Stopping Border Surges Act

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. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Stopping Border Surges Act (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I—Unaccompanied Alien Children Sec. 101. Repatriation of unaccompanied alien children. Sec. 102. Clarification of standards for family detention. Sec. 103. Special immigrant juvenile status for immigrants unable to reunite with either parent. TITLE II—Asylum Reform Sec. 201. Clarification of asylum eligibility. Sec. 202. Safe third country. Sec. 203. Application timing. Sec. 204. Clarification of burden of proof. Sec. 205. Anti-fraud investigative work product. Sec. 206. Additional exception. Sec. 207. Jurisdiction of asylum applications. Sec. 208. Renunciation of asylum status pursuant to return to home country. Sec. 209. Clarification regarding employment eligibility. Sec. 210. Notice concerning frivolous asylum applications. Sec. 211. Credible fear interviews. Sec. 212. Recording expedited removal and credible fear interviews. Sec. 213. Penalties for asylum fraud. Sec. 214. Statute of limitations for asylum fraud. Sec. 215. Technical amendments. I Unaccompanied Alien Children 101. Repatriation of unaccompanied alien children (a) In general Section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2)— (i) by amending the paragraph heading to read as follows: Rules for unaccompanied alien children.— (ii) in subparagraph (A)— (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking who is a national or habitual resident of a country that is contiguous with the United States (II) in clause (i), by inserting and (III) in clause (ii), by striking ; and (IV) by striking clause (iii); (iii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. (II) in clause (i), by inserting before permit such child to withdraw may (III) in clause (ii), by inserting before return such child shall (iv) in subparagraph (C)— (I) by amending the subparagraph heading to read as follows: Agreements with foreign countries.— (II) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking The Secretary of State shall negotiate agreements between the United States and countries contiguous to the United States The Secretary of State may negotiate agreements between the United States and any foreign country that the Secretary determines appropriate (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Special rules for interviewing unaccompanied alien children An unaccompanied alien child shall be interviewed by an immigration officer with specialized training in interviewing child trafficking victims. ; and (D) in paragraph (6)(D), as redesignated— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking , except for an unaccompanied alien child from a contiguous country subject to exceptions under subsection (a)(2), who does not meet the criteria listed in paragraph (2)(A) (ii) in clause (i), by inserting , which shall include a hearing before an immigration judge not later than 14 days after being screened under paragraph (4) (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting believed not to meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A) (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting and does not meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A) (B) in paragraph (3), by striking an unaccompanied alien child in custody shall an unaccompanied alien child in custody— (A) in the case of a child who does not meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A), shall transfer the custody of such child to the Secretary of Health and Human Services not later than 30 days after determining that such child is an unaccompanied alien child who does not meet such criteria; or (B) in the case of child who meets the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A), may transfer the custody of such child to the Secretary of Health and Human Services after determining that such child is an unaccompanied alien child who meets such criteria. ; and (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following: (D) Information about individuals with whom children are placed (i) Information to be provided to the department of homeland security Before placing an unaccompanied alien child with an individual, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide to the Secretary of Homeland Security, regarding the individual with whom the child will be placed, the following information: (I) The name of the individual. (II) The Social Security number of the individual, if available. (III) The date of birth of the individual. (IV) The location of the individual’s residence where the child will be placed. (V) The immigration status of the individual, if known. (VI) Contact information for the individual. (ii) Special rule Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide to the Secretary of Homeland Security the information listed in clause (i) with respect to any unaccompanied alien child apprehended between January 1, 2021, and such date of enactment who the Secretary of Health and Human Services has placed with an individual. (iii) Activities of the secretary of homeland security Not later than 30 days after receiving the information listed in clause (i), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall— (I) if the immigration status of an individual with whom a child is placed is unknown, investigate the immigration status of such individual; and (II) upon determining that an individual with whom a child is placed is unlawfully present in the United States, initiate removal proceedings against such individual pursuant to chapter 4 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1221 et seq. ; and (B) in paragraph (5)— (i) by inserting after to the greatest extent practicable (at no expense to the Government) (ii) by striking have counsel to represent them have access to counsel to represent them (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to any unaccompanied alien child apprehended on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 102. Clarification of standards for family detention (a) In general Section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232 (j) Rule of construction (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, judicial determination, consent decree, or settlement agreement, the detention of any alien child who is not an unaccompanied alien child shall be governed by sections 217, 235, 236, and 241 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187 (2) Release of minors other than unaccompanied aliens An alien minor who is not an unaccompanied alien child may not be released by the Secretary of Homeland Security other than to a parent or legal guardian who is lawfully present in the United States. (3) Family detention The Secretary of Homeland Security shall— (A) maintain the care and custody of an alien, during the period during which the charges described in clause (i) are pending, who— (i) is charged only with a misdemeanor offense under section 275(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1325(a) (ii) entered the United States with the alien’s child who has not attained 18 years of age; and (B) detain the alien with the alien’s child. . (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the amendment made by subsection (a) is intended to satisfy the requirements of the Settlement Agreement in Flores v. Meese, No. 85–4544 (C.D. Cal) as approved by the court on January 28, 1997, with respect to its interpretation in Flores v. Johnson, 212 F. Supp. 3d 864 (C.D. Cal. 2015), that the agreement applies to accompanied minors. (c) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a)— (1) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) shall apply to all actions that occur before, on, or after such date of enactment. (d) Preemption of State licensing requirements Notwithstanding any other provision of law, judicial determination, consent decree, or settlement agreement, no State may require that an immigration detention facility used to detain children who have not attained 18 years of age, or families consisting of 1 or more of such children and the parents or legal guardians of such children, that is located in such State, be licensed by the State or by any political subdivision of such State. 