Immigration

Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2020 This bill provides FY2020 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security. The bill provides appropriations for Departmental Management, Operations, Intelligence, and Oversight, including the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management; the Management Directorate; Intelligence, Analysis, and Operations Coordination; and the Office of Inspector General. The bill provides appropriations for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service. The bill provides appropriations for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The bill provides appropriations for Research, Development, Training, and Services, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, the Science and Technology Directorate, and the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts.

Coordinating Care for Children Affected by Immigration Enforcement Act

United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019

Coordinating Care for Children Affected by Immigration Enforcement Act This bill provides protections for children whose parent or caregiver has been detained for immigration enforcement purposes. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and entities cooperating with DHS on immigration enforcement shall determine as soon as possible whether a detained individual is a parent or caregiver of a child in the United States. Detained parents and caregivers shall (1) have the chance to make at least two phone calls to arrange for child care; and (2) receive contact information for child welfare agencies, family courts, consulates, attorneys, and other relevant entities. DHS shall not transfer the detained individual to another geographical area until child care arrangements have been made, absent extraordinary circumstances. DHS shall (1) permit detained individuals regular contact with their children, and (2) give detained individuals the opportunity to participate in all proceedings impacting custody of their children.

MORE Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019 or the MORE Act of 2019 This bill decriminalizes marijuana. Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. The bill also makes other changes, including the following: replaces statutory references to marijuana and marihuana with cannabis , requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees, establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs, imposes a 5% tax on cannabis products and requires revenues to be deposited into the trust fund, makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers, prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions, prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of a cannabis-related event (e.g., conduct or a conviction), and establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses.

DONE Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

Detention Oversight, Not Expansion Act or the DONE Act This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using any federal funds to construct or expand immigration detention facilities and requires additional oversight of such facilities. The DHS Inspector General shall conduct various oversight activities into immigration detention facilities, including (1) periodic unannounced inspections; (2) audits to ensure compliance with various legal requirements; and (3) investigations into issues such as deaths in custody, detainee access to medical and mental health care, and sexual assault and harassment. DHS may not continue a contract with any facility deemed less than adequate in two of the most recent inspector general inspections, audits, or investigations. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within DHS shall (1) investigate civil rights and civil liberties complaints in immigration detention facilities, and (2) periodically release on a public website data about such complaints and investigations. The bill requires various reports to Congress, including a DHS plan for decreasing the number of immigration detention beds and implementing community-based alternatives to detention.

TPS Reform Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

TPS Reform Act of 2019 This bill changes the procedures for designating a country with temporary protected status (TPS). (Qualified nationals of a TPS-designated country shall have work authorization and may not be removed from the United States while the status is in effect.) Specifically, the bill requires an act of Congress to designate a country with TPS status, where currently the Department of Justice has such authority. In an initial act designating a TPS country, Congress shall include a time period for the designation of up to 18 months. Congress may also pass an act to terminate or extend a designation. The bill also establishes that an alien who lacks a lawful immigration status shall not receive the benefits of temporary protected status.

Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to build a searchable database with certain information about each temporary foreign nonimmigrant worker. The database shall include information such as (1) each worker's age, gender, and country of origin; (2) the type of visa used and the status of such visa; (3) where each worker is employed; and (4) each worker's occupation and the compensation received. The database shall only be available to (1) law enforcement, (2) service providers to human trafficking victims, (3) worker protection organizations, and (4) entities agreeing to use the information only for research purposes. The bill expands existing reporting requirements related to temporary foreign nonimmigrant workers to include additional information such as (1) the 10 employers that hired the most temporary foreign nonimmigrant workers, and (2) the 10 occupations with the most temporary foreign nonimmigrant workers.

Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act This bill establishes limitations on separating alien children from parents and on detaining families, and also addresses other immigration-related matters. A child may be separated from a parent or legal guardian at or near a port of entry or U.S. border only if (1) a state court has made a relevant ruling, such as terminating the parent's rights; (2) a qualified child welfare agency official has ruled that separation is in the child's best interest; or (3) a specified official makes certain determinations, such as concluding that a child is a trafficking victim. A child may not be separated from a parent or guardian solely to deter migration or promote compliance with immigration laws. This bill establishes presumptions (1) in favor of family unity and keeping siblings together, and (2) against detention. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall (1) document all child separations, (2) develop training for officers handling separations, (3) publish guidance on how to locate a separated child, (4) periodically provide a parent or guardian information about a separated child, and (5) pay for counsel to represent unaccompanied alien children in removal proceedings. The Flores settlement (an agreement imposing conditions on the treatment of detained alien minors) and a related court holding shall apply to the detention of families. The bill also contains provisions relating to the detention of aliens, including (1) requiring medical assessments of detained children, (2) imposing health-related standards for detention facilities, and (3) requiring DHS to provide sufficient funds for alternatives to detention programs.

