(K) in section 403, in the header, by strik-
ing ‘‘QUALIFIED
ALIENS’’ and inserting 
‘‘QUALIFIED NONCITIZENS’’; 
(L) in section 411, in the header, by strik-
ing ‘‘QUALIFIED
ALIENS’’ and inserting 
‘‘QUALIFIED NONCITIZENS’’; and 
(M) in section 412, in the header, by strik-
ing ‘‘QUALIFIED
ALIENS’’ and inserting 
‘‘QUALIFIED NONCITIZENS’’. 
(4) ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES FOR LAWFULLY 
RESIDING NONCITIZENS.—Section 431 of the Per-
sonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Rec-
onciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in the header, by striking ‘‘QUALI-
FIED ALIEN’’ and inserting ‘‘QUALIFIED 
NONCITIZEN’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the term ‘qualified 
alien’ ’’ and inserting ‘‘the term ‘qualified 
noncitizen’ ’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘an alien’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘a noncitizen’’; 
(iv) by striking ‘‘the alien’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the noncitizen’’; and 
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(v) by striking ‘‘benefit’’ and all that 
follows through the period at the end of 
the subsection and inserting ‘‘benefit, is 
lawfully present in the United States.’’; 
(B) in subsection (c)— 
(i) in the header, by striking ‘‘QUALI-
FIED ALIENS’’ and inserting ‘‘QUALIFIED 
NONCITIZENS’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘; or’’ at the end of 
paragraph (3) and inserting ‘‘;’’; 
(iii) by striking the period at the end 
of paragraph (4) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(iv) by inserting after paragraph (4): 
‘‘(5) a noncitizen— 
‘‘(A) in a category that was treated as law-
fully present for purposes of section 1101 of the 
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 
2010 (42 U.S.C. 18001); 
‘‘(B) who met the requirements of section 
402(a)(2)(D) of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 
(8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(D)) on or before January 
1, 2021; 
‘‘(C) who is granted special immigrant ju-
venile 
status 
as 
described 
by 
section 
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101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)); 
‘‘(D) who has a pending, bona fide applica-
tion for nonimmigrant status under section 
101(a)(15)(U) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(1)(15)(U)); 
‘‘(E) who was granted relief under the De-
ferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program; 
or 
‘‘(F) any other person who is not a citizen 
of the United States but who resides in a State 
or territory of the United States and is Feder-
ally authorized to be present in the United 
States.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(d) NONCITIZEN.—For the purposes of this section, 
the term ‘noncitizen’ means any individual who is not a 
citizen of the United States.’’. 
(5) CHILD
NUTRITION
PROGRAMS.—Section 
742 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor-
tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1615) is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
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(i) in the header by striking ‘‘SCHOOL 
LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAMS’’ and 
inserting ‘‘CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the school lunch pro-
gram’’ and inserting ‘‘any program’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘the school breakfast 
program under section 4 of the’’ and in-
serting ‘‘any program under’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Nothing in this Act 
shall prohibit or require a State to provide 
to an individual who is not a citizen or a 
qualified alien, as defined in section 
431(b),’’ and inserting ‘‘A State shall not 
deny’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘paragraph (2)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (2) on the basis of an 
individual’s citizenship or immigration sta-
tus’’. 
(6) EXCLUSION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE EX-
PENDITURES FOR CITIZENS OF FREELY ASSOCIATED 
STATES.—Section 1108(h) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1308(h)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Expenditures’’ and insert-
ing: 
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‘‘(1) Expenditures’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) With respect to eligibility for benefits for 
the designated Federal program defined in para-
graph (3)(C) (relating to the Medicaid program), 
paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual who 
lawfully resides, in accordance with the Compacts of 
Free Association between the Government of the 
United States and the Governments of the Fed-
erated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, in any 
of the several States or the District of Columbia and 
shall not apply, at the option of the Governor of 
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the North-
ern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa as commu-
nicated to the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices in writing, to any individual who lawfully resides 
in the respective territory in accordance with such 
Compacts.’’. 
(7) CHILD
HEALTH
INSURANCE
PROGRAM.— 
Section 2107(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)) is amended— 
(A) by striking subparagraph (O); and 
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(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (P), 
(Q), (R), (S), (T), and (U) as subparagraphs 
(O), (P), (Q), (R), (S), and (T). 
