I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3083
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide protection for
battered immigrant women, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 14, 1999
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (for herself, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mrs. MORELLA,
Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. BERMAN,
Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. WEINER, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. FROST,
Mr. FARR of California, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. LEACH, Ms. BERKLEY, Ms.
WOOLSEY, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas,
Mr. WYNN, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Ms. NORTON, Mrs. MINK of
Hawaii, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mrs. CAPPS, Ms.
LEE, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. GREEN of
Texas, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. CROW-
LEY, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. CONYERS, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. KIND,
and Ms. DELAURO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on
Ways and Means, Banking and Financial Services, Education and the
Workforce, Agriculture, and Armed Services, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide
protection for battered immigrant women, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 1999’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Restoring immigration protections under the Violence Against Women
Act of 1994 (VAWA).
Sec. 4. Remedying problems with implementation of the immigration provisions
of VAWA.
Sec. 5. Waivers and exceptions to inadmissibility for otherwise qualified bat-
tered immigrants.
Sec. 6. Calculation of physical presence in VAWA cancellation of removal and
suspension of deportation.
Sec. 7. Improved access to VAWA immigration protections for battered immi-
grant women.
Sec. 8. Improved access to VAWA cancellation of removal.
Sec. 9. Good moral character determinations.
Sec. 10. Economic Security Act for Battered Immigrant Women.
Sec. 11. Access to legal representation and services for battered immigrants.
Sec. 12. Violence Against Women Act training for INS officers, immigration
judges, and civil and criminal court justice system personnel.
Sec. 13. Protection for certain victims of crimes against women.
Sec. 14. Access to Cuban adjustment for battered immigrant spouses and chil-
dren.
Sec. 15. Access to the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act for bat-
tered spouses and children.
Sec. 16. Access to the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 for
battered spouses and children.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) the goal of the immigration protections for
battered immigrants included in the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 was to remove immi-
gration laws as a barrier that kept battered immi-
grant women and children locked in abusive relation-
ships;
(2) providing battered immigrant women and
children who were experiencing domestic violence at
home with protection against deportation allows
them to obtain protection orders against their abus-
ers and frees them to cooperate with law enforce-
ment and prosecutors in criminal cases brought
against their abusers and the abusers of their chil-
dren; and
(3) there are several groups of battered immi-
grant women and children who do not have access
to the immigration protections of the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 which means that their
abusers are virtually immune from prosecution be-
cause their victims can be deported and the Immi-
gration and Naturalization Service cannot offer
them protection no matter how compelling their case
under existing law.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to promote criminal prosecutions of all per-
sons who commit acts of battery or extreme cruelty
against immigrant women and children;
(2) to offer protection against domestic violence
occurring in family and intimate relationships that
are covered in State and tribal protection orders, do-
mestic violence, and family law statutes; and
(3) to correct erosions of the Violence Against
Women Act of 1994 immigration protections that
occurred as a result of the Illegal Immigration Re-
form and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 and
the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
SEC. 3. RESTORING IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS UNDER
THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994
(VAWA).
(a) REMOVING BARRIERS TO ADJUSTMENT OF STA-
TUS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.—
(1) IMMIGRATION AMENDMENTS.—Section 245
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1255) is amended—
(A) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘or the
status of any other alien having an approved
petition for classification under subparagraph
(A)(iii), (A)(iv), (A)(v), (A)(vi), (B)(ii), (B)(iii),
or (B)(iv) of section 204(a)(1) or’’ after ‘‘into
the United States’’; and
(B) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘Sub-
section (a) shall not be applicable to’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘Other than an alien who
has an approved petition for classification under
subparagraph (A)(iii), (A)(iv), (A)(v), (A)(vi),
(B)(ii), (B)(iii), or (B)(iv) of section 204(a)(1),
subsection (a) shall not be applicable to’’.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made
by paragraph (1) shall apply to applications for ad-
justment of status pending on, or made on or after,
January 14, 1998.
(b) REMOVING BARRIERS TO CANCELLATION OF RE-
MOVAL AND SUSPENSION OF DEPORTATION FOR VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.—
(1) NOT
TREATING
SERVICE
OF
NOTICE
AS
TERMINATING CONTINUOUS PERIOD.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 240A(d)(1) of
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(d)(1)) is amended by
striking ‘‘when the alien is served a notice to
appear under section 239(a) or’’ and inserting
‘‘(A) except in the case of an alien who applies
for cancellation of removal under subsection
(b)(2), when the alien is served a notice to ap-
pear under section 239(a) or (B)’’.
(B) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The amendment
made by subparagraph (A) shall take effect as
if included in the enactment of section 304 of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public
Law 104–208, 110 Stat. 587).
(2) EXEMPTION FROM ANNUAL LIMITATION ON
CANCELLATION
OF
REMOVAL
FOR
BATTERED
SPOUSE OR CHILD.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 240A(e)(3) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1229b(e)(3)) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(C) Aliens in removal proceedings who
applied for cancellation of removal under sub-
section (b)(2).’’.
(B) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The amendment
made by subparagraph (A) shall take effect as
if included in the enactment of section 304 of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public
Law 104–208, 110 Stat. 587).
(3) MODIFICATION
OF
CERTAIN
TRANSITION
RULES FOR BATTERED SPOUSE OR CHILD.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subparagraph (C) of
section 309(c)(5) of the Illegal Immigration Re-
form and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(8 U.S.C. 1101 note), as amended by section
203(a) of Public Law 105–100, is amended—
(i) in the heading by inserting ‘‘AND
FOR BATTERED SPOUSES AND CHILDREN’’
after ‘‘FROM DEPORTATION’’; and
(ii) in clause (i)—
(I) by striking, ‘‘or’’ at the end
of subclause (IV);
(II) by striking the period at the
end of subclause (V) and inserting ‘‘;
or’’; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following new subclause:
‘‘(VI) is an alien who was issued
an order to show cause or was in de-
portation proceedings before April 1,
1997, and who applied for suspension
of deportation under section 244(a)(3)
of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (as in effect before the date of the
enactment of this Act).’’.
(B) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments
made by subparagraph (A) shall take effect as
if included in the enactment of section 309 of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1101
note).
(c) ELIMINATING TIME LIMITATIONS ON MOTIONS
TO REOPEN REMOVAL AND DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS
FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.—
(1) REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 240(c)(6)(C) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1229a(c)(6)(C)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘(iv) SPECIAL RULE FOR BATTERED
SPOUSES
AND
CHILDREN.—There is no
time limit on the filing of a motion to re-
open, and the deadline specified in sub-
section (b)(5)(C) for filing such a motion
does not apply—
‘‘(I) if the basis for the motion is
to apply for relief under clause (iii),
(iv), 
(v), 
or 
(vi) 
of 
section
204(a)(1)(A), clause (ii), (iii), or (iv)
of section 204(a)(1)(B), or section
240A(b)(2); and
‘‘(II) if the motion is accom-
panied by a cancellation of removal
application to be filed with the Attor-
ney General or by a copy of the self-
petition that has been or will be filed
with the Immigration and Naturaliza-
tion Service upon the granting of the
motion to reopen.’’.
(B) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The amendment
made by subparagraph (A) shall take effect as
if included in the enactment of section 304 of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996.
(2) DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any
limitation imposed by law on motions to reopen
or rescind deportation proceedings under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (as in effect
before the title III–A effective date in section
309 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Im-
migrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1101 note)), there is no time limit on the filing
of a motion to reopen such proceedings, and the
deadline specified in section 242B(c)(3) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (as so in ef-
fect) (8 U.S.C. 1252b(c)(3)) does not apply—
(i) if the basis of the motion is to
apply for relief under clause (iii), (iv), (v),
or (vi) of section 204(a)(1)(A) of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1154(a)(1)(A)), clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of
section 204(a)(1)(B) of such Act (8 U.S.C.
