HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST

Immigration

Appropriations - FY2023 H.R. 8257: Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. H.R. 8295: Making appropriations for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. HR 6833, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2023 Sec. 122 - DOD transfer authority for OAW and OEW activities Sec. 147 - Refugee and Entrant Assistance. Provides additional funding to address increased costs in refugee and entrant assistance Sec. 149 - Afghan Parolee Benefits. Extends authorization for the same refugee benefits provided to Afghans granted parole through FY2022, to Afghans granted parole during the CR. S.4518: Solving the Border Crisis Act (not yet introduced) This bill seeks to extend Title 42 expulsion authority, to resume border wall system construction, to preserve the exclusive authority of immigration judges over asylum claims, and to codify the Migrant Protection Protocols. H.R. 7458 Public Health Border Security Act: To establish a process for terminating the suspension of entries and imports from designated places related to the COVID-19 pandemic. S.4036 Public Health Border Security Act: To establish a process for terminating the suspension of entries and imports from designated places related to the COVID-19 pandemic. H.R. 2839 Bipartisan Border Solutions Act of 2021: This bill establishes regional processing centers for conducting immigration-related activities and addresses other related issues S. 1358: Bipartisan Border Solutions Act of 2021: This bill establishes regional processing centers for conducting immigration-related activities and addresses other related issues HR. 5376 Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: Worked to keep anti-asylum amendments from getting added to the bill that would seek to codify T42 and its use at the southern border. H.R.8685 Afghan Adjustment Act This bill expands eligibility for special immigrant visas to certain Afghan nationals (and accompanying spouses and children) and addresses related issues. S. 4787: Afghan Adjustment Act: This bill expands eligibility for special immigrant visas to certain Afghan nationals (and accompanying spouses and children) and addresses related issues. Refugee Protection Act (not yet introduced): A bill to amend the Immigration and Naturalization Act and to provide for the admission and protection of refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable individuals, to provide for the processing of refugees and asylum seekers in the Western Hemisphere, and to modify certain special immigrant visa programs, and for other purposes. H.R.7900 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. This bill authorizes Department of Defense (DOD) activities for FY2023 and addresses other issues. Amendments include: H.Amdt.402. Creates an exception for Afghan student visa applicants so they do not have to demonstrate intent to return to Afghanistan after completing their studies in the US. This exception will be in effect for two years, with the opportunity for the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to renew in 18 month increments if conditions in Afghanistan warrant the extension. H.Amdt.624. Requires the State Department to surge capacity to process Afghan special immigrant visas and P1, P2 visa applications. "Surge capacity" can include sending additional consular personnel to embassies and consulates in the region processing Afghan visas. H.Amdt.437. (Withdrawn) Revised Prohibits certain types of fraud or misrepresentations in the provision of immigration services and provides for criminal penalties for such actions. H.Amdt.70. Requires the Department of Defense to annually report to the House Armed Services Committee the numbers of non-citizen service members, their immigration status, and the annual naturalization numbers of those serving. H.Amdt.403. Amends the Child Status Protection Act to protect dependent children of green card applicants and long-term dependent children of employment-based nonimmigrants from aging out of our legal immigration system. H.Amdt.546. Provides for the Department of Labor to conduct a study on obstacles to employment facing certain Afghan SIVs, Ukrainian refugees, and other eligible populations legally present in the United States. Executive Branch HP processing improvements: Encouraged the State Department to improve humanitarian parole process, including adjudication, increased funding for legal services, and ensuring that USCIS adjudicators receive special training. Given the high rates of denial for humanitarian parole, the administration must do better to help those outside USRAP and other special immigrant processes. Title 42: Encouraged the administration to commence rulemaking to terminate Title 42 and to release a plan for post-Title 42 operations. Asylum Processing Rule: Encouraged the administration to increase outreach to congress regarding their asylum processing rule.