I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2722
To amend the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act
to provide to certain nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
and Haiti an opportunity to apply for adjustment of status under that
Act, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 5, 1999
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. DIAZ-BALART,
Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr.
BALLENGER, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. GILMAN, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. SOUDER,
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr.
BECERRA, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. REYES, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. PASTOR, Mr.
HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr.
RUSH, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. WATERS, and
Mr. MCGOVERN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American
Relief Act to provide to certain nationals of El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti an opportunity to apply
for adjustment of status under that Act, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Central American and
Haitian Adjustment Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FOR CERTAIN NATIONALS
FROM 
EL 
SALVADOR, 
GUATEMALA, 
HON-
DURAS, AND HAITI.
(a) Section 202 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and
Central American Relief Act is amended—
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘NICA-
RAGUANS AND CUBANS’’ and inserting ‘‘NICA-
RAGUANS, CUBANS, SALVADORANS, GUATE-
MALANS, HONDURANS, and HAITIANS’’;
(2) in subparagraph (a)(1)(A), by striking
‘‘2000’’ and inserting ‘‘2003’’;
(3) in paragraph (b)(1), by striking ‘‘Nicaragua
or Cuba’’ and inserting ‘‘Nicaragua, Cuba, El Sal-
vador, Guatemala, Honduras, or Haiti’’;
(4) in subparagraph (d)(1)(E), by striking
‘‘2000’’ and inserting ‘‘2003’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall be effective upon the date of enactment
of this Act.
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discretion, to also constitute an application for adjustment
of status under the provisions of section 202 of the Nica-
raguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act, as
amended.
SEC. 5. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE NICARAGUAN
ADJUSTMENT AND CENTRAL AMERICAN RE-
LIEF ACT.
(a) Section 202 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and
Central American Relief Act is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (a)(1)(B), by adding after
the word ‘‘apply’’—‘‘and the Attorney General may,
in her unreviewable discretion, waive the grounds of
inadmissibility specified in clause 212(a)(1)(A)(i)
and paragraph 212(a)(6)(C) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act for humanitarian purposes, to as-
sure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the pub-
lic interest’’;
(2) in subsection (a), by redesignating para-
graph (2) as paragraph (3), and adding the fol-
lowing as paragraph (2)—
‘‘(2) INAPPLICABILITY
OF
CERTAIN
PROVI-
SIONS.—In determining the eligibility of an alien de-
scribed in subsections (b) or (d) for either adjust-
ment of status under this section or other relief nec-
essary to establish eligibility for such adjustment,
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the provisions of section 241(a)(5) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act shall not apply. In addition,
an alien who would otherwise be inadmissible pursu-
ant to sections 212(a)(9) (A) or (C) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act may apply for the Attorney
General’s consent to reapply for admission without
regard to the requirement that the consent be grant-
ed prior to the date of the alien’s reembarkation at
a place outside the United States or attempt to be
admitted from foreign contiguous territory, in order
to qualify for the exception to those grounds of inad-
missibility set forth in sections 212(a)(9)(A)(iii) and
212(a)(9)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act.’’
(3) in subsection (a), by striking redesignated
paragraph (3), and inserting in its place—
‘‘(3) RELATIONSHIP OF APPLICATION TO CER-
TAIN
ORDERS.—An alien present in the United
States who has been ordered excluded, deported, or
removed, or ordered to depart voluntarily from the
United States under any provision of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act may, notwithstanding such
order, apply for adjustment of status under para-
graph (1). Such an alien may not be required, as a
condition of submitting or granting such application,
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to file a separate motion to reopen, reconsider, or
vacate such order. Such an alien may be required to
seek a stay of such an order in accordance with sub-
section (c) to prevent the execution of that order
pending the adjudication of the application for ad-
justment of status. If the Attorney General denies a
stay of a final order of exclusion, deportation, or re-
moval, or if the Attorney General renders a final ad-
ministrative determination to deny the application
for adjustment of status, the order shall be effective
and enforceable to the same extent as if the applica-
tion had not been made. If the Attorney General
grants the application for adjustment of status, the
Attorney General shall cancel the order.’’
(4) in paragraph (b)(1), by adding at the end
the following—‘‘However, subsection (a) shall not
apply to an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence, unless he or she is applying for such relief
in deportation or removal proceedings.’’
(5) in paragraph (c)(1), by adding at the end
the following—‘‘Nothing in this Act shall require the
Attorney General to stay the removal of an alien
who is ineligible for adjustment of status under this
Act.’’