1154(a)(1)(B)), or section 244(a)(3) of
such Act (as so in effect) (8 U.S.C.
1254(a)(3)); and
(ii) if the motion is accompanied by a
suspension of deportation application to be
filed with the Attorney General or by a
copy of the self-petition that will be filed
with the Immigration and Naturalization
Service upon the granting of the motion to
reopen.
(B) APPLICABILITY.—Subparagraph (A)
shall apply to motions filed by aliens who—
(i) are, or were, in deportation pro-
ceedings under the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (as in effect before the title
III–A effective date in section 309 of the
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1101
note)); and
(ii) have become eligible to apply for
relief under clause (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of
section 204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration
and 
Nationality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C.
1154(a)(1)(A)), clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of
section 204(a)(1)(B) of such Act (8 U.S.C.
1154(a)(1)(B)), or section 244(a)(3) of
such Act (as in effect before the title III–
A effective date in section 309 of the Ille-
gal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1101
note)) as a result of the amendments made
by—
(I) subtitle G of title IV of the
Violent Crime Control and Law En-
forcement Act of 1994 (Public Law
103–322; 108 Stat. 1953 et seq.); or
(II) this Act.
SEC. 4. REMEDYING PROBLEMS WITH IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE IMMIGRATION PROVISIONS OF VAWA.
(a) EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ABUSERS’ CITIZENSHIP
STATUS ON SELF-PETITION.—
(1) RECLASSIFICATION.—Section 204(a)(1)(A)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1154(a)(1)(A)), as amended by paragraphs (4), (5),
and (6) of section 7(c), is amended by adding after
clause (vii) the following new clause:
‘‘(viii) For the purposes of any petition filed under
clause (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi), denaturalization, loss or re-
nunciation of citizenship, death of the abuser, or changes
to the abuser’s citizenship status after filing of the petition
shall not adversely affect the approval of the petition and,
for approved petitions, shall not preclude the classification
of the eligible self-petitioning spouse, child, or son or
daughter as an immediate relative or affect the alien’s
ability to adjust status under subsections (a) and (c) of
section 245 or obtain status as a lawful permanent resi-
dent based on the approved self-petition under such
clauses.’’.
(2) LOSS OF STATUS.—Section 204(a)(1)(B) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1154(a)(1)(B)), as amended by paragraphs (4) and
(5) of section 7(d), is amended by adding after
clause (v) the following new clause:
‘‘(vi)(I) For the purposes of petitions filed or ap-
proved under clause (ii), (iii), or (iv), loss of lawful perma-
nent resident status by a spouse or parent or death of
a spouse or parent who was a lawful permanent resident
after the filing of a petition under that clause shall not
adversely affect approval of the petition, and, for an ap-
proved petition, shall not affect the alien’s ability to adjust
status under sections 245(a) and 245(c) or obtain status
as a lawful permanent resident based on the approved self-
petition under such clause (ii), (iii), or (iv).
‘‘(II) Upon the lawful permanent resident spouse or
parent becoming a United States citizen through natu-
ralization, acquisition of citizenship, or other means, any
petition filed with the Immigration and Naturalization
Service and pending or approved under clause (ii), (iii),
or (iv) on behalf of an alien who has been battered or sub-
jected to extreme cruelty shall be deemed reclassified as
a petition filed under subparagraph (A) even if the acqui-
sition of citizenship occurs after divorce or termination of
parental rights.’’.
(3) DEFINITION
OF
IMMEDIATE
RELATIVE.—
Section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(b)(2)(A)(i)) is amended
by adding at the end the following new sentence:
‘‘For purposes of this clause, an alien who has filed
a petition under clause (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of sec-
tion 204(a)(1)(A) remains an immediate relative in
the event that the United States citizen spouse, par-
ent, son, or daughter loses United States citizenship
or dies after the filing of the petition.’’.
(b) EXEMPTION FOR BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN
WHO ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ON FIANCE´ VISAS
FROM
CONDITIONAL
RESIDENCY
STATUS
REQUIRE-
MENT.—Section 245(d) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255(d)) is amended by adding at the
end the following: ‘‘This subsection shall not apply to
aliens who seek adjustment of status on the basis of an
approved self-petition for classification under clause (iii),
(iv), (v), or (vi) of section 204(a)(1)(A) or classification
under clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(B).’’.
(c) REDUCING AN ABUSER’S CONTROL OVER A BAT-
TERED IMMIGRANT’S IMMIGRATION CASE.—Section 205
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1155)
is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Whenever
a beneficiary of a petition filed under section 204 provides
the Attorney General with credible evidence of battery or
extreme cruelty as described in section 216(c)(4)(C),
204(a)(1)(A), or 204(a)(1)(B), the Attorney General shall
adjudicate 
the 
petition 
filed 
under 
section 
204
notwithstanding—
‘‘(1) the withdrawal by the petitioner of the pe-
tition;
‘‘(2) the failure of the petitioner to appear at
the interview;
‘‘(3) the failure of the petitioner to file an affi-
davit of support; or
‘‘(4) a prior revocation or denial based on with-
drawal of, or failure to prosecute, the petition or any
other determination based on the petitioner’s actions
that could result or have resulted in the denial or
revocation of the petition (but for this section).’’.
(d) REQUIRING PROSECUTOR COOPERATION WITH
BATTERED
IMMIGRANT
VAWA APPLICANTS.—Section
2101(c) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh(c)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph
(4);
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (4) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(5) certify that their laws, policies, and prac-
tices do not discourage or prohibit prosecutors and
law enforcement officers from granting access to in-
formation about the citizenship or lawful permanent
residency status of a domestic violence perpetrator
to the victim, the child, son, or daughter or their ad-
vocate so long as release of the information does not
jeopardize ongoing prosecution of the abuser.’’.
(e) ALLOWING REMARRIAGE OF BATTERED IMMI-
GRANTS.—Section 204(h) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(h)) is amended by adding at the
end the following new sentence: ‘‘Remarriage of an alien
whose 
petition 
was 
approved 
under 
subsection
(a)(1)(B)(ii) or (a)(1)(A)(iii) or marriage of an alien de-
scribed 
in 
subsection 
(a)(1)(A)(iv), 
(a)(1)(A)(vi),
(a)(1)(B)(iii), or (a)(1)(B)(iv) shall not be the basis for
revocation under section 205.’’.
SEC. 5. WAIVERS AND EXCEPTIONS TO INADMISSIBILITY
FOR OTHERWISE QUALIFIED BATTERED IM-
MIGRANTS.
(a) DISCRETIONARY WAIVERS FOR CERTAIN INAD-
MISSIBILITY AND REMOVAL GROUNDS.—
(1) INADMISSIBILITY
GROUNDS.—Section 212
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1182) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(r) DISCRETIONARY WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The At-
torney General, in the Attorney General’s discretion, may
waive any provision of this section (other than paragraphs
(3), (10)(A), (10)(D), and (10)(E) of subsection (a)) for
humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when
it is otherwise in the public interest if the alien dem-
onstrates a connection between the crime or disqualifying
act and battery or extreme cruelty for any alien who quali-
fies for—
‘‘(1) classification under clause (iii), (iv), (v), or
(vi) of section 204(a)(1)(A) or classification under
clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(B); or
‘‘(2) relief under section 240A(b)(2) or under
section 244(a)(3) (as in effect before the enactment
of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996).’’.