MORE Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019 or the MORE Act of 2019 This bill decriminalizes marijuana. Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. The bill also makes other changes, including the following: replaces statutory references to marijuana and marihuana with cannabis , requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees, establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs, imposes a 5% tax on cannabis products and requires revenues to be deposited into the trust fund, makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers, prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions, prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of a cannabis-related event (e.g., conduct or a conviction), and establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses.

Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to build a searchable database with certain information about each temporary foreign nonimmigrant worker. The database shall include information such as (1) each worker's age, gender, and country of origin; (2) the type of visa used and the status of such visa; (3) where each worker is employed; and (4) each worker's occupation and the compensation received. The database shall only be available to (1) law enforcement, (2) service providers to human trafficking victims, (3) worker protection organizations, and (4) entities agreeing to use the information only for research purposes. The bill expands existing reporting requirements related to temporary foreign nonimmigrant workers to include additional information such as (1) the 10 employers that hired the most temporary foreign nonimmigrant workers, and (2) the 10 occupations with the most temporary foreign nonimmigrant workers.

DONE Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

Detention Oversight, Not Expansion Act or the DONE Act This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using any federal funds to construct or expand immigration detention facilities and requires additional oversight of such facilities. The DHS Inspector General shall conduct various oversight activities into immigration detention facilities, including (1) periodic unannounced inspections; (2) audits to ensure compliance with various legal requirements; and (3) investigations into issues such as deaths in custody, detainee access to medical and mental health care, and sexual assault and harassment. DHS may not continue a contract with any facility deemed less than adequate in two of the most recent inspector general inspections, audits, or investigations. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within DHS shall (1) investigate civil rights and civil liberties complaints in immigration detention facilities, and (2) periodically release on a public website data about such complaints and investigations. The bill requires various reports to Congress, including a DHS plan for decreasing the number of immigration detention beds and implementing community-based alternatives to detention.

A bill to clarify the rights of all persons who are held or detained at a port of entry or at any detention facility overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

This bill establishes various protections for aliens in certain immigration-related proceedings or inspections. When an alien is undergoing certain types of inspections or is subject to a removal, exclusion, or deportation proceeding, the alien shall be entitled to representation by counsel of the alien's choice. The current statute only states that an alien is entitled to representation in removal proceedings. The bill also removes a statutory requirement that the government bears no cost for such representation. If such an alien is subject to detention or inspection at a port of entry and cannot meet with counsel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shall provide for remote communication with counsel. If such an alien has been denied access to counsel, the alien may not submit paperwork to abandon lawful permanent resident status or to withdraw an application for admission. The detention of an individual at a port of entry or a CBP or ICE facility shall (1) be limited to the briefest term and the least restrictive conditions necessary; and (2) include access to food, water, and restrooms.

A resolution commending the officers and personnel of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their work during the crisis at the Southern border.

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

This resolution commends U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel for their service at the southern border and calls on Congress to pass legislation to manage migrant flow.

A bill to expedite detainee transport to border patrol processing facilities.

United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2019

This bill directs Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to establish a program to expedite detainee transport to processing facilities. Under the program, CBP shall ensure that (1) a certain number of border patrol agents with commercial driver's licenses with passenger endorsements are serving at each remote station and on each shift, and (2) a certain number of buses are assigned to specified geographical sectors.

End Child Trafficking Now Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2019

End Child Trafficking Now Act This bill imposes restrictions related to adult aliens being admitted into the United States with a minor. An adult alien shall not be admitted with a minor unless the adult (1) presents documents or witness testimony proving that the adult is a relative or guardian of the minor, or (2) submits to a DNA test that proves such a relationship. The Department of Homeland Security shall request a DNA test only if the required relationship cannot be established by documents or testimony. An adult alien who does not consent to a requested DNA test shall be inadmissible. If the required relationship cannot be established and the immigration officer believes the alien is guilty of a felony offense, the officer may arrest the alien adult. The bill makes it a crime for an alien adult to knowingly use a minor to whom the adult is not a relative or guardian to enter the United States.

