American Entrepreneurs First Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill requires anyone applying for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to provide proof of their citizenship or legal permanent residency. This includes the popular 7(a) loans and real estate loans used by thousands of small businesses across the country.
• Under these new rules, business owners must be 100 percent owned by U.S. citizens, nationals, or green card holders. If a business has even one owner who does not meet these criteria, the entire company would be ineligible for federal small business loans.
• The policy specifically bans several groups from getting these loans, including refugees, people seeking asylum, and those with DACA status. Even people with valid work visas would no longer be able to use these federal programs to start or grow their businesses.
• Supporters of the bill want to ensure that federal tax dollars and financial support are reserved strictly for American citizens and permanent residents. They argue this helps prioritize local entrepreneurs over foreign nationals.
• Critics may argue that this could hurt the economy by cutting off funding for hardworking entrepreneurs who are legally in the U.S. but haven't yet become permanent residents. This could lead to fewer new businesses and jobs in communities that rely on immigrant-owned shops and services.