(2) REMOVAL GROUNDS.—Section 237 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(d) DISCRETIONARY WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The At-
torney General, in the discretion of the Attorney General,
may waive any provision of this section (other than sub-
sections (a)(2)(D)(i), (a)(4), or (a)(5)) for humanitarian
purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise
in the public interest in the case of an alien who dem-
onstrates a connection between the crime or disqualifying
act and battery or extreme cruelty for any alien who quali-
fies for—
‘‘(1) classification under clause (iii), (iv), (v), or
(vi) of section 204(a)(1)(A) or classification under
clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(B); or
‘‘(2) relief under section 240A(b)(2) or under
section 244(a)(3) (as in effect before the enactment
of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996).’’.
(3) ELIMINATING CONNECTION BETWEEN BAT-
TERY AND VIOLATION OF THE TERMS OF AN IMMI-
GRANT VISA.—Section 212(a)(9)(B)(iii)(IV) of such
Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B)(iii)(IV)) is amended by
striking ‘‘who would be described in paragraph
(6)(A)(ii)’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘who
is described in paragraph (6)(A)(ii).’’.
(4) BATTERED IMMIGRANT EXCEPTION.—Sec-
tion 212(a)(9)(C)(ii) of such Act (8 U.S.C.
1182(a)(9)(C)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end
the following: ‘‘Clause (i) shall also not apply to
aliens to whom the Attorney General has granted
classification under clause (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of
section 204(a)(1)(A) or classification under clause
(ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(B).’’.
(5) WAIVER OF CERTAIN REMOVAL GROUNDS.—
Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1227), as amended by subsection (a)(2),
is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(e) WAIVER
FOR VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC VIO-
LENCE.—The Attorney General is not limited by the
criminal court record and may waive the application of
subsections (a)(2)(E)(i), (a)(2)(E)(ii), (a)(2)(A)(i), and
(a)(2)(A)(iii) in the case of an alien who has been battered
or subjected to extreme cruelty and who is not and was
not 
the 
primary 
perpetrator 
of 
violence 
in 
the
relationship—
‘‘(1) upon determination that—
‘‘(A) the alien was acting in self-defense;
‘‘(B) the alien was found to have violated
a protection order intended to protect the alien;
or
‘‘(C) the alien committed, was arrested for,
was convicted of, or pled guilty to committing
a crime where there was a connection between
the crime and having been battered or subjected
to extreme cruelty; or
‘‘(2) for humanitarian purposes, to assure fam-
ily unity, or when it is otherwise in the public inter-
est.’’.
(6) MISREPRESENTATION
WAIVERS
FOR
BAT-
TERED SPOUSES OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND
LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS.—
(A) WAIVER
OF
INADMISSIBILITY.—Sec-
tion 212(i)(1) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(i)(1)) is amended by
inserting before the period at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘or, in the case of an alien granted clas-
sification under clause (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of
section 204(a)(1)(A) or clause (ii), (iii), or (iv)
of section 204(a)(1)(B), or who qualifies for re-
lief under section 240A(b)(2) or under section
244(a)(3) (as in effect before the date of enact-
ment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996), the
alien demonstrates extreme hardship to the
alien or the alien’s United States citizen, lawful
permanent resident or qualified alien parent,
child, son, or daughter’’.
(B) WAIVER OF DEPORTABILITY.—Section
237(a)(1)(H) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality 
Act 
(8 
U.S.C. 
1227(a)(1)(H)) 
is
amended—
(i) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘(I)’’
after ‘‘(i)’’;
(ii) by redesignating clause (ii) as
subclause (II); and
(iii) by inserting after clause (i) the
following new clause:
‘‘(ii) is an alien who qualifies for clas-
sification under clause (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi)
of section 204(a)(1)(A) or clause (ii), (iii),
or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(B), or who
qualifies 
for 
relief 
under 
section
240A(b)(2) or under section 244(a)(3) (as
in effect before the date of enactment of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immi-
grant Responsibility Act of 1996).’’.
SEC. 6. CALCULATION OF PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN VAWA
CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL AND SUSPEN-
SION OF DEPORTATION.
(a) CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.—
Section 240A(d)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(d)(2)) is amended by adding at the
end the following: ‘‘In the case of an alien applying for
cancellation of removal under subsection (b)(2), the Attor-
ney General may waive the provisions of this subsection
for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or
when it is otherwise in the public interest, if the alien dem-
onstrates that the absences were connected to the battery
or extreme cruelty forming the basis of the application for
cancellation of removal under such subsection.’’.
(b) SUSPENSION OF DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.—
With respect to applications filed under section 244(a)(3)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (as in effect before
the title III–A effective date, as defined in section 309(a)
of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Respon-
sibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104–208;
110 Stat. 3009–625)) (8 U.S.C. 1254(a)(3)), the Attorney
General may waive the physical presence requirement for
humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when
it is otherwise in the public interest if the alien dem-
onstrates that the absences were connected to the battery
or extreme cruelty forming the basis of the application for
suspension of deportation.
SEC. 7. IMPROVED ACCESS TO VAWA IMMIGRATION PRO-
TECTIONS 
FOR 
BATTERED 
IMMIGRANT
WOMEN.
(a) INTENDED SPOUSE DEFINED.—Section 101(a) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))
is amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(50) The term ‘intended spouse’ means any alien
who meets the criteria set forth in section 204(j)(1)(B)
or 204(k)(1)(B).’’.
(b) ENSURING PROTECTION FOR ABUSED CHILDREN
AND CHILDREN
OF BATTERED IMMIGRANTS.—Section
101(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The term’’
and inserting ‘‘Subject to paragraph (6), the term’’,
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(6) For the purposes of clauses (iii) and (iv) of sec-
tion 204(a)(1)(A), clauses (ii) and (iii) of section
204(a)(1)(B), section 240A(b)(2), and section 244(a)(3)
(as in effect before the date of the enactment of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of
1996) and for the purposes of attaining lawful permanent
residency under those sections either under section 245
or by obtaining an immigrant visa under section 203, an
individual who turns 21 years old remains a child under
paragraph (1) if, on the date a petition or application was
filed by the individual or their parent under any of these
sections the individual—
‘‘(A) met the definition of child in one of sub-
paragraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (1); and
‘‘(B) was under the age of 21 on the date the
application or petition was filed.’’.
(c) IMMEDIATE RELATIVE STATUS FOR SELF-PETI-
TIONERS MARRIED TO U.S. CITIZENS.—
(1) SELF-PETITIONING SPOUSES.—
(A) BATTERY OR CRUELTY TO ALIEN OR
ALIEN’S
CHILD.—Section 204(a)(1)(A)(iii) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1154(a)(1)(A)(iii)) is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(iii) An alien who is described in subsection (j) may
file a petition with the Attorney General under this clause
for classification of the alien (and any child of the alien
as defined in paragraph (1) or (6) of section 101(b) if
the alien demonstrates to the Attorney General that—
‘‘(I) the marriage or the intent to marry the
United States citizen was entered into in good faith
by the alien; and
‘‘(II) during the marriage or relationship in-
tended by the alien to be legally a marriage, the
alien or a child of the alien has been battered or has
been the subject of extreme cruelty perpetrated by
the alien’s spouse or intended spouse.’’.
