It will increase my workload significantly as we scrutinize more applications, which is stressful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
International Relations Consultant (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While security is important, I worry this policy might strain international relations, especially with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Small Business Owner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that this policy might affect the visa processing times for my potential hires from Afghanistan.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel safer knowing measures are being taken to prevent threats, although I'm not directly impacted.
- I'd like to see resources also go to enhancing digital security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Journalist (Austin, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This move seems like it might heighten tensions but it's important for public safety concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Legal Analyst (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could lead to legal challenges and limit the freedoms of those unjustly scrutinized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired Military Officer (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support this policy because national security should be a top priority even if it means stricter immigration controls.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
College Professor (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The STOP Act could set a precedent for how we handle immigration from conflict zones.
- We should maintain a balance between security and compassion.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
HR Specialist in Tech Company (Detroit, MI)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about hiring prospects if visa processing becomes even more stringent under this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Historian (Boston, MA)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Strengthening security is logical but we must ensure not to deter legitimate cultural exchanges or educational trips.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $35000000)
Year 2: $24000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $34000000)
Year 3: $23000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $33000000)
Year 5: $21000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $31000000)
Year 10: $18000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $28000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of the bill in preventing Taliban operatives from entering the U.S.
- The administrative and legal challenges that might arise from implementing stricter DHS and State Department determinations.
- Potential diplomatic ramifications with countries affected by the bill, particularly Afghanistan and neighboring regions.