The proposed legislation, titled the "Pausing on Admissions Until Security Ensured Act of 2025" or the "PAUSE Act of 2025," seeks to impose a comprehensive moratorium on issuing most visas and providing immigration status until specific conditions are met within immigration law. These conditions include allowing states and localities to deny public school access to undocumented aliens, preventing nonimmigrants from adjusting to permanent resident status, and redefining birthright citizenship to require at least one U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent.

The bill would restrict family-sponsored immigration to only spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, and prohibits granting any lawful status to individuals identified as Islamists, observers of Sharia law, members or associates of the Chinese Communist Party, or known/suspected terrorists or foreign terrorist organization affiliates. Additionally, a broad range of federal benefits, including Medicare, Medicaid (for non-emergency care), SSI, SNAP, ACA tax credits, WIC, higher education loans, and housing assistance, would be denied to aliens.

Beyond these limitations, the bill introduces significant changes to existing immigration programs. It would impose a substantial $100,000 fee on employers filing H-1B petitions for initial grants, extensions, or changes of employment. The legislation also mandates the termination of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows foreign students to work in the U.S. after graduation, and repeals the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program entirely. These provisions would take effect immediately upon enactment, revoking pending applications and selections for these programs with fee refunds.