(B) DESCRIPTION OF PROTECTED SPOUSE
OR INTENDED SPOUSE.—Section 204 of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(j) DESCRIPTION OF PROTECTED SPOUSE OR IN-
TENDED
SPOUSE.—For 
purposes 
of 
subsection
(a)(1)(A)(iii), an alien described in this subsection is an
alien—
‘‘(1)(A) who is the spouse of a citizen of the
United States; or
‘‘(B)(i) who believed that he or she had married
a citizen of the United States and with whom a mar-
riage ceremony was actually performed; and
‘‘(ii) who otherwise meets any applicable re-
quirements under this Act to establish the existence
of and bona fides of a marriage, but whose marriage
is not legitimate solely because of the bigamy of
such citizen of the United States; or
‘‘(C) who was a bona fide spouse of a United
States citizen within the past two years and whose
spouse died within the past two years, or whose
spouse lost immigration status within the past two
years due to an incident of domestic violence, or who
demonstrates a connection between the legal termi-
nation of the marriage within the past two years and
battering or extreme cruelty by the United States
citizen spouse;
‘‘(2) who is a person of good moral character;
‘‘(3) who is eligible to be classified as an imme-
diate relative under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) or who
would have been so classified but for the bigamy of
the citizen of the United States that the alien in-
tended to marry; and
‘‘(4) who has resided with the alien’s spouse or
intended spouse.’’.
(2) GUARANTEEING ACCESS TO VAWA RELIEF
FOR BATTERED IMMIGRANTS BROUGHT INTO THE
UNITED
STATES
ON
FIANCE´
VISAS.—Section
204(a)(1)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act, as inserted by subsection (d)(6), is amended by
adding at the end the following new clause:
‘‘(iii) For aliens who entered the country on fiance´
visas, failure to marry the sponsor or failure to marry the
sponsor within 90 days as required under section
101(a)(15)(K) shall not bar access to relief under clause
(iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of subsection (a)(1)(A), under clause
(ii), (iii), or (iv) of subsection (a)(1)(B), under section
240A(b)(2), or under section 244(a)(3) (as in effect before
the enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Im-
migrant Responsibility Act of 1996) to aliens who other-
wise qualify.’’.
(3) 
SELF-PETITIONING
CHILDREN.—Section
204(a)(1)(A)(iv) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)(iv)) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘(iv) An alien who is the child of a citizen of the
United States (as defined in paragraph (1) or (6) of sec-
tion 101(b)) or who was a child of United States citizen
parent who died within the past two years or lost immigra-
tion status due to an incident of domestic violence within
the past two years, and who is a person of good moral
character, who is eligible to be classified as an immediate
relative under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i), and who resides or
has resided in the past with the citizen parent may file
a petition with the Attorney General under this subpara-
graph for classification of the alien (and any child of the
alien) under such section if the alien demonstrates to the
Attorney General that the alien has been battered by or
has been the subject of extreme cruelty perpetrated by the
alien’s citizen parent. For purposes of this clause, resi-
dence includes any period of visitation.’’.
(4) 
SELF-PETITIONING
PARENTS.—Section
204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)) is amended by adding
after clause (iv) the following new clause:
‘‘(v) An alien who is the parent of a citizen of the
United States or who was a parent of United States cit-
izen who died within the past two years or lost immigra-
tion status due to an incident of domestic violence within
the past two years, and who is a person of good moral
character, who is eligible to be classified as an immediate
relative under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i), and who has re-
sided with the citizen daughter or son may file a petition
with the Attorney General under this subparagraph for
classification of the alien under such section if the alien
demonstrates to the Attorney General that the alien has
been battered by or has been the subject of extreme cru-
elty perpetrated by the alien’s citizen son or daughter.’’.
(5) SELF-PETITIONING SON OR DAUGHTER.—
Section 204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)), as amended
by paragraph (4), is amended by adding after clause
(v) the following new clause:
‘‘(vi) An alien who is the son or daughter of a citizen
of the United States or who was the son or daughter of
United States citizen parent who died within the past two
years or lost immigration status due to an incident of do-
mestic violence within the past two years, and who is a
person of good moral character, who is eligible for classi-
fication by reason of a relationship described in paragraph
(1) of section 203(a), and who resides or has resided in
the past with the citizen parent may file a petition with
the Attorney General under this clause for classification
of the alien (and any child of the alien) under such section
if the alien demonstrates to the Attorney General that the
alien has been battered by, or has been the subject of ex-
treme cruelty perpetrated by, the alien’s citizen parent and
1 or more incidents of battery or extreme cruelty occurred
before the son or daughter reached the age of 21. For
purposes of this clause, residence includes any period of
visitation.’’.
(6) 
FILING
OF
PETITIONS.—Section
204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154 (a)(1)(A)(iv)), as amended by
paragraphs (4) and (5), is amended by adding after
clause (vi) the following new clause:
‘‘(vii) An alien who is the spouse, intended spouse,
child, parent, son, or daughter of a United States citizen
living abroad and who is eligible to file a petition under
clause (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) shall file such petition with
the Attorney General under the procedures that apply to
self-petitioners under such clauses.’’.
(d) SECOND PREFERENCE IMMIGRATION STATUS
FOR SELF-PETITIONERS MARRIED TO LAWFUL PERMA-
NENT RESIDENTS.—
(1) 
SELF-PETITIONING
SPOUSES.—Section
204(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘(ii) An alien who is described in subsection (k) may
file a petition with the Attorney General under this clause
for classification of the alien (and any child of the alien
as defined in paragraph (1) or (6) of section 101(b)) if
such a child has not been classified under clause (iii) of
(3) 
SELF-PETITIONING
CHILDREN.—Section
204(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)(iii)) is amended to
read as follows:
‘‘(iii) An alien who is the child of an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence as defined in paragraph
(1) or (6) of section 101(b) or who was a child of a lawful
permanent resident parent who died within the past two
years or lost immigration status due to an incident of do-
mestic violence within the past two years, and who is a
person of good moral character, who is eligible for classi-
fication under section 203(a)(2)(A), and who resides or
has resided in the past with the alien’s permanent resident
alien parent may file a petition with the Attorney General
under this subparagraph for classification of the alien
(and any child of the alien) under such section if the alien
demonstrates to the Attorney General that the alien has
been battered by or has been the subject of extreme cru-
elty perpetrated by the alien’s permanent resident parent.
For purposes of this clause, residence includes any period
of visitation.’’.
(4) SELF-PETITIONING SON OR DAUGHTER.—
Section 204(a)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)), as amended
by section 4(a)(2), is further amended by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘(iv) An alien who is the son or daughter of an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence or who was a
son or daughter of a lawful permanent resident parent
who died within the past two years or lost immigration
status due to an incident of domestic violence within the
past two years and who is a person of good moral char-
acter, who is eligible for classification by reason of a rela-
tionship described in paragraph (2) of section 203(a), and
who resides or has resided in the past with the alien’s legal
permanent resident parent may file a petition with the At-
torney General under this clause for classification of the
alien (and any child of the alien) under such section if
the alien demonstrates to the Attorney General that the
alien has been battered by, or has been the subject of ex-
treme cruelty perpetrated by, the alien’s legal permanent
resident parent and 1 or more incidents of battery or ex-
treme cruelty occurred before the son or daughter reached
the age of 21. For purposes of this clause, residence in-
cludes any period of visitation.’’.
(5) 
FILING
OF
PETITIONS.—Section
204(a)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)), as amended by para-
graph (4), is further amended by adding after clause
(iv) the following new clause:
‘‘(v) An alien who is the spouse, intended spouse,
child, son, or daughter of a lawful permanent resident liv-
ing abroad is eligible to file a petition under clause (ii),
(iii), or (iv) shall file such petition with the Attorney Gen-
eral under the procedures that apply to self-petitioners
under such clauses.’’.