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to the detention of dangerous aliens, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2019

This bill requires mandatory detention of certain aliens and modifies other provisions related to the detention of aliens. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must detain certain aliens, such as an alien convicted of an aggravated felony or believed to be a trafficker of controlled substances, beyond certain time limits for detaining an alien. The bill provides for additional instances when DHS may extend the 90-day removal period (generally the window in which DHS has to remove an alien after a final order of removal), such as when the Board of Immigration Appeals stays an alien's removal. DHS may keep an alien in detention during this extended period. An alien choosing to appeal mandatory detention or detention as part of a removal period extension may do so only by filing for a writ of habeas corpus. DHS may, at its sole discretion, continue to detain an alien beyond the removal period and any removal period extensions. DHS shall periodically certify a justification for detaining an alien beyond the removal period. The bill provides specific instances where DHS may exercise such powers, such as when releasing an alien would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences. DHS shall establish a detention review process for aliens who (1) have made all reasonable efforts to comply with a removal order, and (2) are not subject to mandatory detention. DHS shall use the review process to determine whether an alien should be detained or released with conditions.

To authorize the Attorney General to appoint 100 additional immigration judges, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2019

This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to appoint 100 additional immigration judges.

To authorize appropriations for detention spaces for the purpose of enforcing the immigration laws, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2019

This bill authorizes to be appropriated sums for detention spaces as necessary for the enforcement of immigration laws.

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reform asylum procedures related to the filing of frivolous applications, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2019

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to include with each asylum application a written warning notifying the applicant of the consequences of filing a frivolous application. The bill defines a frivolous application as one that (1) is so insufficient that it is clear that it was filed to delay removal from the United States or obtain some other immigration-related benefit, or (2) contains material facts that are knowingly fabricated.

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reform asylum procedures related to safe third countries, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2019

This bill allows the Department of Homeland Security to deny asylum to an applying alien and remove the alien to a country that is not the alien's country of nationality, if the alien would be safe and would be able to apply for asylum from that country. Currently, an asylum applicant may be removed to a third country only if that country is party to an international agreement allowing for such removal.

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reform asylum procedures, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2019

This bill requires an alien's "credible fear of persecution" to be more probable than not in order to be eligible for asylum. It also directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that the questions asked in expedited removal proceedings are done so in a uniform manner, and to record interviews in expedited removal and asylum proceedings. If an asylum seeker needs an interpreter, DHS shall ensure that a competent interpreter is used who is not affiliated with the government of the country the alien is seeking asylum frrom.

Border Zone Reasonableness Restoration Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

Border Zone Reasonableness Restoration Act of 2019 This bill limits the ability of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct searches and related activities without a warrant. DHS may without warrant board a vehicle for border enforcement purposes within 25 miles of any U.S. border, whereas currently DHS has statutory authority to do so within a reasonable distance of a U.S. border. DHS may exercise such authority in a sector that extends up to 100 miles from a U.S. border upon certifying to Congress the necessity of such an extension. DHS may not establish warrantless vehicle checkpoints beyond 10 miles from a U.S. border. Such checkpoints may not use race, gender, religion, or sex to any degree, except as descriptions of a specific suspect. DHS may without warrant access private lands, but not dwellings, for border enforcement purposes within 10 miles of any U.S. border, whereas currently DHS has statutory authority to do so within 25 miles of a U.S. border. DHS may exercise such authority in a sector that extends up to 25 miles from a U.S. border upon certifying to Congress the necessity of such an extension. An individual harmed by an extension of a maximum distance limitation under this bill may sue in federal district court. DHS authority to conduct various border enforcement activities without warrant must be consistent with the Fourth Amendment.

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019 This bill revises the authority for state grants to improve the reporting of unidentified and missing persons. Specifically, the bill authorizes grants to be used for additional activities (e.g., transportation of missing persons and unidentified remains), including with respect to migrants; expands eligible entities; and gives priority to eligible entities in states along the southern border. The bill also requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to deploy rescue beacons along the southern border to mitigate migrant deaths.

Securing America's Borders Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

Securing America's Borders Act of 2019 This bill directs Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire at least 600 new Border Patrol agents each fiscal year until the total number of agents meets the staffing requirements identified in a 2017 executive order. CBP shall report to the Government Accountability Office a comprehensive staffing analysis reflecting current workload demands.

