‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The court of ap-
peals shall maintain jurisdiction to review 
discretionary determinations arising in a 
claim for asylum. 
‘‘(ii) JURISDICTION OVER DENIALS.— 
Notwithstanding section 242(a)(2)(C), the 
court of appeals shall maintain jurisdiction 
to review all denials of requests for with-
holding of removal under to section 
241(b)(3) or protection under the Conven-
tion against Torture and Other Cruel, In-
human or Degrading Treatment or Pun-
ishment, done at New York December 10, 
1984.’’. 
SEC. 133. PRESUMPTION OF LIBERTY FOR ASYLUM SEEK-
ERS. 
(a) CUSTODY DETERMINATION.— 
(1) INITIAL DETERMINATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—With respect to an 
alien who has expressed fear of returning to his 
or her home country or an intent to apply for 
asylum in the United States, the Secretary shall 
make an initial written custody determination 
with respect to the alien and provide the deter-
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mination to the alien not later than 48 hours 
after, as applicable— 
(i) the Secretary takes the alien into 
custody; or 
(ii) in the case of an alien already in 
the custody of the Secretary, the alien ex-
presses such fear or intent. 
(B) LEAST RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS.—A 
custody determination under this paragraph 
shall impose the least restrictive conditions if 
the Secretary determines that the release of an 
alien— 
(i) will not reasonably ensure the ap-
pearance of the alien as required; or 
(ii) will endanger the safety of any 
other person or the community. 
(C) APPLICABILITY.—This paragraph shall 
not apply to unaccompanied alien children (as 
defined in section 462(g) of the Homeland Se-
curity Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279g)). 
(2) PRESUMPTION OF RELEASE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In a hearing under this 
subsection, there shall be a presumption that 
the alien should be released. 
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101 
(B) REBUTTAL.—The Secretary may rebut 
the presumption of release based on clear and 
convincing evidence, including credible and indi-
vidualized information, that— 
(i) the use of alternatives to detention, 
including release on recognizance or on a 
reasonable bond, will not reasonably ensure 
the appearance of the alien at removal pro-
ceedings; or 
(ii) the alien is a threat to another 
person or the community. 
(C) 
PENDING
CRIMINAL
CHARGE.—A 
pending criminal charge against an alien may 
not be the sole factor to justify the continued 
detention of the alien. 
(D) EVIDENCE OF IDENTITY.—The inabil-
ity of an alien to reasonably provide govern-
ment-issued evidence of identity, including the 
inability of the alien to contact the government 
of the country of nationality of the alien so as 
not to alert such government of the where-
abouts of the alien, may not be the sole factor 
to justify the continued detention of the alien. 
(E) PRE-EXISTING
COMMUNITY
TIES.—A 
lack of pre-existing community ties in the 
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United States shall not preclude the release of 
an alien. 
(b) LEAST RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary or an immi-
gration judge determines, pursuant to a hearing 
under this section, that the release of an alien will 
not reasonably ensure the appearance of the alien as 
required or will endanger the safety of any other 
person or the community, the Secretary or the immi-
gration judge shall order the least restrictive condi-
tions or combination of conditions that the Secretary 
or judge determines will reasonably ensure the ap-
pearance of the alien and the safety of any other 
person and the community, which may include— 
(A) release on recognizance; 
(B) secured or unsecured release on bond; 
or 
(C) participation in a program described in 
subsection (d). 
(2) MONTHLY
REVIEW.—Any condition as-
signed to an alien under paragraph (1) shall be re-
viewed by an immigration judge on a monthly basis. 
(c) SPECIAL RULE FOR VULNERABLE PERSONS AND 
PRIMARY CAREGIVERS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case that the alien 
who is the subject of a custody determination under 
this section is a vulnerable person or a primary care-
giver, the alien may not be detained unless the Sec-
retary demonstrates, in addition to the requirements 
under subsection (a)(2), that it is unreasonable or 
not practicable to place the individual in a commu-
nity-based supervision program. 
(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) MATERIAL WITNESS.—The term ‘‘ma-
terial witness’’ means an individual who pre-
sents a declaration to an attorney investigating, 
prosecuting, or defending the workplace claim 
or from the presiding officer overseeing the 
workplace claim attesting that, to the best of 
the declarant’s knowledge and belief, reasonable 
cause exists to believe that the testimony of the 
individual will be relevant to the outcome of the 
workplace claim. 
(B) PRIMARY CAREGIVER.—The term ‘‘pri-
mary caregiver’’ means a person who is estab-
lished to be a caregiver, parent, or close relative 
caring for or traveling with a child. 
(C) VULNERABLE
PERSON.—The term 
‘‘vulnerable person’’ means an individual who— 
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(i) is under 21 years of age or over 60 
years of age; 
(ii) is pregnant; 
(iii) identifies as lesbian, gay, bisex-
ual, transgender, or intersex; 
(iv) is a victim or witness of a crime; 
(v) has filed a nonfrivolous civil rights 
claim in Federal or State court; 
(vi) has filed, or is a material witness 
to, a bonafide workplace claim; 
(vii) has a serious mental or physical 
illness or disability; 
(viii) has been determined by an asy-
lum officer in an interview conducted 
under section 235(b)(1)(B) to have a cred-
ible fear of persecution or torture; 
(ix) has limited English language pro-
ficiency and is not provided access to ap-
propriate and meaningful language services 
in a timely fashion; or 
(x) has been determined by an immi-
gration judge or the Secretary of Home-
land Security to be experiencing severe 
trauma or to be a survivor of torture or 
gender-based violence, based on informa-
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tion obtained during intake, from the 
alien’s attorney or legal service provider, or 
through credible self-reporting. 
(D) 
WORKPLACE
CLAIM.—The 
term 
‘‘workplace claim’’ means any written or oral 
claim, charge, complaint, or grievance filed 
with, communicated to, or submitted to the em-
ployer, a Federal, State, or local agency or 
court, or an employee representative related to 
the violation of applicable Federal, State, and 
local labor laws, including laws concerning 
wages and hours, labor relations, family and 
medical leave, occupational health and safety, 
civil rights, or nondiscrimination. 
(d) ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
programs that provide alternatives to detaining 
aliens, which shall offer a continuum of supervision 
mechanisms and options, including community-based 
supervision programs and community support. 
(2) CONTRACTS WITH NONGOVERNMENTAL OR-
GANIZATIONS.—The Secretary shall contract with 
nongovernmental community-based organizations to 
provide services for programs under paragraph (1), 
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including case management services, appearance as-
sistance services, and screenings of detained aliens. 
(3) 
INDIVIDUALIZED
DETERMINATION
RE-
QUIRED.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In determining whether 
to order an alien to participate in a program 
under this subsection, the Secretary or an im-
migration judge, as applicable, shall make an 
individualized determination with respect to the 
appropriate level of supervision for the alien. 
(B) LIMITATION.—Participation in a pro-
gram under this subsection may not be ordered 
for an alien for whom it is determined that re-
lease on reasonable bond or recognizance— 
(i) will reasonably ensure the appear-
ance of the alien as required; and 
(ii) will not pose a threat to any other 
person or the community. 
(e) REGULAR REVIEW
OF CUSTODY DETERMINA-
TIONS AND CONDITIONS OF RELEASE.— 
(1) TIMING.—In the case of an alien who seeks 
to challenge the initial custody determination under 
subsection (a)(1), not later than 72 hours after the 
initial custody determination, the alien shall be pro-
vided with the opportunity for a hearing before an 
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107 
immigration judge to determine whether the alien 
should be detained. 
(2) SUBSEQUENT DETERMINATIONS.—An alien 
who is detained under this section shall be provided 
with a de novo custody determination hearing under 
this subsection— 
(A) every 60 days; and 
(B) on a showing of— 
(i) changed circumstances; or 
(ii) good cause for such a hearing. 
SEC. 134. PROCEDURES FOR ENSURING ACCURACY AND 
VERIFIABILITY 
OF 
SWORN 
STATEMENTS 
TAKEN PURSUANT TO EXPEDITED REMOVAL 
AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
quality assurance procedures to ensure the accuracy and 
verifiability of signed or sworn statements taken by em-
ployees of the Department exercising expedited removal 
authority under section 235(b) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)). 
(b) RECORDING OF INTERVIEWS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any sworn or signed written 
statement taken from an alien as part of the record 
of a proceeding under section 235(b)(1)(A) of the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
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108 
1225(b)(1)(A)) shall be accompanied by a recording 
of the interview that served as the basis for such 
sworn statement. 
(2) CONTENT.—The recording shall include— 
(A) a reading of the entire written state-
ment to the alien in a language that the alien 
claims to understand; and 
(B) the verbal affirmation by the alien of 
the accuracy of— 
(i) the written statement; or 
(ii) a corrected version of the written 
statement. 
(3) FORMAT.—The recording shall be made in 
video, audio, or other equally reliable format. 
(4) EVIDENCE.—Recordings of interviews under 
this subsection may be considered as evidence in any 
further proceedings involving the alien. 
(c) EXEMPTION AUTHORITY.— 
(1) EXEMPTED
FACILITIES.—Subsection (b) 
shall not apply to interviews that occur at detention 
facilities exempted by the Secretary under this sub-
section. 
(2) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, or a designee of 
the Secretary, may exempt any detention facility if 
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109 
compliance with subsection (b) at that facility would 
impair operations or impose undue burdens or costs. 
(3) REPORT.—The Secretary shall annually 
submit to Congress a report that identifies the facili-
ties that have been exempted under this subsection. 
(4) NO PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION.—Nothing 
in this subsection may be construed to create a pri-
vate cause of action for damages or injunctive relief. 
(d) INTERPRETERS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
a professional fluent interpreter is used if— 
(1) the interviewing officer is not certified by 
the Department to speak a language understood by 
the alien; and 
(2) there is no other Federal Government em-
ployee available who is able to interpret effectively, 
accurately, and impartially. 
SEC. 135. INSPECTIONS BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS. 