(8) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) SUPPLEMENTAL
FOOD
ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM.—The Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amended— 
(i) in section 5— 
(I) by striking subsection (i); and 
(II) by redesignating subsections 
(j) through (n) as subsections (i) 
through (m), respectively; 
(ii) in section 6— 
(I) in subsection (f), by striking 
‘‘an alien lawfully admitted for perma-
nent’’ and all that follows through the 
end of the subsection and inserting ‘‘a 
noncitizen lawfully present in the 
United States.’’; and 
(II) in subsection (s)(2), by strik-
ing ‘‘(m), and (n)’’ and inserting ‘‘and 
(m)’’; and 
(iii) in section 11(e)(2)(B)(v)(II) by 
striking ‘‘aliens’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘noncitizens’’. 
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(B) MEDICAID.—Section 1903(v) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(v)) is 
amended— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘ad-
mitted for’’ and all that follows through 
the end of the paragraph and inserting 
‘‘present in the United States.’’; and 
(ii) striking paragraph (4). 
(C) 
HOUSING
ASSISTANCE.—Section 
214(a) of the Housing and Community Devel-
opment Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 1436a(a)) is 
amended by— 
(i) redesignating paragraphs (6) and 
(7) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; 
and 
(ii) inserting after paragraph (5): 
‘‘(6) a qualified noncitizen as defined in section 
431 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor-
tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641);’’. 
(D) GENERAL RULE ON NONCITIZENS’ ELI-
GIBILITY.—Section 401 of Personal Responsi-
bility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 
of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611) is amended— 
(i) in the header— 
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(I) 
by 
striking 
‘‘QUALIFIED 
ALIENS’’ and inserting ‘‘QUALIFIED 
NONCITIZENS’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘ALIENS’’ and 
inserting ‘‘NONCITIZENS’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘alien’’ wherever it oc-
curs and inserting ‘‘noncitizen’’. 
(E) ASSISTANCE NOT TREATED AS DEBT 
ABSENT FRAUD.—Section 213A(b)(1)(A) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act is amended by 
striking ‘‘benefit,’’ and inserting ‘‘benefit by 
fraud,’’. 
(9) PRESERVING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.— 
Section 36B(c)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN INDI-
VIDUALS LAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED 
STATES.—If— 
‘‘(i) a taxpayer has a household in-
come which is not greater than 100 per-
cent of an amount equal to the poverty line 
for a family of the size involved, 
‘‘(ii) the taxpayer is a non-citizen law-
fully present in the United States, 
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‘‘(iii) the taxpayer is ineligible for 
minimum essential coverage under section 
5000A(f)(1)(A)(ii), and 
‘‘(iv) under the Medicaid eligibility 
criteria for non-citizens in effect on De-
cember 26, 2020, the taxpayer would be 
ineligible for such minimum essential cov-
erage by reason of the taxpayer’s immigra-
tion status, 
the taxpayer shall, for purposes of the credit 
under this section, be treated as an applicable 
taxpayer with a household income which is 
equal to 100 percent of the poverty line for a 
family of the size involved.’’. 
(10) FEDERAL AGENCY GUIDANCE.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, each Federal agency, as applicable, shall 
issue guidance with respect to implementing the 
amendments made by this section. 
(11) 
EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The 
amendments 
made by this subsection shall take effect on the date 
of enactment of this Act and shall apply to services 
furnished on or after the date that is 180 days after 
the date on which any guidance is issued pursuant 
to paragraph (10). 
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(d) RELIEF FROM CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON AD-
JUSTMENT OF STATUS.— 
(1) RELIEF FROM CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS FOR 
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS.—Section 245(d) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1255(d)) is amended by inserting before the period 
at the end the following: ‘‘, unless the alien is the 
spouse of an alien lawfully admitted for legal perma-
nent residence or of a citizen of the United States 
and is a VAWA self-petitioner’’. 
