I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2946 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to advance meritorious asylum 
claims, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 27, 2023 
Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to advance 
meritorious asylum claims, 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 ‘‘Safe Zones Act of 
2023’’. 
SEC. 2. STREAMLINING ASYLUM SYSTEM. 
(a) OFFICERS OF U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PRO-
TECTION AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT ASYLUM INTER-
VIEWS.—Section 235(b)(1)(E) of the Immigration and 
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Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(E)) by striking ‘‘im-
migration officer’’ and inserting ‘‘immigration officer, in-
cluding trained and qualified staff as determined by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security,’’. 
(b) STANDARDS TO OPTIMIZE AND ADVANCE MERI-
TORIOUS ASYLUM CLAIMS.—Section 235(b)(1)(B) of the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1225(b)(1)(B)) is amended— 
(1) by amending clause (v) to read as follows: 
‘‘(v) CREDIBLE
FEAR
OF
PERSECU-
TION.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—For purposes 
of this subparagraph, the term ‘cred-
ible fear of persecution’ means that 
there is a significant possibility, tak-
ing into account the credibility of the 
statements made by the alien in sup-
port of the alien’s claim and such 
other facts as are known to the offi-
cer, that the alien could establish eli-
gibility for asylum under section 208 
of this title. 
‘‘(II) BARS
TO
ASYLUM.—An 
alien shall not be determined to have 
a credible fear of persecution if the 
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alien is prohibited from applying for 
or receiving asylum, including an alien 
subject to a limitation or condition 
under subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) (in-
cluding 
a 
regulation 
promulgated 
under such subsection) of section 
208.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(vi) ELIGIBILITY FOR RELIEF.— 
‘‘(I) CREDIBLE FEAR REVIEW BY 
IMMIGRATION JUDGE.—Not later than 
90 days after an alien submits an ap-
plication for asylum at a safe zone, if 
the alien is determined to have a cred-
ible fear of persecution they shall be 
referred to an immigration judge for a 
determination of whether the alien is 
eligible for asylum under section 208, 
withholding of removal under section 
241(b)(3), or protection under the 
Convention Against Torture. 
‘‘(II) ALIENS
WITH
CREDIBLE 
FEAR OF PERSECUTION.— 
‘‘(aa) IN GENERAL.—Except 
as provided in item (bb), if an 
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alien referred under subpara-
graph (A)(ii) is determined to 
have a credible fear of persecu-
tion, the alien shall be eligible for 
asylum under section 208, with-
holding of removal under section 
241(b)(3), or protection under 
the Convention Against Torture. 
‘‘(bb) 
EXCEPTION.—An 
alien shall not be eligible for con-
sideration of an application for 
relief under item (aa) if the fail-
ure of the alien to establish a 
credible fear of persecution pre-
cludes the alien from eligibility 
for such relief. 
‘‘(vii) INELIGIBILITY
FOR
REMOVAL 
PROCEEDINGS.—An alien referred under 
subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not be eligible 
for a hearing under section 240.’’. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF SAFE ZONES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) 
IMMIGRATION
OFFICER.—Section 
101(a)(18) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(18)) is amended by striking ‘‘At-
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torney General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Home-
land Security’’. 
(2) SAFE ZONE.—Section 101(a) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(53) The term ‘safe zone’— 
‘‘(A) means a facility designated under sec-
tion 207(g) by the Secretary of State to accept 
and process applications for refugee admissions 
to the United States; and 
‘‘(B) may include a United States em-
bassy, consulate, or other diplomatic facility, or 
other facility as determined to be appropriate 
by the Secretary of State.’’. 
(b) DESIGNATION.—Section 207 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(g) SAFE ZONE.— 
‘‘(1) DESIGNATION.—Not later than 240 days 
after the date of the enactment of this subsection, 
the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, shall designate a safe 
zone outside the United States. 
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‘‘(2) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary of State shall 
establish— 
‘‘(A) not fewer than 3 safe zones along the 
United States-Mexico border; and 
‘‘(B) 1 safe zone in Guatemala. 
‘‘(3) DUTIES OF SECRETARY OF STATE.—The 
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, shall ensure that any 
alien who is a national or habitual resident of a 
country in which a safe zone is located, or a country 
contiguous to such a country, may apply for refugee 
status at such safe zone. 
‘‘(4) ADJUDICATIONS
BY
IMMIGRATION
OFFI-
CERS.—Not later than 30 days after a credible fear 
determination is made for an alien, an application 
for refugee status submitted to a safe zone shall be 
adjudicated by an immigration officer. 
‘‘(5) PRIORITY.—The Secretary of State shall 
ensure that an application at a safe zone is 
prioritized— 
‘‘(A) for an alien who has been referred by 
an authorized nongovernmental organization, as 
determined by the Secretary of State; and 
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‘‘(B) in accordance with any other require-
ments and procedures established by the Sec-
retary of State under this subsection. 
‘‘(6) APPLICATION FEES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
State and the Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall charge, collect, and account for fees pre-
scribed by each such Secretary pursuant to sub-
sections (m) and (n) of section 286 of this Act 
and section 9701 of title 31, United States 
Code, for the purpose of receiving, docketing, 
processing, and adjudicating an application 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(B) BASIS
FOR
FEES.—The fees pre-
scribed under subparagraph (A) shall be based 
on a consideration of the amount necessary to 
deter frivolous applications and the cost for 
processing the application, including the imple-
mentation of program integrity and anti-fraud 
measures. 
‘‘(7) COVID–19 TESTING.—For the duration of 
the public health emergency with respect to COVID– 
19, the Secretary of State shall require an alien to 
present a negative test for COVID–19 to enter a 
safe zone. 
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‘‘(8) REMOTE
ADJUDICATION.—Remote adju-
dication may be used, at the discretion of the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, to adjudicate any ap-
plication submitted at a safe zone outside the United 
States. 
‘‘(9) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 2023 to 2033 for the des-
ignation of safe zones pursuant to this section.’’. 
(c) SUNSET.—The amendments made by this section 
shall cease to have effect beginning on the date that is 
10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL REQUIRED. 
(a) U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION.—Not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection shall hire, train, and assign an additional num-
ber, as determined necessary by the Secretary of Home-
land Security, of border patrol agents. 
(b) IMMIGRATION
JUDGES.—Not later than six 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Attorney General shall hire 20 immigration judges and all 
appropriate support staff to carry out this Act. 
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SEC. 5. SERVICE OF SAFE ZONES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall en-
sure that a safe zone under section 207 of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), as amended by 
this Act, is safe and provides humane conditions. The Sec-
retary shall provide— 
(1) security for the safe zone and shall ensure 
that it is fortified from potential danger; 
(2) temporary housing for an alien while such 
alien’s case is adjudicated; 
(3) adequate meals; and 
(4) access to medical care, social workers, the 
Legal Orientation Program administered by the Ex-
ecutive Office for Immigration Review, and other 
services the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2024 to 2034 to carry out this section. 
Æ 
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