I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9685 
To provide for the admission and protection of refugees, asylum seekers, 
and other vulnerable individuals, to provide for the processing of refugees 
and asylum seekers in the Western Hemisphere, and to modify certain 
special immigrant visa programs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 22, 2022 
Ms. LOFGREN (for herself, Mr. NADLER, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. PANETTA, Ms. 
JACOBS of California, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. NORTON, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. 
BLUMENAUER, and Mr. DESAULNIER) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 
to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Budget, Foreign Affairs, and 
Education and Labor, 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 provide for the admission and protection of refugees, 
asylum seekers, and other vulnerable individuals, to pro-
vide for the processing of refugees and asylum seekers 
in the Western Hemisphere, and to modify certain special 
immigrant visa programs, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Refugee Protection Act of 2022’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings; sense of Congress. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
TITLE I—ADMISSION AND PROTECTION OF REFUGEES, ASYLUM 
SEEKERS, AND OTHER VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS 
Subtitle A—Refugees and Asylum Seekers 
Sec. 1101. Modification of definition of refugee. 
Sec. 1102. Multiple forms of relief available to refugees and asylum seekers. 
Sec. 1103. Elimination of time limits on asylum applications. 
Sec. 1104. Safe third country exception. 
Sec. 1105. Consideration of asylum claims. 
Sec. 1106. Transparency in refugee determinations. 
Sec. 1107. Authority to designate certain groups of refugees from countries of 
particular concern and admission of refugees in emergency sit-
uations. 
Sec. 1108. Employment authorization for asylum seekers and other individuals. 
Sec. 1109. Admission of refugees and asylees as lawful permanent residents. 
Sec. 1110. Complementary protection. 
Sec. 1111. Internal relocation. 
Sec. 1112. Firm resettlement. 
Subtitle B—Protections for Children and Families 
Sec. 1201. Keeping families together. 
Sec. 1202. Protections for minors seeking asylum. 
Sec. 1203. Fair day in court for kids. 
Subtitle C—Protections for Other Vulnerable Individuals 
CHAPTER 1—STATELESS PROTECTION 
Sec. 1311. Protection of stateless persons in the United States. 
Sec. 1312. Prevention of statelessness. 
CHAPTER 2—OTHER INDIVIDUALS 
Sec. 1321. Protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as terrorists. 
Sec. 1322. Protection for aliens interdicted at sea. 
Sec. 1323. Enhanced protection for individuals seeking U visas, T visas, and 
protection under VAWA. 
Subtitle D—Protections Relating to Removal, Detention, and Prosecution 
Sec. 1401. Prevention of erroneous in absentia orders of removal. 
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Sec. 1402. Scope and standard for review of removal orders. 
Sec. 1403. Presumption of liberty for asylum seekers. 
Sec. 1404. Procedures for ensuring accuracy and verifiability of sworn state-
ments taken pursuant to expedited removal authority. 
Sec. 1405. Inspections by immigration officers. 
Sec. 1406. Study on effect on asylum claims of expedited removal provisions, 
practices, and procedures. 
Sec. 1407. Alignment with Refugee Convention obligations by prohibiting crimi-
nal prosecution of refugees. 
Subtitle E—Refugee Resettlement 
Sec. 1501. Sense of Congress on coordination of refugee program agencies. 
CHAPTER 1—REFUGEE ADMISSIONS 
Sec. 1511. Numerical goals for annual refugee admissions. 
Sec. 1512. Reform of refugee admissions consultation process. 
Sec. 1513. United States emergency refugee resettlement contingency fund. 
Sec. 1514. Complementary pathways. 
CHAPTER 2—RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM AND SUPPORT 
Sec. 1521. Elevation of Office of Refugee Resettlement. 
Sec. 1522. Refugee resettlement; radius requirements. 
Sec. 1523. Study and report on contributions by refugees to the United States. 
Sec. 1524. Update of reception and placement grants. 
Sec. 1525. Subsidy reception and placement grant to support unanticipated 
economic and public health needs. 
Sec. 1526. Resettlement data. 
Sec. 1527. Refugee assistance. 
Sec. 1528. Stabilizing resettlement site capacity for volunteer coordination, 
housing coordination, and AOR processing. 
Sec. 1529. Community partnerships, civic engagement, and refugee leadership 
development. 
CHAPTER 3—ACCESS TO SERVICES AND BENEFITS 
Sec. 1531. Extension of eligibility period for Social Security benefits for certain 
refugees. 
Sec. 1532. In-State tuition rates for refugees, asylees, and certain special immi-
grants. 
CHAPTER 4—TRAINING, ORIENTATION, AND INCLUSION 
Sec. 1541. Pre-departure training for approved refugee applicants. 
Sec. 1542. Domestic refugee resettlement programs on digital and financial lit-
eracy; housing and transportation access. 
Sec. 1543. Study and report on digital literacy, equity, and inclusion among 
refugees in the United States. 
CHAPTER 5—DOMESTIC REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT REFORM AND 
MODERNIZATION ACT 
Sec. 1551. Short title. 
Sec. 1552. Definitions. 
Sec. 1553. Assessment of refugee domestic resettlement programs. 
Sec. 1554. Guidance regarding refugee placement decisions. 
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CHAPTER 6—OVERSEAS PROCESSING AND PREPARATION 
Sec. 1561. Refugee biometric data and reporting. 
Sec. 1562. Prioritization of family reunification in refugee resettlement process. 
Sec. 1563. Priority 3 family reunification cases. 
Sec. 1564. Creating a Roving Resettlement Support Center. 
Subtitle F—Authorization of Appropriations 
Sec. 1601. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE II—REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER PROCESSING IN 
WESTERN HEMISPHERE 
Sec. 2101. Expansion of refugee and asylum seeker processing. 
Sec. 2102. Strengthening regional humanitarian responses. 
Sec. 2103. Information campaign on dangers of irregular migration. 
Sec. 2104. Reporting requirement. 
Sec. 2105. Identification, screening, and processing of refugees and other indi-
viduals eligible for lawful admission to the United States. 
Sec. 2106. Central American refugee program. 
Sec. 2107. Central American Minors Program. 
Sec. 2108. Central American Family Reunification Parole Program. 
Sec. 2109. Informational campaign; case status hotline. 
TITLE III—SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAMS 
Sec. 3101. Special immigrant visa program reporting requirement. 
Sec. 3102. Inclusion of certain special immigrants in the annual refugee survey. 
TITLE IV—NONDISCRIMINATION 
Sec. 4101. Expansion of nondiscrimination provision. 
Sec. 4102. Transfer and limitations on authority to suspend or restrict the 
entry of a class of aliens. 
Sec. 4103. Visa applicants report. 
TITLE V—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 5101. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 5102. Determination of budgetary effects. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) In 2022, the world is in the midst of the 
worst global displacement crisis in history, with 
more than 103,000,000 forcibly displaced persons, 
including more than 32,500,000 refugees worldwide, 
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nearly half of whom are children, according to esti-
mates from the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees. 
(2) In 2023, the United Nations High Commis-
sioner for Refugees estimates that global resettle-
ment needs will significantly increase to 2,003,982 
individuals, as compared to 2022— 
(A) in which 1,473,156 individuals were 
estimated to be in need of third-country reset-
tlement; and 
(B) during the first 6 months of which 
42,300 individuals were resettled worldwide. 
(3) The United States refugee admissions pro-
gram is a life-saving solution that— 
(A) is critical to global humanitarian ef-
forts; 
(B) strengthens global security; 
(C) leverages United States foreign policy 
interests, including diplomatic and strategic in-
terests of supporting allies who often host a sig-
nificant and disproportionate share of refugees 
per capita; and 
(D) stabilizes sensitive regions impacted by 
forced migration by ensuring that the United 
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States shares responsibility for global refugee 
protection; 
(E) leverages refugee resettlement in the 
United States to encourage other countries to 
uphold the human rights of refugees, including 
by ensuring that refugees— 
(i) have the right to work, the right to 
an education, and freedom of movement; 
and 
(ii) are not returned to a place in 
which their life or freedom is at risk; 
(F) serves individuals and families in need 
of resettlement; 
(G) provides economic and cultural bene-
fits to cities, States, and the United States as 
a whole; and 
(H) aligns with the international obliga-
tions of the United States, including under— 
(i) the Convention Relating to the 
Status of Refugees, done at Geneva July 
28, 1951 (as made applicable by the Pro-
tocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 
done at New York January 31, 1967 (19 
UST 6223)), of which the United States is 
a party; 
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(ii) the Convention against Torture 
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading 
Treatment or Punishment, done at New 
York December 10, 1984, of which the 
United States is a party; 
(iii) the Convention relating to the 
Status of Stateless Persons, done at New 
York September 28, 1954; and 
(iv) the Convention on the Reduction 
of Statelessness, done at New York August 
30, 1961. 
(4) The United States has historically been, 
and should continue to be, a global leader in— 
(A) responding to displacement crises 
around the world, including through the provi-
sion of robust humanitarian support; 
(B) promoting the safety, health, and well- 
being of refugees and displaced persons; 
(C) welcoming asylum seekers who seek 
safety and protecting other at-risk migrants, in-
cluding survivors of torture, victims of traf-
ficking, climate displaced persons, and stateless 
people; and 
(D) working alongside other countries to 
strengthen protection systems and support. 
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(5) The United States has steadily reduced ac-
cess to asylum protection through administrative 
policy and programmatic changes, including policies 
and operational decisions aimed at reducing or stop-
ping the ability of asylum seekers to access the 
United States border. 
(6) Refugees are— 
(A) the most vetted travelers to enter the 
United States; and 
(B) subject to extensive screening checks, 
including in-person interviews, biometric data 
checks, and multiple interagency checks. 
(7) For the sake of refugees, asylum seekers, 
other migrants, United States national diplomatic 
and strategic interests, and local communities that 
benefit from the presence of refugees, asylees, and 
other migrants, it is crucial for the United States to 
better protect refugees and asylum seekers through 
reforms, including— 
(A) asylum reforms that ensure access to 
territory and due process; 
(B) reforms to border migration enforce-
ment, management, and adjudication systems 
that integrate stronger protection of, and en-
sure due process for, asylum seekers, children, 
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victims of trafficking, climate displaced persons, 
stateless people, and other migrants, includ-
ing— 
(i) community-based alternatives to 
detention for asylum seekers and other vul-
nerable migrants; 
(ii) improved detention conditions and 
reduced reliance on immigrant detention; 
(iii) monitoring to ensure fairness in 
the arrest and adjudication process; 
(iv) increased access to legal informa-
tion and representation; and 
(v) a stronger commitment to child 
welfare in staffing and processes; and 
(C) refugee reforms that— 
(i) ensure that the United States 
meets the annual refugee admissions goal; 
(ii) prevent refugee policy that dis-
criminates based on race or religion; 
(iii) improve opportunities for refu-
gees to achieve family unity; and 
(iv) update and strengthen support 
for refugees and the communities that wel-
come refugees. 