(2) CONFORMING APPLICATION IN CANCELLA-
TION OF REMOVAL.—Section 240A(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1229b(b)(2)(A)(i)) is amended— 
(A) in subclause (II), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in subclause (III), by adding ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(IV) the alien entered the 
United States as an alien described in 
section 101(a)(15)(K) with the intent 
to enter into a valid marriage and the 
alien (or the child of the alien who is 
described in such section) was bat-
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tered or subject to extreme cruelty by 
the United States citizen who filed the 
petition to accord status under such 
section;’’. 
(3) APPLICATION UNDER SUSPENSION OF DE-
PORTATION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS.— 
The Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney 
General may suspend the deportation of an alien 
who is in deportation proceedings initiated prior to 
March 1, 1997, and adjust to the status of an alien 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence, if the 
alien— 
(A) has been physically present in the 
United States for a continuous period of not 
less than 3 years immediately preceding the 
date of such suspension; 
(B) has been battered or subjected to ex-
treme cruelty in the United States by a spouse 
or immediate family member who is a United 
States citizen or a lawful permanent resident, 
or the alien entered the United States as an 
alien described in section 101(a)(15)(K) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101(a)(15)(K)) with the intent to enter into a 
valid marriage and the alien was battered or 
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subject to extreme cruelty by the United States 
citizen who filed the petition to accord status 
under such section, or the child of the alien who 
is described in this subparagraph; 
(C) demonstrates that during all of such 
time in the United States the alien was and is 
a person of good moral character; and 
(D) is a person whose deportation would, 
in the opinion of the Secretary or Attorney 
General, result in extreme hardship to the alien 
or the alien’s parent or child. 
(4) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection and the 
amendments made by this subsection shall take ef-
fect on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
shall apply to aliens who entered the United States 
before, on, or after such date. 
(e) WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR SURVIVORS.— 
(1) T VISAS.—Section 214(o) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(o)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(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 an application for nonimmigrant status under 
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section 101(a)(15)(T) on the date that is the earlier 
of— 
‘‘(A) the date on which the alien’s applica-
tion for such status is approved; or 
‘‘(B) a date that is not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the alien filed the appli-
cation.’’. 
(2) 
VAWA 
SELF-PETITIONERS.—Section 
204(a)(1)(K) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(K)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(K)(i) Upon the approval of a petition as 
a VAWA self-petitioner, the alien is eligible for 
work authorization. 
‘‘(ii) Notwithstanding any provision of this 
Act restricting eligibility for employment in the 
United States, the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity shall grant employment authorization to 
such an alien on the date that is the earlier 
of— 
‘‘(I) the date on which the alien’s ap-
plication for lawful permanent resident sta-
tus is approved; or 
‘‘(II) a date determined by the Sec-
retary that is not later than 180 days after 
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the date that is the earlier of the date on 
which the alien filed the application or the 
alien’s petition as a VAWA self-petitioner 
is approved.’’. 
(3) SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILES.—Section 
204(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(M) WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN 
SPECIAL
IMMIGRANTS.—Notwithstanding any 
provision of this Act granting eligibility for em-
ployment in the United States, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall grant employment au-
thorization to an alien who is otherwise eligible 
to be employed, and who has a petition for spe-
cial 
immigrant 
status 
under 
section 
101(a)(27)(J) that is pending or approved on 
the date that is the earlier of— 
‘‘(i) the date on which the alien’s peti-
tion for such status is approved; or 
‘‘(ii) a date that is not later than 180 
days after the date on which the alien filed 
the petition.’’. 
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SEC. 9. RELIEF FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR VISA 
WAIVER ENTRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 217(b)(2) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187(b)(2)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘, an application or petition de-
scribed in section 101(a)(51), an application for relief 
under section 101(a)(15)(T), section 101(a)(15)(U), sec-
tion 240A(b)(2), section 101(a)(27)(J), section 245(h), or 
under any prior provision of law providing comparable re-
lief,’’ after ‘‘asylum,’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and shall apply to waivers provided under 
section 217(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
before, on, or after such date as if it had been included 
in such waivers. 
(c) APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 212(e) TO SPOUSES 
AND CHILDREN OF J–1 EXCHANGE VISITORS.—A spouse 
or child of an exchange visitor described in section 
101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J)), applicants approved for non-
immigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(T) of such 
Act, section 101(a)(15)(U) of such Act, VAWA self-peti-
tioners, as defined in section 101(a)(51) of such Act, and 
special immigrant juveniles under section 101(a)(27)(J) of 
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such Act shall not be subject to the requirements of sec-
tion 212(e) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(e)). 