(6) TREATMENT OF PETITIONS INCLUDING DE-
RIVATIVE CHILDREN TURNING 21 YEARS OF AGE.—
Section 204(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)) is amended—
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (C)
through (H) as subparagraphs (D) through (I),
respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (B)
the following:
‘‘(C)(i)(I) Any derivative child who attains 21 years
of age and who is included in a petition described in clause
(ii) that was filed or approved before the date on which
the child attained 21 years of age shall be considered (if
no visa has been issued to the child by such date) a peti-
tioner for preference status under paragraph (1), (2), or
(3) of section 203(a), whichever paragraph is applicable,
with the same priority date as that assigned to the petition
in any petition described in clause (ii).
‘‘(II) Any individual described in subclause (I) and
any derivative child of a petition described in clause (ii)
is eligible for deferred action and work authorization.
‘‘(ii) The petition referred to in clause (i) is a petition
filed by an alien under subparagraph (A)(iii), (A)(iv),
(A)(vi), (B)(ii), (B)(iii), or (B)(iv) in which the child is
included as a derivative.’’.
(e) ACCESS
TO NATURALIZATION
FOR DIVORCED
VICTIMS OF ABUSE.—Section 319(a) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1430(a)) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘, and any person who obtained
status as a lawful permanent resident by reason of
his or her status as a spouse or child of a United
States citizen who battered him or her or subjected
him or her to extreme cruelty,’’ after ‘‘United
States’’ the first place it appears; and
(2) by inserting ‘‘(except in the case of a person
who has been battered or subjected to extreme cru-
elty by a United States citizen spouse or parent)’’
after ‘‘has been living in marital union with the cit-
izen spouse’’.
SEC. 8. IMPROVED ACCESS TO VAWA CANCELLATION OF
REMOVAL.
(a) CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL AND ADJUSTMENT
OF
STATUS
FOR
CERTAIN
NONPERMANENT
RESI-
DENTS.—Section 240A(b)(2) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(2)) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR BATTERED SPOUSE,
PARENT, CHILD, SON, OR DAUGHTER.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General
may cancel removal of, and adjust to the status
of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent res-
idence, an alien who is inadmissible or deport-
able from the United States if the alien dem-
onstrates that—
‘‘(i)(I) the alien has been battered or
subjected to extreme cruelty in the United
States by a spouse, parent, son, or daugh-
ter who is or was a United States citizen
(or is the parent of a child of a United
States citizen and the child has been bat-
tered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the
United States by such citizen parent);
‘‘(II) the alien has been battered or
subjected to extreme cruelty by a spouse or
parent who is or was a lawful permanent
resident (or is the parent of a child of an
alien who is or was a lawful permanent
resident and the child has been battered or
subjected to extreme cruelty in the United
States by such permanent resident parent),
or
‘‘(III) the alien has been battered or
subjected to extreme cruelty by a United
States citizen or lawful permanent resident
whom the alien intended to marry, but
whose marriage is not legitimate because
of that United States citizen’s or lawful
permanent resident’s bigamy;
‘‘(ii) the alien has been physically
present in the United States for a contin-
uous period of not less than 3 years imme-
diately preceding the date of such applica-
tion (and the issuance of a charging docu-
ment for removal proceedings shall not toll
the 3-year period of continuous physical
presence in the United States);
‘‘(iii) the alien has been a person of
good moral character during such period;
‘‘(iv) the alien is not inadmissible
under paragraph (2) or (3) of section
212(a), is not deportable under paragraphs
(1)(G) or (2) through (4) of section
237(a), and has not been convicted of an
aggravated felony, unless the Attorney
General waives application of this clause
pursuant to section 237(d) or for humani-
tarian purposes, to assure family unity, or
when it is otherwise in the public interest;
and
‘‘(v) the removal would result in ex-
treme hardship to the alien, the alien’s
child, or the alien’s parent.
In acting on applications under this paragraph,
the Attorney General shall consider any credible
evidence relevant to the application. The deter-
mination of what evidence is credible and the
weight to be given that evidence shall be within
the sole discretion of the Attorney General. For
aliens who entered the country on fiance´ visas,
failure to marry the sponsor, or failure to
marry the sponsor within 90 days as required
under section 101(a)(15)(K), shall not bar ac-
cess to relief under this paragraph to aliens
who otherwise qualify.
‘‘(B) INCLUSION
OF
OTHER
ALIENS
IN
CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL APPLICATIONS.—
An alien applying for relief under this para-
graph may include—
‘‘(i) the alien’s children, sons, or
daughters in the alien’s application and, if
the alien is found eligible for cancellation,
the Attorney General may adjust the sta-
tus of the alien’s children, sons, daughters;
or
‘‘(ii) the alien’s parent or child in the
alien child’s (as defined in paragraph (1)
or (6) of section 101(b)) application in the
case of an application filed by an alien who
was abused by a citizen or lawful perma-
nent resident parent and, if the alien child
is found eligible for cancellation, the Attor-
ney General may adjust the status of the
alien child applicant and the alien child’s
parent and child.
‘‘(C) INCLUSION
OF
OTHER
ALIENS
IN
SUSPENSION
OF
DEPORTATION
APPLICA-
TIONS.—An alien applying for relief under sec-
tion 244(a)(3) (as in effect before the date of
the enactment of Illegal Immigration Reform
and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) may
include—
‘‘(i) the alien’s children, sons, or
daughters in the alien’s application and, if
the alien is found eligible for suspension,
the Attorney General may adjust the sta-
tus of the alien’s children, sons, or daugh-
ters; or
‘‘(ii) the alien’s parent or child in the
alien child’s (as defined in paragraph (1)
or (6) of section 101(b)) application in the
case of an application filed by an alien who
was abused by a citizen or lawful perma-
nent resident parent and, if the alien child
is found eligible for suspension, the Attor-
ney General may adjust the status of the
alien child applicant and the alien child’s
parent and child.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall take effect as if included in the enact-
ment of section 304 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Pub-
lic Law 104–208; 110 Stat. 587).
(c) TREATMENT OF FAMILY MEMBERS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 203(d) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(d)) is
amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘A spouse or
child’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) A spouse, parent, or child as defined in para-
graph (1) or (6) of section 101(b) if not otherwise entitled
to an immigrant status and immediate issuance of a visa
shall be entitled to attain lawful permanent resident status
if their spouse, parent, or child was granted such status
pursuant to section 240A(b)(2) or section 244(a)(3) (as
in effect before the date of the enactment of Illegal Immi-
gration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of
1996) by accompanying or following to join the spouse,
child, or parent.’’.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made
by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if included in
the enactment of subtitle G of title IV of the Violent
Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
(Public Law 103–322; 108 Stat. 1953 et seq.).
SEC. 9. GOOD MORAL CHARACTER DETERMINATIONS.
(a) DETERMINATIONS OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER
FOR SELF-PETITIONING IMMEDIATE RELATIVES.—Sec-
tion 204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)), as amended by sections 7(c)
and 4(a)(1), is further amended by adding after clause
(viii) at the end the following new clause:
‘‘(ix) For the purposes of making good moral char-
acter determinations under this subparagraph, the Attor-
ney General is not limited by the criminal court record
and may make a finding of good moral character notwith-
standing the existence of a disqualifying act or criminal
conviction in the case of an alien who otherwise qualifies
for relief under clause (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi), but who com-
mitted, was arrested for, has been convicted of, or who
pled guilty to—
‘‘(I) violating a court order issued to protect the
alien;
‘‘(II) prostitution if the alien was forced into
prostitution by an abuser;
‘‘(III) a domestic violence-related crime, if the
Attorney General determines that the alien acted in
self-defense; or
‘‘(IV) a crime where there was a connection be-
tween the commission of the crime and having been
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty.’’.