Border Zone Reasonableness Restoration Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

Border Zone Reasonableness Restoration Act of 2019 This bill limits the ability of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct searches and related activities without a warrant. DHS may without warrant board a vehicle for border enforcement purposes within 25 miles of any U.S. border, whereas currently DHS has statutory authority to do so within a reasonable distance of a U.S. border. DHS may exercise such authority in a sector that extends up to 100 miles from a U.S. border upon certifying to Congress the necessity of such an extension. DHS may not establish warrantless vehicle checkpoints beyond 10 miles from a U.S. border. Such checkpoints may not use race, gender, religion, or sex to any degree, except as descriptions of a specific suspect. DHS may without warrant access private lands, but not dwellings, for border enforcement purposes within 10 miles of any U.S. border, whereas currently DHS has statutory authority to do so within 25 miles of a U.S. border. DHS may exercise such authority in a sector that extends up to 25 miles from a U.S. border upon certifying to Congress the necessity of such an extension. An individual harmed by an extension of a maximum distance limitation under this bill may sue in federal district court. DHS authority to conduct various border enforcement activities without warrant must be consistent with the Fourth Amendment.

A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status.

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months beginning July 22, 2019. (Nationals of a TPS-designated country shall have work authorization and may not be removed from the United States while the designation is in effect.)

Reuniting Families Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019

Reuniting Families Act This bill makes various immigration law changes, such as increasing the annual caps for certain immigrant visas and establishing that permanent partners are generally treated as spouses. The bill also expands which familial relationships are considered as immediate family and therefore not subject to annual limits, repeals specified bars from admission for unlawfully present aliens, and limits what constitutes a misrepresentation of citizenship status—a deportable offense—by requiring a willful misrepresentation.

Protecting Immigrant Gold Star and Military Families Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019

Protecting Immigrant Gold Star and Military Families Act This bill limits the deportability of certain relatives of current and former members of the Armed Forces. Certain grounds of deportability shall not apply to a qualifying alien who is (1) the spouse, widow or widower, parent, child, or sibling of a member of the Armed Forces or a veteran; or (2) eligible for a Gold Star lapel button (for certain immediate relatives of a member of the Armed Forces who died while serving). A qualifying alien is one who (1) has not have been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three misdemeanors; and (2) is not a threat to national security or public safety.

Condemning the Trump Administration's systematic cruel and inhumane treatment of migrants, particularly children, at the southern border.

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019

This resolution condemns the Trump Administration's treatment of migrants, particularly children, at the southern border.

Combating Deceptive Immigration Enforcement Practices Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019

Combating Deceptive Immigration Enforcement Practices Act of 2019 This bill bars immigration officers or agents of the Department of Homeland Security from wearing clothing, accessories, or other items bearing the word police while performing duties under the immigration laws.

Remittances and Money Laundering Risk Assessment Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019

Remittances and Money Laundering Risk Assessment Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to assess and develop a strategy to prevent the use of remittances by certain individuals and crime syndicates for purposes of financing terrorism, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and other forms of illicit financing. (Remittances are transfers of money and capital sent by migrants and foreign immigrant communities to their home countries.)

Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019

Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act This bill imposes requirements and standards related to the care of aliens in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody. CBP shall conduct an initial health screening of each alien in custody to identify those with acute conditions and high-risk vulnerabilities and to provide appropriate health care. CBP shall conduct the screening within 12 hours of each alien's arrival at a CBP facility, and within 6 hours for certain priority individuals such as children, pregnant women, and those with disabilities. The bill imposes various requirements related to the services, personnel, and infrastructure for providing such screenings, such as providing interpreters, chaperones, and mental health treatment when necessary. CBP shall ensure detainees have access to drinking water, toilets, sanitation facilities, hygiene products, food, and shelter. The bill imposes certain standards relating to such requirements, such as the minimum amount of drinking water for each detainee and the acceptable temperature range of the shelters. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall enter into memoranda of understanding with various emergency government relief agencies to address instances when surge capacity is necessary. The Inspector General of DHS shall conduct unannounced inspections of ports of entry, border patrol stations, and detention facilities and report the results to Congress. The Government Accountability Office shall assess CBP management of such facilities and whether CBP and DHS processes are in compliance with this bill's requirements.

POLICY CHANGES AND PROCESSING DELAYS AT U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES

United States · United States House of Representatives · 16 July 2019

National Commission To Investigate the Treatment of Migrant Families and Children Act of 2019.

