LaLota Backs Border Security Bill Requiring DHS to Report on Special Interest Aliens

Washington, D.C. —  Congressman Nick LaLota (R‑Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 275 – Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2025, which requires the Department of Homeland Security to submit monthly reports to Congress detailing the number of foreign nationals who attempt to illegally cross the border while posing an elevated security threat, along with their most recent country of residence and the location of their encounter.

"Americans deserve to know who is coming into our country—especially when national security is at stake," said Rep. LaLota. "As a native New Yorker who was on Active Duty in the U.S. Navy during 9/11, I know that border security is about far more than immigration—it’s about public safety. This bill ensures Congress has the data it needs to hold agencies accountable, craft smarter policy, and protect our communities. The safety of Long Island families will always come first."

To read the full text of the bill, click HERE. 

Background: 

H.R. 275, the Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2025, would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publish detailed monthly reports on encounters with “special interest aliens”—non-U.S. nationals flagged due to travel patterns or national security concerns. The reports must include the number of encounters, countries of origin or last residence, and where the encounter occurred—broken down by land, air, or sea ports of entry, between ports, or within the interior. The reporting would begin with the first full month after the bill becomes law and include a retrospective report covering January 20, 2021, through January 19, 2025. The intent is to enhance transparency and public awareness around national security-related immigration enforcement, addressing concerns that DHS has historically withheld or inconsistently disclosed this data.

Supporters argue the bill will strengthen congressional oversight and improve public accountability by ensuring regular disclosure of how many special interest aliens are encountered and from where. Recent committee findings highlighted a sharp rise in encounters with individuals from countries like China, Iran, and Russia—including an increase in apprehensions of Chinese nationals from around 350 in FY2021 to nearly 38,000 in FY2024. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of implementing the monthly reporting requirement to be less than $500,000 over five years.

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