(b) DETERMINATIONS OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER
FOR SELF-PETITIONERS SEEKING SECOND PREFERENCE
IMMIGRATION STATUS.—Section 204(a)(1)(B) of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)),
as amended by sections 7(d) and 4(a)(2), is further
amended by adding after clause (vi) the following new
clause:
‘‘(vii) For the purposes of making good moral char-
acter determinations under this subparagraph, the Attor-
ney General is not limited by the criminal court record
and may make a finding of good moral character notwith-
standing the existence of a disqualifying act or criminal
conviction in the case of an alien who otherwise qualifies
for relief under clause (ii), (iii), or (iv), but who com-
mitted, was arrested for, has been convicted of, or who
pled guilty to—
‘‘(I) violating a court order issued to protect the
alien;
‘‘(II) prostitution if the alien was forced into
prostitution by an abuser;
‘‘(III) a domestic violence-related crime, if the
Attorney General determines that the alien acted in
self-defense; or
‘‘(IV) a crime where there was a connection be-
tween the commission of the crime and having been
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty.’’.
(c) DETERMINATIONS OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER
IN VAWA CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.—
Section 240A(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(2)), as amended by section 8(a),
is further amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
‘‘(D) GOOD
MORAL
CHARACTER
DETER-
MINATIONS.—For the purposes of making good
moral character determinations under this sub-
section, the Attorney General is not limited by
the criminal court record and may make a find-
ing of good moral character notwithstanding
the existence of a disqualifying act or criminal
conviction in the case of an alien who has been
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty but
who committed, was arrested for, has been con-
victed of, or who pled guilty to—
‘‘(i) violating a court order is sued to
protect the alien;
‘‘(ii) prostitution if the alien was
forced into prostitution by an abuser;
‘‘(iii) a domestic violence-related crime
if the Attorney General determines that
the alien acted in self-defense; or
‘‘(iv) committing a crime where there
was a connection between the commission
of the crime and having been battered or
subjected to extreme cruelty.’’.
(d) DETERMINATIONS UNDER SUSPENSION OF DE-
PORTATION.—For the purposes of making good moral
character determinations under section 244(a)(3) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (as in effect before the
enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immi-
grant Responsibility Act of 1996) (8 U.S.C. 1254(a)(3)),
the Attorney General is not limited by the criminal court
record and may make a finding of good moral character
notwithstanding the existence of a disqualifying act or
criminal conviction in the case of an alien who has been
battered or subjected to extreme cruelty but who com-
mitted, was arrested for, has been convicted of, or who
pled guilty to—
(1) violating a court order issued to protect the
alien;
(2) prostitution if the alien was forced into
prostitution by an abuser;
(3) a domestic violence-related crime if the At-
torney General determines that the alien acted in
self-defense; or
(4) committing a crime where there was a con-
nection between the commission of the crime and
having been battered or subjected to extreme cru-
elty.
SEC. 10. ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT FOR BATTERED IMMI-
GRANT WOMEN.
(a) NONAPPLICABILITY OF SPECIAL RULES RELAT-
ING TO THE TREATMENT OF NON-213A ALIENS.—Section
408(f)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(f)(6))
is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or’’ at
the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period
and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) described in section 421(f) of the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1631(f))
but for the fact that the individual is a non-
213A alien.’’.
(b) PUBLIC CHARGE.—Section 212(a)(4) of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(4)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph:
‘‘(E) EXCEPTION.—The following aliens
are not subject to public charge determinations
under this paragraph:
‘‘(i) An alien who qualifies for classi-
fication as a spouse, parent, child, son, or
daughter of a United States citizen or law-
ful permanent resident under clause (iii),
(iv), (v), or (vi) of section 204(a)(1)(A) or
clause 
(ii), 
(iii), 
or 
(iv) 
of 
section
204(a)(1)(B).
‘‘(ii) An alien who qualifies for classi-
fication under clause (i) or (ii) of section
204(a)(1)(A) or section 204(a)(1)(B)(i)
and who presents credible evidence of hav-
ing been battered or subjected to extreme
cruelty by their United States citizen or
lawful permanent resident spouse, parent,
son, or daughter. In the case of alien sons
or daughters, one or more incidents of bat-
tering or extreme cruelty must have oc-
curred before the alien turned 21 years of
age. This clause shall apply whether or not
an affidavit of support has been filed on
the alien’s behalf.
‘‘(iii) An alien who qualifies for status
as a spouse, parent, child, son, or daughter
of a United States citizen or lawful perma-
nent resident, or as a parent of a child of
a United States citizen or lawful perma-
nent 
resident, 
pursuant 
to 
section
240A(b)(2) or section 244(a)(3) (as in ef-
fect before the date of enactment of the Il-
legal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996).
‘‘(iv) Any child (as defined in para-
graph (1) or (6) of section 101(b)) in-
cluded in the application of an alien de-
scribed in clause (i), (ii), or (iii).’’.
(c) WAIVER OF FILING FEES.—
(1) PETITIONS FOR CLASSIFICATION.—Section
204(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)), as amended by section 7(c), is
further amended by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
‘‘(I) No fee shall be charged for the filing or proc-
essing of any application under clause (iii), (iv), (v), or
(vi) of subparagraph (A) or clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of sub-
paragraph (B), or the first application for work authoriza-
tion filed by an applicant under such a clause.’’.
(2) CANCELLATIONS
OF
REMOVAL.—Section
240A(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1229b), as amended by section 9(c), is
amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
‘‘(E) PROHIBITION OF CHARGING FEES.—
No fee shall be charged for the filing or proc-
essing of any application under this paragraph
or the first application for work authorization
filed by applicants under this paragraph.’’.
(3) SUSPENSION
OF
DEPORTATION.—No fee
shall be charged for the filing or processing of any
application under section 244(a)(3) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (as in effect before the date
of enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) (8 U.S.C.
1254(a)(3)), or the first application for work author-
ization filed by applicants under such section.
(d) ACCESS TO FOOD STAMPS AND SSI FOR QUALI-
FIED BATTERED ALIENS.—Section 402(a)(2) of the Per-
sonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘(L) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN BATTERED
ALIENS.—With respect to eligibility for benefits
for the specified Federal program (as defined in
paragraph (3)), paragraph (1) shall not apply
to any individual described in section 431(c).’’.
(F) in subsection (b)(2), by adding at the end
the following: ‘‘Proration shall not apply in the case
of a qualified alien as described in section 431 of
the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641).’’;
(G) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by adding at the
end the following: ‘‘Proration shall not apply in the
case of a qualified alien as described in section 431
of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor-
tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641).’’;
(H) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘para-
graphs (1) through (6)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs
(1) through (7)’’;
(I) in subsection (c)(2)(A), by inserting ‘‘(other
than a qualified alien as described in section 431(c)
of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor-
tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1641(c)))’’ after ‘‘any alien’’; and
(J) in subsection (d)(1)(B), by inserting before
the period ‘‘, including a qualified alien as described
in section 431 of the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8
U.S.C. 1641)’’.
(2) Section 401 of the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1611) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
‘‘(d) ACCESS TO SHELTER AND SERVICES FOR BAT-
TERED IMMIGRANTS.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, no private, government, or nonprofit organiza-
tion providing shelter or services to battered women,
abused children, or providing any other services listed in
subsection (b) that receives any Federal funds shall deny,
restrict, or condition assistance to any applicant based on
alienage.’’.
(g) CLARIFYING WELFARE REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR BENEFIT APPLICANTS.—The Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is amended—
(1) in section 411(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 611(a)(1)),
by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph:
‘‘(C) INFORMATION ON IMMIGRATION STA-
TUS.—Collection of information about, and in-
quiries into, the immigration status of an indi-
vidual who is a parent applying on behalf of his
or her child who is a United States citizen or
a qualified alien (as defined in section 431 of
the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor-
tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) for assist-
ance under the State program funded under
this part, shall not be made if the individual is
not applying for benefits for themselves, wheth-
er or not the individual is determined, under
Federal or State law, to be part of a family unit
receiving assistance under that program.’’; and
(2) 
in 
section 
1631(e)(9) 
(42 
U.S.C.