Section 235(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(a)(3)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘All aliens’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—All aliens;’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITION.—An immigration offi-
cer may not turn back, instruct to return at a 
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later time, refuse to inspect, or otherwise reject 
in any manner whatsoever an applicant for ad-
mission at a port of entry who indicates— 
‘‘(i) an intent to apply for asylum 
under section 208; or 
‘‘(ii) a fear of persecution.’’. 
SEC. 136. STUDY ON EFFECT ON ASYLUM CLAIMS OF EXPE-
DITED REMOVAL PROVISIONS, PRACTICES, 
AND PROCEDURES. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall con-
duct a study to determine whether immigration offi-
cers are engaging in conduct described in paragraph 
(2). 
(2) CONDUCT
DESCRIBED.—The conduct de-
scribed in this paragraph is the following: 
(A) Improperly encouraging an alien to 
withdraw or retract an asylum claim. 
(B) Incorrectly failing to refer an alien for 
an interview by an asylum officer to determine 
whether the alien has a credible fear of persecu-
tion, including failing to record the expression 
of an alien of fear of persecution or torture. 
(C) Incorrectly removing an alien to a 
country in which the alien may be persecuted. 
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111 
(D) Detaining an alien improperly or 
under inappropriate conditions. 
(E) Improperly separating a family unit 
after a member of the family unit has expressed 
a credible fear of persecution. 
(F) Improperly referring an alien for proc-
essing under an enforcement or deterrence pro-
gram, such as the consequence delivery system. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
on which the Commission initiates the study under sub-
section (a), the Commission shall submit to the appro-
priate committees of Congress a report describing the re-
sults of the study. 
(c) STAFFING.— 
(1) AGENCY EMPLOYEES.— 
(A) IDENTIFICATION.—The Commission 
may identify employees of the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, 
and the Government Accountability Office who 
have significant expertise and knowledge of ref-
ugee and asylum issues. 
(B) DESIGNATION.—At the request of the 
Commission, the Secretary, the Attorney Gen-
eral, and the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall authorize the employees identified 
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112 
under subparagraph (A) to assist the Commis-
sion in conducting the study under subsection 
(a). 
(2) ADDITIONAL STAFF.—The Commission may 
hire additional staff and consultants to conduct the 
study under subsection (a). 
(3) ACCESS TO PROCEEDINGS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Secretary and the Attor-
ney General shall provide staff designated 
under paragraph (1)(B) or hired under para-
graph (2) with unrestricted access to all stages 
of all proceedings conducted under section 
235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1225(b)). 
(B) EXCEPTIONS.—The Secretary and the 
Attorney General may not permit unrestricted 
access under subparagraph (A) if— 
(i) the alien subject to a proceeding 
under such section 235(b) objects to such 
access; or 
(ii) the Secretary or Attorney General 
determines that the security of a particular 
proceeding would be threatened by such 
access. 
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113 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on 
the Judiciary, and the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security, 
the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the United States Commission on Inter-
national Religious Freedom. 
(3) CREDIBLE
FEAR
OF
PERSECUTION.—The 
term ‘‘credible fear of persecution’’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 235(b)(1)(B)(v) of the Im-
migration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1225(b)(1)(B)(v)). 
(4) IMMIGRATION OFFICER.—The term ‘‘immi-
gration officer’’ means an immigration officer per-
forming duties under section 235(b) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)) with re-
spect to aliens who— 
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114 
(A) are apprehended after entering the 
United States; 
(B) may be eligible to apply for asylum 
under section 208 of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1158); 
or 
(C) may have a credible fear of persecu-
tion. 
SEC. 137. ALIGNMENT WITH REFUGEE CONVENTION OBLI-
GATIONS BY PROHIBITING CRIMINAL PROS-
ECUTION OF REFUGEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An alien who has expressed a 
credible or reasonable fear of persecution, filed an applica-
tion for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection 
under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, 
Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done 
at New York December 10, 1984, or expressed an intent 
to file such an application, may not be prosecuted under 
section 275(a) or 276(a) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1325(a), 1326(a)) until the earlier 
of— 
(1) the date on which any such application has 
been finally adjudicated and denied, including any 
appeals of such denial; or 
(2) in the case of an alien who expresses an in-
tent to file such an application, the date on which 
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115 
any applicable time limitation for the filing of such 
an application under section 208 of such Act has 
ended with an application being filed. 
(b) AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE.—If an alien is pros-
ecuted under section 275(a) or 276(a) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1325(a) and 1326(a)) in 
violation of subsection (a), it shall be a defense that the 
alien has expressed a credible or reasonable fear of perse-
cution, has filed an application for asylum or another form 
of protection, and such application has not been finally 
adjudicated and denied, including any appeals of such de-
nial. 
(c) TREATY OBLIGATIONS.—In accordance with the 
treaty obligations of the United States under Article 31 
of 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)), an alien who 
has been granted asylum or withholding of removal under 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 US.C. 1101 et 
seq.) may not be prosecuted under section 275(a) or 
276(a) of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1325(a) and 1326(a)). 
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116 
Subtitle E—Refugee Resettlement 
SEC. 141. PRIORITIZATION OF FAMILY REUNIFICATION IN 
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall 
prioritize the cases of persons referred by the United Na-
tions High Commissioner for Refugees, groups of special 
humanitarian concern to the United States under sub-
section (a)(1) of section 207 of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), and refugees seeking reuni-
fication with relatives living in the United States, regard-
less of the nationality of such refugees. 
(b) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, shall promulgate regulations to ensure that an 
individual seeking admission to the United States as 
a refugee shall not be excluded from being inter-
viewed for refugee status based on— 
(A) a close family relationship to a citizen 
or lawful permanent resident of the United 
States; 
(B) a potential qualification of the indi-
vidual for an immigrant visa; or 
(C) a pending application by the individual 
for admission to the United States. 
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117 
(2) SIMULTANEOUS CONSIDERATION.—The reg-
ulations promulgated under paragraph (1) shall en-
sure that an applicant for admission as a refugee is 
permitted to pursue simultaneously admission to the 
United States— 
(A) as a refugee; and 
(B) under any visa category for which the 
applicant may be eligible. 
(c) NOTICE OF SEPARATE TRAVEL.—In the case of 
an applicant for admission under section 207 of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) the applica-
tion of whom is placed on hold for more than three months 
and one or more members of the family of the applicant 
have separate pending applications for admission under 
such section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall— 
(1) notify any individual on that case who is eli-
gible to travel separately of the option to separate 
the case of the individual from the family unit; and 
(2) permit the individual to travel based on the 
satisfaction by the individual of all security and 
other requirements for a refugee application. 
(d) USE OF EMBASSY REFERRALS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall 
set forth a plan to ensure that each United States 
embassy and consulate is equipped and enabled to 
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118 
refer individuals in need of resettlement to the 
United States refugee admissions program. 
(2) TRAINING.—The Secretary of State shall 
undertake training for embassy personnel to ensure 
that each embassy and consulate has sufficient 
knowledge and expertise to carry out this paragraph. 
SEC. 142. NUMERICAL GOALS FOR ANNUAL REFUGEE AD-
MISSIONS. 
Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1157) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1); 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(4) as paragraphs (1) and (6), respectively; 
(C) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated— 
(i) by inserting (A) before ‘‘Except as 
provided’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘after fiscal year 
1982’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘is justified’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘interest.’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘is— 
‘‘(i) justified by humanitarian con-
cerns or otherwise in the national interest; 
and 
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119 
‘‘(ii) not less than 95,000.’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing— 
‘‘(B) If the President does not issue a de-
termination under this paragraph before the be-
ginning of a fiscal year, the number of refugees 
who may be admitted under this section shall 
be 95,000. 
‘‘(2) Each officer of the Federal Government 
responsible for refugee admissions or refugee reset-
tlement shall treat a determination under paragraph 
(1) and subsection (b) as the numerical goals for 
refugee admissions under this section for the appli-
cable fiscal year.’’; 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
following: 
‘‘(4) In making a determination under para-
graph (1), the President shall consider the number 
of refugees who, during the calendar year beginning 
immediately after the beginning of the applicable fis-
cal year, are in need of resettlement in a third coun-
try, as determined by the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees in the most recently 
published projected global resettlement needs report. 
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‘‘(5) The President shall determine regional al-
locations for admissions under this subsection, 
that— 
‘‘(A) shall consider the projected needs 
identified by the United Nations High Commis-
sioner for Refugees in the projected global re-
settlement needs report for the calendar year 
beginning immediately after the beginning of 
the applicable fiscal year; and 
‘‘(B) shall include an unallocated reserve 
that the Secretary of State, after notifying the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and 
the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
Representatives, may use for 1 or more regions 
in which the need for additional refugee admis-
sions arises.’’; 
(E) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘(beginning with fiscal year 1992)’’; 
and 
(F) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) All officers of the Federal Government re-
sponsible for refugee admissions or refugee resettle-
ment shall treat the determinations made under this 
subsection and subsection (b) as the refugee admis-
sions goal for the applicable fiscal year.’’; and 
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(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) QUARTERLY REPORTS ON ADMISSIONS.—Not 
later than 15 days after the last day of each quarter, the 
President shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary 
of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives a report that includes the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) REFUGEES ADMITTED.— 
‘‘(A) The number of refugees admitted to 
the United States during the preceding quarter. 
‘‘(B) The number of refugees admitted to 
the United States during the preceding quarter, 
expressed as a percentage of the number of ref-
ugees authorized to be admitted in accordance 
with the determinations under subsections (a) 
and (b) for the applicable fiscal year. 
‘‘(C) The cumulative number of refugees 
admitted to the United States during the appli-
cable fiscal year, as of the last day of the pre-
ceding quarter. 