(6) in subsection (d)—
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(A) by revising the subsection heading to
read ‘‘SPOUSES, CHILDREN, AND UNMARRIED
SONS AND DAUGHTERS.—’’;
(B) in paragraph (1), by revising the hear-
ing to read ‘‘ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.—’’;
(C) by striking subparagraph (1)(A), and
replacing it with the following—
‘‘(A) the alien entered the United
States on or before the date of enactment
of the Central American and Haitian Ad-
justment Act of 1999;’’;
(D) in subparagraph (1)(B), by inserting
the following after ‘‘except that’’—‘‘: (i) in the
case of such a spouse, stepchild, or unmarried
stepson or stepdaughter, the qualifying mar-
riage was entered into before the date of enact-
ment of the Central American and Haitian Ad-
justment Act of 1999; and (ii)’’; and
(E) by creating a new paragraph (3) to
read as follows—
‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN SPOUSES AND
CHILDREN FOR ISSUANCE OF IMMIGRANT VISAS.—
‘‘(A) In accordance with regulations to be
promulgated by the attorney General and the
Secretary of State, upon approval of an applica-
HR 2722 IH
tion for adjustment of status to that of an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence
under subsection (a), an alien who is the spouse
or child of the alien being granted such status
may be issued a visa for admission to the
United States as an immigrant following to join
the principal applicant, provided that the
spouse or child:
‘‘(i) meets the requirements in sub-
paragraphs (1) (B) and (D); and
‘‘(ii) applies for such a visa within a
time period to be established by regulation.
‘‘(B) The Secretary of State may retain
fees to recover the cost of immigrant visa appli-
cation processing and issuance for certain
spouses and children of aliens whose applica-
tions for adjustment of status under subsection
(a) have been approved, provided that such
fees:
‘‘(i) shall be deposited as an offsetting
collection to any Department of State ap-
propriation to recover the cost of such
processing and issuance; and
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‘‘(ii) shall be available until expended
for the same purposes of such appropria-
tion to support consular activities.’’;
(7) in subsection (g), by inserting after ‘‘for perma-
nent residence’’ the following—‘‘or an immigrant classi-
fication’’; and
(8) by adding at the end the following subsection—
‘‘(i) ADMISSIONS. Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed as authorizing an
alien to apply for admission to, be admit-
ted to, be paroled into, or otherwise law-
fully return to the United States, to apply
for or to pursue an application for adjust-
ment of status under this section without
the express authorization of the Attorney
General.’’
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made
by sections 5(a)(3), 5(a)(4), and 5(a)(8) of this Act
shall be effective as if included in the enactment of
the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act.
The amendments made by sections 5(a)(1), 5(a)(2),
5(a)(5), 5(a)(6), and 5(a)(7) shall effective as of the
date of enactment of this Act.
HR 2722 IH
SEC. 6. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE HAITIAN IMMI-
GRATION FAIRNESS ACT OF 1998.
(a) Section 902 of the Haitian Refugee Immigration
Fairness Act of 1998 is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (a)(1)(B), by adding after
the word ‘‘apply’’—‘‘and the Attorney General may,
in her unreviewable discretion, waive the grounds of
inadmissibility specified in clause 212(a)(1)(A)(i)
and paragraph 212(a)(6)(C) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act for humanitarian purposes, to as-
sure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the pub-
lic interest’’;
(2) in subsection (a), by redesignating para-
graph (2) as paragraph (3), and adding the fol-
lowing as paragraph (2)—
‘‘(2) INAPPLICABILITY
OF
CERTAIN
PROVI-
SIONS.—In determining the eligibility of an alien de-
scribed in subsections (b) or (d) for either adjust-
ment of status under this section or other relief nec-
essary to establish eligibility for such adjustment, or
for permission to reapply for admission to the
United States for the purpose of adjustment of sta-
tus under this section, the provisions of section
241(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
shall not apply. In addition, an alien who would oth-
erwise 
be 
inadmissible 
pursuant 
to 
sections
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212(a)(9)(A) or (C) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act may apply for the Attorney General’s con-
sent to reapply for admission without regard to the
requirement that the consent be granted prior to the
date of the alien’s reembarkation at a place outside
the United States or attempt to be admitted from
foreign contiguous territory, in order to qualify for
the exception to those grounds of inadmissibility set
forth 
in 
sections 
212(a)(9)(A)(iii) 
and
212(a)(9)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act.’’