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(8) The people of the United States, and com-
munities across the United States, overwhelmingly 
support refugees and asylum seekers, including peo-
ple of faith, members of the Armed Forces, veterans, 
elected officials, and retired high-ranking officials. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the global refugee crisis is dire and requires 
international and regional cooperation and action; 
and 
(2) the United States should— 
(A) assert strong leadership in multilateral 
fora, such as the United Nations, by collabo-
rating and cooperating with other countries and 
international and regional organizations to de-
velop a comprehensive and coordinated response 
to the global refugee crisis; and 
(B) exercise leadership in efforts to ad-
dress the global refugee crisis, including 
through participation in the Global Refugee 
Forum. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ASYLUM SEEKER.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘asylum 
seeker’’ means— 
(i) any applicant for asylum under 
section 208 of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158); 
(ii) any alien who indicates— 
(I) an intention to apply for asy-
lum under that section; or 
(II) a fear of persecution; or 
(III) a fear of return because of 
a threat to life or physical or mental 
integrity; and 
(iii) any alien who indicates— 
(I) an intention to apply for with-
holding of removal pursuant to— 
(aa) section 241 of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1231); or 
(bb) the Convention against 
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhu-
man or Degrading Treatment or 
Punishment, done at New York 
December 10, 1984; or 
(II) a fear that the alien’s life or 
freedom would be threatened. 
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(B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘asylum seek-
er’’ includes any individual described in sub-
paragraph (A) whose application for asylum or 
withholding of removal is pending judicial re-
view. 
(C) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘asylum seek-
er’’ does not include an individual with respect 
to whom a final order denying asylum and with-
holding of removal has been entered if such 
order is not pending judicial review. 
(2) BEST
INTEREST
DETERMINATION.—The 
term ‘‘best interest determination’’ means a formal 
process with procedural safeguards designed to give 
primary consideration to a child’s best interests in 
decision making. 
(3) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Homeland Security. 
(4) INTERNALLY
DISPLACED
PERSONS.—The 
term ‘‘internally displaced persons’’ means persons 
or a group of persons who have been forced to leave 
their homes or places of habitual residence, in par-
ticular due to armed conflict, generalized violence, 
violations of human rights, or natural or human- 
made disasters, and who have not crossed an inter-
nationally recognized state border. 
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(5) INTERNATIONAL
PROTECTION.—The term 
‘‘international protection’’ means asylum status, ref-
ugee status, protection under the Convention against 
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading 
Treatment or Punishment, done at New York De-
cember 10, 1984, and other regional protection sta-
tus available in the Western Hemisphere. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
TITLE I—ADMISSION AND PRO-
TECTION OF REFUGEES, ASY-
LUM SEEKERS, AND OTHER 
VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS 
Subtitle A—Refugees and Asylum 
Seekers 
SEC. 1101. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF REFUGEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 101(a)(42) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(42)(A) The term ‘refugee’ means any person who— 
‘‘(i)(I) is outside any country of such person’s 
nationality or, in the case of a person having no na-
tionality, is outside any country in which such per-
son last habitually resided; and 
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‘‘(II) is unable or unwilling to return to, and is 
unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the 
protection of, that country because of persecution, or 
a well-founded fear of persecution, on account of 
race, religion, nationality, membership in a par-
ticular social group, or political opinion; or 
‘‘(ii) in such circumstances as the President 
may specify, after appropriate consultation (as de-
fined in section 207(e))— 
‘‘(I) is within the country of such person’s 
nationality or, in the case of a person having no 
nationality, within the country in which such 
person is habitually residing; and 
‘‘(II) is persecuted, or who has a well- 
founded fear of persecution, on account of race, 
religion, nationality, membership in a particular 
social group, or political opinion. 
‘‘(B) The term ‘refugee’ does not include any person 
who ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in 
the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, 
nationality, membership in a particular social group, or 
political opinion. A person who establishes that his or her 
actions were committed under duress or while the person 
was younger than 18 years of age shall not be considered 
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to have ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated 
in persecution under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(C) The term ‘political opinion’ refers to any expres-
sion of support for or dissent from, or imputed support 
for or dissent from, a practice, policy, or ideology of a gov-
ernment entity or of a nonstate group or actor. 
‘‘(D) For purposes of determinations under this 
Act— 
‘‘(i) a person who has been forced to abort a 
pregnancy or to undergo involuntary sterilization, or 
who has been persecuted for failure or refusal to un-
dergo such a procedure or for other resistance to a 
coercive population control program, shall be deemed 
to have been persecuted on account of political opin-
ion; 
‘‘(ii) a person who has a well-founded fear that 
he or she will be forced to undergo such a procedure 
or be subject to persecution for such failure, refusal, 
or resistance shall be deemed to have a well-founded 
fear of persecution on account of political opinion; 
‘‘(iii) the term ‘particular social group’ means, 
without any additional requirement not listed below, 
any group whose members— 
‘‘(I) share— 
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‘‘(aa) a characteristic that is immu-
table or fundamental to identity, con-
science, or the exercise of human rights; or 
‘‘(bb) a past experience or voluntary 
association that, due to its historical na-
ture, cannot be changed; or 
‘‘(II) are perceived as a group by society; 
and 
‘‘(iv) a particular social group can be cognizable 
regardless of the number of members who belong to 
the group. 
‘‘(E)(i) The burden of proof shall be on the applicant 
to establish that the applicant is a refugee. 
‘‘(ii) To establish that the applicant is a refugee, per-
secution— 
‘‘(I) shall be on account of race, religion, na-
tionality, membership in a particular social group, or 
political opinion; and 
‘‘(II) may be established by demonstrating 
that— 
‘‘(aa) a protected ground is at least one 
reason for the applicant’s persecution or fear of 
persecution; 
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‘‘(bb) the persecution or feared persecution 
would not have occurred or would not occur in 
the future but for a protected ground; or 
‘‘(cc) the persecution or feared persecution 
had or will have the effect of harming the per-
son because of a protected ground. 
‘‘(F) Where past or feared persecution by a nonstate 
actor is unrelated to a protected asylum ground, the caus-
al nexus link is established if the state’s failure to protect 
the asylum applicant from the nonstate actor is on account 
of a protected asylum ground.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 208(b)(1) 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1158(b)(1)) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘section 
101(a)(42)(A)’’ each place such term appears and insert-
ing ‘‘section 101(a)(42)(A)(i)’’. 
SEC. 1102. MULTIPLE FORMS OF RELIEF AVAILABLE TO 
REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An applicant for admission as a 
refugee may simultaneously pursue admission under any 
visa category for which the applicant may be eligible. 
(b) ASYLUM APPLICANTS ELIGIBLE FOR DIVERSITY 
VISAS.—Section 204(a)(1)(I) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(I)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
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‘‘(iii)(I) An asylum seeker in the United States who 
is notified that he or she is eligible for an immigrant visa 
pursuant to section 203(c) may file a petition with the 
district director that has jurisdiction over the district in 
which the asylum seeker resides (or, in the case of an asy-
lum seeker who is or was in removal proceedings, the im-
migration court in which the removal proceeding is pend-
ing or was adjudicated) to adjust status to that of an alien 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence. 
‘‘(II) A petition under subclause (I) shall— 
‘‘(aa) be filed not later than 30 days before the 
end of the fiscal year for which the petitioner re-
ceives notice of eligibility for the visa; and 
‘‘(bb) contain such information and be sup-
ported by such documentary evidence as the Sec-
retary of State may require. 
‘‘(III) The district director or immigration court shall 
attempt to adjudicate each petition under this clause be-
fore the last day of the fiscal year for which the petitioner 
was selected. Notwithstanding clause (ii)(II), if the district 
director or immigration court is unable to complete such 
adjudication during such fiscal year, the adjudication and 
adjustment of status of the petitioner may take place after 
the end of such fiscal year.’’. 
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SEC. 1103. ELIMINATION OF TIME LIMITS ON ASYLUM AP-
PLICATIONS. 
Section 208(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘or the 
Secretary of Homeland Security’’ after ‘‘Attorney 
General’’ each place such term appears; 
(2) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (D); 
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (B); 
(4) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘subparagraph (D)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
paragraphs (C) and (D)’’; 
(5) by inserting after subparagraph (B), as re-
designated, the following: 
‘‘(C) CHANGED
CIRCUMSTANCES.—Not-
withstanding subparagraph (B), an application 
for asylum of an alien may be considered if the 
alien demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the 
Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, 
the 
existence 
of 
changed 
cir-
cumstances that materially affect the appli-
cant’s eligibility for asylum. 
‘‘(D) MOTION TO REOPEN CERTAIN MERI-
TORIOUS CLAIMS.— 
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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of the enactment of this 
subparagraph, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall provide to each individual 
described in clause (ii), in the best lan-
guage of such individual— 
‘‘(I) notice of their eligibility for 
asylum; and 
‘‘(II) guidance with respect to fil-
ing a motion to reopen their immigra-
tion case in order to be granted asy-
lum. 
‘‘(ii) INDIVIDUAL DESCRIBED.—An in-
dividual described in this clause is an indi-
vidual who— 
‘‘(I) was denied asylum based 
solely on a failure to meet the 1-year 
application filing deadline in effect on 
the date on which the application was 
filed; 
‘‘(II) was granted withholding of 
removal to the alien’s country of na-
tionality (or, in the case of a person 
having no nationality, to the country 
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of last habitual residence) under sec-
tion 241(b)(3); 
‘‘(III) has not obtained lawful 
permanent residence in the United 
States pursuant to any other provision 
of law; and 
‘‘(IV)(aa) is not subject to the 
safe third country exception under 
subparagraph (A) or to a bar to asy-
lum under subsection (b)(2); and 
‘‘(bb) was not denied asylum as a 
matter of discretion. 
‘‘(iii) DATE OF GRANT.— 
‘‘(I) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.— 
For purposes of applications for ad-
justment of status submitted by an in-
dividual described in clause (ii) who 
was granted after the date of the en-
actment of this subparagraph, an in-
dividual granted asylum under this 
subsection shall be considered to have 
been so granted on the date on which 
the individual was granted with-
holding of removal under section 
241(b)(3). 
