I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1169 
To provide for the adjustment of status of certain nationals of Liberia 
to that of lawful permanent residents, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2019 
Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Ms. OMAR, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. 
LANGEVIN, Mr. PHILLIPS, and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To provide for the adjustment of status of certain nationals 
of Liberia to that of lawful permanent residents, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Liberian Refugee Im-
migration Fairness Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise specifi-
cally provided, any term used in this Act that is 
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used in the immigration laws shall have the meaning 
given the term in the immigration laws. 
(2) IMMIGRATION LAWS.—The term ‘‘immigra-
tion laws’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
SEC. 3. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS. 
(a) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (3), the Secretary shall adjust the status of 
an alien described in subsection (b) to that of an 
alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if 
the alien— 
(A) applies for adjustment not later than 
1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act; 
(B) is otherwise eligible to receive an im-
migrant visa; and 
(C) subject to paragraph (2), is admissible 
to the United States for permanent residence. 
(2) APPLICABILITY OF GROUNDS OF INADMIS-
SIBILITY.—In determining the admissibility of an 
alien under paragraph (1)(C), the grounds of inad-
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missibility specified in paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), 
and (7)(A) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)) shall not apply. 
(3) EXCEPTIONS.—An alien shall not be eligible 
for adjustment of status under this subsection if the 
Secretary determines that the alien— 
(A) has been convicted of any aggravated 
felony; 
(B) has been convicted of 2 or more crimes 
involving moral turpitude; or 
(C) has ordered, incited, assisted, or other-
wise participated in the persecution of any per-
son on account of race, religion, nationality, 
membership in a particular social group, or po-
litical opinion. 
(4) RELATIONSHIP OF APPLICATION TO CER-
TAIN ORDERS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An alien present in the 
United States who has been subject to an order 
of exclusion, deportation, removal, or voluntary 
departure under any provision of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 
seq.) may, notwithstanding such order, submit 
an application for adjustment of status under 
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this subsection if the alien is otherwise eligible 
for adjustment of status under paragraph (1). 
(B) SEPARATE MOTION NOT REQUIRED.— 
An alien described in subparagraph (A) shall 
not be required, as a condition of submitting or 
granting an application under this subsection, 
to file a separate motion to reopen, reconsider, 
or vacate an order described in subparagraph 
(A). 
(C) 
EFFECT
OF
DECISION
BY
SEC-
RETARY.— 
(i) GRANT.—If the Secretary adjusts 
the status of an alien pursuant to an appli-
cation under this subsection, the Secretary 
shall cancel any order described in sub-
paragraph (A) to which the alien has been 
subject. 
(ii) DENIAL.—If the Secretary makes 
a final decision to deny such application, 
any such order shall be effective and en-
forceable to the same extent that such 
order would be effective and enforceable if 
the application had not been made. 
(b) ALIENS ELIGIBLE FOR ADJUSTMENT OF STA-
TUS.— 
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