ASPIRE Act

To amend section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce the waiting period for employment authorization for asylum applicants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Assisting Seekers in Pursuit of Integration and Rapid Employment Act ASPIRE Act 2. Employment authorization for aliens seeking asylum Paragraph (2) of section 208(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(d) (2) Employment authorization (A) Eligibility Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall authorize employment for an applicant for asylum whose application for asylum has not been determined frivolous. (B) Application An applicant for asylum who is not otherwise eligible for employment authorization shall not be granted such authorization prior to 30 days after the date of filing of the application for asylum. (C) Term Employment authorization for an applicant for asylum shall be valid until the date on which an applicant is issued a final denial of the applicable application, including administrative and judicial review. . 3. Authorization of appropriations (a) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to increase the capacity of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to address the asylum backlog, including by hiring additional asylum officers and providing basic asylum training and translation and interpretation services, $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, to remain available until expended. (2) Use of funds Not less than 75 percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1) shall be used to hire personnel. (b) Department of Homeland Security There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Shelter and Services Program, administered jointly by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to provide State and local governments and nonprofit organizations with funding for the provision of shelter, food, transportation, and other support services to migrants encountered by the Secretary $10,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, to remain available until expended.

Summary: Assisting Seekers in Pursuit of Integration and Rapid Employment Act or the ASPIRE Act This bill addresses issues related to asylum applicants and migrants, including by directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide employment authorization for eligible asylum applicants. Currently, asylum applicants are not entitled to employment authorization but may be granted such by the Department of Justice. Such employment authorization is valid until the applicant receives a final denial of the application, including any administrative and judicial review. The bill also shortens the waiting period for receiving employment authorization to 30 days from the filing of the asylum application. In addition, the bill authorizes U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to take actions to address the asylum backlog, including by hiring additional asylum officers. The bill also authorizes DHS to provide funding to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations for support services for migrants (e.g., food and shelter).