258 
and refugees who have professional experience and 
qualifications obtained outside the United States in 
using such professional experience and qualifications 
to obtain skills-appropriate employment opportuni-
ties in the United States. 
(4) Policy recommendations for better enabling 
applicable immigrants and refugees who have profes-
sional experience and qualifications obtained outside 
the United States to use such professional experi-
ence and qualifications to obtain skills-appropriate 
employment opportunities in the United States. 
(c) COLLABORATION WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZA-
TIONS AND STATE AGENCIES.—In conducting the study 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Labor shall 
seek to collaborate with relevant nonprofit organizations 
and State agencies to use the existing data and resources 
of such entities. 
(d) APPLICABLE IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘applicable immigrants and refu-
gees’’ means— 
(1) noncitizens who are lawfully present and 
authorized to be employed in the United States; and 
(2) citizens of the United States born outside 
the United States and its outlying possessions. 
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SEC. 3509. IN-STATE TUITION RATES FOR REFUGEES, 
ASYLEES, 
AND 
CERTAIN 
SPECIAL 
IMMI-
GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after section 135 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 135A. IN-STATE TUITION RATES FOR REFUGEES, 
ASYLEES, 
AND 
CERTAIN 
SPECIAL 
IMMI-
GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—In the case of a noncitizen de-
scribed in subsection (b) whose domicile is in a State that 
receives assistance under this Act, such State shall not 
charge such noncitizen tuition for attendance at a public 
institution of higher education in the State at a rate that 
is greater than the rate charged for residents of the State. 
‘‘(b) NONCITIZEN DESCRIBED.—A noncitizen is de-
scribed in this subsection if the noncitizen was granted— 
‘‘(1) refugee status and admitted to the United 
States under section 207 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157); 
‘‘(2) asylum under section 208 of such Act (8 
U.S.C. 1158); or 
‘‘(3) special immigrant status under section 
101(a)(27) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)) pur-
suant to— 
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260 
‘‘(A) section 1244 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (8 
U.S.C. 1157 note); 
‘‘(B) section 1059 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (8 
U.S.C. 1101 note); or 
‘‘(C) section 602 of the Afghan Allies Pro-
tection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note). 
‘‘(c) LIMITATIONS.—The requirement under sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to a noncitizen only 
until the noncitizen has established residency in the State, 
and only with respect to the first State in which the non-
citizen was first domiciled after being admitted into the 
United States as a refugee or special immigrant or being 
granted asylum. 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take ef-
fect at each public institution of higher education in a 
State that receives assistance under this Act for the first 
period of enrollment at such institution that begins after 
January 1, 2021.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents for the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relat-
ing to section 135 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 135A. In-State tuition rates for refugees, asylees, and certain special im-
migrants.’’. 
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261 
SEC. 3510. WAIVER OF ENGLISH REQUIREMENT FOR SEN-
IOR NEW AMERICANS. 
Section 312 (8 U.S.C. 1423) is amended by striking 
subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) The requirements under subsection (a) shall not 
apply to any person who— 
‘‘(1) is unable to comply with such require-
ments because of physical or mental disability, in-
cluding developmental or intellectual disability; or 
‘‘(2) on the date on which the person’s applica-
tion for naturalization is submitted under section 
334— 
‘‘(A) is older than 65 years of age; and 
‘‘(B) has been living in the United States 
for 1 or more periods totaling not less than 5 
years after being lawfully admitted for perma-
nent residence. 
‘‘(c) The requirement under subsection (a)(1) shall 
not apply to any person who, on the date on which the 
person’s application for naturalization is submitted under 
section 334— 
‘‘(1) is older than 50 years of age and has been 
living in the United States for 1 or more periods to-
taling not less than 20 years after being lawfully ad-
mitted for permanent residence; 
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262 
‘‘(2) is older than 55 years of age and has been 
living in the United States for 1 or more periods to-
taling not less than 15 years after being lawfully ad-
mitted for permanent residence; or 
‘‘(3) is older than 60 years of age and has been 
living in the United States for 1 or more periods to-
taling not less than 10 years after being lawfully ad-
mitted for permanent residence. 
