Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2021

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the annual numerical limitation on visas for certain immigrants, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant work authorization to certain immigrants with a pending application for nonimmigrant status under such Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2021 2. Purpose; Findings; Sense of Congress (a) Purpose The purpose of this Act is to remove barriers for alien survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes who may be eligible for protections under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA), the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), and their subsequent reauthorizations. (b) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Threats of deportation are one of the most potent tools abusers and perpetrators of crime use to maintain control over and silence alien victims and to avoid criminal prosecution. Abusers and perpetrators leverage the immigration system in the abuse and exploitation of aliens they victimize. (2) A bipartisan majority in Congress created critical immigration protections in VAWA, TVPA and their subsequent reauthorizations in recognition that alien survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other eligible crimes often fear that reaching out for help may lead to their deportation. (3) Detention and removal of those with victim-based cases undermines the intent of VAWA, TVPA, and their subsequent reuauthorizations and re-traumatizes victims and their children. Deporting survivors while they await decisions on their cases discourages victims from accessing justice, undermines the usefulness of these forms of relief as tools for law enforcement that seek to keep all communities safe, separates them from their children and support networks, and eliminates the ability of local law enforcement to continue protecting and working with such crime survivors. (4) Lack of timely access to employment authorization makes victims more vulnerable and may lead to their need to endure or return to abusive relationships or exploitative conditions. Crime and abuse survivors should have access to work authorization to escape abusive situations, and gain self-sufficiency following victimization so they can support themselves and their families. (c) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Homeland Security should not deport crime victims or neglected, abused, or abandoned youth before their applications for humanitarian relief are fully adjudicated, as it undermines critical bipartisan protections created in VAWA, TVPA, and their subsequent reauthorizations. 3. Elimination of annual numerical limitation on U visas Section 214(p) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(p) 4. Elimination of annual numerical limitation on special immigrant juvenile visas (a) Aliens not subject to direct numerical limitations Section 201(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)(A) subparagraph (A) or (B) subparagraphs (A), (B), or (J) (b) Per country levels Section 202(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1152(a)(2) (5), (5), and except for special immigrants described in subparagraph (J) of section 1101(a)(27) of this title, (c) Certain special immigrants Section 203(b)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(4) subparagraph (A) or (B) subparagraphs (A), (B), or (J) 5. Work authorization while applications and petitions are pending (a) U visas Section 214(p) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(p) (1) in paragraph (6), by striking the last sentence; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (8) Work authorization Notwithstanding any provision of this Act granting eligibility for employment in the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall grant employment authorization to an alien who has filed an application for nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(U) on the date that is the earlier of— (A) the date on which the alien’s application for such status is approved; or (B) a date determined by the Secretary that is not later than 180 days after the date on which the alien filed the application. . (b) T visas Section 214(o) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(o) (8) Notwithstanding any provision of this Act granting eligibility for employment in the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall grant employment authorization to an alien who has filed a petition for nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(T) on the date that is the earlier of— (A) the date on which the alien’s petition for such status is approved; or (B) a date determined by the Secretary that is not later than 180 days after the date on which the alien filed the petition. . (c) VAWA Self-Petitioners Section 204(a)(1)(K) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(K) (K) Notwithstanding any provision of this Act restricting eligibility for employment in the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall grant employment authorization to such an alien in the United States on the date that is the earlier of— (i) the date on which the alien’s petition as a VAWA self-petitioner is approved; or (ii) a date determined by the Secretary that is not later than 180 days after the date on which the alien filed the petition as a VAWA self-petitioner. . (d) Special immigrant juveniles Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1255 (n) Work authorization for certain special immigrants Notwithstanding any provision of this Act granting eligibility for employment in the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall grant employment authorization to an alien who has filed a petition for special immigrant status under section 101(a)(27)(J) on the date that is the earlier of— (1) the date on which the alien’s petition for such status is approved; or (2) a date determined by the Secretary that is not later than 180 days after the date on which the alien filed the petition. . (e) Cancellation of removal Section 240A(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(2) (E) Work authorization Notwithstanding any provision of this Act granting eligibility for employment in the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall grant employment authorization to an alien who has filed an application for cancellation of removal under this paragraph on a date that is not later than 180 days after the date on which the alien filed the application. . 