(2) Section 240A(d) (8 U.S.C. 1229b) is 
amended—
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting before the period at the 
end of paragraph (1) (as redesignated) the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, unless the alien’s departure from the 
United States was due to a temporary trip 
abroad required by emergency or extenuating 
circumstances outside the control of the alien’’. 
(c) CANCELLATION
OF REMOVAL
FOR CERTAIN 
OTHER PERMANENT RESIDENTS FOR URGENT HUMANI-
TARIAN REASONS OR SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC BENEFIT.—
Section 240A (8 U.S.C. 1229b) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(f) CANCELLATION
OF REMOVAL
FOR CERTAIN 
PERMANENT RESIDENTS FOR URGENT HUMANITARIAN 
REASONS
OR SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC BENEFIT.—In the 
case of an alien otherwise eligible for cancellation of re-
moval under subsection (a), except that the alien has been 
convicted of an aggravated felony that renders the alien 
unable to satisfy the requirement in subsection (a)(3), the 
Attorney General may cancel removal of the alien under 
such conditions as the Attorney General may prescribe, 
but only—
‘‘(1) on a case-by-case basis for urgent humani-
tarian reasons, significant public benefit (including 
assuring family unity), or any other sufficiently com-
pelling reason; and 
‘‘(2) after making a written determination that 
the cancellation of removal poses no danger to the 
safety of persons or property.’’. 
SEC. 206. RESTORATION OF FAIRNESS IN EQUITABLE RE-
LIEF FOR OTHER NONCITIZENS. 
(a) CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL AND ADJUSTMENT 
FOR
CERTAIN
NONPERMANENT
RESIDENTS.—Section 
240A(b)(1) (8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(1)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may 
cancel removal in the case of an alien who is inad-
missible or deportable from the United States if the 
alien—
‘‘(A) has been physically present in the 
United States for a continuous period of—
‘‘(i) 7 years immediately preceding the 
date of application in the case of an 
alien—
‘‘(I) who is deportable on any 
ground other than a ground specified 
in clause (ii)(I); and
‘‘(II) whose deportation would, in 
the opinion of the Attorney General, 
result in extreme hardship to the alien 
or the alien’s spouse, parent, son, or 
daughter, who is a citizen of the 
United States or an alien lawfully ad-
mitted for permanent residence; or 
‘‘(ii) 10 years immediately preceding 
the date of application in the case of an 
alien—
‘‘(I) who is deportable for convic-
tion of an offense under section 
212(a)(2), 237(a)(2), or 237(a)(3); 
and 
‘‘(II) whose deportation would, in 
the opinion of the Attorney General, 
result in exceptional and extremely 
unusual hardship to the alien or the 
alien’s spouse, parent, son, or daugh-
ter, who is a citizen of the United 
States or an alien lawfully admitted 
for permanent residence’’; and 
‘‘(B) has been a person of good moral 
character during such period.’’.
(b) ELIMINATION OF ANNUAL LIMITATION.—Section 
240A (8 U.S.C. 1229b) is amended by striking subsection 
(e). 
SEC. 207. ELIMINATING UNFAIR RETROACTIVE CHANGES IN 
REMOVAL RULES FOR PERSONS SUBJECT TO 
PENDING PROCEEDINGS. 
(a) APPLICATION OF AGGRAVATED FELONY DEFINI-
TION.—The last sentence of section 101(a)(43) (8 U.S.C. 
1101(a)(43)) is amended to read as follows: ‘‘The term 
shall not apply to any offense that was not covered by 
the term on the date on which the offense occurred.’’. 
(b) GROUNDS OF DEPORTABILITY.—Section 237 (8 
U.S.C. 1227) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this sec-
tion, an alien is not deportable by reason of committing 
any offense that was not a ground of deportability on the 
date the offense occurred.’’. 
(c) GROUNDS OF INADMISSIBILITY.—Section 212 (8 
U.S.C. 1182) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(p) Notwithstanding any other provision of this sec-
tion, an alien is not inadmissible by reason of committing 
any offense that was not a ground of inadmissibility on 
the date the offense occurred.’’.
SEC. 208. ELIMINATING UNFAIR RETROACTIVE CHANGES IN 
REMOVAL RULES FOR PERSONS PREVIOUSLY 
REMOVED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall estab-
lish a process by which an alien described in subsection 
(b) may apply for reopening a proceeding so as to seek 
relief from exclusion, deportation, or removal under sec-
tion 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as 
such section was in effect prior to the enactment of the 
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, 
or section 240A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 
as amended by this Act. 
(b) ALIEN DESCRIBED.—An alien referred to in sub-
section (a) is an alien who received a final order of exclu-
sion, deportation, or removal, or a decision on a petition 
for review or petition for habeas corpus, on or after Sep-
tember 30, 1996, and who was—
(1) excluded, deported, or removed from the 
United States by reason of having committed a 
criminal offense that was not a basis for removal, 
exclusion, or deportation on the date on which the 
offense was committed; 
(2) excluded, deported, or removed from the 
United States by reason of having committed a 
criminal offense that is not a basis for removal, ex-