‘‘(d) The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive, 
on a case-by-case basis, the requirement under subsection 
(a)(2) for any person who, on the date on which the per-
son’s application for naturalization is submitted under sec-
tion 334— 
‘‘(1) is older than 60 years of age; and 
‘‘(2) has been living in the United States for 1 
or more periods totaling not less than 10 years after 
being lawfully admitted for permanent residence.’’. 
SEC. 3511. NATURALIZATION FOR CERTAIN UNITED STATES 
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 320 the following: 
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263 
‘‘SEC. 321. CITIZENSHIP FOR CERTAIN UNITED STATES 
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENTS CONSIDERED SATISFIED.—In 
the case of a noncitizen described in subsection (b), the 
noncitizen shall be considered to have satisfied the require-
ments of section 312(a). 
‘‘(b) NONCITIZEN DESCRIBED.—A noncitizen is de-
scribed in this subsection if the noncitizen submits an ap-
plication for naturalization under section 334 that con-
tains the following: 
‘‘(1) Transcripts from public or private schools 
in the United States that demonstrate the following: 
‘‘(A) The noncitizen completed grades 9 
through 12 in the United States and graduated 
with a high school diploma. 
‘‘(B) The noncitizen completed a cur-
riculum that reflects knowledge of United 
States history, government, and civics. 
‘‘(2) A copy of the noncitizen’s high school di-
ploma.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 
et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 320 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 321. Citizenship for certain United States high school graduates.’’. 
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264 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of 
this Act and shall apply to applicants for naturalization 
who apply for naturalization on or after such date. 
(d) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
promulgate regulations to carry out this section and the 
amendments made by this section. 
SEC. 3512. NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Chief of the Office of Citizen-
ship of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in con-
sultation with the Director of the National Park Service, 
the Archivist of the United States, and other appropriate 
Federal officials, shall develop and implement a strategy 
to enhance public awareness of naturalization ceremonies. 
(b) VENUES.—In developing the strategy under sub-
section (a), the Chief of the Office of Citizenship of U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services shall consider the 
use of outstanding and historic locations as venues for se-
lect naturalization ceremonies. 
SEC. 3513. NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
establish a program to promote United States citizenship. 
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265 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—As part of the program required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall carry out outreach ac-
tivities in accordance with subsection (c). 
(c) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) develop outreach materials targeted to non-
citizens who have been lawfully admitted for perma-
nent residence to encourage such noncitizens to 
apply to become citizens of the United States; 
(2) make such outreach materials available 
through— 
(A) public service announcements; 
(B) advertisements; and 
(C) such other media as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate; and 
(3) conduct outreach activities targeted to non-
citizens eligible to apply for naturalization, including 
communication by text, email, and the United States 
Postal Service, that provides, on paper or in elec-
tronic form— 
(A) notice that the individual is possibly el-
igible to apply for naturalization; 
(B) information about the requirements of 
United States citizenship; 
(C) information about the benefits of 
United States citizenship; 
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266 
(D) a pre-filled naturalization application 
containing the data the agency already has 
about the individual; 
(E) instructions on how to complete the 
application; and 
(F) resources for free or low-cost assist-
ance with applying for naturalization and pre-
paring for the English and civics exams. 
SEC. 3514. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
FOUNDATION AND PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated for the first 2 fiscal years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act such sums as may be necessary to 
establish the Foundation and carry out the pilot program 
under section 3502. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts appropriated to es-
tablish the Foundation and carry out the pilot program 
under section 3502 may be invested, and any amounts re-
sulting from such investments shall remain available for 
the operations of the Foundation and the pilot program 
without further appropriation. 