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‘‘(II) 
PETITIONS
FOR
REL-
ATIVES.—An individual granted asy-
lum under this subsection may, during 
the 2-year period beginning on the 
date on which the individual is grant-
ed asylum under this subsection, sub-
mit a petition for the admission of a 
spouse or child who is accompanying 
or following to join.’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) OTHER MOTIONS TO REOPEN.—Not-
withstanding section 240(c)(7), an individual 
who was denied asylum may file a motion to re-
open an asylum claim during the 2-year period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
subparagraph if the individual was denied asy-
lum based solely on the implementation of— 
‘‘(i) the policy memorandum of the 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
entitled ‘Guidance for Processing Reason-
able Fear, Credible Fear, Asylum, and 
Refugee Claims in Accordance with Matter 
of A–B–’ (PM–602–0162), dated July 11, 
2018; 
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‘‘(ii) the memorandum of the Office of 
the Principal Legal Advisor of U.S. Immi-
gration and Customs Enforcement entitled 
‘Litigating Domestic Violence-Based Perse-
cution Claims Following Matter of A–B–’, 
dated July 11, 2018; 
‘‘(iii) the interim final rule of the De-
partment of Homeland Security and the 
Department of Justice entitled ‘Aliens 
Subject to a Bar on Entry Under Certain 
Presidential Proclamations; Procedures for 
Protection Claims’ (83 Fed. Reg. 55934 
(November 9, 2019)); 
‘‘(iv) Presidential Proclamation 9822, 
issued on November 9, 2018 (83 Fed. Reg. 
57661); 
‘‘(v) the migrant protection protocols 
announced by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security on December 20, 2018 (or any 
successor protocols); 
‘‘(vi) the policy memorandum of the 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
entitled ‘Guidance for Implementing Sec-
tion 235(b)(2)(C) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act and the Migrant Protec-
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tion Protocols’ (PM–602–0169), dated 
January 28, 2019; or 
‘‘(vii) any other policy memorandum 
of the Department of Homeland Security 
to implement the protocols described in 
subclause (V).’’. 
SEC. 1104. SAFE THIRD COUNTRY EXCEPTION. 
Subsection 208(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)(A)), as amended by section 
1103, is further amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or equiv-
alent’’ and all that follows through the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘with effective protection, includ-
ing access to a durable solution, for individuals who 
are refugees, or equivalent temporary protection.’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) LIMITATION
ON
BILATERAL
AND 
MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS.—No bilateral or 
multilateral agreement proposed under this sec-
tion shall take effect until the agreement is ap-
proved as a treaty by the Senate or approved 
as an executive agreement by the Senate, the 
House of Representatives, and the President of 
the United States.’’. 
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SEC. 1105. CONSIDERATION OF ASYLUM CLAIMS. 
(a) CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING ASYLUM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 208(b)(1)(B) of the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1158(b)(1)(B)) is amended— 
(A) in clause (ii), by striking the last sen-
tence and inserting the following: ‘‘If the trier 
of fact determines that the applicant should 
provide evidence that corroborates otherwise 
credible testimony, the trier of fact shall pro-
vide notice and allow the applicant a reasonable 
opportunity to file such evidence. The trier of 
fact may not require such evidence if the appli-
cant does not have the evidence and dem-
onstrates that he or she cannot reasonably ob-
tain the evidence. Evidence shall not be consid-
ered reasonably obtainable if procurement of 
such evidence would reasonably endanger the 
life or safety of any person.’’; 
(B) by striking clause (iii); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (ii) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) SUPPORTING EVIDENCE ACCEPT-
ED.— 
‘‘(I) DIRECT
AND
CIRCUMSTAN-
TIAL
EVIDENCE.—Direct 
or 
cir-
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cumstantial evidence, including evi-
dence that the government of the ap-
plicable country is unable or unwilling 
to protect individuals of the appli-
cant’s race, religion, nationality, par-
ticular social group, or political opin-
ion, or that the legal or social norms 
of the country tolerate persecution 
against individuals of the applicant’s 
race, religion, nationality, particular 
social group, or political opinion, may 
establish that persecution is on ac-
count of race, religion, nationality, 
membership in a particular social 
group, or political opinion. 
‘‘(II) EXPERT
WITNESS
TESTI-
MONY.— 
‘‘(aa) IN GENERAL.—Except 
as provided in item (bb), an asy-
lum officer or immigration judge, 
as applicable, shall— 
‘‘(AA) 
accept 
expert 
witness testimony with re-
spect to the human rights 
conditions in a country and 
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‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to 
subclause (II), a trier of fact may con-
duct a credibility assessment in the 
context of evaluating an applicant’s 
claim for asylum. 
‘‘(II) PROCEDURAL
AND
SUB-
STANTIVE REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(aa) OBJECTIVITY.—Deci-
sions regarding credibility shall 
be made objectively, impartially, 
and individually. 
‘‘(bb) MATERIAL FACTS.—A 
credibility assessment under this 
clause may only be conducted on 
the material facts of the appli-
cant’s claim. The perception of 
the trier of fact with respect to 
the applicant’s general truthful-
ness or trustworthiness shall not 
be relevant to assessing credi-
bility of material facts. 
‘‘(cc) DETAIL
AND
SPECI-
FICITY.—In assessing credibility, 
a trier of fact may consider the 
detail and specificity of informa-
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tion provided by the applicant, 
the internal consistency of the 
applicant’s statements, and the 
consistency of the applicant’s 
statements with available exter-
nal information. In considering 
such information and statements, 
the trier of fact shall consider the 
applicant’s 
contextual 
cir-
cumstances, including— 
‘‘(AA) exposure to trau-
ma; 
‘‘(BB) age; 
‘‘(CC) gender, sexual 
orientation, or gender iden-
tity; 
‘‘(DD) 
educational 
background; 
‘‘(EE) physical or men-
tal health issues; 
‘‘(FF) shame, stigma, 
or denial; 
‘‘(GG) 
communication 
difficulties; 
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‘‘(HH) 
intercultural 
barriers; and 
‘‘(II) the circumstances 
under which such statements 
were made. 
‘‘(dd) DUTY TO ASSIST.—A 
trier of fact shall have an affirm-
ative duty to assist the applicant 
in providing credible testimony. 
‘‘(ee) CONSISTENCY
WITH 
SCIENTIFIC
LITERATURE.—A 
credibility assessment conducted 
under this clause, and any credi-
bility finding made, shall be con-
sistent with current scientific lit-
erature relating to behavioral in-
dicators of truth-telling, the na-
ture of traumatic memories, and 
the ability of trauma survivors to 
recall 
aspects 
of, 
and 
sur-
rounding, a traumatic event. 
‘‘(ff) TIMING.—A credibility 
assessment under this clause may 
not be made until after— 
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‘‘(AA) an interview of 
the applicant; and 
‘‘(BB) all relevant evi-
dence has been collected and 
considered. 
‘‘(gg) OPPORTUNITY TO RE-
SPOND.—If a trier of fact doubts 
the credibility of the applicant, 
the trier of fact shall specify any 
such doubt to the applicant and 
provide the applicant a meaning-
ful opportunity to respond. 
‘‘(hh) CLEAR
FINDINGS.— 
The result of a credibility assess-
ment under this clause shall in-
clude clear findings based on and 
supported by evidence, after con-
sideration of all of the relevant 
evidence consistent with items 
(cc) and (dd), that describes the 
material facts that are accepted 
as credible and the material facts 
that are rejected as not credible, 
and the reason for such accept-
ance or rejection. 
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‘‘(ii) 
REBUTTABLE
PRE-
SUMPTION.—If an adverse credi-
bility determination is not explic-
itly made, the applicant shall 
have a rebuttable presumption of 
credibility on appeal. 
‘‘(jj) ORAL TESTIMONY.—An 
applicant for asylum who is in re-
moval proceedings shall have the 
right to testify orally before an 
immigration judge.’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
241(b)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3)(C)) is amended by striking 
‘‘and (iii)’’ and inserting ‘‘through (iv)’’. 
(b) CLARIFICATION ON ASYLUM ELIGIBILITY.—Sec-
tion 208(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph 
(C) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) CLARIFICATION
ON
ASYLUM
ELIGI-
BILITY.—Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the eligibility of an alien for asylum 
shall be governed solely by this section.’’. 
(c) THIRD COUNTRY TRANSIT.—Section 208(b)(2) of 
the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
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1158(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(E) THIRD COUNTRY TRANSIT.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—An applicant’s 
entry to, attempt to enter, or arrival or 
stay in a third country shall not be— 
‘‘(I) considered to amount to the 
applicant being firmly resettled; 
‘‘(II) grounds or a basis for a de-
nial of an asylum application or the 
issuance of a negative credible fear 
determination; or 
‘‘(III) a factor for otherwise ren-
dering the applicant ineligible for asy-
lum. 
‘‘(ii) APPLICABILITY.—Clause (i) shall 
apply regardless of whether the appli-
cant— 
‘‘(I) applied for asylum or was 
denied or granted asylum in the third 
country concerned; 
‘‘(II) is a victim of 1 or more se-
vere forms of trafficking in persons 
(as defined in section 103 of the Traf-
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ficking Victims Protection Act of 
2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102)); or 
‘‘(III) the third country con-
cerned is a party to the Convention 
Relating to the Status of Refugees, 
done at Geneva July 28, 1951, (as 
made applicable by the Protocol Re-
lating to the Status of Refugees, done 
at New York January 31, 1967 (19 
UST 6223)), or other similar treaty 
or protocol.’’. 
(d) INITIAL JURISDICTION OVER ASYLUM APPLICA-
TIONS.—Section 208(b) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking subparagraph 
(C); and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) INITIAL JURISDICTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An asylum officer (as 
defined in section 235(b)(1)(E)) shall have ini-
tial jurisdiction over any asylum application re-
gardless of whether filed in accordance with this 
section or section 235(b) or section 240. 
‘‘(B) FINAL
ORDER
OF
REMOVAL
EN-
TERED.—In the case of an alien with respect to 
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whom a final order of removal was previously 
entered, an asylum officer shall have initial ju-
risdiction over any application for withholding 
of removal under section 241(b)(3) or protec-
tion under the Convention against Torture and 
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment 
or Punishment, done at New York December 
10, 1984, regardless of whether such an appli-
cation is filed in accordance with this section or 
section 235(b) or section 240.’’. 
(e) LIMITATION ON IMPOSITION OF FEES.—Section 
208(d)(3) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON IMPOSITION OF FEES.— 
‘‘(A) SENSE
OF
CONGRESS.—It is the 
sense of Congress that the Secretary of Home-
land Security should not impose fees for the 
consideration of an application for asylum, em-
ployment authorization under this section, ad-
justment of status under section 209, the collec-
tion of biometrics in conjunction with applica-
tions under this section, petitions for family re-
unification, or the issuance of refugee travel 
documents. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.— 
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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary of 
Homeland imposes a fee for the consider-
ation of an application for asylum, employ-
ment authorization under this section, ad-
justment of status under section 209, the 
collection of biometrics in conjunction with 
applications under this section or section 
209, petitions for family reunification, or 
the issuance of refugee travel documents— 
‘‘(I) such fee shall not exceed the 
Secretary of Homeland Security’s 
costs in adjudicating such applica-
tions, processing such biometrics, or 
issuing such document, as applicable; 
‘‘(II) the applicant shall be eligi-
ble for a fee waiver; and 
‘‘(III) the applicant shall be per-
mitted to pay such fee over a period 
of time or in installments. 
