Venezuelan Refugee Assistance Act

To adjust the immigration status of certain Venezuelan nationals who are in the United States. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Venezuelan Refugee Assistance Act 2. Adjustment of status of certain Venezuelan nationals (a) Adjustment of status (1) In general Notwithstanding section 245(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1255(c) (A) applies for such adjustment before January 1, 2019; (B) is not inadmissible under paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (6)(E), (6)(G), (8), (10)(A), (10)(C), or (10)(D) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) (C) is not deportable under paragraph (1)(E), (1)(G), (2), (4), (5), or (6) of section 237(a) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1227(a) (D) has not ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; and (E) has not been convicted of— (i) any offense under Federal or State law punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 1 year; or (ii) 3 or more offenses under Federal or State law, for which the alien was convicted on different dates for each of the 3 offenses and sentenced to imprisonment for an aggregate of 90 days or more. (2) Relationship of application to certain orders An alien present in the United States who has been ordered removed, or ordered to depart voluntarily, from the United States under any provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act may, notwithstanding such order, apply for adjustment of status under paragraph (1). Such an alien may not be required, as a condition on submitting or granting such application, to file a motion to reopen, reconsider, or vacate such order. If the Secretary of Homeland Security grants the application, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall cancel the order. If the Secretary of Homeland Security renders a final administrative decision to deny the application, the order shall be effective and enforceable to the same extent as if the application had not been made. (b) Aliens eligible for adjustment of status The benefits provided by subsection (a) shall apply to any alien who is a national of Venezuela— (1) who was physically present in the United States on January 1, 2013; and (2) has been physically present in the United States for at least 1 year and is physically present in the United States on the date the application for adjustment of status under this Act is filed, except an alien shall not be considered to have failed to maintain continuous physical presence by reason of an absence, or absences, from the United States for any periods in the aggregate not exceeding 180 days. (c) Stay of removal (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide by regulation for an alien subject to a final order of removal to seek a stay of such order based on the filing of an application under subsection (a). (2) During certain proceedings Notwithstanding any provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. (3) Work authorization The Secretary of Homeland Security may authorize an alien who has applied for adjustment of status under subsection (a) to engage in employment in the United States during the pendency of such application and may provide the alien with an employment authorized (d) Adjustment of status for spouses and children (1) In general Notwithstanding section 245(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1255(c) (A) the alien is the spouse, child, or unmarried son or daughter, of an alien whose status is adjusted to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under subsection (a), except that in the case of such an unmarried son or daughter, the son or daughter shall be required to establish that they have been physically present in the United States for at least 1 year; (B) the alien applies for such adjustment and is physically present in the United States on the date the application is filed; and (C) the alien is otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa and is otherwise admissible to the United States for permanent residence, except in determining such admissibility the grounds for exclusion specified in paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), and (7)(A) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) (2) Proof of continuous presence For purposes of establishing the period of continuous physical presence referred to in paragraph (1)(B), an alien shall not be considered to have failed to maintain continuous physical presence by reason of an absence, or absences, from the United States for any periods in the aggregate not exceeding 180 days. (e) Availability of administrative review The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide to applicants for adjustment of status under subsection (a) the same right to, and procedures for, administrative review as are provided to— (1) applicants for adjustment of status under section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1255 (2) aliens subject to removal proceedings under section 240 of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a (f) Limitation on judicial review A determination by the Secretary of Homeland Security as to whether the status of any alien should be adjusted under this Act is final and shall not be subject to review by any court. (g) No offset in number of visas available When an alien is granted the status of having been lawfully admitted for permanent residence pursuant to this Act, the Secretary of State shall not be required to reduce the number of immigrant visas authorized to be issued under any provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. (h) Application of Immigration and Nationality Act provisions Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section, the definitions contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act shall apply in the administration of this Act. Nothing contained in this Act shall be held to repeal, amend, alter, modify, effect, or restrict the powers, duties, functions, or authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security in the administration and enforcement of such Act or any other law relating to immigration, nationality, or naturalization. The fact that an alien may be eligible to be granted the status of having been lawfully admitted for permanent residence under this section shall not preclude the alien from seeking such status under any other provision of law for which the alien may be eligible.

Summary: Venezuelan Refugee Assistance Act This bill provides for the status adjustment to permanent resident of a qualifying Venezuelan national who: (1) was physically present in the United States on January 1, 2013, (2) has been physically present in the United States for at least one year and is physically present in the United States on the date the status adjustment application is filed, (3) has not been convicted of specified crimes and was never involved in the persecution of others, and (4) applies for adjustment before January 1, 2019. Derivative adjustment of status is provided for the spouse, child, or certain unmarried sons or daughters of such alien.