6. Stay of removal (a) In general An alien described in subsection (b) shall not be removed from the United States under section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a (b) Aliens described An alien is described in this subsection if the alien— (1) has a pending or approved application or petition under section 101(a)(15)(T), 101(a)(15)(U), 101(a)(27)(J), 106, 240A(b)(2), or 244(a)(3) (as in effect on March 31, 1997) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 (2) is a VAWA self-petitioner, as defined in section 101(a)(51) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, with a pending application for relief under a provision referred to in one of subparagraphs (A) through (G) of such section. 7. Prohibition on detention of certain victims with pending or approved petition or application Section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1226 (a) Prohibition on detention of certain victims with pending or approved petitions and applications (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, there shall be a presumption that the alien described in paragraph (2) should be released from detention. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the duty of rebutting this presumption, which may only be shown based on clear and convincing evidence, including credible and individualized information, that the use of alternatives to detention will not reasonably ensure the appearance of the alien at removal proceedings, or that the alien is a threat to another person or the community. The fact that an alien has a criminal charge pending against the alien may not be the sole factor to justify the continued detention of the alien. (2) Alien described An alien is described in this paragraph if the alien— (A) has a pending or approved application or petition under section 101(a)(15)(T), 101(a)(15)(U), 101(a)(27)(J), 106, 240A(b)(2), or 244(a)(3) (as in effect on March 31, 1997); or (B) is a VAWA self-petitioner, as defined in section 101(a)(51), with a pending application for relief under a provision referred to in one of subparagraphs (A) through (G) of such section. . 8. Penalties for disclosure of information (a) In general Section 384 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1367 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking solely (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) by striking information which relates information, files, or records which relate (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) Except as provided in this paragraph, neither the Department, nor any other official or employee of the Department, or bureau or agency thereof, nor the Department of Justice, nor any official or employee of the Department of Justice, or bureau or agency thereof, may— (A) use the information furnished by the applicant pursuant to an application filed under paragraph (15)(T), (15)(U), (27)(J), or (51) of section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a) 8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(2) 8 U.S.C. 1105a (B) make any publication of information that identifies a particular individual; or (C) permit anyone other than the sworn officers and employees of the Department or bureau or agency to examine individual applications. ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking legitimate law enforcement purpose, a criminal investigation or prosecution, (B) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following new paragraph: (4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of this section shall not apply if all the individuals in the case are adults and they have all waived the restrictions of such subsections. ; and (3) in subsection (d), by inserting that end The Attorney General, Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide Congress with an annual report regarding training provided to officers and employees, number of investigations opened for violations of sections (a)(1)–(a)(3), and the results of those investigations.

Summary: Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2021 This bill provides protections for certain aliens who are victims of crimes or abuse and addresses related issues. The bill removes various annual numerical limits on (1) U visas, generally for victims of a serious crime and helpful to law enforcement in prosecuting the crime; and (2) Special Immigrant Juvenile visas, generally for minors who have been abused or neglected by a parent. Applicants for certain immigration benefits, including U visas and T visas (generally for victims of severe human trafficking) shall receive work authorization on the date the application is approved or earlier. Removal shall be stayed for an alien with certain pending applications, such as an application for a T, U, or Special Juvenile Immigrant visa or for relief under the Violence Against Women Act. There shall be a presumption against detaining such an alien, which the Department of Homeland Security may rebut by establishing that (1) the alien's appearance at removal proceedings is not reasonably assured, or (2) the alien is a threat to another person or the community. The bill also prohibits making an adverse determination regarding an alien's admissibility or deportability based on information furnished by certain individuals, such as a spouse or parent who has battered the alien. Current law prohibits making an adverse determination using information furnished solely by such an individual. The bill also limits the use and publication of information provided in certain applications, including T, U, and Special Juvenile Immigrant visa applications.