SEC. 10. STRENGTHEN WAIVERS FOR HUMANITARIAN 
NEED, FAMILY UNITY, OR PUBLIC INTEREST. 
(a) EXCEPTION FOR VAWA SELF-PETITIONERS.— 
Section 212(a)(9)(B)(iii)(IV) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B)(iii)(IV)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘would be described in paragraph (6)(A)(ii) 
if ‘violation of the terms of the alien’s nonimmigrant visa’ 
were substituted for ‘unlawful entry into the United 
States’ in subclause (III) of that paragraph.’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘is a VAWA self-petitioner.’’. 
(b) WAIVERS FOR ABUSED ALIENS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 212(a)(9)(C)(iii) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1182(a)(9)(C)(iii)) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or the Attorney General’’ 
after ‘‘Secretary of Homeland Security’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘in the case of’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘United States.’’ and in-
serting ‘‘for humanitarian purposes, to assure 
family unity, when it is otherwise in the public 
interest, or in the case of an alien who is apply-
ing for or has a claim of relief as a VAWA self- 
petitioner (as defined in section 101(a)(51)).’’. 
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(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this section shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act and shall apply regardless of 
whether the alien’s application was filed before, on, 
or after such date. 
(c) WAIVERS FOR FALSE CLAIMS TO UNITED STATES 
CITIZENSHIP.—Section 212(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(C)(ii)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
clause: 
‘‘(III) 
EXCEPTION.—An 
alien 
who is a VAWA self-petitioner shall 
not be considered to be inadmissible 
under any provision of this subsection 
based on such representation.’’. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—Section 101(f) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(f)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘or violation that he or she was a citizen,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘violation that he or she was a citizen, or 
the alien is a VAWA self-petitioner’’. 
(e) WAIVER
FOR
CERTAIN
VAWA SELF-PETI-
TIONERS.—Section 212(d)(11) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(11)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: ‘‘The Attorney General 
may waive the application of clause (i) of subsection 
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(a)(6)(E) in the case of an alien who is a VAWA self- 
petitioner.’’. 
(f) EWI EXEMPTION FOR VAWA, U VISAS, T VISAS, 
SIJS.—Section 212(a)(6)(A)(ii) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(A)(ii)) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN BAT-
TERED WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND VIC-
TIMS.—Clause (i) shall not apply to an 
alien who demonstrates that the alien— 
‘‘(I) is a VAWA self-petitioner 
(as defined in section 101(a)(51) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(51)); or 
‘‘(II) qualifies for relief under 
subparagraph (T) or (U) of section 
101(a)(15)(T), 
section 
240A(b)(2), 
section 244(a)(3) (as in effect on 
March 
31, 
1997), 
or 
section 
101(a)(27)(J).’’. 
SEC. 11. PROHIBITION ON REMOVAL OF SURVIVORS OF VI-
OLENCE. 
Section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1229a) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
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‘‘(f) PROHIBITION ON REMOVAL OF SURVIVORS OF 
ABUSE OR VIOLENCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An individual described in 
paragraph (2) shall not be removed from the United 
States under this section or any other provision of 
law until the date on which there is a final denial 
of the individual’s application for status, after the 
exhaustion of administrative or judicial review. 
‘‘(2) INDIVIDUAL
DESCRIBED.—An individual 
described in this paragraph is an individual who— 
‘‘(A) has a pending petition for special im-
migrant juvenile status under subparagraph (J) 
of section 101(a)(27); 
‘‘(B) has an approved petition for special 
immigrant juvenile status under subparagraph 
(J) of section 101(a)(27) and has not yet ad-
justed status to that of a lawful permanent resi-
dent; 
‘‘(C) is a VAWA self-petitioner (as defined 
in section 101(a)(51) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(51)); or 
‘‘(D) qualifies for relief under subpara-
graph (T) or (U) of section 101(a)(15)(T), sec-
tion 240A(b)(2), or section 244(a)(3) (as in ef-
fect on March 31, 1997).’’. 
