Fix the Immigration Loopholes 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 Fix the Immigration Loopholes 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. Credible fear interviews. Sec. 202. Jurisdiction of asylum applications. Sec. 203. Recording expedited removal and credible fear interviews. Sec. 204. Safe third country. Sec. 205. Renunciation of asylum status pursuant to return to home country. Sec. 206. Notice concerning frivolous asylum applications. Sec. 207. Anti-fraud investigative work product. Sec. 208. Penalties for asylum fraud. Sec. 209. Statute of limitations for asylum fraud. Sec. 210. 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 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 ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 (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 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, and inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Special rules for interviewing unaccompanied alien children An unaccompanied alien child shall be interviewed by a dedicated U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services immigration officer with specialized training in interviewing child trafficking victims. Such officer shall be in plain clothes and shall not carry a weapon. The interview shall occur in a private room. ; and (C) in paragraph (6)(D) (as so 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 before the semicolon at the end the following: , 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 before the semicolon the following: believed not to meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A) (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the period the following: 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 inserting at the end the following: (D) Information about individuals with whom children are placed (i) Information to be provided to Homeland Security Before placing a 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 In the case of a child who was apprehended on or after the effective date of this clause, and before the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, who the Secretary of Health and Human Services placed with an individual, the Secretary shall provide the information listed in clause (i) to the Secretary of Homeland Security not later than 90 days after such date of enactment. ; 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. 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) 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 In no circumstances shall an alien minor who is not an unaccompanied alien child be released by the Secretary of Homeland Security other than to a parent or legal guardian. (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) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to all actions that occur before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) 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 one or more of such children and the parents or legal guardians of such children, that is located in that State, be licensed by the State or any political subdivision thereof. 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) by striking and (B) by inserting 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 one parent or legal guardian is not precluded by abuse, neglect, abandonment, or any similar cause under State law; . II Asylum Reform 201. 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. 202. Jurisdiction of asylum applications Section 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 203. 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 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) (b) Factors relating to sworn statements Where practicable, any sworn or signed written statement taken of 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) (c) Interpreters The Secretary shall ensure that a competent interpreter, not affiliated with the government of the country from which the alien may claim asylum, is used when the interviewing officer does not speak a language understood by the alien. (d) Recordings in immigration proceedings There shall be an audio or audio visual recording of interviews of aliens subject to expedited removal. The recording shall be included in the record of proceeding and shall be considered as evidence in any further proceedings involving the alien. (e) No private right of action Nothing in this section shall be construed to create 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, nor does this section create any right of review in any administrative, judicial, or other proceeding. 204. 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 Attorney General Secretary of Homeland Security (2) by striking removed, pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement, to removed to 205. 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 the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(c)(3) paragraph (2) or (4) 206. 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 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) If the (A) If the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General determines that an alien has knowingly made a frivolous application for asylum and the alien has received the notice under paragraph (4)(C), the alien shall be permanently ineligible for any benefits under this chapter, effective as the date of the final determination of such an application. (B) An application is frivolous if the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General determines, consistent with subparagraph (C), that— (i) it 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) In determining that an application is frivolous, the Secretary or the Attorney General, must be satisfied that the applicant, during the course of the proceedings, has had sufficient opportunity to clarify any discrepancies or implausible aspects of the claim. (D) For purposes of this section, a finding that an alien filed a frivolous asylum application shall not preclude the alien from seeking withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) or protection pursuant to the Convention Against Torture. . 207. 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 the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(4)(C) all relevant factors , including statements made to, and investigative reports prepared by, immigration authorities and other government officials 208. Penalties for asylum fraud Section 1001 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end of the paragraph— (d) Whoever, 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 or withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) of such Act, knowingly and willfully— (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 or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. . 209. 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 striking offense. offense or within 10 years after the fraud is discovered. 210. Technical amendments Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 (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: Fix the Immigration Loopholes 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 HHS releases an unaccompanied child to an individual, it shall provide DHS with certain information about that individual, including Social Security number and immigration status. The bill amends the definition of "credible fear of persecution" to require that such fear can be established by statements that are more probable than not. The bill also imposes certain rules relating to credible fear interviews, including requirements for recordings and interpreters. If an alien is granted asylum because of fear of persecution in a country, the alien is deemed to have renounced asylum status by returning to that country, if there has been no change in the country's conditions. DHS may waive such renunciation if there was a compelling reason for the return. The bill expands the definition of a frivolous asylum application to include an application so insufficient in substance that it is clear that it was filed to delay removal or seek 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.