1383(e)(9)), by adding at the end the following:
‘‘Collection of information about, and inquiries into,
the immigration status of an individual who is a par-
ent applying on behalf of his or her child who is a
United States citizen or a qualified alien (as defined
in section 431 of the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) for
benefits under this title (or for benefits supple-
mented by a State with an agreement under section
1616), shall not be made if the individual is not ap-
plying for benefits for themselves, whether or not the
individual is determined, under Federal or State law,
to be part of a family unit receiving such benefits.’’.
(h) CONFORMING DEFINITION OF ‘‘FAMILY’’ USED
IN LAWS GRANTING WELFARE ACCESS FOR BATTERED
IMMIGRANTS TO STATE FAMILY LAW.—Section 431(c) of
the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Rec-
onciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘by a
spouse or a parent, or by a member of the spouse
or parent’s family residing in the same household as
the alien and the spouse or parent consented to, or
acquiesced in, such battery or cruelty,’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘by a spouse or parent, or by any individual hav-
ing a relationship with the alien covered by the civil
or criminal domestic violence statutes of the State or
Indian country where the alien resides, or the State
or Indian country in which the alien, the alien’s
child, or the alien child’s parents received a protec-
tion order, or by any individual against whom the
alien could obtain a protection order,’’; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘by a
spouse or parent of the alien (without the active par-
ticipation of the alien in the battery or cruelty), or
by a member of the spouse or parent’s family resid-
ing in the same household as the alien and the
spouse or parent consented or acquiesced to such
battery or cruelty,’’ and inserting ‘‘by a spouse or
parent of the alien (without the active participation
of the alien in the battery or cruelty) or by any per-
son having a relationship with the alien covered by
the civil or criminal domestic violence statutes of the
State or Indian country where the alien resides, or
the State or Indian country in which the alien, the
alien’s child or the alien child’s parent received a
protection order, or by any individual against whom
the alien could obtain a protection order,’’.
(i) EXPANSION OF DEFINITION OF BATTERED IMMI-
GRANTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 431(c) of the Per-
sonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Rec-
onciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641(c)) is
amended—
(A) in paragraphs (1)(A), (2)(A), and
(3)(A) by inserting ‘‘or the benefits to be pro-
vided would alleviate the harm from such bat-
tery or cruelty or would enable the alien to
avoid such battery or cruelty in the future’’ be-
fore the semicolon; and
(B) in the matter following paragraph (3),
by inserting ‘‘and for determining whether the
benefits to be provided under a specific Federal,
State, or local program would alleviate the
harm from such battery or extreme cruelty or
would enable the alien to avoid such battery or
extreme cruelty in the future’’ before the pe-
riod.
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
REGARDING
SPONSOR DEEMING.—Section 421(f) of such Act (8
U.S.C. 1631(f)(1)) is amended—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘or
would alleviate the harm from such battery or
extreme cruelty, or would enable the alien to
avoid such battery or extreme cruelty in the fu-
ture’’ before the semicolon; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘or
would alleviate the harm from such battery or
extreme cruelty, or would enable the alien to
avoid such battery or extreme cruelty in the fu-
ture’’ before the period.
(j) ENSURING THAT BATTERED IMMIGRANTS HAVE
ACCESS TO FOOD STAMPS AND SSI.—
(1) QUALIFYING QUARTERS.—Section 435(2) of
the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1645(2)) is
amended by striking ‘‘and the alien remains married
to such spouse or such spouse is deceased’’ and in-
serting ‘‘if such spouse is deceased or if the alien re-
mains married to such spouse (except that qualified
aliens covered by section 431(c) may continue after
divorce to count the qualifying quarters worked by
their spouse during the marriage)’’.
date of the enactment of the Illegal Immi-
gration Reform and Immigrant Responsi-
bility Act of 1996).’’.
SEC. 11. ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND SERV-
ICES FOR BATTERED IMMIGRANTS.
(a) CONSTRUCTION.—Section 502 of the Depart-
ments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (Public Law
105–119; 111 Stat. 2511) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘(c) CONSTRUCTION.—This section shall not be con-
strued to prohibit a recipient from—
‘‘(1) using funds derived from a source other
than the Legal Services Corporation to provide re-
lated legal assistance (as that term is defined in sub-
section (b)(2)) to any alien who has been battered
or subjected to extreme cruelty by a person with
whom the alien has a relationship covered by the do-
mestic violence laws of the State in which the alien
resides or in which an incidence of violence occurred;
‘‘(2) using Legal Services Corporation funds to
provide related legal assistance to any alien who has
been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty who
qualifies for classification under clause (iii), (iv), (v),
or (vi) of section 204(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(A)),
clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(B) of
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(B)), or subsection
(b)(2) of section 240A of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b)
or section 244(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (as in effect before the title III–A effective
date in section 309 of the Illegal Immigration Re-
form and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8
U.S.C. 1101 note).’’.
(b) 
LAW
ENFORCEMENT
AND
PROSECUTION
GRANTS.—
(1) Section 2001(b)(5) of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.
3796bb(b)(5)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘to racial, cultural, ethnic,
and language minorities’’ and inserting ‘‘to un-
derserved populations’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘providing immigration
assistance to victims of domestic violence,’’
after ‘‘protection orders are granted,’’.
(2) Section 2002 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
3796gg) is amended—
(A) in subsection (h)(1), by inserting be-
fore the period the following: ‘‘, the demo-
graphics of underserved populations in the
State and details about the percentage of fund-
ing that went to serve which underserved popu-
lations, the programs that received such fund-
ing, and the involvement of programs serving
underserved populations in the development of
the State plan under subsection (c)(2)’’;
(B) in subsection (d)(1)(D), by striking
‘‘age, marital status, disability, race, ethnicity
and language background’’ and inserting ‘‘mar-
ital status and characteristics of any under-
served populations’’;
(C) in subsection (d)—
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of
paragraph (2),
(ii) by striking the period at the end
of paragraph (3) and inserting ‘‘; and’’,
and
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(4) in the case of a State, Indian tribal gov-
ernment, or unit of local governments applying as
subgrantee for a grant under this section, a certifi-
cation that its laws or official policies comply with
each of the provisions of section 2101(c).
The requirements of paragraph (4) do not apply to a non-
profit, nongovernmental entity that is applying for grants
under this section.’’; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
‘‘(i) REPORT ON SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED POP-
ULATIONS.—The Violence Against Women Grants Office
in the Department of Justice shall submit to Congress,
not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this subsection, a report that contains the following infor-
mation:
‘‘(1) The quantity and percentage of funding
awarded to serve underserved populations by each
State under each of the following:
‘‘(A) Grants to combat violent crimes
against women under section 2001.
‘‘(B) Grants to encourage arrest under sec-
tion 2101.
‘‘(C) Rural domestic violence and child
abuse enforcement assistance grants under sec-
tion 40295(a)(2) of the Violent Crime Control
and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law
103–322, 42 U.S.C. 13971(a)(2)).
‘‘(D) Civil legal assistance grants under
title I of the Department of Justice Appropria-
tions Act, 1999.
‘‘(E) Campus domestic violence grants
under section 826 of the Higher Education
Amendment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–244;
20 U.S.C. 1152).
‘‘(2) The percentage of each underserved popu-
lation in the demographic make up of each State
compared to the amount of funding aimed at ad-
dressing the needs of that underserved population.