United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019

National Commission To Investigate the Treatment of Migrant Families and Children Act of 2019 This bill establishes the National Commission to Investigate the Treatment of Migrant Families and Children By the Trump Administration within the legislative branch. The commission shall report on the actions of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically in relation to individuals apprehended along the U.S.-Mexico border since January 2017.

Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019

Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act This bill prohibits any executive agency from using the term alien to refer to an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national, or il legal alien to refer to such an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or lacks lawful immigration status. This prohibition does not apply when quoting certain texts. The bill (1) establishes a uniform definition for the term foreign national when used in acts of Congress and agencies; (2) replaces alien with foreign national in federal government documents, including statutes and regulations; and (3) replaces illegal alien with undocumented foreign national in such documents. Under the bill, a foreign national is any individual other than an individual (1) who is a citizen of the United States; or (2) though not a citizen of the United States, who owes permanent allegiance to the United States.

Equal Justice for Immigrants Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019

Equal Justice for Immigrants Act of 2019 This bill contains various provisions designed to protect migrants, such as limits on deportation. An alien arriving by land to the United States seeking admission may not be returned to the last country that the alien was in while immigration proceedings are pending, unless the alien affirmatively consents. For an asylum seeker who is a member of a vulnerable population, the Department of Homeland Security shall ensure that the number of interviews required is not overly burdensome. The Department of Justice (DOJ) may not impose production quotas or other time-based metrics on immigration judges or use such metrics to evaluate a judge's performance. The government may pay for counsel to represent aliens in various immigration proceedings. For indigent aliens, the government shall appoint counsel. An alien eligible for a removal proceeding may not be removed prior to the date of such a proceeding. The bill extends to 60 days the deadline seeking review of a final order of removal, and authorizes the court to extend that deadline an additional 30 days in certain instances. A petition for review shall stay the removal. After the Board of Immigration Appeals affirms a removal order, the DOJ shall provide the alien a written notice of the alien's right to appeal the decision and certain information related to such an appeal.

Condemning President Trump's racist comments directed at Members of Congress.

United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2019

This resolution states that immigrants and their descendants have made America stronger and naturalized citizens are just as American as those whose families have been in the United States for generations. It also expresses a commitment to keep America open to those who lawfully seek refuge from violence and oppression and those willing to work hard to achieve the American Dream, regardless of race, ethnicity, faith, or country of origin. The resolution strongly condemns as racist the President’s comments about immigrants and those who look to the President like immigrants and states that these have legitimized hatred of new Americans and people of color, including his reference to immigrants and asylum seekers as “invaders.”

Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2019

Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act This bill establishes limitations on separating alien children from parents and on detaining families, and also addresses other immigration-related matters. A child may be separated from a parent or legal guardian at or near a port of entry or U.S. border only if (1) a state court has made a relevant ruling, such as terminating the parent's rights; (2) a qualified child welfare agency official has ruled that separation is in the child's best interest; or (3) a specified official makes certain determinations, such as concluding that a child is a trafficking victim. A child may not be separated from a parent or guardian solely to deter migration or promote compliance with immigration laws. This bill establishes presumptions (1) in favor of family unity and keeping siblings together, and (2) against detention. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall (1) document all child separations, (2) develop training for officers handling separations, (3) publish guidance on how to locate a separated child, (4) periodically provide a parent or guardian information about a separated child, and (5) pay for counsel to represent unaccompanied alien children in removal proceedings. The Flores settlement (an agreement imposing conditions on the treatment of detained alien minors) and a related court holding shall apply to the detention of families. The bill also contains provisions relating to the detention of aliens, including (1) requiring medical assessments of detained children, (2) imposing health-related standards for detention facilities, and (3) requiring DHS to provide sufficient funds for alternatives to detention programs.

Providing Justice for Asylum Seekers Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2019

Providing Justice for Asylum Seekers Act of 2019 This bill limits when an alien may be removed from the United States in absentia. To remove an alien in a proceeding without the alien present, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must establish that the alien (1) had sufficient written notice of the proceeding; (2) is removable; and (3) has a pattern of failing to report to DHS, if the alien was required to periodically report. Currently, DHS is not required to prove a pattern of failure to report. The bill also gives an immigration judge discretion as to whether to remove an alien in absentia after DHS has established its case. Currently, the judge must remove an alien after DHS has established its case. If an alien is ordered removed in absentia, a motion to reopen the case due to exceptional circumstances leading to the alien's failure to appear at the proceeding may be filed at any time, where currently such a motion must be filed within 180 days of the removal order. The bill also allows a motion to reopen to be filed at any time if the alien is a minor child. If there is a change in the time or place of any removal proceeding, and it is not practicable to provide written notice to the alien in person, DHS must notify the alien and the alien's counsel through the mail. Currently, DHS is only statutorily required to notify the alien or the alien's counsel through the mail.