(3) in subsection (a), by striking redesignated
paragraph (3), and inserting in its place—
‘‘(3) RELATIONSHIP OF APPLICATION TO CER-
TAIN
ORDERS.—An alien present in the United
States who has been ordered excluded, deported, or
removed, or ordered to depart voluntarily from the
United States under any provision of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act may, notwithstanding such
order, apply for adjustment of status under para-
graph (1). Such an alien may not be required, as a
condition of submitting or granting such application,
to file a separate motion to reopen, reconsider, or
vacate such order. Such an alien may be required to
seek a stay of such an order in accordance with sub-
HR 2722 IH
section (c) to prevent the execution of that order
pending the adjudication of the application for ad-
justment of status. If the Attorney General denies a
stay of a final order of exclusion, deportation, or re-
moval, or if the Attorney General renders a final ad-
ministrative determination to deny the application
for adjustment of status, the order shall be effective
and enforceable to the same extent as if the applica-
tion had not been made. If the Attorney General
grants the application for adjustment of status, the
Attorney General shall cancel the order.’’
(4) in paragraph (b)(1), by adding at the end
the following—‘‘However, subsection (a) shall not
apply to an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence, unless he or she is applying for such relief
in deportation or removal proceedings.’’
(5) in paragraph (c)(1), by adding at the end
the following—‘‘Nothing in this Act shall require the
Attorney General to stay the removal of an alien
who is ineligible for adjustment of status under this
Act.’’
(6) in subsection (d)—
(A) by revising the subsection heading to
read ‘‘SPOUSES, CHILDREN, AND UNMARRIED
SONS AND DAUGHTERS.—’’;
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(B) in paragraph (1), by revising the head-
ing to read ‘‘ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.—’’;
(C) by striking subparagraph (1)(A), and
replacing it with the following—
‘‘(A) the alien entered the United States
on or before the date of enactment of the Cen-
tral American and Haitian Adjustment Act of
1999;’’;
(D) in subparagraph (1)(B), by inserting
the following after ‘‘except that’’—‘‘: (i) in the
case of such a spouse, stepchild, or unmarried
stepson or stepdaughter, the qualifying mar-
riage was entered into before the date of enact-
ment of the Central American and Haitian Ad-
justment Act of 1999; and (ii)’’;
(E) in paragraph (1), by creating a new
subparagraph (E) as follows—
‘‘(E) the alien applies for such adjustment
before April 3, 2003.’’; and
(F) by creating a new paragraph (3) to
read as follows—
‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN SPOUSES AND
CHILDREN FOR ISSUANCE OF IMMIGRANT VISAS.—
(A) In accordance with regulations to be
promulgated by the Attorney General and the
HR 2722 IH
Secretary of State, upon approval of an applica-
tion for adjustment of status to that of an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence
under subsection (a), an alien who is the spouse
or child of the alien being granted such status
may be issued a visa for admission to the
United States as an immigrant following to join
the principal applicant, provided that the
spouse or child:
(i) meets the requirements in subpara-
graphs (1) (B) and (D); and
(ii) applies for such a visa within a
time period to be established by regulation.
(B) The Secretary of State may retain fees
to recover the cost of immigrant visa applica-
tion processing and issuance for certain spouses
and children of aliens whose applications for ad-
justment of status under subsection (a) have
been approved, provided that such fees:
(i) shall be deposited as an offsetting
collection to any Department of State ap-
propriation to recover the cost of such
processing and issuance; and
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(ii) shall be available until expended
for the same purposes of such appropria-
tion to support consular activities.’’;
(7) in subsection (g), by inserting after ‘‘for
permanent residence’’ the following—‘‘or an immi-
grant classification’’; and
(8) by redesignating subsections (i), (j), and (k)
as (j), (k), and (l) respectively, and adding as sub-
section (i) the following—
‘‘(i) ADMISSIONS.—Nothing in this section shall be
construed as authorizing an alien to apply for admission
to, be admitted to, be paroled into, or otherwise lawfully
return to the United States, to apply for or to pursue an
application for adjustment of status under this section
without the express authorization of the Attorney Gen-
eral.’’
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
sections 6(a)(3), 6(a)(4), and 6(a)(8) of this Act shall be
effective as if included in the enactment of the Haitian
Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998. The amend-
ments made by sections 6(a)(1), 6(a)(2), 6(a)(5), 6(a)(6),
and 6(a)(7) shall be effective as of the date of enactment
of this Act.
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in 180 days of the date of enactment of this Act. The
scope of any proceeding reopened on this basis shall be
limited to a determination of the alien’s eligibility for ad-
justment of status under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and
Central American Relief Act.
Æ