‘‘(C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing 
in this paragraph may be construed to require 
the Secretary of Homeland Security to charge 
fees for adjudication services provided to asy-
lum applicants.’’. 
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(f) CONSIDERATION OF ASYLUM APPLICATIONS.— 
Section 208(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)) is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (B); and 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(A) PROCEDURES.—’’; 
and 
(B) by redesignating clauses (i) through 
(v) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respec-
tively, and moving such subparagraphs 2 ems to 
the left. 
(g) CONFIDENTIALITY OF ASYLUM APPLICATIONS.— 
Section 208(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1158(d)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(8) CONFIDENTIALITY OF ASYLUM APPLICA-
TIONS
AND
PROCEEDINGS.—An employee of the 
United States may not disclose to any individual 
other than an immigration or law enforcement offi-
cial of the United States information in an asylum 
application or from an asylum proceeding without 
the consent of the applicant.’’. 
(h) TRANSPARENCY
OF
STATISTICAL
INFORMA-
TION.—Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality 
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Act (8 U.S.C. 1158) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(f) TRANSPARENCY
OF
STATISTICAL
INFORMA-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.— 
‘‘(A) CREDIBLE
FEAR
AND
REASONABLE 
FEAR
ADJUDICATIONS
DATABASE.—The Sec-
retary of Homeland Security shall develop, 
maintain, and make available to the public a 
database reflecting adjudications of credible 
fear or reasonable fear under section 235 that 
includes, for each such adjudication that occurs 
not later than 90 days after the date of the en-
actment of this subsection, the following: 
‘‘(i) An anonymized code number or 
sequence of characters for the asylum ap-
plicant. 
‘‘(ii) The month and year in which the 
applicant was apprehended. 
‘‘(iii) The month and year in which 
the applicant was interviewed under sec-
tion 235. 
‘‘(iv)(I) Whether the applicant was in 
the custody of the Secretary of Homeland 
Security on the date of such interview. 
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‘‘(II) In the case of an applicant who 
was in the custody of the Secretary of 
Homeland Security on such date— 
‘‘(aa) the component of the De-
partment of Homeland Security re-
sponsible for the applicant’s detention; 
and 
‘‘(bb) the name of the facility in 
which the applicant was held. 
‘‘(v) The age of the applicant on the 
date of such interview. 
‘‘(vi) The nationality of the applicant. 
‘‘(vii) The gender of the applicant. 
‘‘(viii)(I) Whether the applicant en-
tered at a port of entry. 
‘‘(II) In the case of an applicant who 
entered at a port of entry, the name of the 
port of entry. 
‘‘(ix)(I) Whether the applicant in-
cluded one or more derivative beneficiaries 
in their asylum application. 
‘‘(II) In the case of an applicant who 
included one or more derivative bene-
ficiaries in their asylum application, the 
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age and relationship to the applicant of 
each such beneficiary. 
‘‘(x) An anonymized code number for 
the officer conducting the interview and, if 
the officer’s decision was reviewed by a su-
pervisor, an anonymized code number for 
the supervisor. 
‘‘(xi)(I) Whether such interview was 
conducted in person, by telephone, or by 
videoconference. 
‘‘(II) In the case of an interview con-
ducted in person, the location of the inter-
view. 
‘‘(xii) Whether such interview was 
conducted with the assistance of an inter-
preter. 
‘‘(xiii) The regional asylum office to 
which the officer conducting such interview 
was assigned. 
‘‘(xiv) Whether the asylum application 
was based on— 
‘‘(I) past persecution; 
‘‘(II) a well-founded fear of per-
secution; or 
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‘‘(xix) In the case of an applicant who 
was determined not to have established a 
credible fear or a reasonable fear, whether 
the applicant appealed such determination 
to an immigration judge. 
‘‘(xx) Any other data that the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security considers 
helpful to the government or the public in 
understanding or analyzing the operation 
of asylum adjudication. 
‘‘(B) 
MERITS
ADJUDICATIONS
DATA-
BASE.—The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall develop, maintain, and make available to 
the public a database reflecting asylum adju-
dications on the merits, that includes, for each 
such adjudication that occurs not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this 
subsection, the following: 
‘‘(i) An anonymized code number or 
sequence of characters for the asylum ap-
plicant, which shall be the same code num-
ber or sequence assigned to the applicant 
if such a number or sequence was assigned 
during an earlier stage of proceedings 
under section 235. 
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‘‘(ii) The date on which the appli-
cant’s asylum application was filed or con-
sidered to have been filed. 
‘‘(iii) The age of the applicant on the 
date on which such application was filed. 
‘‘(iv) The date on which the applicant 
entered the United States or, in the case 
of an applicant for whom the date of entry 
is unknown, an indication that such date is 
unknown. 
‘‘(v)(I) Whether the applicant in-
cluded in their asylum application 1 or 
more derivative beneficiaries who are in 
the United States. 
‘‘(II) In the case of an applicant who 
included such a derivative beneficiary in 
their asylum application, the age and rela-
tionship to the applicant of each such ben-
eficiary. 
‘‘(vi) The nationality of the applicant. 
‘‘(vii) The gender of the applicant. 
‘‘(viii) Whether the asylum application 
was based on— 
‘‘(I) past persecution; 
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‘‘(II) a well-founded fear of per-
secution; or 
‘‘(III) past persecution and a 
well-founded fear of persecution. 
‘‘(ix) Whether— 
‘‘(I) the alleged persecutor was 
the government of a country or a pri-
vate entity; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of 1 or more al-
leged persecutors, the persecutors in-
cluded both a government of a coun-
try and a private entity. 
‘‘(x) Whether the applicant’s applica-
tion for asylum included a claim of perse-
cution on account of gender. 
‘‘(xi) Whether the applicant was proc-
essed under this section or section 235. 
‘‘(xii) Whether the applicant had en-
tered the United States— 
‘‘(I) pursuant to a visa; 
‘‘(II) through the visa waiver 
program; or 
‘‘(III) without inspection. 
‘‘(xiii) Whether the applicant— 
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‘‘(I) was assisted in the comple-
tion of their asylum application by— 
‘‘(aa) an attorney; 
‘‘(bb) an accredited rep-
resentative; 
‘‘(cc) a law student; or 
‘‘(dd) an individual other 
than an individual described in 
items (aa) through (cc); or 
‘‘(II) was not represented. 
‘‘(xiv) Whether the applicant— 
‘‘(I) was represented during their 
asylum interview by— 
‘‘(aa) an attorney; 
‘‘(bb) an accredited rep-
resentative; 
‘‘(cc) a law student; or 
‘‘(dd) an individual other 
than an individual described in 
items (aa) through (cc); or 
‘‘(II) was not represented. 
‘‘(xv) Whether the asylum interview 
was conducted with the assistance of an in-
terpreter. 
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‘‘(xvi) An anonymized code number or 
sequence of characters for the asylum offi-
cer who adjudicated the case. 
‘‘(xvii) An anonymized code number 
or sequence of characters for any officer 
who reviewed the asylum officer’s decision. 
‘‘(xviii) The regional office or sub-of-
fice to which the asylum officer was as-
signed. 
‘‘(xix) The date of the adjudication. 
‘‘(xx) Whether the applicant was— 
‘‘(I) granted asylum; 
‘‘(II) denied asylum; 
‘‘(III) referred to immigration 
court for further consideration; or 
‘‘(IV) considered by the immigra-
tion court under some other proce-
dure. 
‘‘(xxi) Any other data that the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security considers 
helpful to the government or the public in 
understanding or analyzing the operation 
of asylum adjudication. 
‘‘(2) DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.— 
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‘‘(A) DATABASE
ON
APPEALS
OF
CRED-
IBLE
FEAR
AND
REASONABLE
FEAR
DETER-
MINATIONS.—The Attorney General shall de-
velop, maintain, and make available to the pub-
lic a database reflecting appeals from credible 
fear determinations and reasonable fear deter-
minations that include, for each such appeal 
that occurs not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection, the 
following: 
‘‘(i) An anonymized code number or 
sequence of characters for the asylum ap-
plicant, 
which 
shall 
be 
the 
same 
anonymized code number or sequence of 
numbers assigned to the applicant by the 
Department of Homeland Security. 
‘‘(ii) The name of the immigration 
judge who adjudicated the appeal. 
‘‘(iii) The location of the immigration 
judge on the date on which a decision on 
the appeal was made. 
‘‘(iv) Whether the appeal was con-
ducted in person, by telephone, or by vid-
eoconference. 
‘‘(v) Whether the applicant— 
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‘‘(I) was represented in the ap-
peal by— 
‘‘(aa) an attorney; 
‘‘(bb) an accredited rep-
resentative; 
‘‘(cc) a law student; or 
‘‘(dd) an individual other 
than an individual described in 
items (aa) through (cc); or 
‘‘(II) was not represented. 
‘‘(vi) Whether the appeal was con-
ducted with the assistance of an inter-
preter. 
‘‘(vii) The outcome of the appeal. 
‘‘(viii) Any other data that the Attor-
ney General considers helpful to the gov-
ernment or the public in understanding or 
analyzing the operation of asylum adju-
dication. 
‘‘(B) MERITS DECISIONS DATABASE.—The 
Attorney General shall develop, maintain, and 
make available to the public a database reflect-
ing decisions by immigration judges on the mer-
its of asylum claims (including applications for 
withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) 
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and protection under the Convention against 
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrad-
ing Treatment or Punishment, done at New 
York December 10, 1984) that includes, for 
each such claim filed with the Attorney General 
not later than 90 days after the date of the en-
actment of this subsection, the following: 
‘‘(i) An anonymized code number or 
sequence of characters for the respondent, 
which shall be the same as any anonymized 
code number or sequence of number as-
signed by the Department of Homeland 
Security at a previous stage of adjudica-
tion of the claim. 
‘‘(ii) The date on which the respond-
ent entered the United States or, in the 
case of a respondent for whom the date of 
entry is unknown, an indication that such 
date is unknown. 
‘‘(iii) The age of the respondent on 
the date on which the respondent entered 
the United States. 
‘‘(iv) The initial date on which the re-
spondent submitted the asylum application 
to the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
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‘‘(v) In the case of a respondent who 
submitted an asylum application to the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, the date 
on which an asylum officer issued a deci-
sion on such application. 
‘‘(vi) The age of the respondent on 
the date on which the immigration judge 
rendered a decision on the merits of the 
claim. 