AGRI Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2019

Agricultural Guest Worker Reform Initiative Act of 2019 or the AGRI Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions related to H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) visas, including to eliminate certain requirements to hire U.S. workers, expand the program to include dairy and ranch workers, and shift administrative responsibilities from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill establishes a trust fund to be used to (1) administer and enforce the program, (2) collect a portion of guest worker wages to be paid upon a worker's return to the worker's country of origin, and (3) provide emergency medical services for guest workers. The bill eliminates a requirement that, during the first half of the time period of a guest worker contract, certain employers must hire any qualified U.S. employee who applies to perform the job the guest worker was hired to perform. Furthermore, an employer shall not be required to pay a guest worker a wage higher than the highest of federal, state, or local minimum wage rates. The bill places limitations on when guest workers may receive civil legal assistance for low-income individuals. Employer-provided housing shall be governed generally by USDA regulations, where currently such housing must meet applicable federal, state, or local standards. Employers shall not have to provide housing to workers who can reasonably return to their permanent residence within the same day. An employer may file a civil action to recover transportation costs from a guest worker who absconds from a contract.

Child Trafficking Victims Protection and Welfare Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

Child Trafficking Victims Protection and Welfare Act This bill provides for protections for children detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS shall develop guidelines for the treatment of children (under age 18 with no permanent immigration status) in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody. DHS must provide resources to address the needs of such children, including child welfare professionals, at each port of entry and Border Patrol station. The bill imposes various duties on such child welfare professionals, including the duty to report allegations of abuse. DHS may not remove a child from a parent or legal guardian solely for the purpose of deterring individuals from migrating to the United States or for promoting compliance with the immigration laws. DHS must (1) assign a family unit tracking number to each family member apprehended at the border, (2) allow humanitarian organizations and state and local child welfare agencies to monitor children in detention and conduct unannounced inspections, (3) promulgate regulations establishing basic standards of care for children in short-term CBP custody, (4) ensure that children apprehended by CBP receive an interview and screening with a child welfare professional and are provided information about their rights, and (5) provide each apprehended parent or legal guardian and each child with access to legal counsel. The U.S. Agency for International Development shall establish programs to support the safe and sustainable repatriation of an unaccompanied alien child to the child's country of nationality or last habitual residence.

Strategic and Humane Southern Border Migrant Response Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

Strategic and Humane Southern Border Migrant Response Act This bill imposes requirements related to the handling of migrants from Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) and terminates certain policies requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico before applying and while cases are pending. The President shall report on a plan for processing asylum seekers apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall establish a task force to implement the plan. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall maintain family unity to the greatest extent possible, unless there is a legal requirement or safety concern requiring otherwise. DHS shall (1) make every effort to ensure that apprehended individuals have access to bathrooms and showers, water, appropriate nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation (currently, the statute only requires access to food and water); (2) establish uniform medical screening procedures for detained individuals and programs that provide alternatives to detention; (3) increase its capacity to care for families and unaccompanied children by contracting with qualified entities and hiring additional CBP officers; and (4) restore a program that allowed certain minors in Northern Triangle countries to apply for refugee status without traveling to the United States. The Government Accountability Office and DHS Inspector General shall audit and conduct uninspected inspections of detention facilities. Any Member of Congress may inspect such facilities without prior notification The Department of State shall work with the United Nations to increase the capacity of Northern Triangle countries and Mexico to handle and care for those seeking refugee resettlement.

Verify Eligibility Coverage Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

Verify Eligibility Coverage Act This bill allows a state to delay or deny an individual's initial eligibility for Medicaid benefits without providing a reasonable opportunity to submit evidence of a satisfactory immigration status or pending official verification of such status. A state that elects to provide a reasonable period for an individual to provide such evidence may not receive payment for amounts expended on the individual's medical assistance during that period. In FY2020-FY2028, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, using the Medicaid Improvement Fund, shall pay a 90% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) to eligible states for home- and community-based services furnished under a state Medicaid waiver to patients who had been on a waiting list for such services.