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267 
TITLE 
IV—IMMIGRATION 
COURTS, 
FAMILY 
VALUES, 
AND VULNERABLE INDIVID-
UALS 
Subtitle 
A—Promoting 
Efficient 
Processing of Asylum Seekers, 
Addressing Immigration Court 
Backlogs, and Efficiently Repa-
triating Migrants Ordered Re-
moved 
SEC. 4101. EXPANDING ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION. 
(a) FAMILY CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.—The 
Secretary shall— 
(1) expand the use of the family case manage-
ment program (described in section 218 of the De-
partment of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 
2020 (8 U.S.C. 1378a)) for apprehended noncitizens 
who are members of family units arriving in the 
United States; and 
(2) develop additional community-based pro-
grams to increase the number of enrollees in the al-
ternatives to detention program. 
(b) NONPROFIT ENTITY CONTRACTING PARTNER.— 
The Secretary shall contract with qualified nonprofit enti-
ties for the operation of the alternatives to detention pro-
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268 
gram, including the family case management program and 
other community-based programs described in subsection 
(a). 
(c) LEGAL ORIENTATION.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that enrollees in the alternatives to detention pro-
gram, including the family case management program and 
other community-based programs described in subsection 
(a), are provided a legal orientation consistent with the 
program elements described in section 4105(a)(2). 
SEC. 4102. ELIMINATING IMMIGRATION COURT BACKLOGS. 
(a) ADDRESSING
IMMIGRATION
JUDGE
SHORT-
AGES.—The Attorney General shall increase the total 
number of immigration judges by not fewer than 55 
judges during each of fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 
2024. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION.—The Attor-
ney General shall— 
(1) ensure that all newly hired immigration 
judges and members of the Board of Immigration 
Appeals are— 
(A) highly qualified experts on immigration 
law; and 
(B) trained to conduct fair, impartial adju-
dications in accordance with applicable due 
process requirements; and 
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(2) with respect to immigration judges and 
members of the Board of Immigration Appeals, to 
the extent practicable, strive to achieve an equal nu-
merical balance in the hiring of candidates with Gov-
ernment experience in immigration and candidates 
with sufficient knowledge or experience in immigra-
tion in the private sector, including nonprofit, pri-
vate bar, or academic experience. 
(c) ADDRESSING SUPPORT STAFF SHORTAGES.— 
Subject to the availability of funds made available in ad-
vance in appropriations Acts, the Attorney General shall 
ensure that each immigration judge has sufficient support 
staff, adequate technological and security resources, and 
appropriate courtroom facilities. 
(d) ADDITIONAL BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS 
PERSONNEL.—The Attorney General shall increase the 
number of Board of Immigration Appeals staff attorneys 
(including necessary additional support staff) to efficiently 
process cases by not fewer than 23 attorneys during each 
of fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023. 
(e) GAO REPORT.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall— 
(1) conduct a study of the impediments to effi-
cient hiring of immigration court judges within the 
Department of Justice; and 
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(2) propose solutions to Congress for improving 
the efficiency of the hiring process. 
SEC. 
4103. 
IMPROVED 
TRAINING 
FOR 
IMMIGRATION 
JUDGES AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF 
IMMIGRATION APPEALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To ensure efficient and fair pro-
ceedings, the Director of the Executive Office for Immi-
gration Review shall establish or expand, as applicable, 
training programs for immigration judges and members 
of the Board of Immigration Appeals. 
(b) MANDATORY TRAINING.—Training referred to 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Expansion of the training program for new 
immigration judges and members of the Board of 
Immigration Appeals to include age sensitivity, gen-
der sensitivity, and trauma sensitivity. 
(2) Continuing education regarding current de-
velopments in immigration law, including through 
regularly available training resources and an annual 
conference. 
(3) Training on properly crafting and dictating 
decisions and standards of review, including im-
proved on-bench reference materials and decision 
templates. 