‘‘(D) The number of refugees to be admit-
ted to the United States during the remainder 
of the applicable fiscal year so as to achieve the 
numerical goals set forth in the determinations 
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under subsections (a) and (b) for such fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(E) The number of refugees from each 
region admitted to the United States during the 
preceding quarter, expressed as a percentage of 
the allocation for each region under subsection 
(a)(5) for the applicable fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) ALIENS WITH SECURITY ADVISORY OPIN-
IONS.— 
‘‘(A) The number of aliens, by nationality, 
for whom a Security Advisory Opinion has been 
requested who were security-cleared during the 
preceding quarter, expressed as a percentage of 
all cases successfully adjudicated by the Direc-
tor of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Serv-
ices in the applicable fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) The number of aliens, by nationality, 
for whom a Security Advisory Opinion has been 
requested who were admitted to the United 
States during the preceding quarter. 
‘‘(3) CIRCUIT RIDES.— 
‘‘(A) For the preceding quarter— 
‘‘(i) the number of Refugee Corps of-
ficers deployed on circuit rides, expressed 
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as a percentage of the overall number of 
Refugee Corps officers; 
‘‘(ii) the number of individuals inter-
viewed— 
‘‘(I) on each circuit ride; and 
‘‘(II) at each circuit ride location; 
‘‘(iii) the number of circuit rides; and 
‘‘(iv) for each circuit ride— 
‘‘(I) the duration of the circuit 
ride; 
‘‘(II) the average number of 
interviews conducted daily on the cir-
cuit ride; and 
‘‘(III) the percentages of inter-
views conducted for— 
‘‘(aa) individuals who re-
quire Security Advisory Opinions; 
and 
‘‘(bb) individuals who do not 
require Security Advisory Opin-
ions. 
‘‘(B) For the subsequent quarter— 
‘‘(i) the number of circuit rides sched-
uled; and 
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124 
‘‘(ii) the number of circuit rides 
planned. 
‘‘(4) PROCESSING.—For the preceding quar-
ter— 
‘‘(A) the average number of days be-
tween— 
‘‘(i) the date on which an individual is 
identified by the United States Govern-
ment as a refugee; and 
‘‘(ii) the date on which such individual 
is interviewed by the Secretary of Home-
land Security; 
‘‘(B) the average number of days be-
tween— 
‘‘(i) the date on which an individual 
identified by the United States Govern-
ment as a refugee is interviewed by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security; and 
‘‘(ii) the date on which such individual 
is admitted to the United States; and 
‘‘(C) with respect to individuals identified 
by the United States Government as refugees 
who have been interviewed by the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, the approval, denial, and 
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hold rates for the applications for admission of 
such individuals, by nationality. 
‘‘(5) PLAN AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(A) A plan that describes the procedural 
or personnel changes necessary to ensure the 
admission of the number of refugees authorized 
to be admitted to the United States in accord-
ance with determinations under subsections (a) 
and (b), including a projection of the number of 
refugees to be admitted to the United States 
each month so as to achieve the numerical goals 
set forth in such determinations. 
‘‘(B) Additional information relating to the 
pace of refugee admissions, as determined by 
the President. 
‘‘(h) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed— 
‘‘(1) to inhibit the expeditious processing of ref-
ugee and asylum applications; 
‘‘(2) to restrict the authority of the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to admit aliens to the United 
States under any other Act; or 
‘‘(3) to prevent the executive branch from in-
creasing the numerical goal of refugee admissions or 
regional allocations based on emerging or identified 
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resettlement needs during and throughout the fiscal 
year.’’. 
SEC. 143. REFORM OF REFUGEE ADMISSIONS CONSULTA-
TION PROCESS. 
Section 207(e) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(e)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through 
(7) as subparagraphs (A) through (G), respectively; 
(2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
as so redesignated— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(e)’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, which shall be com-
menced not later than May 1 of each year and 
continue periodically throughout the remainder 
of the year, if necessary,’’ after ‘‘discussions in 
person’’; 
(3) in the undesignated matter following sub-
paragraph (G), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘To 
the extent possible,’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) To the extent possible’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3)(A) The plans referred to in paragraph (1)(C) 
shall include estimates of— 
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‘‘(i) the number of refugees the President ex-
pects to have ready to travel to the United States 
at the beginning of the fiscal year; 
‘‘(ii) the number of refugees and the stipulated 
populations the President expects to admit to the 
United States in each quarter of the fiscal year; and 
‘‘(iii) the number of refugees the President ex-
pects to have ready to travel to the United States 
at the end of the fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall en-
sure that an adequate number of refugees are processed 
during the fiscal year to fulfill the refugee admissions 
goals under subsections (a) and (b). 
‘‘(C) In fulfilling the requirements of this subsection, 
the President shall— 
‘‘(i) establish specific objectives or measure-
ments for the integration of refugees admitted to the 
United States; and 
‘‘(ii) submit an annual report to Congress on 
the integration of resettled refugees on the basis of 
such objectives or measurements.’’. 
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SEC. 144. DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN GROUPS OF REFU-
GEES FOR RESETTLEMENT AND ADMISSION 
OF REFUGEES IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. 
(a) ADMISSION OF EMERGENCY SITUATION REFU-
GEES.—Section 207(c) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)), as amended by section 
111(b), is further amended— 
(1) by striking the subsection designation and 
all that follows through ‘‘immigrant under this Act.’’ 
in paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c)(1)(A) Subject to the numerical established pur-
suant to subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary of Home-
land Security may, in the Secretary’s discretion and pur-
suant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, 
admit any refugee who is not firmly resettled in any for-
eign country, is determined to be of special humanitarian 
concern to the United States, and is admissible (except 
as provided under subsection (b) and (c) of section 209) 
as an immigrant under this Act. Notwithstanding any nu-
merical limitations specified in this Act, any alien admit-
ted under this paragraph shall be regarded as lawfully ad-
mitted to the United States for permanent residence as 
of the date of such alien’s admission to the United States. 
‘‘(B)(i) The President, upon a recommendation of the 
Secretary of State made in consultation with the Secretary 
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of Homeland Security, and after appropriate consultation, 
may designate 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— 
‘‘(aa) share common characteristics that 
identify them as targets of— 
‘‘(AA) persecution on account of race, 
religion, nationality, membership in a par-
ticular social group, or political opinion; or 
‘‘(BB) other serious harm; or 
‘‘(bb) having been identified as targets as 
described in item (aa), share a common need 
for resettlement due to a specific vulnerability. 
‘‘(ii) An alien who establishes membership in a group 
designated under clause (i) to the satisfaction of the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security shall be considered a refugee 
for purposes of admission as a refugee under this section 
unless the Secretary determines that such alien ordered, 
incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecu-
tion of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, 
membership in a particular social group, or political opin-
ion. 
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‘‘(iii) A designation under clause (i) is for purposes 
of adjudicatory efficiency and may be revoked by the 
President at any time after notification to Congress. 
‘‘(iv) Categories of aliens established under section 
599D of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and 
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 (Public Law 
101–167; 8 U.S.C. 1157 note)— 
‘‘(I) shall be designated under clause (i) until 
the end of the first fiscal year commencing after the 
date of the enactment of the Refugee Protection Act 
of 2019; and 
‘‘(II) shall be eligible for designation thereafter 
at the discretion of the President. 
‘‘(v) The admission of an alien under this subpara-
graph shall count against the refugee admissions goal 
under subsection (a). 
‘‘(vi) A designation under clause (i) shall not influ-
ence decisions to grant to any alien asylum under section 
208, protection 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. 
‘‘(vii) A decision to deny admission under this section 
to an alien who establishes to the satisfaction of the Sec-
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retary that the alien is a member of a group designated 
under clause (i)— 
‘‘(I) shall be in writing; and 
‘‘(II) shall cite the specific applicable provision 
of this Act upon which such denial is based, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(aa) the facts underlying the determina-
tion; and 
‘‘(bb) whether there is a waiver of inadmis-
sibility available to the alien.’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (3); and 
(3) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (3). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the first day of the first 
fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 145. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT; RADIUS REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration 
shall not require a refugee to be resettled within a pre-
scribed radius of a refugee resettlement office. 
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132 
SEC. 146. STUDY AND REPORT ON CONTRIBUTIONS BY REF-
UGEES TO THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently 
than every 5 years thereafter, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study on the economic, 
social, and other contributions that refugees make to the 
United States. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The study con-
ducted under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of economic contributions 
made by refugees, including— 
(A) during the first year, 5 years, 10 
years, and 20 years following the arrival of a 
refugee in the United States— 
(i) a description of industries in which 
the most refugees work; 
(ii) an analysis of the economic and 
spending power of refugees; 
(iii) the rate of home ownership of 
refugees; 
(iv) the estimated net amount of rev-
enue refugees contribute to the United 
States, as compared to the cost of govern-
ment benefits accessed by refugees; and 
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(v) the estimated gross amount of 
taxes refugees contribute; 
(B) the estimated rate of entrepreneurship 
of refugees during the first year, 5 years, 10 
years, and 20 years after the arrival of a ref-
ugee; 
(C) the number of jobs created by refugee 
businesses; and 
(D) the labor markets for which refugees 
fill critical gaps. 
(2) An assessment of the rate of refugee self- 
sufficiency and a description of unmet needs and 
outcomes, including— 
(A) the manner in which the Office of Ref-
ugee Resettlement defines self-sufficiency; 
(B) an assessment as to whether such defi-
nition is adequate in addressing refugee needs 
in the United States; 
(C) an analysis of the unmet needs and 
outcomes of refugees; and 
(D) an evaluation of the budgetary re-
sources of the Office of Refugee Resettlement 
and a projection of the amount of additional re-
sources necessary to fully address the unmet 
needs of refugees and all other populations 
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within the mandate of the Office of Refugee Re-
settlement, with respect to self-sufficiency. 
(3) Recommendations on ways in which the Of-
fice of Refugee Resettlement may improve the rate 
of self-sufficiency, outcomes, and the domestic ref-
ugee program with respect to the matters assessed 
under paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after date on 
which a study under subsection (a) is completed, the 
Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report 
that describes the results of the study. 
SEC. 
147. 