‘‘(vii) The gender of the respondent. 
‘‘(viii) Whether the respondent en-
tered the United States at a port of entry. 
‘‘(ix)(I) Whether the respondent in-
cluded in their asylum application 1 or 
more derivative beneficiaries who are in 
the United States. 
‘‘(II) In the case of a respondent who 
included such a derivative beneficiary in 
their asylum application, the age and rela-
tionship to the respondent of each such 
beneficiary. 
‘‘(x) The nationality of the respond-
ent. 
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‘‘(xi) The name and location of the 
immigration judge who adjudicated the 
claim. 
‘‘(xii) Whether the merits hearing was 
conducted in person, by telephone, or by 
videoconference. 
‘‘(xiii)(I) Whether the respondent was 
detained on the date on which the merits 
hearing occurred. 
‘‘(II) In the case of a respondent who 
was detained, the name of the detention 
facility. 
‘‘(xiv) Whether the merits hearing was 
conducted with the assistance of an inter-
preter. 
‘‘(xv) Whether the respondent— 
‘‘(I) was represented in the mer-
its hearing by— 
‘‘(aa) an attorney; 
‘‘(bb) an accredited rep-
resentative; 
‘‘(cc) a law student; or 
‘‘(dd) an individual other 
than an individual described in 
items (aa) through (cc); or 
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‘‘(II) was not represented. 
‘‘(xvi) In the case of an application 
for asylum or withholding of removal under 
section 241(b)(3), whether the application 
was based on— 
‘‘(I) past persecution; 
‘‘(II) a well-founded fear of per-
secution; or 
‘‘(III) past persecution and a 
well-founded fear of persecution. 
‘‘(xvii) Whether— 
‘‘(I) the alleged persecutor was 
the government of a country or a pri-
vate entity; or 
‘‘(II) in the case of 1 or more al-
leged persecutors, the persecutors in-
cluded both a government of a coun-
try and a private entity. 
‘‘(xviii) Whether the respondent’s ap-
plication for asylum included a claim of 
persecution on account of gender. 
‘‘(xix) The outcome of the case, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(I) whether the case was termi-
nated without a decision; 
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‘‘(II) whether the respondent was 
granted asylum, withholding of re-
moval under section 241(b)(3), protec-
tion under the Convention against 
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or 
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 
done at New York December 10, 
1984, voluntary departure, or other 
relief; and 
‘‘(III) whether the respondent 
was ordered removed from the United 
States. 
‘‘(xx) Any other data that the Attor-
ney General considers helpful to the gov-
ernment or the public in understanding or 
analyzing the operation of asylum adju-
dication. 
‘‘(C) BOARD
OF
IMMIGRATION
APPEALS 
DATABASE.—The Attorney General shall de-
velop, maintain, and make available to the pub-
lic a database reflecting decisions by the Board 
of Immigration Appeals on appeals of immigra-
tion judge denials of asylum, withholding of re-
moval, or protection under the Convention 
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or 
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Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done at 
New York December 10, 1984, that includes, 
for each such appeal filed with the Board of 
Immigration Appeals not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this sub-
section, the following: 
‘‘(i) An anonymized code number or 
sequence of characters for the appellant, 
which shall be the same anonymized code 
number or sequence of numbers that was 
assigned at a previous stage of the pro-
ceedings by the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity or the Attorney General. 
‘‘(ii) The date on which the appeal 
was filed with the Board of Immigration 
Appeals. 
‘‘(iii) The date on which the Board of 
Immigration Appeals issued a decision on 
the appeal. 
‘‘(iv) The names of the members of 
the Board of Immigration Appeals who 
participated in the decision. 
‘‘(v) Whether any member of the 
Board of Immigration Appeals dissented 
from a decision of a panel or of the entire 
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Board of Immigration Appeals, and the 
name of each such member. 
‘‘(vi) Whether the appellant— 
‘‘(I) was represented in the ap-
peal by— 
‘‘(aa) an attorney; 
‘‘(bb) an accredited rep-
resentative; 
‘‘(cc) a law student; or 
‘‘(dd) an individual other 
than an individual described in 
items (aa) through (cc); or 
‘‘(II) was not represented. 
‘‘(vii) The outcome of the appeal. 
‘‘(viii) Any other data that the Attor-
ney General considers helpful to the gov-
ernment or the public in understanding or 
analyzing the operation of asylum adju-
dication.’’. 
(i) FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATION FOR 
ASYLUM.—Section 235(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the Immigration 
and Nationalities Act (8 U.S.C. 1225 (b)(1)(B)(ii)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘, which shall include a hearing 
under section 240 on the alien’s claim for asylum, with-
holding of removal, or protection under the Convention 
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against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading 
Treatment or Punishment, done at New York December 
10, 1984, unless the Secretary of Homeland Security has 
granted the alien’s claim’’ before the period at the end. 
(j) MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF ASYLUM OFFI-
CER.—Section 235(b)(1)(E) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(E)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(E) ASYLUM OFFICER DEFINED.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In this paragraph, 
the term ‘asylum officer’ means an immi-
gration officer who— 
‘‘(I) has had professional training 
in country conditions, asylum law, and 
nonadversarial interviewing techniques 
necessary for adjudication of applica-
tions under section 208; 
‘‘(II) 
adjudicates 
applications 
under that section on a full-time 
basis; and 
‘‘(III) is supervised by an officer 
who— 
‘‘(aa) meets the condition 
described in subclause (I); and 
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‘‘(bb) has had substantial 
experience adjudicating asylum 
applications. 
‘‘(ii) 
EXCEPTIONAL
CIR-
CUMSTANCES.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—The Sec-
retary of Homeland Security may, 
only in exceptional circumstances and 
to protect national security, designate 
one or more individuals who do not 
meet the condition described in clause 
(i)(III) to act as temporary asylum of-
ficers. 
‘‘(II) 
LIMITATION.—An 
indi-
vidual designated as a temporary asy-
lum officer under subclause (I) may 
not hold or have held in the preceding 
3 years a position the central function 
of which is immigration enforcement, 
including Border Patrol agents, Cus-
toms and Border Protection officers, 
and Immigration and Customs En-
forcement officers. 
‘‘(III) ANNUAL
REPORT.—Dur-
ing any period in which the Secretary 
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of Homeland Security designates one 
or more temporary asylum officers, 
not later than 30 days after such des-
ignation, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall submit to Congress a 
report that includes— 
‘‘(aa) a justification for the 
designation; 
‘‘(bb) the number of officers 
designated; 
‘‘(cc) the duration of service 
of such officers; 
‘‘(dd) the number of inter-
views conducted by such officers; 
‘‘(ee) with respect to appli-
cations for asylum, withholding 
of 
removal 
under 
section 
241(b)(3), and protection under 
the Convention against Torture 
adjudicated by such officers, the 
rate of grants, denials, referrals, 
and otherwise closed applications; 
and 
‘‘(ff) with respect to credible 
fear determinations carried out 
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by such officers, the rate of posi-
tive, 
negative, 
and 
otherwise 
closed determinations.’’. 
(k) REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.—Section 240(c)(4) of 
the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1229a(c)(4)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking the last 
sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘If the trier of 
fact determines that the applicant should provide 
evidence that corroborates otherwise credible testi-
mony, the trier of fact shall provide notice and allow 
the applicant a reasonable opportunity to file such 
evidence. The trier of fact may not require such evi-
dence if the applicant does not have the evidence 
and demonstrates that he or she cannot reasonably 
obtain the evidence. Evidence shall not be considered 
reasonably obtainable under this subparagraph if 
procurement of such evidence would reasonably en-
danger the life or safety of any person in the appli-
cant’s home country.’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C), in the first sentence, 
by striking ‘‘, without regard to whether an incon-
sistency, inaccuracy, or falsehood goes to the heart 
of the applicant’s claim, or any other relevant fac-
tor’’ and inserting ‘‘If the trier of fact determines 
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that there are inconsistencies or omissions, the alien 
shall be given an opportunity to explain and provide 
support or evidence to clarify such inconsistencies or 
omissions.’’. 
(l) REINSTATEMENT OF REMOVAL.—Section 241(a) 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1231(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘If the Attor-
ney General’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), if the Secretary of Home-
land Security’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY.—Subparagraph (A) 
shall not apply to an alien who is otherwise eli-
gible for asylum.’’. 
SEC. 1106. TRANSPARENCY IN REFUGEE DETERMINATIONS. 
Section 207(c) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(5) The adjudicator of an application for refugee 
status under this section shall consider all relevant evi-
dence and maintain a record of the evidence considered. 
‘‘(6) An applicant for refugee status may be rep-
resented, including at a refugee interview, at no expense 
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to the Government, by an attorney or accredited rep-
resentative who— 
‘‘(A) was chosen by the applicant; and 
‘‘(B) is authorized by the Secretary of Home-
land Security to be recognized as the representative 
of such applicant in an adjudication under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(7)(A) A decision to deny an application for refugee 
status under this section— 
‘‘(i) shall be in writing; and 
‘‘(ii) shall cite the specific applicable provisions 
of this Act upon which such denial was based, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(I) the facts underlying the determina-
tion; and 
‘‘(II) whether there is a waiver of inadmis-
sibility available to the applicant. 
‘‘(B) The basis of any negative credibility finding 
shall be part of the written decision. 
‘‘(8)(A) An applicant who is denied refugee status 
under this section may file a request with the Secretary 
for a review of his or her application not later than 120 
days after such denial. 
‘‘(B) A request filed under subparagraph (A) shall 
be adjudicated by refugee officers who have received train-
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ing on considering requests for review of refugee applica-
tions that have been denied. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary shall publish the standards ap-
plied to a request for review under this paragraph. 
‘‘(D) A request for review under this paragraph may 
result in the decision being granted, denied, or reopened 
for a further interview. 
‘‘(E) A decision on a request for review under this 
paragraph shall— 
‘‘(i) be in writing; and 
‘‘(ii) provide, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, information relating to the reason for the de-
nial.’’. 
SEC. 1107. AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN GROUPS 
OF REFUGEES FROM COUNTRIES OF PAR-
TICULAR CONCERN AND ADMISSION OF REF-
UGEES IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 207(c)(1) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)(1)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘Subject to the 
numerical limitations’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B)(i) The President, after a recommendation 
of the Secretary of State made in consultation with 
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the Secretary of Homeland Security, and after ap-
propriate consultation, may designate specifically de-
fined groups of aliens within a category of aliens es-
tablished under clause (ii) whose resettlement in the 
United States is justified by humanitarian concerns 
or is otherwise in the national interest and who 
share common characteristics that identify such 
aliens as targets of persecution on account of race, 
religion, nationality, membership in a particular so-
cial group, or political opinion or who otherwise have 
a shared need for resettlement due to a specific vul-
nerability. 