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SEC. 12. EXCEPTION TO REINSTATEMENT. 
Section 241 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1231) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) Any alien with a pending application under 
clause (i) or (ii) of section 101(a)(15)(T), clause (i) or 
(ii) of section 101(a)(15)(U), section 101(a)(51), section 
240A(b)(2), or section 244(a)(3) (as in effect on March 
31, 1997), or a pending or approved petition under 
(101)(a)(27)(J), shall not be ordered removed under this 
section.’’. 
SEC. 13. PROTECTIONS FOR STEP-CHILDREN. 
(a) UNITED STATES CITIZEN PARENT.—Section 
204(a)(1)(A)(iv) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)(iv)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ‘‘For purposes of this clause— 
‘‘(I) residence includes any period of visitation; 
and 
‘‘(II)(aa) the term ‘citizen parent’ includes ‘cit-
izen step-parent’; and 
‘‘(bb) none of the following shall affect the abil-
ity of a step-child who was battered or subjected to 
extreme cruelty to file a self-petition or have the 
self-petition favorably adjudicated and shall not lead 
to revocation of an approved VAWA self-petition— 
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‘‘(AA) death of the step-child self-peti-
tioner’s natural parent; 
‘‘(BB) death of the step-child self-peti-
tioner’s step-parent; or 
‘‘(CC) divorce between the step-child 
VAWA self-petitioner’s parent and step-par-
ent.’’; 
(b) LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT PARENT.—Sec-
tion 204(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)(iii)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: ‘‘For purposes of this clause: 
‘‘(I) residence includes any period of visitation; 
and 
‘‘(II)(aa) the term ‘permanent resident parent’ 
includes ‘permanent resident step-parent’; and 
‘‘(bb) none of the following shall affect the abil-
ity of a step-child who was battered or subjected to 
extreme cruelty to file a self-petition or have the 
self-petition favorably adjudicated and shall not lead 
to revocation of an approved VAWA self-petition— 
‘‘(AA) death of the step-child self-peti-
tioner’s natural parent; 
‘‘(BB) death of the step-child self-peti-
tioner’s step-parent; or 
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‘‘(CC) divorce between the step-child 
VAWA self-petitioner’s parent and step-par-
ent.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act and shall apply to VAWA self-petitions filed 
before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 14. WAIVER OF MONETARY PENALTY. 
Section 274D of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1324d) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(a) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to 
an alien who is a VAWA self-petitioner, as defined in sec-
tion 101(a)(51), or who has filed an application for non-
immigrant status under subparagraph (T) or (U) of sec-
tion 101(a)(15) or a petition for Special Immigrant Juve-
nile status under section 101(a)(27)(J).’’. 
SEC. 15. TECHNICAL CORRECTION. 
Section 240(c)(7)(C)(iv) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act is amended— 
(1) by amending the heading to read as follows: 
‘‘(iv) SPECIAL RULE FOR BATTERED 
SPOUSES, CHILDREN, AND PARENTS.—’’; 
(2) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘or section 
240A(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘, section 240A(b), or 
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section 244(a)(3) (as in effect on March 31, 1997)’’; 
and 
(3) in the matter following subclause (IV), by 
striking ‘‘(as defined in section 431(c)(1)(B) of the 
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Rec-
onciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641(c)(1)(B))’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(as defined in section 431(c)(1)(B) of 
the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation 
Act 
of 
1996 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1641(c)(1)(B)))’’. 
SEC. 16. PERMIT IMMIGRATION JUDGES TO GRANT INAD-
MISSIBILITY WAIVERS. 
Section 212(d)(14) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(14)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(14) The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall determine whether a ground of inadmissibility 
exists with respect to a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(U). The Secretary of Homeland 
Security or an immigration judge may waive the ap-
plication of subsection (a) (other than paragraph 
(3)(E)) in the case of a nonimmigrant described in 
section 101(a)(15)(U), if the Secretary of Homeland 
Security or immigration judge considers it to be in 
the public or national interest to do so.’’. 
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SEC. 17. ELIMINATION OF VISA CAPS FOR ABUSED, ABAN-
DONED, OR NEGLECTED CHILDREN. 