UPDATE 
OF 
RECEPTION 
AND 
PLACEMENT 
GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning with fiscal year 2020, 
not later than 30 days before the beginning of each fiscal 
year, the Secretary of State shall notify Congress of the 
amount of funds that the Secretary of State plans to pro-
vide to national resettlement agencies in reception and 
placement grants during the following fiscal year. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In setting the amount of such 
grants, the Secretary of State shall ensure that— 
(1) the grant amount for each fiscal year is ad-
justed to provide adequately for the anticipated ini-
tial resettlement needs of refugees, including adjust-
ing the amount for inflation and the cost of living; 
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(2) a sufficient portion of such amount is pro-
vided at the beginning of the fiscal year to each na-
tional resettlement agency to ensure adequate local 
and national capacity to serve the initial resettle-
ment needs of the number of refugees the Secretary 
of State anticipates each such resettlement agency 
will resettle during the fiscal year; and 
(3) additional amounts are provided to each na-
tional resettlement agency promptly on the arrival of 
refugees that, exclusive of the amounts provided 
under paragraph (2), are sufficient to meet the an-
ticipated initial resettlement needs of such refugees 
and support local and national operational costs in 
excess of the estimates described in paragraph (1). 
SEC. 148. RESETTLEMENT DATA. 
Section 412(a) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘, and 
shall consider data collected under paragraph (11)’’ 
before the period at the end; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11)(A) The Assistant Secretary of Health 
and Human Services for Refugee and Asylee Reset-
tlement (referred to in this section as the ‘Assistant 
Secretary’) shall expand the data analysis, collection, 
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and sharing activities of the Office of Refugee Reset-
tlement. 
‘‘(B) The Assistant Secretary shall coordinate 
with the Centers for Disease Control, national reset-
tlement agencies, community-based organizations, 
and State refugee health programs to track national 
and State trends with respect to refugees arriving 
with Class A medical conditions and other urgent 
medical needs. In collecting information under this 
paragraph, the Assistant Secretary shall use initial 
refugee health screening data (including any history 
of severe trauma, torture, mental health symptoms, 
depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress dis-
order) recorded during domestic and international 
health screenings, and data on the rate of use of ref-
ugee medical assistance. 
‘‘(C) The Assistant Secretary shall partner with 
State refugee programs, community-based organiza-
tions, and national resettlement agencies to collect 
data relating to the housing needs of refugees, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(i) the number of refugees who rent 
apartments or houses and who own condomin-
iums or houses; and 
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‘‘(ii) the number of refugees who have be-
come homeless and the number at severe risk of 
becoming homeless. 
‘‘(D)(i) Beginning on the fifth year after arrival 
of a refugee and every 5 years thereafter until the 
end of the 20th year after arrival, the Assistant Sec-
retary shall, to the extent practicable, gather longi-
tudinal information relating to refugee self-suffi-
ciency and economic contributions to the United 
States including employment status, earnings and 
advancement. 
‘‘(ii) The longitudinal study shall consider addi-
tional factors related to self-sufficiency and integra-
tion, including family self-sufficiency and caretaking, 
barriers to and opportunities for integration of the 
children of refugees and their descendants, and el-
derly resettled refugees. 
‘‘(E) Not less frequently than annually, the As-
sistant Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) update the data collected under this 
paragraph; 
‘‘(ii) submit to Congress a report on such 
data; and 
‘‘(iii) not later than 270 days after the end 
of the fiscal year following the year for which 
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the data was collected, make the data available 
to the public on the website of the Office of 
Refugee Resettlement.’’. 
SEC. 149. REFUGEE ASSISTANCE. 
(a) AMENDMENTS TO SOCIAL SERVICES FUNDING.— 
Section 412(c)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(c)(1)(B)) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(B) The funds available for a fiscal year for 
grants and contracts under subparagraph (A) shall 
be allocated among the States based on a combina-
tion of— 
‘‘(i) the total number or refugees (includ-
ing children and adults) who arrived in the 
United States not more than 36 months before 
the beginning of such fiscal year and are actu-
ally residing in each State (taking into account 
secondary migration) as of the beginning of the 
fiscal year; 
‘‘(ii) the total number of all other eligible 
populations served by the Office during the pe-
riod described who are residing in the State as 
of the beginning of the fiscal year; and 
‘‘(iii) projections on the number, projec-
tions on regional allocations, and information 
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on the nature of incoming refugees and other 
populations, such as demographics, case man-
agement or medical needs, served by the Office 
during the subsequent fiscal year.’’. 
(b) REPORT ON SECONDARY MIGRATION.—Section 
412(a)(3) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(a)(3)) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘a peri-
odic’’ and inserting ‘‘an annual’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘At the 
end of each fiscal year, the Director shall submit to 
Congress a report that describes the findings of the 
assessment, including a list of States and localities 
experiencing departures and arrivals due to sec-
ondary migration, likely reasons for migration, the 
impact of secondary migration on States receiving 
secondary migrants, availability of social services for 
secondary migrants in such States, and unmet needs 
of those secondary migrants.’’. 
(c) ASSISTANCE MADE AVAILABLE TO SECONDARY 
MIGRANTS.—Section 412(a)(1) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(a)(1)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) In providing assistance under this section, 
the Director shall ensure that such assistance is also 
provided to refugees who are secondary migrants 
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and meet all other eligibility requirements for such 
services.’’. 
(d) REFUGEES NEEDING SPECIALIZED MEDICAL 
CARE OR PREPARATION.—Section 412(b)(4)(B) of the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1522(b)(4)(B)) is amended by inserting ‘‘requiring spe-
cialized care or preparation before the arrival of such refu-
gees in the United States, or’’ after ‘‘medical conditions’’. 
(e) LEGAL
ASSISTANCE
FOR
REFUGEES
AND 
ASYLEES.—Section 412(c)(1)(A) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(c)(1)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv); 
and 
(3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: 
‘‘(iii) to provide legal services for refu-
gees to assist the refugees in obtaining im-
migration benefits for which the refugees 
are eligible; and’’. 
(f) NOTICE AND RULEMAKING.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, but in 
no event later than 30 days before the effective date of 
the amendments made by this section, the Assistant Sec-
retary shall— 
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(1) issue a proposed rule of the new formula by 
which grants and contracts are to be allocated pur-
suant to the amendments made by subsection (c); 
and 
(2) solicit public comment. 
(g) 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. 150. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR SOCIAL 
SECURITY BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN REFU-
GEES. 
(a) EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY PERIOD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 402(a)(2)(M)(i) of 
the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation 
Act 
of 
1996 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1612(a)(2)(M)(i)) is amended— 
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘9-year’’ 
and inserting ‘‘10-year’’; and 
(B) in subclause (II), by striking ‘‘2-year’’ 
and inserting ‘‘3-year’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading 
for clause (i) of section 402(a)(2)(M) of such Act is 
amended by striking ‘‘TWO-YEAR EXTENSION’’ and 
inserting ‘‘EXTENSION’’. 
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(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall take effect as of October 1, 
2020. 
SEC. 151. UNITED STATES EMERGENCY REFUGEE RESET-
TLEMENT CONTINGENCY FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the 
‘‘Domestic Emergency Refugee Resettlement Contingency 
Fund’’ (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Fund’’), to be 
administered by the Director of the Office of Refugee Re-
settlement (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Director’’) 
for the purpose described in subsection (b) and to remain 
available until expended. 
(b) PURPOSE.—Amounts from the Fund shall be 
used to enable the Director to operate programs and carry 
out efforts and initiatives to respond to urgent, unantici-
pated, or underfunded refugee and entrant assistance ac-
tivities under— 
(1) the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); 
(2) section 602(b) of the Afghan Allies Protec-
tion Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–8; 8 U.S.C. 1101 
note); 
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(3) section 501 of the Refugee Education As-
sistance Act of 1980 (Public Law 96–422; 8 U.S.C. 
1522 note); 
(4) the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 
(Public Law 105–320; 22 U.S.C. 2152 note); 
(5) the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 
2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.); or 
(6) section 1244 of the Refugee Crisis in Iraq 
Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 396). 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts from the Fund— 
(1) shall be subject to the same limitations set 
forth in title V of division B of the Department of 
Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, 
and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public 
Law 115–245) as are applicable to funds appro-
priated for the Department of Health and Human 
Services under such Act; and 
(2) may only be used for initiatives that— 
(A) replenish any previously appropriated 
funds that have been reprogrammed, trans-
ferred, or withheld from programs, projects, or 
activities that serve refugees and entrants 
under the authorities described in subsection 
(b); 
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(B) stabilize existing programs, projects, 
and activities that serve such refugees and en-
trants by augmenting funds previously appro-
priated to serve such refugees and entrants; 
(C) identify unmet resettlement or integra-
tion needs of such refugees and entrants and 
implement solutions for such needs; and 
(D) meet such other needs as the Director 
considers appropriate, consistent with the pur-
pose under subsection (b). 
(3) PROTECTION
FROM
REPROGRAMMING.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of 
the amounts deposited into or made available from 
the Fund may be transferred, reprogrammed, or 
otherwise made available for any purpose or use not 
specified in this section. 
(d) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts in the Fund 
shall be available to the Director of the Office of Refugee 
Resettlement to meet the purpose described in subsection 
(b) in the national interest of the United States, as deter-
mined by the Director. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
there is authorized to be appropriated to the Direc-
tor from time to time such amounts as may be nec-
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essary for the Fund to carry out the purpose de-
scribed in subsection (b). 
(2) LIMITATION.—No amount of funds may be 
appropriated that, when added to amounts pre-
viously appropriated but not yet obligated, would 
cause such amount to exceed $200,000,000. 
(3) JUSTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.—The Presi-
dent shall provide to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a justification for each request for appro-
priations under this section. 
Subtitle F—Miscellaneous 
Provision 
SEC. 161. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this title, including, in 
addition to annual funds derived from fee accounts of U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, such sums as may 
be necessary to reduce the backlog of asylum applications 
to the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Di-
rectorate. 
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TITLE II—REFUGEE AND ASY-
LUM SEEKER PROCESSING IN 
WESTERN HEMISPHERE 
SEC. 201. EXPANSION OF REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER 
PROCESSING. 