‘‘(ii) For purposes of clause (i), the President 
shall designate one or more groups or one or more 
categories of aliens who are or were nationals or ha-
bitual residents of the Islamic Republic of Iran or 
countries from the former Soviet Union, who, as 
members of a religious minority, share common 
characteristics that identify them as targets of per-
secution in that state on account of race, religion, 
nationality, membership in a particular social group, 
or political opinion. At the discretion of the Presi-
dent, the President may designate additional groups 
of one or more categories of aliens who are or were 
nationals or habitual residents of any other country 
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which is designated as a country of particular con-
cern under section 402(b)(1)(A) of the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442). 
‘‘(iii) An alien who is outside his or her country 
of origin or last habitual residence who establishes 
membership in a group designated under clause (i) 
to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity shall establish, for purposes of admission as 
a refugee under this section, that such alien has a 
well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, 
religion, nationality, membership in a particular so-
cial group, or political opinion, unless the Secretary 
determines that such alien ordered, incited, assisted 
or otherwise participated in the persecution of any 
person on account of race, religious, membership in 
a particular social group, or political opinion. 
‘‘(iv) A designation under clause (i)— 
‘‘(I) may be revoked by the President at 
any time after notification to Congress; 
‘‘(II) if not revoked, shall expire at the end 
of each fiscal year; and 
‘‘(III) may be renewed by the President 
after appropriate consultation. 
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‘‘(v) An alien’s admission under this subpara-
graph shall count against the refugee admissions 
goal under subsection (a). 
‘‘(vi) A designation under clause (i) shall not 
influence decisions to grant, to any alien, asylum 
under section 208, withholding of removal section 
241(b)(3), or protection under the Convention 
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or De-
grading Treatment or Punishment, done at New 
York December 10, 1984. 
‘‘(vii) Each decision to deny an application for 
refugee status of an alien who is within a category 
established under this subparagraph shall be in writ-
ing and shall state, to the maximum extent feasible, 
the reason for the denial.’’. 
(b) ADMISSION OF REFUGEES EXPERIENCING EMER-
GENCY SITUATIONS.—Section 207(c) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)(1)), as amended 
by section 1106, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(9) ADMISSION
OF
REFUGEES
EXPERIENCING 
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the numerical 
limitations established under subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) of paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland 
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Security may, in the Secretary’s discretion and pur-
suant to such regulations as the Secretary may pre-
scribe, admit any refugee who is not firmly resettled 
in any foreign country, is determined to be of special 
humanitarian concern to the United States, and is 
admissible (except as provided under section 209) as 
an immigrant under this Act. Notwithstanding any 
numerical limitations specified in this Act, any alien 
admitted under this paragraph shall be regarded as 
lawfully admitted to the United States for perma-
nent residence as of the date of such alien’s admis-
sion to the United States. 
‘‘(B) DESIGNATION.—The President, upon a 
recommendation of the Secretary of State made in 
consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, and after appropriate consultation, may des-
ignate specifically defined groups of aliens— 
‘‘(i) whose resettlement in the United 
States is justified by humanitarian concerns or 
is otherwise in the national interest; and 
‘‘(ii) who— 
‘‘(I) share common characteristics 
that identify them as targets of— 
‘‘(aa) persecution on account of 
race, religion, nationality, membership 
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in a particular social group, or polit-
ical opinion; or 
‘‘(bb) other serious harm; or 
‘‘(II) having been identified as targets 
as described in subclause (I), share a com-
mon need for resettlement due to a specific 
vulnerability. 
‘‘(C) MEMBERSHIP IN A DESIGNATED GROUP.— 
An alien who establishes membership in a group des-
ignated under this paragraph to the satisfaction of 
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall be consid-
ered a refugee for purposes of admission as a ref-
ugee under this paragraph, unless the Secretary de-
termines that such alien ordered, incited, assisted, or 
otherwise participated in the persecution of any per-
son on account of race, religion, nationality, mem-
bership in a particular social group, or political opin-
ion. 
‘‘(D) REVOCATION.—A designation under this 
paragraph is for purposes of adjudicatory efficiency 
and may be revoked by the President at any time 
after notification to Congress. 
‘‘(E) EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.—Categories of 
aliens established under section 599D of the Foreign 
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Pro-
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grams Appropriations Act, 1990 (Public Law 101– 
167; 8 U.S.C. 1157 note)— 
‘‘(i) shall be designated under subpara-
graph (B) until the end of the first fiscal year 
commencing after the date of the enactment of 
this paragraph; and 
‘‘(ii) shall be eligible for designation there-
after at the discretion of the President. 
‘‘(F) 
EFFECT
ON
REFUGEE
ADMISSIONS 
GOAL.—The admission of an alien under this para-
graph shall count against the refugee admissions 
goal under section 207(a). 
‘‘(G) OTHER FORMS OF PROTECTION.—A des-
ignation under this paragraph shall not influence de-
cisions to grant to any alien asylum under section 
208, withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3), 
or protection under the Convention against Torture 
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment 
or Punishment, done at New York December 10, 
1984. 
‘‘(H) DENIALS.—A decision to deny admission 
under this paragraph to an alien who establishes to 
the satisfaction of the Secretary that the alien is a 
member of a group designated under subparagraph 
(B)— 
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‘‘(i) shall be in writing; and 
‘‘(ii) shall cite the specific applicable provi-
sion of this Act upon which such denial is 
based, including— 
‘‘(I) the facts underlying the deter-
mination; and 
‘‘(II) whether there is a waiver of in-
admissibility available to the alien.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the first day of the first 
fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 1108. EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION FOR ASYLUM 
SEEKERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS. 
Paragraph (2) of section 208(d) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(d)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(2) EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(A) 
ELIGIBILITY.—The 
Secretary 
of 
Homeland Security shall authorize employment 
for an applicant for asylum, withholding of re-
moval under section 241(b)(3)(B), or with-
holding or deferral of removal under the Con-
vention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhu-
man or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 
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done at New York December 10, 1984, not 
later than 30 days after the date on which such 
an applicant files an application for such relief. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—An applicant for asy-
lum, withholding of removal under section 
241(b)(3)(B), or withholding or deferral of re-
moval under the Convention against Torture 
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treat-
ment or Punishment, done at New York De-
cember 10, 1984, who is prima facie eligible for 
such relief shall be granted employment author-
ization not later than 60 days after the date on 
which the applicant files an application for em-
ployment authorization. 
‘‘(C) TERM.—Employment authorization 
under this paragraph shall be valid until the 
date on which an applicant is issued a final de-
nial of the applicable application, including ad-
ministrative and judicial review.’’. 
SEC. 1109. ADMISSION OF REFUGEES AND ASYLEES AS LAW-
FUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS. 
(a) TREATMENT OF ALIENS ADMITTED AS REFU-
GEES AND OF ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM.—Section 209 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1159) 
is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 209. TREATMENT OF ALIENS ADMITTED AS REFU-
GEES AND OF ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) TREATMENT
OF
REFUGEE
FAMILIES.— 
Any alien may be lawfully admitted to the United 
States for permanent residence at the time of initial 
admission to the United States if the alien— 
‘‘(A) has been approved for admission to 
the United States— 
‘‘(i) under section 207 or 208; or 
‘‘(ii) under section 208(b)(3) as the 
spouse or child of an alien granted asylum 
under section 208(b)(1); and 
‘‘(B) is admissible under section 212 (ex-
cept as otherwise provided in subsections (b) 
and (c)). 
‘‘(2) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security or the Attorney General, in 
the discretion of the Secretary or the Attorney 
General, and under such regulations as the Sec-
retary or the Attorney General may prescribe, 
may adjust, to the status of an alien lawfully 
admitted to the United States for permanent 
residence, the status of any alien who, while in 
the United States— 
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‘‘(i) is granted— 
‘‘(I) asylum under section 208(b) 
(as a principal alien or as the spouse 
or child of an alien granted asylum); 
or 
‘‘(II) refugee status under section 
207 as the spouse or child of a ref-
ugee; 
‘‘(ii) applies for such adjustment of 
status at any time after being granted asy-
lum or refugee status; 
‘‘(iii) is not firmly resettled in any 
foreign country; and 
‘‘(iv) is admissible (except as other-
wise provided under subsections (b) and 
(c)) as an immigrant under this Act at the 
time of examination for adjustment of such 
alien. 
‘‘(B) 
APPLICABILITY.—This 
paragraph 
shall apply to any alien lawfully admitted for 
permanent residence under section 207 or 208 
before the date of the enactment of the Refugee 
Protection Act of 2022. 
‘‘(3) RECORD.—Upon approval of an applica-
tion under this subsection, the Secretary of Home-
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land Security or the Attorney General shall establish 
a record of the alien’s admission for lawful perma-
nent residence as of the date such alien was granted 
asylum or refugee status. 
‘‘(b) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN INADMISSIBILITY 
GROUNDS
TO REFUGEES, ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM, 
AND SUCH ALIENS SEEKING ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS TO 
LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT.—Paragraphs (4), (5), 
and (7)(A) of section 212(a) shall not apply to— 
‘‘(1) any refugee under section 207; 
‘‘(2) any alien granted asylum under section 
208; or 
‘‘(3) any alien seeking admission as a lawful 
permanent resident pursuant to a grant of refugee 
or asylum status. 
‘‘(c) WAIVER
OF INADMISSIBILITY
OR DEPORT-
ABILITY FOR REFUGEES, ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM, AND 
SUCH ALIENS SEEKING ADJUSTMENT
OF STATUS
TO 
LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Secretary of Homeland Security or 
the Attorney General may waive any ground under 
section 212 or 237 for aliens admitted pursuant to 
section 207 or 208, or seeking admission as a lawful 
permanent resident pursuant to subsection (a), if 
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such a waiver is justified by humanitarian purposes, 
to ensure family unity, or is otherwise in the public 
interest. 
‘‘(2) INELIGIBILITY.—Aliens admitted pursuant 
to section 207 or 208, or seeking admission as a 
lawful permanent resident pursuant to subsection 
(a), shall be ineligible for a waiver under paragraph 
(1) if it has been established that the alien is— 
‘‘(A) 
inadmissible 
under 
section 
212(a)(2)(C) or subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or 
(E) of section 212(a)(3); 
‘‘(B) 
deportable 
under 
section 
237(a)(2)(A)(iii) for an offense described in 
section 101(a)(43)(B); or 
‘‘(C) deportable under subparagraph (A), 
(B), (C), or (D) of section 237(a)(4).’’. 