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271 
SEC. 4104. NEW TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE COURT EFFI-
CIENCY. 
The Director of the Executive Office for Immigration 
Review shall modernize its case management, video-tele-
conferencing, digital audio recording, and related elec-
tronic and computer-based systems, including by allowing 
for electronic filing, to improve efficiency in the processing 
of immigration proceedings. 
SEC. 4105. COURT APPEARANCE COMPLIANCE AND LEGAL 
ORIENTATION. 
(a) ACCESS TO LEGAL ORIENTATION PROGRAMS TO 
ENSURE COURT APPEARANCE COMPLIANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Attorney General, shall establish proce-
dures to ensure that legal orientation programs are 
available for all noncitizens detained by the Sec-
retary. 
(2) PROGRAM
ELEMENTS.—Programs under 
paragraph (1) shall provide information to nonciti-
zens regarding the following: 
(A) The basic procedures of immigration 
hearings. 
(B) The rights and obligations of nonciti-
zens relating to immigration hearings, including 
the consequences of filing frivolous legal claims 
and of failing to appear for proceedings. 
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272 
(C) Legal protections available to nonciti-
zens and the procedures for requesting such 
protections. 
(D) Legal resources available to nonciti-
zens and lists of potential legal services pro-
viders. 
(E) Any other subject the Attorney Gen-
eral considers necessary and appropriate. 
(3) ELIGIBILITY.—A noncitizen shall be given 
access to legal orientation programs under this sub-
section regardless of the noncitizen’s current immi-
gration status, prior immigration history, or poten-
tial for immigration relief. 
(b) EXPANSION OF THE INFORMATION HELP DESK 
PROGRAM FOR NONDETAINED NONCITIZENS IN REMOVAL 
PROCEEDINGS.—The Attorney General shall expand the 
information help desk program to all immigration courts 
so as to provide noncitizens who are not detained and who 
have pending asylum claims access to information relating 
to their immigration status. 
SEC. 4106. IMPROVING COURT EFFICIENCY AND REDUCING 
COSTS BY INCREASING ACCESS TO LEGAL IN-
FORMATION. 
(a) APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL IN CERTAIN CASES; 
RIGHT TO REVIEW CERTAIN DOCUMENTS IN REMOVAL 
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PROCEEDINGS.—Section 240(b) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘, at no expense to the 
Government,’’; and 
(ii) by striking the comma at the end 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
and (C) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respec-
tively; 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following: 
‘‘(B) the Attorney General may appoint or 
provide counsel, at Government expense, to 
noncitizens in immigration proceedings; 
‘‘(C) at the beginning of the proceedings or 
as expeditiously as possible thereafter, a noncit-
izen shall receive a complete copy of all relevant 
documents in the possession of the Department 
of Homeland Security, including all documents 
(other than documents protected from disclo-
sure by privilege, including national security in-
formation referred to in subparagraph (D), law 
enforcement-sensitive information, and informa-
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tion prohibited from disclosure pursuant to any 
other provision of law) contained in the file 
maintained by the Government, including infor-
mation with respect to all transactions involving 
the noncitizen during the immigration process 
(commonly referred to as an ‘A-file’) and all 
documents pertaining to the noncitizen that the 
Department of Homeland Security has obtained 
or received from other government agencies, un-
less the noncitizen waives the right to receive 
such documents by executing a knowing and 
voluntary written waiver in a language that he 
or she understands;’’; and 
(D) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘, and’’ and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) FAILURE
TO
PROVIDE
NONCITIZEN
RE-
QUIRED DOCUMENTS.—In the absence of a written 
waiver under paragraph (4)(C), a removal pro-
ceeding may not proceed until the noncitizen— 
‘‘(A) has received the documents as re-
quired under such paragraph; and 
‘‘(B) has been provided meaningful time to 
review and assess such documents.’’. 
(b) RIGHT TO COUNSEL.— 
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