(5) Iraqis who are removed to Iraq are also at 
particular risk if they are perceived as American or 
affiliated with the United States, which is the case 
for the vast majority of Iraqis facing removal, since 
most have lived in the United States for many years. 
Iraqis who have family or employment ties in the 
United States face heightened risks within Iraq on 
the basis of their perceived loyalty to the United 
States. For more than a decade, groups hostile to 
the United States have persecuted and tortured ex-
tended family on account of a single family mem-
ber’s affiliation with the United States through em-
ployment or family ties. In 2007, Congress specifi-
cally created a refugee program for Iraqis affiliated 
with the United States because of the dangers facing 
Iraqis who have allied themselves with the United 
States. 
(6) Noncitizens previously ordered removed 
have a right to seek immigration relief based on cur-
rent country conditions. 
(7) In the summer of 2017, U.S. Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement sought to remove many 
Iraqi nationals, eventually detaining over 300. As a 
result of litigation, most of those detained Iraqis 
were able to seek immigration relief based on cur-
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rent country conditions. Once they were able to ac-
cess the immigration court system, a large majority 
won motions to reopen their cases so that their eligi-
bility for relief can be determined based on current 
country conditions. While most of the cases remain 
in process, many of these Iraqis have won merits re-
lief, including withholding or deferral of removal 
under the Immigration and Nationality Act or Con-
vention Against Torture, asylum, reinstatement of 
their status as lawful permanent residents, and nat-
uralization. 
(8) There are an estimated 1,000 Iraqis who 
have not yet been able to seek immigration relief 
based on current country conditions. Due to the 
complexity of the required legal filings and the back-
logs in the immigration courts it can take several 
years for an individual to seek to reopen their immi-
gration case and have their eligibility for immigra-
tion relief decided on the merits. 
(9) Without sufficient time to seek immigration 
relief based on current country conditions, Iraqis 
could be removed to persecution, torture, or death 
before they receive an individualized adjudication of 
their eligibility for relief in light of current law and 
current facts. 
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(10) Deferring removals 24 months would allow 
Iraqis who have not yet done so time to seek immi-
gration relief based on changed country conditions. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of the Congress that— 
(1) Iraqis should not be deported if they face 
persecution, torture, or death; 
(2) because of changing country conditions in 
Iraq and the age of the Iraqis’ removal orders, it 
would be both unfair and dangerous to deport Iraqis 
without ensuring that their cases will be individually 
considered based on current country conditions; and 
(3) the removal of Iraq nationals described in 
section 4 should be deferred for a period of 24 
months, at the end of which Congress should have 
the opportunity to reevaluate country conditions in 
Iraq. 
SEC. 4. DEFERRAL OF REMOVAL FOR NATIONALS OF IRAQ 
WITH REMOVAL ORDERS. 
(a) DEFERRAL OF REMOVAL.—Except as provided in 
subsection (b), an alien may not be removed for the 24- 
month period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
Act if the alien— 
(1) is a national of Iraq; 
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(2) has been ordered removed to Iraq at any 
time before the date of enactment of this Act; and 
(3) resided in the United States on or before 
January 1, 2014. 
(b) DEFERRAL
NOT
APPLICABLE
TO
CERTAIN 
ALIENS.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to an alien if— 
(1) the Secretary of Homeland Security deter-
mines that the alien’s removal is necessary based 
upon credible facts that the alien is directly respon-
sible for specific and significant harm to the security 
of the United States; 
(2) the alien voluntarily returns to Iraq; or 
(3) the alien is subject to extradition. 
(c) EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION.—Upon applica-
tion to the Secretary of Homeland Security, an alien 
whose removal is deferred pursuant to this Act— 
(1) shall be authorized to engage in employ-
ment during the 24-month period described in sub-
section (a); and 
(2) shall be issued an employment authorization 
document that remains valid during such period. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall take the necessary steps to implement— 
(1) the deferral of removal authorized under 
this section; and 
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(2) the authorization of employment described 
in subsection (c). 
SEC. 5. NOTICE FOR CERTAIN ALIENS WITH REMOVAL OR-
DERS TO IRAQ. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall provide notice of the provisions of this Act 
to each alien who— 
(1) is a national of Iraq; and 
(2) has a final order of removal. 
(b) CONTENTS
OF NOTICE.—The notice required 
under subsection (a) shall include clear instructions ex-
plaining the requirements for an alien to file a motion to 
reopen a proceeding under section 240 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a) based on changed 
country conditions. 
SEC. 6. PROHIBITION ON DETENTION. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security may not detain 
an alien whose removal is deferred pursuant to this Act 
on the basis of the alien’s immigration status in the 
United States or as a result of a motion filed by the alien 
to reopen a proceeding under section 240 of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a). 
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