‘‘(3) The extent to which grants to provide
services to underserved populations are awarded to
programs with experience and history working with
underserved populations of battered women or sexual
assault victims, to programs that have bilingual or
bicultural staff, and to collaborations between do-
mestic violence or sexual assault programs and pro-
grams experienced in serving particular underserved
populations and to other grantees.
‘‘(4) The extent to which nonprofit, nongovern-
mental victim service organizations with experience
serving various underserved populations of battered
women and sexual assault or stalking victims were
consulted in the development of the State plan under
section 2001(c)(2), the application under section sec-
tion 2102(a)(4), or the community cooperation re-
ferred to in section 40295(a)(3) of the Violent Crime
Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public
Law 103–322, 42 U.S.C. 13971(a)(3)).’’.
(3) Section 2003(7) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
3796gg–2(7)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(7) the term ‘underserved populations’ in-
cludes populations underserved because of race, eth-
nicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion,
alienage status, geographic location (including rural
isolation), language barriers, and any other popu-
lations determined to be underserved in the State
planning process; and’’.
(4) Section 2004(b)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
3796gg–3(b)(3)) is amended by striking all that fol-
lows ‘‘relationship of victim to the offender’’ and in-
serting ‘‘and the membership of persons served in
any underserved populations; and’’.
(c) GRANTS TO ENCOURAGE ARRESTS.—
(1) Section 2101 of the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh)
is amended—
(A) in subsection (b)(5), by inserting be-
fore the period the following: ‘‘, including
strengthening legal advocacy for domestic vio-
lence victims in immigration cases’’;
(B) in subsection (c)—
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of
paragraph (3);
(ii) by striking the period at the end
of paragraph (4) and inserting a semi-
colon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraphs:
‘‘(5) certify that their laws, policies, and prac-
tices require issuance of protection orders that are
jurisdictionally sound and that all protection orders
are issued after a finding, after an admission by the
abuser, or based on the facts in the victim’s petition
that are uncontested by the abuser; and
‘‘(6) certify that their laws, policies, and
practices—
‘‘(A) keep locational information and serv-
ices provided to victims of domestic violence
confidential and comply with all State and Fed-
eral laws and rules of professional practice re-
garding confidentiality;
‘‘(B) guarantee that information is not re-
leased to any person without the express per-
mission of the abuse victim, except when such
information is required for a legitimate law en-
forcement purpose unrelated to the victim’s
abuser; and
‘‘(C) assure that locational information
about a victim or the services obtained by a vic-
tim are not considered a matter of public
record.’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
‘‘(d) ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.—(1) The require-
ments of subsection (c) do not apply to nonprofit, non-
governmental entities applying for grants under this sec-
tion.
‘‘(2) All grantees and subgrantees of grants in effect
on the date of the enactment of this subsection or submit-
ting new applications for funding after such date that are
States, Indian tribal governments, or units of local govern-
ment shall submit a certification by the chief executive of-
ficer of the State, tribal government, or local government
entity that the conditions of subsections (c)(5) and (c)(6)
are met (or will be met) not later than the date on which
the next session of the State or Indian tribal legislature
ends, but in no case later than 2 years after such date
of enactment.
‘‘(3) Failure by a grantee to comply with the certifi-
cations contained in paragraphs (1) thorough (6) of sub-
section (c) may result in suspension or revocation of fund-
ing. Once a grantee or subgrantee has been notified that
its funding will be revoked, they shall be granted 6 months
to bring their laws, policies, or practices into compliance
before the revocation takes effect. Any funds that are not
distributed to grantees or are removed from grantees
under this paragraph shall be distributed to other eligible
entities within the State. For grants under section 2002,
the funds are to be redistributed first to entities within
the same formula category and then, if there are no eligi-
ble entities within the same formula category, to other eli-
gible entities without regard to the formula.’’.
(2) Section 2103 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
3796hh–2) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘Each report shall include information about
the demographics of underserved populations in the
State and details about the percentage of funding
that went to serve which underserved populations,
the programs that received such funding, and the in-
volvement of programs serving underserved popu-
lations in the community participation described in
section 2102(a)(4).’’.
(d) RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE
ENFORCEMENT GRANTS.—Section 40295 of the Violent
Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public
Law 103–322, 108 Stat. 1953, 42 U.S.C. 13971(aa)(2))
is amended—
(1) by amending subsection (a)(2) to read as
follows:
‘‘(2) to provide treatment, counseling, and legal
assistance to victims of domestic violence and child
abuse, including assistance to victims in immigration
matters; and’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections:
‘‘(d) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—States, Indian
tribal governments, and units of local government apply-
ing for grants under this section must certify that their
laws, policies, and practices comply with each of the provi-
sions of section 2101(c) of the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh(c)).
‘‘(e) GRANTEE REPORTING.—Upon completion of the
grant period under this part, a State or Indian tribal
grantee shall file a performance report with the Attorney
General. The report shall explain the activities carried out
and shall evaluate the effectiveness of projects developed
with the funds provided under the grant. The report shall
include information about the demographics of under-
served populations in the State and details about the per-
centage of funding that went to serve which underserved
populations, the programs that received such funding, and
the involvement of programs serving underserved popu-
lations in the community cooperation in subsection
(a)(3).’’,
(e) FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES
ACT.—
(1) Section 303(a)(2)(C) of the Family Violence
Prevention 
and 
Services 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
10402(c)(2)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘populations
underserved because of ethnic, racial, cultural, lan-
guage diversity or geographic isolation’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘populations underserved because of race, eth-
nicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion,
alienage status, geographic location (including rural
isolation), language barriers, and any other popu-
lations determined to be underserved’’.
(2) Section 311(a)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
10410(a)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘underserved
racial, ethnic or language-minority populations’’ and
inserting ‘‘underserved populations as the term is
used in section 303(a)(2)(C)’’.
(3) Section 303(a)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
10402(a)(4)) is amended by inserting after the first
sentence the following: ‘‘This performance report
shall include information about the demographics of
underserved populations in the State and details
about the percentage of funding that went to serve
which underserved populations, the programs that
received such funding, and the involvement of pro-
grams serving underserved populations in the proce-
dures described in subsection (a)(2)(C).’’.
(4) Section 303 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 10402)
is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection:
‘‘(g) The Secretary shall submit to Congress, not
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
subsection, a report that contains the following informa-
tion:
‘‘(1) The quantity and percentage of funding
awarded to serve underserved populations by each
State under programs funded under this Act.
‘‘(2) The percentage of each underserved popu-
lation in the demographic make up of each State
compared to the amount of funding aimed at ad-
dressing the needs of that underserved population.
‘‘(3) The extent to which grants to provide
services to underserved populations are awarded to
programs with experience and history working with
underserved populations of battered women or sexual
assault victims, to programs that have bilingual or
bicultural staff, and to collaborations between do-
mestic violence or sexual assault programs and pro-
grams experienced in serving particular underserved
populations and to other grantees.
‘‘(4) The extent to which nonprofit, nongovern-
mental victim service organizations with experience
serving various underserved populations of battered
women and sexual assault or stalking victims were
involved in the procedures described in subsection
(a)(2)(C).’’.
(f) CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE.—Title I of the De-
partment of Justice Appropriations Act, 1999 (contained
within the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supple-
mental Appropriations Act of 1999 (Public Law 105–
277)) is amended, under the heading of ‘‘Office of Justice
Programs, State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance’’,
by striking the period at the end and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, of which $206,750,000 shall be available for
Grants To Combat Violence Against Women, to States,
units of local government, and Indian tribal governments,