(a) STRENGTHENING PROCESSING AND ADJUDICA-
TION CAPACITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Secretary, shall collaborate 
with international partners, including the United 
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to sup-
port and strengthen the domestic capacity of coun-
tries in the Western Hemisphere— 
(A) to process and accept refugees for re-
settlement; and 
(B) to adjudicate asylum claims. 
(2) SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Sec-
retary, shall provide support and technical assistance 
to countries in the Western Hemisphere to help such 
countries— 
(A) expand and improve their capacity to 
identify, process, and adjudicate refugee claims, 
adjudicate applications for asylum, or otherwise 
accept refugees referred for resettlement by the 
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United Nations High Commissioner for Refu-
gees or host nations, including by increasing the 
number of refugee and asylum officers (as de-
fined in section 235(b)(1)(E) of the Immigra-
tion 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1225(b)(1)(E))) who are trained in the relevant 
legal standards for adjudicating claims for pro-
tection; 
(B) establish and expand safe and secure 
refugee reception centers to facilitate the safe 
and orderly movement of individuals and fami-
lies seeking international protection; 
(C) improve national refugee and asylum 
registration systems to ensure that any person 
seeking refugee status, asylum, or other human-
itarian protections— 
(i) receives due process and meaning-
ful access to existing humanitarian protec-
tions; 
(ii) is provided with adequate informa-
tion about his or her rights, including the 
right to seek protection; 
(iii) is properly screened for security, 
including biographic and biometric capture; 
and 
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(iv) receives appropriate documents to 
prevent fraud and ensure freedom of move-
ment and access to basic social services; 
and 
(D) develop the capacity to conduct best 
interest determinations for unaccompanied chil-
dren with international protection needs to en-
sure that— 
(i) such children are properly reg-
istered; and 
(ii) their claims are appropriately con-
sidered. 
(b) DIPLOMATIC
ENGAGEMENT
AND
COORDINA-
TION.—The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
Secretary, as appropriate, shall— 
(1) carry out diplomatic engagement to secure 
commitments from governments to resettle refugees 
from Central America; and 
(2) take all necessary steps to ensure effective 
cooperation among governments resettling refugees 
from Central America. 
SEC. 202. STRENGTHENING REGIONAL HUMANITARIAN RE-
SPONSES. 
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Sec-
retary, and in coordination with international partners, in-
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cluding the United Nations High Commissioner for Refu-
gees, shall support and coordinate with the government 
of each country hosting a significant population of refu-
gees and asylum seekers from El Salvador, Guatemala, 
and Honduras— 
(1) to establish and expand temporary shelter 
and shelter network capacity to meet the immediate 
protection and humanitarian needs of refugees and 
asylum seekers, including shelters for families, 
women, unaccompanied children, and other vulner-
able populations; 
(2) to deliver to refugees and asylum seekers 
humanitarian assistance that— 
(A) is sensitive to gender identity and sex-
ual orientation, trauma, and age; and 
(B) includes access to accurate informa-
tion, legal representation, education, livelihood 
opportunities, cash assistance, mental and phys-
ical health care, and other services; 
(3) to establish and expand sexual, gender- 
based, intimate partner, and intra-family violence 
prevention, recovery, and humanitarian program-
ming; 
(4) to fund national and community humani-
tarian organizations in humanitarian response; and 
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(5) to support local integration initiatives to 
help refugees and asylum seekers rebuild their lives 
and contribute in a meaningful way to the local 
economy in their host country. 
SEC. 203. INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON DANGERS OF IR-
REGULAR MIGRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in con-
sultation with the Secretary, shall design and implement 
public information campaigns in El Salvador, Guatemala, 
and Honduras— 
(1) to disseminate information about the poten-
tial dangers of travel to the United States; 
(2) to provide accurate information about 
United States immigration law and policy; and 
(3) to provide accurate information about the 
availability of asylum and other humanitarian pro-
tections in countries in the Western Hemisphere. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—To the greatest extent possible, the 
information campaigns implemented pursuant to sub-
section (a)— 
(1) shall be targeted at regions with high rates 
of violence, high levels of out-bound migration, or 
significant populations of internally displaced per-
sons; 
(2) shall use local languages; 
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(3) shall employ a variety of communications 
media; and 
(4) shall be developed in consultation with pro-
gram officials at the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity, the Department of State, and other govern-
ment, nonprofit, or academic entities in close contact 
with migrant populations from El Salvador, Guate-
mala, and Honduras, including repatriated migrants. 
SEC. 204. REPORTING REQUIREMENT. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation 
with the Secretary, shall submit a report describing the 
plans of the Secretary of State to assist in developing the 
refugee and asylum processing capabilities described in 
this title to— 
(1) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Sen-
ate; 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate; 
(3) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate; 
(4) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives; 
(5) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives; and 
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(6) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives. 
SEC. 205. IDENTIFICATION, SCREENING, AND PROCESSING 
OF REFUGEES AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS ELI-
GIBLE FOR LAWFUL ADMISSION TO THE 
UNITED STATES. 
(a) DESIGNATED PROCESSING CENTERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of State, in consultation with the Secretary, shall 
enter into agreements for the Secretary to establish 
designated processing centers for— 
(A) registering, screening, and processing 
refugees and other eligible individuals in North 
America and Central America; and 
(B) resettling or relocating such individ-
uals to the United States or to other countries. 
(2) LOCATIONS.—Not fewer than 1 designated 
processing center shall be established in a safe and 
secure location identified by the United States and 
the host government in— 
(A) El Salvador; 
(B) Guatemala; 
(C) Honduras; 
(D) Mexico; 
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(E) Costa Rica; and 
(F) any other country that the Secretary 
of State determines can accept and process re-
quests and applications under this title, includ-
ing any country in North America or Central 
America that is hosting significant numbers of 
refugees or other displaced individuals. 
(b) ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
OF REGIONAL PROC-
ESSING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of U.S. Citi-
zenship and Immigration Services shall appoint an 
Assistant Director of Regional Processing, who shall 
oversee the establishment and operation of all des-
ignated processing centers. 
(2) DUTIES.—The Assistant Director of Re-
gional Processing, in coordination with the Secretary 
and the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigra-
tion Services, shall— 
(A) coordinate with the Secretary of State 
and the host country to ensure that each des-
ignated processing center is safe, secure, and 
reasonably accessible to the public to facilitate 
the registration, screening, and processing of 
individuals under this title; 
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(B) establish standard operating proce-
dures for the registration, screening, and proc-
essing of individuals under this title; 
(C) oversee the administration of the pro-
cedures established pursuant to subparagraph 
(B); and 
(D) carry out other duties and powers pre-
scribed by the Director of U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services. 
(c) PERSONNEL.— 
(1) REFUGEE
OFFICERS
AND
RELATED
PER-
SONNEL.—The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Serv-
ices and the Assistant Director of Regional Proc-
essing, shall ensure that sufficient numbers of ref-
ugee officers and other personnel are assigned to 
each designated processing center to fulfill the re-
quirements under this title. 
(2) SUPPORT PERSONNEL.—The Secretary and 
the Attorney General shall hire and assign sufficient 
personnel to ensure that all security and law en-
forcement background checks required under this 
title are completed not later than 180 days after a 
relevant application is submitted, absent exceptional 
circumstances. 
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(d) OPERATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each designated processing 
center established pursuant to subsection (a)(2) 
shall commence operations not later than 270 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, absent 
extraordinary circumstances. 
(2) PRODUCTIVITY.—The Secretary, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of State, shall— 
(A) monitor the activities of each des-
ignated processing center; and 
(B) establish metrics and criteria for eval-
uating the productivity of each designated proc-
essing center. 
(3) 
CONTINUING
OPERATIONS.—Each 
des-
ignated processing center— 
(A) shall remain in operation for not less 
than 5 fiscal years; and 
(B) shall continue operating until the Sec-
retary determines, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of State, and using the metrics and cri-
teria established pursuant to paragraph (2)(B), 
that the designated processing center has failed 
to maintain sufficient productivity for at least 4 
consecutive calendar quarters. 
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(4) REGISTRATION.—Each designated proc-
essing center shall receive and register individuals 
seeking to apply for benefits under this title. 
(5) INTAKE.—Consistent with this title, reg-
istered individuals shall be assessed to determine the 
benefits for which they may be eligible, including— 
(A) refugee resettlement pursuant to the 
Central American Refugee Program described 
in section 206; 
(B) the Central American Minors Program 
described in section 207; and 
(C) the Central American Family Reunifi-
cation Parole Program described in section 208. 
(6) EXPEDITED
PROCESSING.—The Secretary 
may grant expedited processing of applications and 
requests under this title in emergency situations, for 
humanitarian reasons, or if other circumstances war-
rant expedited treatment. 
(e) CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.—Not later than Jan-
uary 31 of the first fiscal year immediately following the 
conclusion of the fiscal year during which the first des-
ignated processing center commences operations, and 
every January 31 thereafter, the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of State, shall submit a report to 
the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Com-
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mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee 
on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives that identifies, with respect to each designated proc-
essing center during the previous fiscal year— 
(1) the number of individuals who were reg-
istered, screened, and processed for benefits under 
this title; 
(2) the number of benefits requests that were 
approved; and 
(3) the number of benefits requests that were 
denied. 
SEC. 206. CENTRAL AMERICAN REFUGEE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) MINIMUM ANNUAL NUMBER OF CENTRAL 
AMERICAN REFUGEES.—In addition to any refugees 
designated for admission under section 207 of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), 
in each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 
2024, not fewer than 100,000 nationals of El Sal-
vador, Guatemala, or Honduras shall be admitted 
into the United States under this section. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—Any alien described in para-
graph (1) shall be admitted under this section if— 
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(A) the alien registers at a designated 
processing center on or before September 30, 
2024; and 
(B) the Secretary of State, in consultation 
with the Secretary, determines that the alien is 
admissible as a refugee of special humanitarian 
concern to the United States in accordance with 
this section. 
