I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 517 

To close loopholes in the immigration laws that serve as incentives to aliens 

to attempt to enter the United States unlawfully, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 11, 2019 

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was referred 

to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To close loopholes in the immigration laws that serve as 

incentives to aliens to attempt to enter the United States 

unlawfully, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Closing Asylum Loop5 holes Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. CREDIBLE FEAR INTERVIEWS. 

7 Section 235(b)(1)(B)(v) of the Immigration and Na8 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B)(v)) is amended by 

9 striking ‘‘claim’’ and all that follows, and inserting ‘‘claim, 

10 as determined pursuant to section 208(b)(1)(B)(iii), and 


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1 such other facts as are known to the officer, that the alien 

2 could establish eligibility for asylum under section 208, 

3 and it is more probable than not that the statements made 

4 by, and on behalf of, the alien in support of the alien’s 

5 claim are true.’’. 

6 SEC. 3. JURISDICTION OF ASYLUM APPLICATIONS. 

7 Section 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality 

8 Act (8 U.S.C. 1158) is amended by striking subparagraph 

9 (C). 

10 SEC. 4. RECORDING EXPEDITED REMOVAL AND CREDIBLE 

11 FEAR INTERVIEWS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu13 rity shall establish quality assurance procedures and take 

14 steps to effectively ensure that questions by employees of 

15 the Department of Homeland Security exercising expe16 dited removal authority under section 235(b) of the Immi17 gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)) are asked 

18 in a uniform manner, to the extent possible, and that both 

19 these questions and the answers provided in response to 

20 them are recorded in a uniform fashion. 

21 (b) FACTORS RELATING TO SWORN STATEMENTS.— 

22 Where practicable, any sworn or signed written statement 

23 taken of an alien as part of the record of a proceeding 

24 under section 235(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Na25 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(A)) shall be accomVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jan 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H517.IH H517

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1 panied by a recording of the interview which served as the 

2 basis for that sworn statement. 

3 (c) INTERPRETERS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 

4 a competent interpreter, not affiliated with the govern5 ment of the country from which the alien may claim asy6 lum, is used when the interviewing officer does not speak 

7 a language understood by the alien. 

8 (d) RECORDINGS IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS.— 

9 There shall be an audio or audio visual recording of inter10 views of aliens subject to expedited removal. The recording 

11 shall be included in the record of proceeding and shall be 

12 considered as evidence in any further proceedings involv13 ing the alien. 

14 (e) NO PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.—Nothing in this 

15 section shall be construed to create any right, benefit, 

16 trust, or responsibility, whether substantive or procedural, 

17 enforceable in law or equity by a party against the United 

18 States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, enti19 ties, officers, employees, or agents, or any person, nor does 

20 this section create any right of review in any administra21 tive, judicial, or other proceeding. 

Æ 


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