103. Special immigrant juvenile status for immigrants unable to reunite with either parent Section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J) (1) in clause (i), by striking , and whose reunification with 1 or both of the immigrant's parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis found under State law (2) in clause (iii)— (A) in subclause (I), by striking and (B) in subclause (II), by adding and (C) by adding at the end the following: (III) an alien may not be granted special immigrant juvenile status under this subparagraph if his or her reunification with any parent or legal guardian is not precluded by abuse, neglect, abandonment, or any similar cause under State law; . II Asylum Reform 201. Clarification of asylum eligibility (a) Place of arrival Section 208(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(1) (1) by striking or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters), (2) by inserting and has arrived in the United States at a port of entry, United States (b) Eligibility Section 208(b)(1)(A) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(A) and is eligible to apply for asylum under subsection (a) section 101(a)(42)(A) 202. Safe third country Section 208(a)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)(A) (1) by striking if the Attorney General determines that the alien may be removed (i) the alien may be removed ; (2) by striking removed, pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement, to removed to (3) by inserting , on a case by case basis, finds that (4) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (5) by adding at the end the following: (ii) the alien entered, attempted to enter, or arrived in the United States after transiting through at least one country outside the alien’s country of citizenship, nationality, or last lawful habitual residence en route to the United States, unless— (I) the alien demonstrates that he or she applied for protection from persecution or torture in at least one country outside the alien’s country of citizenship, nationality, or last lawful habitual residence through which the alien transited en route to the United States, and the alien received a final judgement denying the alien protection in each country; (II) the alien demonstrates that he or she was a victim of a severe form of trafficking in which a commercial sex act was induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act was younger than 18 years of age; or in which the trafficking included the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery, and was unable to apply for protection from persecution in all countries that alien transited en route to the United States as a result of such severe form of trafficking; or (III) the only countries through which the alien transited en route to the United States were, at the time of the transit, not parties to the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, or the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. . 203. Application timing Section 208(a)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)(B) 1 year 6 months 204. Clarification of burden of proof Section 208(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(i) at least one central reason the central reason 205. Anti-fraud investigative work product (a) Asylum credibility determinations Section 208(b)(1)(B)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii) all relevant factors , including statements made to, and investigative reports prepared by, immigration authorities and other government officials (b) Relief for removal credibility determinations Section 240(c)(4)(C) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(4)(C) , including statements made to, and investigative reports prepared by, immigration authorities and other government officials all relevant factors 206. Additional exception Section 208(b)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A) (1) in clause (v), by striking or (2) in clause (vi), by striking the period and inserting ; or (3) by adding at the end the following: (vii) there are reasonable grounds for concluding the alien could avoid persecution by relocating to another part of the alien’s country of nationality or, if stateless, another part of the alien’s country of last habitual residence. . 207. Jurisdiction of asylum applications Section 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 208. Renunciation of asylum status pursuant to return to home country (a) In general Section 208(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(c) (4) Renunciation of status pursuant to return to home country (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any alien who is granted asylum status under this Act, who, absent changed country conditions, subsequently returns to the country of such alien’s nationality or, in the case of an alien having no nationality, returns to any country in which such alien last habitually resided, and who applied for such status because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution in that country on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, shall have his or her status terminated. (B) Waiver The Secretary has discretion to waive subparagraph (A) if it is established to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the alien had a compelling reason for the return. The waiver may be sought prior to departure from the United States or upon return. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 208(c)(3) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(c)(3) or (4) paragraph (2) 209. Clarification regarding employment eligibility Section 208(d)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(2) (1) by striking prior to 180 days before the date that is 1 year (2) by inserting and the authorization shall expire 6 months after the date on which it is granted 210. Notice concerning frivolous asylum applications (a) In general Section 208(d)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(4) (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking and of the consequences, under paragraph (6), of knowingly filing a frivolous application for asylum; and (3) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (C) ensure that a written warning appears on the asylum application advising the alien of the consequences of filing a frivolous application and serving as notice to the alien of the consequence of filing a frivolous application. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 208(d)(6) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(6) (6) Frivolous applications (A) Consequence If the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General determines that an alien has knowingly made a frivolous application for asylum after receiving the written warning required under paragraph (4)(C), such alien shall be permanently ineligible for any benefits under this chapter, effective as the date of the final determination of such an application. (B) Determination An application shall be considered frivolous if the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General determines, consistent with subparagraph (C), that— (i) the application is so insufficient in substance that it is clear that the applicant knowingly filed the application solely or in part to delay removal from the United States, to seek employment authorization as an applicant for asylum pursuant to regulations issued pursuant to paragraph (2), or to seek issuance of a Notice to Appear in order to pursue Cancellation of Removal under section 240A(b); or (ii) any of the material elements are knowingly fabricated. (C) Opportunity to clarify claim An application may not be considered frivolous under this paragraph unless the Secretary or the Attorney General are satisfied that the applicant, during the course of the proceedings, has had sufficient opportunity to clarify any discrepancies or implausible aspects of the applicant's claim. (D) Withholding of removal A determination under this paragraph that an alien filed a frivolous asylum application shall not preclude such alien from seeking withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) or protection pursuant to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done at New York December 10, 1984. . 211. Credible fear interviews Section 235(b)(1)(B)(v) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B)(v) claim claim, as determined pursuant to section 208(b)(1)(B)(iii), and such other facts as are known to the officer, that the alien could establish eligibility for asylum under section 208, and it is more probable than not that the statements made by, and on behalf of, the alien in support of the alien’s claim are true. 212. Recording expedited removal and credible fear interviews (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish quality assurance procedures and take steps to effectively ensure that— (1) questions by employees of the Department of Homeland Security exercising expedited removal authority under section 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b) (2) such questions and the answers provided in response to such questions are recorded in a uniform manner. (b) Credible fear interview checklists The Secretary of Homeland Security shall— (1) provide a checklist of standard questions and concepts to be addressed in all interviews required under section 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b) (2) routinely update such checklist to include relevant changes to law and procedures; and (3) require all immigration officers utilizing such checklists to provide concise justifications of their decisions regardless of whether credible fear was or was not established by the alien. (c) Factors relating to sworn statements To the extent practicable, any sworn or signed written statement taken from an alien as part of the record of a proceeding under section 235(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(A) (d) Interpreters The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure the use of a competent interpreter who is not affiliated with the government of the country from which the alien may claim asylum if the interviewing officer does not speak a language understood by the alien. (e) Recordings in immigration proceedings All interviews of aliens subject to expedited removal shall be recorded (either by audio or by audio visual). Such recordings shall be included in the record of proceeding and shall be considered as evidence in any further proceedings involving such aliens. (f) No private right of action Nothing in this section may be construed to create— (1) any right, benefit, trust, or responsibility, whether substantive or procedural, enforceable in law or equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any person; or (2) any right of review in any administrative, judicial, or other proceeding. 213. Penalties for asylum fraud Section 1001 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (d) Any person who, in any matter before the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General pertaining to asylum under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3) (1) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (2) makes or uses any false writings or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. . 214. Statute of limitations for asylum fraud Section 3291 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking 1544, 1544, and section 1546, (2) by inserting or within 10 years after the fraud is discovered 215. Technical amendments Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by this title, is further amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2)(D), by inserting Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General (2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking Attorney General Secretary of Homeland Security (B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General (4) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General (B) in paragraph (2), by striking Attorney General Secretary of Homeland Security (C) in paragraph (5)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking Attorney General Secretary of Homeland Security (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General

Summary: Stopping Border Surges Act This bill modifies immigration law provisions relating to unaccompanied alien minors and to asylum seekers. For certain unaccompanied inadmissible alien children, generally those not at risk of being trafficking victims nor having a fear of persecution, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall repatriate the child. Currently, only inadmissible unaccompanied aliens from neighboring countries are subject to repatriation, and DHS has discretion whether to repatriate. When the Department of Health and Human Services releases an unaccompanied child to an individual, it must provide DHS with certain information about that individual. DHS must investigate the individual's immigration status and if the individual is not lawfully present in the United States, DHS must initiate removal proceedings against the individual. The bill requires a stricter standard to find a credible fear of persecution and imposes additional rules on credible fear interviews. If an alien is granted asylum because of fear of persecution in a country, the alien shall be deemed to have renounced asylum status by returning to that country, if there has been no change in the country's conditions. The bill also (1) expands the definition of what constitutes a frivolous asylum application, (2) imposes additional limitations on eligibility for asylum, (3) shortens the deadline for applying for asylum, and (4) extends the time period an alien seeking asylum must wait before receiving employment authorization. Any individual who knowingly and willfully makes materially false statements or uses fraudulent documents in asylum-related proceedings shall be fined or imprisoned up to 10 years, or both.