(b) INITIAL PROCESSING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any alien who, while reg-
istering at a designated processing center, expresses 
a fear of persecution or an intention to apply for ref-
ugee status may apply for refugee resettlement 
under this section. Each applicant who files a com-
pleted application shall be referred to a refugee offi-
cer for further processing in accordance with this 
section. 
(2) SUBMISSION OF BIOGRAPHIC AND BIOMET-
RIC DATA.—An applicant described in paragraph (1) 
shall submit biographic and biometric data in ac-
cordance with procedures established by the Assist-
ant Director of Regional Processing appointed pur-
suant to section 205(b), who shall provide an alter-
native procedure for applicants who are unable to 
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provide all required biographic and biometric data 
due to a physical or mental impairment. 
(3) BACKGROUND CHECKS.—The Assistant Di-
rector of Regional Processing shall utilize biometric, 
biographic, and other appropriate data to conduct 
security and law enforcement background checks of 
applicants to determine whether there is any crimi-
nal, national security, or other ground that would 
render the applicant ineligible for admission as a 
refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157). 
(4) ORIENTATION.—The Assistant Director of 
Regional Processing shall provide prospective appli-
cants for refugee resettlement with information on 
applicable requirements and legal standards. All ori-
entation materials, including application forms and 
instructions, shall be made available in English and 
Spanish. 
(5) 
INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS.—The 
Secretary of State, in consultation with the Sec-
retary, shall enter into agreements with international 
organizations, including the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees, to facilitate the proc-
essing and preparation of case files for applicants 
under this section. 
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(c) ADJUDICATION OF APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date on which an applicant is referred for fur-
ther processing pursuant to subsection (b)(1), the 
applicant shall be interviewed by a refugee officer, 
who shall determine whether the applicant is a ref-
ugee of special humanitarian concern to the United 
States (as defined in paragraph (5)). 
(2) DECISION.—Not later than 14 days after 
the date on which an applicant is interviewed under 
paragraph (1), the refugee officer shall issue a writ-
ten decision regarding the application. 
(3) APPROVAL OF APPLICATION.—If a refugee 
officer approves an application under this section, 
the applicant shall be processed for resettlement to 
the United States as a refugee in accordance with 
section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1157). The security and law enforcement 
background checks required under subsection (b)(3) 
shall be completed, to the satisfaction of the Assist-
ant Director of Regional Processing, before the date 
on which an approved applicant may be admitted to 
the United States. 
(4) DENIAL OF APPLICATION.—If the refugee 
officer denies an application under this section, the 
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161 
officer shall include a reasoned, written explanation 
for the denial and refer the applicant for a deter-
mination of eligibility for other benefits under this 
title in accordance with section 205(d)(5). An appli-
cant who has been denied status as a refugee of spe-
cial humanitarian concern under this section may re-
quest review of such decision by a supervisory ref-
ugee officer not later than 30 days after the date of 
such denial. The supervisory refugee officer shall 
issue a final written decision not later than 30 days 
after such request for review. 
(5) REFUGEE OF SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN CON-
CERN.—In this section, the term ‘‘refugee of special 
humanitarian concern to the United States’’ means 
any individual who, in his or her country of nation-
ality has suffered (or in the case of an individual 
who remains in his or her country of nationality, has 
a well-founded fear of suffering)— 
(A) domestic, sexual, or other forms of 
gender-based violence, including forced mar-
riage and persecution based on sexual orienta-
tion or gender identity; 
(B) violence, extortion, or other forms of 
persecution (including forced recruitment) com-
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mitted by gangs or other organized criminal or-
ganizations; 
(C) a severe form of trafficking in persons; 
or 
(D) other serious human rights abuses. 
(6) SPOUSES
AND
MINOR
CHILDREN.—The 
spouse or child of any applicant who qualifies for ad-
mission under section 207(c) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)) shall be granted 
the same status as the applicant if accompanying or 
following to join such applicant, in accordance with 
such section. 
(7) REFUGEE STATUS.—An individual who is 
admitted to the United States as a refugee of special 
humanitarian concern to the United States under 
this section shall enjoy the same rights and privi-
leges, and shall be subject to the same grounds for 
termination of refugee status, as provided in sections 
207 and 209 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1157 and 1159). 
(8) FEES.—No fee shall be imposed for the fil-
ing, processing, or adjudication of an application 
under this section. 
(d) OPTIONAL REFERRAL TO OTHER COUNTRIES.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(b), an applicant for refugee resettlement under this 
section may be referred to another country for the 
processing of the applicant’s refugee claim if— 
(A) another country agrees to immediately 
process the applicant’s refugee claim in accord-
ance with the terms and procedures of a bilat-
eral agreement under paragraph (2); and 
(B) the applicant lacks substantial ties to 
the United States as defined in paragraph (3) 
or requests resettlement to a country other than 
the United States. 
(2) BILATERAL AGREEMENTS FOR REFERRAL 
OF REFUGEES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Secretary of State, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary, shall enter into bilat-
eral agreements with other countries for the re-
ferral, processing, and resettlement of individ-
uals who— 
(i) register at a designated processing 
center; and 
(ii) seek to apply for refugee resettle-
ment under this section. 
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(B) LIMITATION.—Agreements required 
under subparagraph (A) may only be entered 
into with countries that have the demonstrated 
capacity— 
(i) to accept and adjudicate applica-
tions for refugee status and other forms of 
international protection; and 
(ii) to resettle refugees consistent with 
obligations under the United Nations Con-
vention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 
done at Geneva July 28, 1951, as made 
applicable by the Protocol Relating to the 
Status of Refugees, done at New York 
January 31, 1967 (19 UST 6223). 
(C) INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS.— 
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Secretary, shall enter into agreements with 
international 
organizations, 
including 
the 
United Nations High Commissioner for Refu-
gees, to facilitate the referral, processing, and 
resettlement of individuals covered under this 
paragraph. 
(3) DEFINED TERM.—In this subsection, an in-
dividual has ‘‘substantial ties to the United States’’ 
if the individual— 
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(A) has a spouse, parent, son, daughter, 
sibling, grandparent, aunt, or uncle who resides 
in the United States; 
(B) can demonstrate previous residence in 
the United States for not less than 2 years; or 
(C) can otherwise demonstrate substantial 
ties to the United States, as defined by the Sec-
retary. 
(e) EMERGENCY RELOCATION COORDINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Secretary, shall enter into bi-
lateral or multilateral agreements with other coun-
tries in the Western Hemisphere to establish safe 
and secure emergency transit centers for individuals 
who— 
(A) register at a designated processing 
center; 
(B) face an imminent risk of harm; and 
(C) require temporary placement in a safe 
location, pending a final decision on an applica-
tion under this section. 
(2) 
CONSULTATION
REQUIREMENT.—Agree-
ments required under paragraph (1)— 
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166 
(A) shall be developed in consultation with 
the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Refugees; and 
(B) shall conform to international humani-
tarian standards. 
(f) EXPANSION OF REFUGEE CORPS.—Not later than 
60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
subject to the availability of amounts provided in advance 
in appropriation Acts, the Secretary shall appoint such ad-
ditional refugee officers as may be necessary to carry out 
this section. 
SEC. 207. CENTRAL AMERICAN MINORS PROGRAM. 
(a) SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS.—Section 101(a)(27) of 
the 
Immigration 
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1101(a)(27)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (L)(iii), by inserting a 
semicolon at the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (M), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(N) an immigrant (and any of his or her 
children who are accompanying or following to 
join such immigrant) who is— 
‘‘(i) a national of El Salvador, Hon-
duras, or Guatemala; 
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‘‘(ii) an unmarried child of an indi-
vidual who is lawfully present in the 
United States; 
‘‘(iii) otherwise eligible to receive an 
immigrant visa; and 
‘‘(iv) otherwise admissible to the 
United States (excluding the grounds of 
inadmissibility 
specified 
in 
section 
212(a)(4)).’’. 
(b) NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The total number of aliens 
described in section 101(a)(27)(N) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act, as added by subsection 
(a)(3), who may be granted special immigrant status 
under this section may not exceed 10,000 during 
any of the 5 consecutive fiscal years beginning with 
the fiscal year during which the first designated 
processing center commences operations. 
(2) EXCLUSION
FROM
NUMERICAL
LIMITA-
TIONS.—Aliens granted special immigrant status 
under this section shall not be counted against any 
numerical limitation under section 201, 202, or 203 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1151 et seq.). 
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(3) CARRY FORWARD.—If the numerical limita-
tion described in paragraph (1) is not reached dur-
ing any fiscal year, the numerical limitation under 
such paragraph for the following fiscal year shall be 
increased by a number equal to the difference be-
tween— 
(A) the total number of aliens who may be 
granted special immigrant status under this 
section during the first fiscal year; and 
(B) the number of aliens who were granted 
such special immigrant status during the first 
fiscal year. 
(c) PETITIONS.—If an alien is determined to be eligi-
ble for special immigrant status pursuant to an assess-
ment under section 205(d)(5), the alien, or a parent or 
legal guardian of the alien, may submit a petition for spe-
cial immigrant status under this section at a designated 
processing center. 
(d) ADJUDICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If an alien who submits a 
completed petition under subsection (c) is deter-
mined to be eligible for special immigrant status 
under section 101(a)(27)(N) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act, as added by subsection (a)(3), the 
Secretary, shall grant such status to such alien. 
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(2) 
DEADLINE.—Absent 
exceptional 
cir-
cumstances, petitions submitted under this section 
shall be adjudicated not later than 180 days after 
the date on which they are submitted at a des-
ignated processing center. 
(3) APPLICANTS UNDER PRIOR PROGRAM.— 
(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary 
of 
Homeland Security shall deem an application 
filed under the Central American Minors Ref-
ugee Program, established on December 1, 
2014, and terminated on August 16, 2017, and 
which was not the subject of a final disposition 
before January 31, 2018, to be a petition filed 
under this section. 
(B) 
NOTIFICATION.—The 
Secretary 
shall— 
(i) promptly notify all relevant parties 
of the conversion of applications described 
in subparagraph (A) into special immi-
grant petitions under this section; and 
(ii) provide instructions for with-
drawing such petitions to such parties if 
the alien no longer desires the requested 
relief. 