Protecting Sensitive Locations Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

Protecting Sensitive Locations Act This bill prohibits immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a sensitive location unless there are exigent circumstances or if written prior approval has been obtained from certain officials. Sensitive locations include health care facilities; schools and school bus stops; places that provide assistance for people such as children, pregnant women, and abuse victims; places that provide disaster or emergency services; places of worship; courthouses and lawyers' offices; and public assistance offices. The prohibition shall apply to Department of Homeland Security officers and agents, as well as state employees pursuing immigration enforcement actions. If an enforcement action is carried out in violation of this prohibition (1) no information resulting from the action may be entered into the record in a resulting removal proceeding, and (2) the affected alien may move to immediately terminate such a proceeding. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall annually report to Congress about enforcement actions taken at sensitive locations in the preceding year.

BELIEVE Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

Backlog Elimination, Legal Immigration, and Employment Visa Enhancement Act or the BELIEVE Act This bill increases maximum limits on employment-based visas and makes other related changes. The bill increases the worldwide cap on employment-based immigrants admitted each fiscal year, from 140,000 plus certain additions to 270,000 plus the same additions. The bill (1) eliminates existing per-country caps on employment-based immigrants, (2) allows certain employment-based immigrants to comprise a higher percentage of the worldwide level of immigration in a fiscal year than under current law, (3) exempts from numerical caps immigrants coming to work in the United States as physical therapists or professional nurses, and (4) exempts from numerical caps a qualifying alien who graduated from a U.S. institution of higher education and who was admitted into the United States as a dependent of a nonimmigrant. The bill provides various immigration-related benefits, such as work authorization and exemption from certain numerical limits, to qualifying spouses and children of employment-based immigrants. An alien who has properly filed for permanent legal resident status and is awaiting a visa number becoming available shall have lawful status and employment authorization while the application is pending, subject to requirements such as a background check.

Short-Term Detention Standards Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2019

Short-Term Detention Standards Act This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to make every effort to ensure that apprehended individuals are given access to appropriate temporary shelter, bathrooms and shower facilities, water, appropriate nutrition, hygiene, personal grooming items, and sanitation needs. Currently, CBP is only required to make every effort to provide food and water.

Accountability for Migrant Deaths Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019

Accountability for Migrant Deaths Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Health and Human Services to report to Congress within 24 hours of a death of a foreign national while in the respective department's custody. The House of Representatives shall hold a hearing within a week of receiving such a report. Executive privilege may not be asserted with respect to testimony before Congress about such a death.

Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019

Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2019 This bill provides a private right of action against state and local jurisdictions with certain policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, and contains additional provisions related to such jurisdictions. Currently, such cooperation is generally not required. An individual (or certain relatives of such an individual) who is the victim of any felony for which an alien has been arrested, convicted, or sentenced to a prison term of at least one year may sue a state or local jurisdiction if the jurisdiction failed to comply with (1) certain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests related to arresting and detaining aliens, and (2) a DHS request to detain the alien in question or provide a notification about the release of the alien. A jurisdiction that accepts certain federal grants may not assert immunity in such a civil action. A jurisdiction (or employee of a jurisdiction) that complies with certain DHS detainer requests shall be deemed to be acting as an agent of DHS. A complying jurisdiction or employee of the jurisdiction shall not be liable in any lawsuit relating to compliance with such requests. In a lawsuit against an employee of the jurisdiction, the United States shall be substituted in as the defendant, and remedies shall be limited to provisions for bringing tort claims against the federal government.

Counter Terrorist Network Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019

Counter Terrorist Network Act This bill directs the National Targeting Center of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collaborate with federal, state, local, tribal, and international entities to enhance border security through such operations as those that seek to disrupt terrorist networks. The bill authorizes the CBP to assign its personnel to other appropriate agencies for counter terrorism activities.

U.S. Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019

U.S. Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish procedures to ensure consistent and efficient medical screenings for all individuals stopped between ports of entry. The screenings shall take place within 12 hours of the initial stop. The bill imposes various requirements for screenings, including documentation of current medical complaints and recordkeeping. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall research and report to Congress new approaches to improve the screening procedures and recommend any necessary corrective actions, as well as a plan to record the results of the screenings in electronic health records that are interoperable with other DHS systems.

Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019

Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2019 This bill eliminates the Optional Practical Training Program or any successor program, unless Congress expressly authorizes such a program. (The program provides an F-1 student visa holder temporary employment authorization before or after completion of the student's studies, or both.)