(a) WORLDWIDE LEVEL.—Section 201 of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151) is amended 
in subparagraph (b)(1)(A) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A) 
or (B)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (A), (B), or (J)’’. 
(b) PER-COUNTRY LIMITATION.—Section 202(a)(2) 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1152) 
is amended by inserting after ‘‘Subject to paragraphs (3), 
(4), and (5),’’ the following: ‘‘and except for special immi-
grants described in section 101(a)(27)(J),’’. 
(c) ALLOCATION.—Section 203 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153) is amended in sub-
paragraph (b)(4) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A) or (B)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (A), (B), or (J)’’. 
SEC. 18. ELIMINATION OF GENERAL CONSENT STANDARD 
FOR ABUSED, ABANDONED, OR NEGLECTED 
CHILDREN. 
Section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by inserting at the end ‘‘and’’; 
(2) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘, except that— 
‘‘(I) no juvenile court has juris-
diction to determine the custody sta-
tus or placement of an alien in the 
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custody of the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services unless the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services 
specifically consents to such jurisdic-
tion; and 
‘‘(II) no natural parent or prior 
adoptive parent of any alien provided 
special immigrant status under this 
subparagraph shall thereafter, by vir-
tue of such parentage, be accorded 
any right, privilege, or status under 
this Act; and’’; and 
(3) by striking clause (iii). 
SEC. 19. DEADLINE FOR MOTIONS TO REOPEN ORDERS OF 
REMOVAL. 
Section 240(c)(7)(C) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(7)(C)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(v) SPECIAL
IMMIGRANT
JUVENILE 
STATUS
PETITIONERS
OR
BENE-
FICIARIES.—There is no time limit on the 
filing of a motion to reopen by an indi-
vidual who has a pending or approved peti-
tion for special immigrant juvenile status 
under section 101(a)(27)(J) if the basis of 
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the motion is to apply for adjustment of 
status. An individual who has a pending or 
approved petition for special immigrant ju-
venile status under such section may file 
one motion under this clause notwith-
standing any numerical limitation that 
might otherwise apply. The filing of a mo-
tion to reopen under this clause shall stay 
the removal of an individual with a pend-
ing or approved petition for special immi-
grant juvenile status pending the final dis-
position of the motion, including exhaus-
tion of all appeals. An immigration judge 
or the Board of Immigration Appeals may 
hold such a motion in abeyance, or grant 
such a motion, as appropriate, so that the 
individual may wait for an available visa.’’. 
SEC. 20. NATURALIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 319(a) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1430(a)) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(a)(1) A person described in this paragraph is— 
‘‘(A) a spouse of a citizen of the United States; 
or 
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‘‘(B) any lawful permanent resident who was 
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by a United 
States citizen who is or was a spouse, parent, son 
or daughter. 
‘‘(2) A person described in paragraph (1) may be nat-
uralized— 
‘‘(A) upon compliance with all the requirements 
of this title except the provisions of paragraph (1) 
of section 316(a); 
‘‘(B) if such person, immediately preceding the 
date of filing that person’s application for natu-
ralization has resided continuously, after being law-
fully admitted for permanent residence, within the 
United States for at least three years; 
‘‘(C)(i) during the three years immediately pre-
ceding the date of filing such application has been 
living in marital union with their citizen spouse who 
has been a United States citizen during all of such 
period; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a person who has been bat-
tered or subjected to extreme cruelty by a United 
States citizen spouse, parent, son or daughter, the 
requirement of subparagraph (C)(i) shall not apply 
regardless of whether the person’s lawful permanent 
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resident status was obtained on the basis of such 
battery or cruelty; 
‘‘(D) has been physically present in the United 
States for periods totaling at least half of the time 
referred to in subparagraph (C); 
‘‘(E) has resided within the State or district of 
the Service in the United States in which the appli-
cant filed such application for at least 3 months; 
and 
‘‘(F) the provisions of section 204(a)(1)(J) and 
section 384 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 shall apply 
in acting on an application under this subsection in 
the same manner as they apply in acting on peti-
tions referred to in section 101(a)(51).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act and shall apply to applications for naturaliza-
tion filed before, on, or after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
Æ 
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