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(C) DEADLINE.—Absent exceptional cir-
cumstances, the Secretary shall make a final 
determination on each petition described in sub-
paragraph (A) that is not withdrawn pursuant 
to subparagraph (B)(ii) not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(4) BIOMETRICS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.— 
(A) SUBMISSION OF BIOMETRIC AND BIO-
GRAPHIC DATA.—Petitioners for special immi-
grant status under this section shall submit bio-
metric and biographic data in accordance with 
procedures established by the Assistant Direc-
tor of Regional Processing. The Assistant Di-
rector shall provide an alternative procedure for 
applicants who are unable to provide all of the 
required biometric data due to a physical or 
mental impairment. 
(B) BACKGROUND
CHECKS.—The Assist-
ant Director shall utilize biometric, biographic, 
and other appropriate data to conduct security 
and law enforcement background checks of peti-
tioners to determine whether there is any crimi-
nal, national security, or other ground that 
would render the applicant ineligible for special 
immigrant status under this section. 
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(C) 
COMPLETION
OF
BACKGROUND 
CHECKS.—The security and law enforcement 
background checks required under subpara-
graph (B) shall be completed, to the satisfac-
tion of the Assistant Director, before the date 
on which a petition for special immigrant status 
under this section may be approved. 
SEC. 208. CENTRAL AMERICAN FAMILY REUNIFICATION PA-
ROLE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If an alien is determined to be eli-
gible for parole under subsection (b) pursuant to an as-
sessment under section 205(d)(5)— 
(1) the designated processing center shall ac-
cept a completed application for parole filed by the 
alien, or on behalf of the alien by a parent or legal 
guardian of the alien; and 
(2) the Secretary shall grant parole to the alien, 
in accordance with section 212(d)(5) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)). 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—An alien shall be eligible for parole 
under this subsection if the alien— 
(1) is a national of El Salvador, Guatemala, or 
Honduras; 
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(2) is the beneficiary of an approved immigrant 
visa petition under section 203(a) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)); 
(3) does not have an immigrant visa; and 
(4) expects to obtain an immigrant visa not 
later than 5 years after the date on which the alien 
registers with a designated processing center. 
(c) APPLICATION AND ADJUDICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An alien described in sub-
section (b) may submit an application for parole 
under this section during the 90-day period begin-
ning on the date on which the alien is determined 
to be eligible for parole pursuant to an assessment 
under section 205(d)(5). 
(2) ADJUDICATION DEADLINES.—Absent excep-
tional circumstances, applications submitted under 
this section shall be adjudicated not later than 180 
days after the date of submission. 
(3) BIOMETRICS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.— 
(A) SUBMISSION OF BIOMETRIC AND BIO-
GRAPHIC
DATA.—Applicants for parole under 
this section shall submit biometric and bio-
graphic data in accordance with procedures es-
tablished by the Assistant Director of Regional 
Processing. The Assistant Director shall provide 
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an alternative procedure for applicants who are 
unable to provide all required biometric data 
due to a physical or mental impairment. 
(B) BACKGROUND
CHECKS.—The Assist-
ant Director of Regional Processing shall utilize 
biometric, biographic, and other appropriate 
data to conduct security and law enforcement 
background checks of applicants to determine 
whether there is any criminal, national security, 
or other ground that would render the applicant 
ineligible for parole under this section. 
(C) 
COMPLETION
OF
BACKGROUND 
CHECKS.—The security and law enforcement 
background checks required under subpara-
graph (B) shall be completed to the satisfaction 
of the Assistant Director before the date on 
which an application for parole may be ap-
proved. 
(4) APPROVAL.—Each designated processing 
center shall issue appropriate travel documentation 
to aliens granted parole under this section. Such 
aliens shall present such documentation to U.S. Cus-
toms and Border Protection personnel at a port of 
entry for parole into the United States not later 
than 120 days after such documentation is issued. 
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174 
SEC. 209. INFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGN; CASE STATUS HOT-
LINE. 
(a) INFORMATIONAL
CAMPAIGN.—The Secretary 
shall implement an informational campaign, in English 
and Spanish, in the United States, El Salvador, Guate-
mala, and Honduras to increase awareness of the provi-
sions set forth in this title. 
(b) CASE STATUS HOTLINE.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall establish a case status hotline providing confidential 
processing information on pending cases. 
TITLE III—SPECIAL IMMIGRANT 
VISA PROGRAMS 
SEC. 301. IMPROVEMENT OF THE DIRECT ACCESS PRO-
GRAM FOR U.S.-AFFILIATED IRAQIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1243 of the Refugee Cri-
sis in Iraq Act of 2007 (8 U.S.C. 1157 note) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) IMPROVED APPLICATION PROCESS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Refugee Pro-
tection Act of 2019, the Secretary of State and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall improve the 
efficiency by which applications for status as a ref-
ugee of special humanitarian concern under this sec-
tion are processed to ensure that all steps under the 
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control of the United States Government incidental 
to the approval of such applications, including re-
quired screenings and background checks, are com-
pleted not later than 5 years after the date on which 
an eligible applicant submits an application under 
subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding paragraph 
(1), the United States Refugee Admission Program 
may take additional time to process applications de-
scribed in paragraph (1) if satisfaction of national 
security concerns requires such additional time, pro-
vided that the Secretary of Homeland Security, or 
his or her designee, has determined that the appli-
cant meets the requirements for status as a refugee 
of special humanitarian concern under this section 
and has notified the applicant of such fact. 
‘‘(3) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of the Refugee 
Protection Act of 2019, and every 90 days 
thereafter, the Secretary of State and the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security shall submit a re-
port, with a classified annex, if necessary, to— 
‘‘(i) the Committee on the Judiciary 
of the Senate; 
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‘‘(ii) the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions of the Senate; 
‘‘(iii) the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate; 
‘‘(iv) the Committee on the Judiciary 
of the House of Representatives; 
‘‘(v) the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives; and 
‘‘(vi) the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC REPORTS.—The Secretary of 
State shall publish each report submitted pur-
suant to subparagraph (A) on the website of 
the Department of State. 
‘‘(C) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall describe the 
implementation of improvements to the proc-
essing of applications for refugee status re-
quired under paragraph (1), including informa-
tion relating to— 
‘‘(i) enhancing existing systems for 
conducting background and security checks 
of persons applying for refugee status 
under this section, which shall— 
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‘‘(I) support immigration secu-
rity; and 
‘‘(II) provide for the orderly 
processing of such applications with-
out significant delay; 
‘‘(ii) the number of aliens who have 
applied for refugee status under this sec-
tion during each month of the preceding 
fiscal year; 
‘‘(iii) the reasons for the failure to 
process any applications that have been 
pending for longer than 5 years; 
‘‘(iv) the total number of applications 
that are pending at the end of the report-
ing period; 
‘‘(v) the average wait times for all ap-
plicants who are currently pending— 
‘‘(I) employment verification; 
‘‘(II) a prescreening interview 
with a resettlement support center; 
‘‘(III) an interview with U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services; 
and 
‘‘(IV) the completion of security 
checks; 
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‘‘(vi) the number of denials or rejec-
tions of applicants for refugee status, 
disaggregated by the reason for denial; and 
‘‘(vii) the reasons for denials by U.S. 
Citizenship 
and 
Immigration 
Services 
based on the categories already made avail-
able to denied applicants for refugee status 
in the notification of ineligibility issued to 
them by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services.’’. 
(b) 
SAVINGS
PROVISIONS.—Refugee 
admissions 
granted pursuant to section 1243 of the Refugee Crisis 
in Iraq Act (8 U.S.C. 1157 note) shall not count against 
the numerical limitation set forth in section 207 of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157). 
SEC. 302. CONVERSION OF CERTAIN PETITIONS. 
Section 2 of Public Law 110–242 (8 U.S.C. 1101 
note) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(b) DURATION.—The authority under subsection (a) 
shall expire on the date on which the numerical limitation 
specified under section 1244 of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110– 
181; 8 U.S.C. 1157 note) is reached.’’. 
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SEC. 303. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM REPORTING 
REQUIREMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General 
of the Department of State, in consultation with the In-
spector General of the Department of Defense, shall sub-
mit a report, with a classified annex if necessary, to— 
(1) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Sen-
ate; 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate; 
(3) the Committee on Armed Services of the 
Senate; 
(4) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives; 
(5) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(6) the Committee on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives. 
(b) PUBLICATION.—The Department of State shall 
publish the report submitted under subsection (a) on the 
website of the Department of State. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under sub-
section (a) shall evaluate— 
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(1) the obstacles to effective protection of Af-
ghan and Iraqi allies through the special immigrant 
visa program between 2009 and the present; 
(2) measures to improve efficient processing in 
the special immigrant visa programs; and 
(3) suggestions for improvements in future pro-
grams, including information relating to— 
(A) the hiring of locally employed staff and 
contractors; 
(B) documenting the identity and employ-
ment of locally employed staff and contractors 
of the United States Government, including the 
possibility of establishing a central database of 
employees of the United States Government 
and its contractors; 
(C) the protection in and safety of employ-
ees of locally employed staff and contractors; 
(D) means of expediting processing at all 
stages of the process for applicants, including 
consideration of reducing required forms; 
(E) appropriate staffing levels for expe-
dited processing domestically and abroad; 
(F) the effect of uncertainty of visa avail-
ability on visa processing; 
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181 
(G) the cost and availability of medical ex-
aminations; and 
(H) means to reduce delays in interagency 
processing and security checks. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the report under 
subsection (a), the Inspector General shall consult with— 
(1) the Visa Office of the Bureau of Consular 
Affairs Visa Office of the Department of State; 
(2) the Executive Office of the Bureau of Near 
Eastern Affairs and South and Central Asian Af-
fairs of the Department of State; 
(3) the Consular Section of the United States 
Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan; 
(4) the Consular Section of the United States 
Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq; 
(5) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
of the Department of Homeland Security; 
(6) the Department of Defense; 
(7) nongovernmental organizations providing 
legal aid in the special immigrant visa application 
process; and 
(8) wherever possible, current and former em-
ployees of the offices referred to in paragraphs (1) 
through (6). 