(b) CLARIFICATION.—Aliens admitted for lawful per-
manent residence pursuant to paragraph (1) of section 
209(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amend-
ed by subsection (a), or who adjust their status pursuant 
to paragraph (2) of such section, as amended by sub-
section (a), shall be considered to be refugees and aliens 
granted asylum for purposes of sections 402, 403, 412, 
and 431 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor-
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tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612, 1613, 
1622, and 1641). 
(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) ALIENS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECT NUMER-
ICAL
LIMITATIONS.—Section 201(b)(1)(B) of the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1151(b)(1)(B)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) Aliens who are admitted to the 
United States as permanent residents under 
section 207 or 208 or whose status is adjusted 
under section 209.’’. 
(2) TRAINING.—Section 207(f)(1) of such Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1157(f)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘At-
torney General’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Home-
land Security’’. 
(3) COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MAR-
IANA
ISLANDS.—Section 208(e) of such Act (8 
U.S.C. 1158(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 
209(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 209(a)(2)’’. 
(4) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con-
tents for such Act is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 209 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 209. Treatment of aliens admitted as refugees and of aliens granted asy-
lum.’’. 
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(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the amend-
ments made by this section, shall take effect on the earlier 
of— 
(1) the date that is 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act; or 
(2) the date on which a final rule is promul-
gated to implement this section and the amendments 
made by this section. 
SEC. 1110. COMPLEMENTARY PROTECTION. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney 
General may grant asylum to an alien who has applied 
for asylum if the Secretary of Homeland Security or the 
Attorney General determines that such alien is a refugee 
within the meaning of section 101(a)(42)(A) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42)(A)) or 
would face a threat to life or physical integrity if returned 
because of a reasonable possibility of— 
(1) violence; or 
(2) exceptional situations, such as environ-
mental or other crises or disasters, including from 
the effects of climate change, for which there is no 
adequate remedy in the country of origin. 
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SEC. 1111. INTERNAL RELOCATION. 
(a) BURDEN OF PROOF.— The Government bears the 
burden of establishing the reasonableness of internal relo-
cation. 
(b) CASE-BY-CASE ANALYSIS.—Consistent with the 
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, done at 
Geneva July 28, 1951, it shall be considered unreasonable 
to presume applicants are able to internally relocate with-
out first conducting an individualized determination apply-
ing a totality of circumstances test on a case-by-case basis. 
(c) DETERMINATIONS IN MERITS HEARINGS.—Inter-
nal relocation determinations— 
(1) may only be made in asylum merits pro-
ceedings; and 
(2) shall not occur at an earlier stage of proc-
essing. 
(d) PROHIBITION.—The mere possibility of internal 
relocation shall not be the sole grounds for a discretionary 
denial of asylum, issuance of a negative credible fear de-
termination, or a factor to otherwise bar asylum eligibility. 
SEC. 1112. FIRM RESETTLEMENT. 
The Government bears the burden of establishing 
whether an applicant is firmly resettled and applicants 
may rebut this under a preponderance of the evidence 
standard. Firm resettlement determinations shall focus ex-
clusively on the existence of an offer of permanent resettle-
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ment and shall not be fulfilled by an offer of temporary, 
transitory, or unauthorized time in another country. 
Subtitle B—Protections for 
Children and Families 
SEC. 1201. KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER. 
(a) MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF CHILD.—Sec-
tion 101(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101(b)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E)(ii), by striking ‘‘; or’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (F)(ii), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
(3) in subparagraph (G)(iii)(III), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(H)(i) a child under the age of 18 at the time 
an application is filed to accord a principal alien ref-
ugee status— 
‘‘(I) who is an orphan because of the death 
or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion 
by, or separation or loss from, both parents; or 
‘‘(II) for whom the sole or surviving parent 
is incapable of providing the proper care and 
has, in writing, irrevocably released the child 
for emigration and adoption; 
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‘‘(ii) who has been living in a country of asylum 
under the care of such principal alien; and 
‘‘(iii) for whom the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity is satisfied that proper care will be furnished 
if the child is admitted to the United States.’’. 
(b) ADMISSION OF REFUGEE FAMILIES AND TIMELY 
ADJUDICATION.—Section 207(c)(2) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)(2)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(2)(A)(i) Irrespective of the date on which such ref-
ugee was admitted to the United States, the spouse or a 
child (as defined in section 101(b)(1)) of any refugee, or 
the parent or de facto guardian (as determined by the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security) of such a child who qualifies 
for admission under paragraph (1), if not otherwise enti-
tled to admission under such paragraph and not described 
in section 101(a)(42)(B), shall be entitled to the same ad-
mission status as such refugee if— 
‘‘(I) accompanying, or following to join, such 
refugee; and 
‘‘(II) admissible (except as otherwise provided 
under paragraph (3)) as an immigrant under this 
chapter. 
‘‘(ii) The admission to the United States of a spouse, 
child, parent, or guardian described in clause (i) shall not 
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be charged against the numerical limitation established in 
accordance with the appropriate subsection under which 
the refugee’s admission is charged. 
‘‘(B) A mother or father who seeks to accompany, 
or follow to join, an alien granted admission as a refugee 
under this subsection shall continue to be classified as a 
mother or father for purposes of this paragraph if the 
alien attained 21 years of age while such application was 
pending. 
‘‘(C) The parent or de facto guardian (as determined 
by the Secretary of Homeland Security) of a refugee child 
admitted under this section and was admitted under the 
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program (as described in 
subparagraph (D), (E), or (H) of section 101(b)(1)) shall 
be treated in accordance with subparagraph (A) if such 
parent or guardian seeks to follow to join such refugee 
child and the minor consents to being joined by such indi-
vidual. 
‘‘(D)(i) Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
an application for refugee status is filed under this para-
graph— 
‘‘(I) required screenings and background checks 
shall be completed; and 
‘‘(II) the application shall be adjudicated. 
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‘‘(ii) The adjudication of an application may exceed 
the timeframe under clause (i) only in exceptional cir-
cumstances in which additional time to process an applica-
tion is necessary to satisfy national security concerns, if 
the Secretary of Homeland Security has— 
‘‘(I) made a determination that the applicant 
meets the requirements for refugee status under this 
section; and 
‘‘(II) notified the applicant of such determina-
tion.’’. 
(c) TREATMENT OF ASYLEE FAMILIES AND TIMELY 
ADJUDICATION.—Section 208(b)(3) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(3)), as amended 
by section 1105(d), is further amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or fol-
lowing to join, such alien’’ and inserting, ‘‘or fol-
lowing to join, such alien, irrespective of the date on 
which such alien was granted asylum’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) CHILDREN OF ASYLEE SPOUSES.—A 
child (as defined in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), 
(D), or (E) of section 101(b)(1)) born to the 
asylee spouse who qualifies for admission under 
paragraph (A) shall, if not otherwise eligible for 
asylum under this section, be granted the same 
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status as such asylee spouse if accompanying, 
or following to join, such asylee spouse. 
‘‘(D) APPLICATION PROCESS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 
year after the date on which an application 
for refugee status is filed under this para-
graph— 
‘‘(I) 
required 
screenings 
and 
background checks shall be completed; 
and 
‘‘(II) the application shall be ad-
judicated. 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION.—The adjudication 
of an application may exceed the time-
frame under clause (i) only in exceptional 
circumstances in which additional time to 
process an application is necessary to sat-
isfy national security concerns, if the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security has— 
‘‘(I) made a determination that 
the applicant meets the requirements 
for refugee status under this section; 
and 
‘‘(II) notified the applicant of 
such determination. 
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‘‘(iii) PROHIBITION ON DENIALS DUE 
TO PROCESSING DELAYS.—An application 
for asylum under this paragraph shall not 
be denied, in whole or in part, on the basis 
that processing could not be completed 
within the timeframe under clause (i).’’. 
SEC. 1202. PROTECTIONS FOR MINORS SEEKING ASYLUM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 208 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), as amended by sections 
1103 and 1104, by amending subparagraph (E) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(E) APPLICABILITY
TO
MINORS.—Sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B) shall not apply to an 
applicant who is younger than 18 years of age 
on the earlier of— 
‘‘(i) the date on which the asylum ap-
plication is filed; or 
‘‘(ii) the date on which any notice to 
appear is issued.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(4), as added by section 
1105, by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) APPLICANTS
YOUNGER
THAN
YEARS OF AGE.—An asylum officer (as defined 
in section 235(b)(1)(E)) shall have initial juris-
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diction over any asylum application filed by an 
applicant who is younger than 18 years of age 
on the earlier of— 
‘‘(i) the date on which the asylum ap-
plication is filed; or 
‘‘(ii) the date on which any notice to 
appear is issued.’’. 
(b) TREATMENT OF SPOUSE, CHILDREN, MOTHER, 
AND FATHER SEEKING ASYLUM.—Section 208(b)(3) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158), as 
amended by section 1105, is further amended— 
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘AND 
CHILDREN’’ and inserting ‘‘, CHILDREN, MOTHERS, 
AND FATHERS’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘(as de-
fined in section 101(b)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (E)) 
of an alien’’ and inserting ‘‘(as defined in subpara-
graph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (H) of section 
101(b)(1)) of an alien, or the mother or father of an 
alien who is such a child,’’; and 
(3) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(B) CONTINUED CLASSIFICATION OF CER-
TAIN ALIENS AS CHILDREN.— 
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‘‘(i) UNMARRIED
ALIENS.—An un-
married alien who seeks to accompany, or 
follow to join, a mother or father granted 
asylum under this subsection, and any 
child of such unmarried alien, shall con-
tinue to be classified as a child for pur-
poses of this paragraph and shall be con-
sidered a refugee, if— 
‘‘(I) the alien was younger than 
21 years of age on the date on which 
such mother or father applied for asy-
lum under this section; and 
‘‘(II) the alien attained 21 years 
of age while such application was 
pending. 
‘‘(ii) EFFECT ON MOTHERS AND FA-
THERS.—A mother or father who seeks to 
accompany, or follow to join, an alien 
granted asylum under this subsection shall 
continue to be classified as a mother or fa-
ther for purposes of this paragraph, and 
together with the spouse or child of such 
mother or father, be considered a refugee, 
if the alien attained 21 years of age while 
such application was pending.’’. 
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(c) REPEAL
OF CONTIGUOUS COUNTRY EXCEP-
TION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 235(a) of the Wil-
liam Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Re-
authorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(a)) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2); 
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) RULE
FOR
ALL
UNACCOMPANIED
CHIL-
DREN.—The custody of unaccompanied alien chil-
dren who are apprehended at the border of the 
United States or at a United States port of entry 
shall be treated in accordance with subsection (b).’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (4) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(4) SCREENING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Within 48 hours of 
the apprehension of a child who is believed to 
be an unaccompanied alien child, the child shall 
be transferred to the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services and treated in accordance with 
subsection (b). 