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SEC. 304. IMPROVEMENTS TO APPLICATION PROCESS FOR 
AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS. 
Section 602(b) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act 
of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(A)(ii)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), 
by inserting ‘‘for the first time’’ after ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2015’’; and 
(B) in subclause (I)— 
(i) in item (aa) by inserting ‘‘for the 
first time’’ after ‘‘subparagraph (D)’’; and 
(ii) in item (bb) by inserting ‘‘for the 
first time’’ after ‘‘subparagraph (D)’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4)(A) by inserting, ‘‘, includ-
ing Chief of Mission approval,’’ after ‘‘so that all 
steps’’. 
SEC. 305. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT STATUS FOR CERTAIN SUR-
VIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 101(a)(27)(D) of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘an immigrant who is an em-
ployee’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘an immigrant 
who— 
‘‘(i) is an employee’’; and 
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(2) by striking ‘‘status;’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘status; or 
‘‘(ii) an immigrant who is the sur-
viving spouse or child of an employee of 
the United States Government abroad: 
Provided, That the employee performed 
faithful service for a total of not less than 
15 years or was killed in the line of duty;’’. 
(b) SPECIAL IMMIGRANT STATUS FOR SURVIVING 
SPOUSES AND CHILDREN.—Section 602(b)(2)(C) of the 
Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, as amended by sec-
tion 304, is further amended— 
(1) in clause (ii), by redesignating subclauses 
(I) and (II) as items (aa) and (bb), respectively and 
moving such items 2 ems to the right; 
(2) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as sub-
clauses (I) and (II), respectively and moving such 
subclauses 2 ems to the right; 
(3) in the matter preceding subclause (I), as re-
designated, by striking ‘‘An alien is described’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—An alien is de-
scribed’’; 
(4) in clause (i)(I), as redesignated, by striking 
‘‘who had a petition for classification approved’’ and 
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184 
inserting ‘‘who had submitted an application to the 
Chief of Mission’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS.— 
An application by a surviving spouse or 
child of a principal alien shall be subject to 
employment requirements set forth in sub-
paragraph (A) as of the date of the prin-
cipal alien’s filing of an application for the 
first time, or if no application has been 
filed, the employment requirements as of 
the date of the principal alien’s death.’’. 
(c) SPECIAL IMMIGRANT STATUS
FOR CERTAIN 
IRAQIS.—Section 1244(b)(3) of the Refugee Crisis in Iraq 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1157 note)— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by redesignating 
clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respec-
tively and moving such subclauses 2 ems to the 
right; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively and moving 
such clauses 2 ems to the right; 
(3) in the matter preceding clause (i), as redes-
ignated, by striking ‘‘An alien is described’’ and in-
serting the following: 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—An alien is de-
scribed’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (A)(i), as redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘who had a petition for classification ap-
proved’’ and inserting ‘‘who submitted an applica-
tion to the Chief of Mission’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) EMPLOYMENT
REQUIREMENTS.—An 
application by a surviving spouse or child of a 
principal alien shall be subject to employment 
requirements set forth in paragraph (1) as of 
the date of the principal alien’s filing of an ap-
plication for the first time, or if the principal 
alien do not file an application, the employment 
requirements as of the date of the principal 
alien’s death.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this subsection shall be effective on June 30, 2019, and 
shall have retroactive effect. 
SEC. 306. INCLUSION OF CERTAIN SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS IN 
THE ANNUAL REFUGEE SURVEY. 
Section 413(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1523(b)(1)) is amended by inserting ‘‘and 
individuals who have opted to receive refugee benefits and 
who were admitted pursuant to section 1059 of the Na-
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186 
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 
(Public Law 109–163; 8 U.S.C. 1101 note), section 1244 
of the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act of 2007 (8 U.S.C. 1157 
note), section 602 of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 
2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note), or section 308 of the Refugee 
Protection Act of 2019’’ after ‘‘who have entered the 
United States,’’. 
SEC. 307. UNITED STATES REFUGEE PROGRAM PRIORITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall 
designate as Priority 2 refugees of special humanitarian 
concern— 
(1) Syrian Kurds, stateless persons who habit-
ually resided in Syria, and other Syrians who 
partnered with, or worked for or directly with, the 
United States Government in Syria; 
(2) Syrian Kurds, stateless persons who habit-
ually resided in Syria, and other Syrians who were 
employed in Syria by— 
(A) a media or nongovernmental organiza-
tion based in the United States; 
(B) an organization or entity that has re-
ceived a grant from, or entered into a coopera-
tive agreement or contract with, the United 
States Government; or 
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(C) an organization that— 
(i) was continuously physically present 
in Northeast Syria between 2011 and the 
date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(ii) has partnered with an organiza-
tion described in subparagraph (A) or (B); 
(3) the spouses, children, sons, daughters, sib-
lings, and parents of aliens described in paragraph 
(1) or section 308(b); 
(4) Syrian Kurds, stateless persons who habit-
ually resided in Syria, and other Syrians who have 
an immediate relative (as defined in section 
201(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i))) or a family mem-
ber described in section 203(a) of such Act (8 
U.S.C. 203(a)) who is physically present in the 
United States; 
(5) Syrian Kurds, stateless persons who habit-
ually resided in Syria, and other Syrians who were 
or are employed by the United States Government in 
Syria, for an aggregate period of at least 1 year; and 
(6) citizens or nationals of Syria or Iraq, or 
stateless persons who habitually resided in Syria or 
Iraq, who provided service to United States counter- 
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ISIS efforts for an aggregate period of at least 1 
year. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION AS A REFUGEE.— 
An alien may not be denied the opportunity to apply for 
admission as a refugee under this section solely because 
such alien qualifies as an immediate relative of a national 
of the United States or is eligible for admission to the 
United States under any other immigrant classification. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP IN CERTAIN SYRIAN ORGANIZA-
TIONS.—An applicant for admission to the United States 
may not be deemed inadmissible based solely on member-
ship in, participation in, or support provided to, the Syrian 
Democratic Forces or other partner organizations as de-
termined by the Secretary of Defense. 
(d) EXCLUSION FROM NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS.— 
Aliens provided refugee status under this section shall not 
be counted against any numerical limitation under section 
201, 202, 203, or 207 of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1151, 1152, 1153, and 1157). 
(e) TIMELINE FOR PROCESSING APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State and 
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that all steps under the control of the United States 
Government incidental to the approval of such appli-
cations, including required screenings and back-
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ground checks, are completed not later than 5 years 
after the date on which an eligible applicant submits 
an application under subsection (a). 
(2) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding paragraph 
(1), the United States Refugee Admission Program 
may take additional time to process applications de-
scribed in paragraph (1) if satisfaction of national 
security concerns requires such additional time, pro-
vided that the Secretary of Homeland Security, or 
the designee of the Secretary, has determined that 
the applicant meets the requirements for status as 
a refugee of special humanitarian concern under this 
section and has so notified the applicant. 
(f) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of the Refugee Protec-
tion Act of 2019, and every 90 days thereafter, the 
Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall submit a report to— 
(A) the Committee on the Judiciary, the 
Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on the Judiciary, the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Com-
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190 
mittee on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—Each report 
submitted under paragraph (1) shall describe the 
processing of applications for refugee status required 
under subsection (e), including information relating 
to— 
(A) the number of aliens who have applied 
for refugee status under this section during 
each month of the preceding fiscal year; 
(B) the total number of applications that 
are pending at the end of the reporting period; 
(C) the average wait-times for all appli-
cants who are currently pending— 
(i) employment verification; 
(ii) a prescreening interview with a re-
settlement support center; 
(iii) an interview with U.S. Citizen-
ship and Immigration Services; and 
(iv) the completion of security checks; 
(D) the number of denials or rejections of 
applicants for refugee status, disaggregated by 
the reason for denial; and 
(E) the reasons for denials by U.S. Citi-
zenship and Immigration Services based on the 
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191 
categories already made available to denied ap-
plicants for refugee status in the notification of 
ineligibility issued to such denied applicants by 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
(3) FORM.—Each report under paragraph (1) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may in-
clude a classified annex. 
(4) PUBLIC REPORTS.—The Secretary of State 
shall make each report submitted under paragraph 
(1) available to the public on the internet website of 
the Department of State. 
(g) 
IDENTIFICATION
OF
OTHER
PERSECUTED 
GROUPS.—The Secretary of State, or the designee of the 
Secretary, is authorized to classify other groups of Syr-
ians, including vulnerable populations, as Priority 2 refu-
gees of special humanitarian concern. 
(h) SATISFACTION
OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS.— 
Aliens granted status under this section as Priority 2 refu-
gees of special humanitarian concern under the refugee 
resettlement priority system shall be deemed to satisfy the 
requirements under section 207 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) for admission to the 
United States. 
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SEC. 308. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT STATUS FOR CERTAIN SYR-
IAN WHO WORKED FOR THE UNITED STATES 
GOVERNMENT IN SYRIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (c)(1), for 
purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), the Secretary of Homeland Security 
may provide any alien described in subsection (b) with the 
status of a special immigrant under section 101(a)(27) of 
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)) if— 
(1) the alien, or an agent acting on behalf of 
the alien, submits a petition to the Secretary under 
section 204 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) for classi-
fication under section 203(b)(4) of such Act (8 
U.S.C. 1153(b)(4)); 
(2) the alien is otherwise eligible to receive an 
immigrant visa; 
(3) the alien is otherwise admissible to the 
United States for permanent residence (excluding 
the grounds for inadmissibility specified in section 
212(a)(4) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(4))), ex-
cept that an applicant for admission to the United 
States under this section may not be deemed inad-
missible based solely on membership in, participation 
in, or support provided to, the Syrian Democratic 
Forces or other partner organizations as determined 
by the Secretary of Defense; and 
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