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‘‘(B) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing 
in this paragraph may be construed to preclude 
an earlier transfer of a child.’’; 
(D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(5) 
PLACEMENT
IN
REMOVAL
PRO-
CEEDINGS.—Any unaccompanied alien child sought 
to be removed by the Department of Homeland Se-
curity shall be— 
‘‘(A) placed in removal proceedings under 
section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a); 
‘‘(B) eligible for relief under section 240B 
of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1229c) at no cost to the 
child; and 
‘‘(C) provided access to counsel in accord-
ance with subsection (c)(5).’’; and 
(E) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(3) 
through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (4), re-
spectively. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 235 
of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Pro-
tection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232) 
is amended— 
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(A) in subsection (c)(5), by striking ‘‘, and 
who are not described in subsection (a)(2)(A),’’; 
and 
(B) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘, includ-
ing children described in subsection (a)(2)’’. 
(d) DURATION
OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILD DES-
IGNATION.—Section 235(a) of the William Wilberforce 
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 
2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(a)), as amended by subsection (c), 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) DURATION
OF
UNACCOMPANIED
ALIEN 
CHILD DETERMINATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Upon identification as 
an unaccompanied alien child, a child shall be 
afforded all substantive and procedural protec-
tions provided for unaccompanied alien children 
under this section and any other Federal law 
for the duration of the child’s removal pro-
ceedings. 
‘‘(B) REEVALUATION
AND
REVOCATION 
PROHIBITED.—The head of a Federal agency 
may not— 
‘‘(i) reevaluate or revoke a determina-
tion that an individual is an unaccom-
panied alien child; or 
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‘‘(ii) deny or impede access to any 
protections provided for unaccompanied 
alien children by Federal law, including on 
the basis of the individual’s reunification 
with a parent or legal guardian or the indi-
vidual having attained 18 years of age.’’. 
(e) CHILD PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR ALL CHIL-
DREN IN U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION CUS-
TODY.— 
(1) PURPOSE.—The purposes of this subsection 
are— 
(A) to ensure the safety and access to pro-
tection of children temporarily in the custody of 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection by requir-
ing the Secretary of Homeland Security to hire 
child welfare professionals; and 
(B) to prevent unnecessary family separa-
tion through the deployment of officials of the 
Department of Health and Human Services to 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities 
to evaluate unaccompanied children arriving 
with non-parent, adult family members for re-
unification within 72 hours. 
(2) CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS.— 
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(A) DEFINITION OF CHILD WELFARE PRO-
FESSIONAL.—The term ‘‘child welfare profes-
sional’’ means an individual who— 
(i) is State-licensed in social work; 
(ii) has direct experience working with 
children; 
(iii) has expertise in— 
(I) child development; and 
(II) culturally competent, trau-
ma-centered, and developmentally ap-
propriate interviewing skills; 
(iv) has knowledge of Federal and 
State child welfare laws and standards; 
and 
(v) is proficient in 1 or more of the 
most common languages spoken by chil-
dren apprehended at the southern border 
of the United States. 
(B) STAFFING OF CHILD WELFARE PRO-
FESSIONALS
AT
U.S. CUSTOMS
AND
BORDER 
PROTECTION
FACILITIES.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall ensure that 1 or more 
child welfare professionals is available at each 
port of entry and Border Patrol station along 
the southern land border of the United States 
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to accomplish the duties described in this sub-
section. 
(i) HIRING.—The Secretary of Home-
land Security, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services, 
shall hire, or seek to enter into contracts 
with, child welfare professionals who 
shall— 
(I) work on site on a full-time 
basis at ports of entry or Border Pa-
trol stations that have had not fewer 
than 25 children in custody— 
(aa) on any day during the 
preceding fiscal year; or 
(bb) during the fiscal year in 
which this Act is enacted based 
on a review of monthly statistical 
reports during the such fiscal 
year; 
(II) remain available by tele-
phone and videoconference on an on- 
call basis to U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection personnel at ports of entry 
or Border Patrol stations that are not 
described in subclause (I). 
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(ii) INTERPRETER REQUIRED.—In the 
case of a child welfare professional who 
does not speak the best language of a child 
in the custody of U.S. Customs and Bor-
der Protection at a port of entry or Border 
Patrol station along the southern land bor-
der of the United States, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall provide an inter-
preter. 
(C) DUTIES.—In accordance with the 
timeframe under subsections (a)(4) and (b)(3) 
of section 235 of the William Wilberforce Traf-
ficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act 
of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232), as amended by this 
Act, child welfare professionals placed as ports 
of entry and Border Patrol stations under sub-
paragraph (B) shall— 
(i) conduct screening of each child in 
the custody of U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection in accordance with such sub-
section (a)(4); 
(ii) ensure appropriate care of each 
child in the custody of U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection; 
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(iii) ensure that any allegation of 
abuse or mistreatment of a child in the 
custody of U.S. Customs and Border Pro-
tection is referred to the appropriate Fed-
eral and State authorities; 
(iv) with respect to a child who may 
meet the notification and transfer require-
ments under subsections (a) and (b) of sec-
tion 235 of the William Wilberforce Traf-
ficking Victims Protection Reauthorization 
Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232), including a 
child for whom a determination cannot be 
made, notify the Secretary of Homeland 
Security and the Assistant Secretary of the 
Office of Refugee Resettlement of the pres-
ence of such child at the port of entry or 
Border Patrol station; 
(v) conduct an initial family relation-
ship and trafficking assessment for each 
child in the custody of U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection; and 
(vi) perform other duties as appro-
priate. 
(D) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
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every quarter thereafter, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall submit to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, 
and the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the 
Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on 
Homeland Security, the Committee on Over-
sight and Reform, and the Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor of the House of Representa-
tives a report that, for the preceding fiscal 
quarter— 
(i) describes the activities carried out 
by child welfare professionals under this 
subsection; 
(ii) assesses the effectiveness of such 
activities; and 
(iii) includes non-personally identifi-
able data on all children screened by child 
welfare professionals under this subsection, 
including— 
(I) the number and location of 
children in the physical custody of the 
Department of Homeland Security; 
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(II) the number of children 
transferred to the custody of the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services; 
and 
(III) the number of children re-
moved from the United States, and 
the countries of nationality of such 
children. 
(3) EXPEDITED REUNIFICATION AT THE BOR-
DER.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Unaccompanied chil-
dren encountered by the Commissioner of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection together with 1 
or more adult family members who are not their 
parents or legal guardians shall be— 
(i) transferred, along with those adult 
family members, to the nearest U.S. Cus-
toms and Border Protection reception cen-
ter where field staff of the Department of 
Health and Human Services are on site; 
and 
(ii) screened, along with the 1 or more 
adult family members, by such field staff 
to assess— 
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(I) the validity of the relationship 
between the child and 1 or more adult 
family members; 
(II) the ability of the 1 or more 
adult family members to care for the 
child; and 
(III) any risk of trafficking or 
abuse from the 1 or more adult family 
members. 
(B) 
INTERVIEW.—In 
conducting 
the 
screening under subparagraph (A)(ii), the field 
staff of the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall interview the child— 
(i) together with the 1 or more adult 
family members; and 
(ii) separately from the adult family 
member(s). 
(C) OBSERVATION.—In the case of young 
children and infants screened under this para-
graph, in addition to evaluating the documen-
tary evidence of relationship provided, the field 
staff of the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall observe the interactions between 
the children and their 1 or more adult family 
members. 
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(D) U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTEC-
TION CUSTODY.—During the screening required 
by this paragraph, an unaccompanied child de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) shall remain in the 
legal custody of the Commissioner of U.S. Cus-
toms and Border Protection for not more than 
72 hours. 
(E) SAFE SPONSOR DETERMINATION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—If field staff of the 
Health and Human Services determine 
that an adult family member is a safe 
sponsor, the Commissioner of U.S. Cus-
toms and Border Protection, absent exi-
gent circumstances, shall approve the spon-
sor for release and transfer custody of the 
child from the Commissioner to the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services in a 
designated space so that the Office of Ref-
ugee Resettlement may promptly reunify 
the child directly with the adult sponsor. 
(ii) REFERRAL
FOR
LEGAL
SERV-
ICES.—The Assistant Secretary of the Of-
fice of Refugee Resettlement shall ensure 
that any child approved for release with 
their family sponsor under this subpara-
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104 
(A) by striking ‘‘In any’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In any proceeding conducted 
under section 235, 236, 238, 240, or 241, or under any 
other section of this Act, including’’; 
(B) in subsection (a), as redesignated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(at no expense to the 
Government)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘he shall’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the person shall’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) ACCESS TO COUNSEL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may 
appoint or provide counsel to aliens in any pro-
ceeding conducted under section 235, 236, 238, 240, 
or 241, or under any other section of this Act. 
‘‘(2) UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILDREN.—The 
Secretary of Health and Human Services may ap-
point or provide counsel to unaccompanied alien chil-
dren (as defined in section 462(g)(2) of the Home-
land Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)(2))) in 
any applicable proceeding conducted pursuant to any 
section of this Act. 
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105 
‘‘(3) IMMIGRATION
DETENTION
AND
BORDER 
FACILITIES.—The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall ensure that aliens have access to counsel inside 
all immigration detention and border facilities.’’. 
(3) APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL FOR CHILDREN 
AND VULNERABLE ALIENS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 292 of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act, as amended by 
subsection (b), is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(c) UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILDREN.—Notwith-
standing subsection (b), the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall appoint or provide counsel at Gov-
ernment expense, if necessary, at the beginning of immi-
gration proceedings, or as expeditiously as possible, to rep-
resent in such proceedings unaccompanied alien children. 
‘‘(d) 
OTHER
VULNERABLE
ALIENS.—Notwith-
standing subsection (b), the Attorney General shall ap-
point or provide counsel at Government expense, if nec-
essary, at the beginning of immigration proceedings or as 
expeditiously as possible, to represent in such proceedings 
any alien who has been determined by the Secretary of 
Homeland Security or the Attorney General to be— 
‘‘(1) a child who is not an unaccompanied alien 
child; 
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118 
‘‘(C) establish a presumption that travel 
documents are not available for the individual. 
‘‘(4) EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An individual granted 
stateless protected status under this section 
shall receive employment authorization for a re-
newable period not less than 5 years. 
‘‘(B) PENDING APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—During the 150- 
day period after the date on which an ap-
plication for status under this section is 
submitted, the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity may authorize the applicant to en-
gage in employment in the United States. 
‘‘(ii) MANDATORY
EMPLOYMENT
AU-
THORIZATION.—If the Secretary of Home-
land Security has not issued a decision 
within the 150-day period beginning on the 
date on which an application for status 
under this section is submitted, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security shall author-
ize the applicant to engage in employment 
in the United States until the date on 
which a decision is issued on the applica-
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