208 
tion 1059 of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 
109–163; 8 U.S.C. 1101 note); or section 602 
of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 
(Public Law 111–8; 8 U.S.C. 1101 note). 
(c) ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary for 
the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, 
in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of the 
Office of Refugee Resettlement, shall develop and 
implement methods— 
(A) for improving the digital literacy of 
refugees, and strengthening their access to dig-
ital devices and broadband; 
(B) to support refugees with bereavement 
costs and financial literacy, such as life insur-
ance, retirement, banking, and other forms of 
financial independence; and 
(C) to support refugees’ access to afford-
able housing, home ownership, public housing, 
legal orientation, and public transportation. 
(2) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Assistant Sec-
retary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and 
Migration is authorized to make grants to, and enter 
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into contracts with, State and local governments and 
resettlement agencies to implement this subsection. 
SEC. 1543. STUDY AND REPORT ON DIGITAL LITERACY, EQ-
UITY, AND INCLUSION AMONG REFUGEES IN 
THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) DIGITAL EQUITY.—The term ‘‘digital eq-
uity’’ means the condition in which individuals and 
communities have the information technology capac-
ity that is needed for full participation in the soci-
ety, democracy, and economy of the United States. 
(2) DIGITAL INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘digital in-
clusion’’— 
(A) means the activities that are necessary 
to ensure that all individuals in the United 
States have access to, and the use of, affordable 
information and communication technologies, 
such as— 
(i) reliable broadband internet service; 
(ii) internet-enabled devices that meet 
the needs of the user; and 
(iii) applications and online content 
designed to enable and encourage self-suf-
ficiency, participation, and collaboration, 
including applications and online content 
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that can be rendered accessible in the 
user’s preferred language; and 
(B) includes— 
(i) obtaining access to digital literacy 
training; 
(ii) the provision of quality technical 
support; and 
(iii) obtaining basic awareness of 
measures to ensure online privacy and cy-
bersecurity. 
(3) DIGITAL LITERACY.—The term ‘‘digital lit-
eracy’’ means the skills associated with using tech-
nology to enable learners to find, evaluate, organize, 
create, communicate, and understand information in 
the learner’s preferred language. 
(b) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall conduct a 
study on the status of digital literacy among refu-
gees resettled to the United States. 
(2) MATTERS
TO
BE
INCLUDED.—The study 
conducted under paragraph (1) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
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(A) An assessment of refugee digital lit-
eracy, equity, and inclusion outcomes including 
an analysis of— 
(i) access to internet service subscrip-
tions as measured by the rates at which 
households subscribe to service plans, the 
quality of service plans, and the afford-
ability of service plans; 
(ii) device access as measured by type, 
and number per members of household 
school-age and older; 
(iii) digital literacy as measured by a 
continuum of proficiency rates and ability 
to overcome language barriers; 
(iv) availability of technical assistance 
and training services; 
(v) digital usage patterns (such as 
school, work, job applications, or coding); 
and 
(vi) awareness of, availability of, and 
ability to navigate to public access points 
(such as schools, libraries and other com-
munity access). 
(B) The results of the assessment under 
subparagraph (A) disaggregated by socio-
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economic factors, including income level, race 
and ethnicity, gender, preferred language, age, 
disability, and level of education. 
(C) An assessment of how digital literacy, 
equity, and inclusion limitations impact refugee 
integration outcomes across— 
(i) employment; 
(ii) participation in financial systems; 
(iii) participation in democracy; 
(iv) civic engagement; 
(v) adult education; 
(vi) children’s education; and 
(vii) access to health services. 
(D) An assessment of whether and how 
digital literacy training, free internet service, 
and technical support should be incorporated as 
part of cultural orientation programs offered to 
refugees before their arrival in the United 
States and to refugees recently arrived in the 
United States. 
(E) An assessment of whether and how re-
lated costs to support digital literacy, equity, 
and inclusion, should be factored into reception 
and placement per capita grant amounts, in-
cluding for— 
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(i) the 1-time cost of digital device 
purchases, ensuring adequate and gender- 
equitable distribution of devices per house-
hold; and 
(ii) ongoing internet service subscrip-
tion costs. 
(F) An assessment of whether and how to 
include a measure of digital literacy in the self- 
sufficiency metrics used by the Office of Ref-
ugee Resettlement to assess refugee integration 
outcomes. 
(G) A survey of existing digital literacy, 
equity, and inclusion programming across reset-
tlement agency offices and existing best prac-
tices, including— 
(i) technology mentorship programs; 
(ii) digital literacy workshops; 
(iii) digitally related career pathways; 
(iv) device ownership programs; 
(v) digital navigator programs; and 
(vi) home broadband support. 
(H) 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 
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needs of refugees and all other populations 
within the mandate of the Office of Refugee Re-
settlement, with respect to digital literacy, eq-
uity, and inclusion. 
(I) Recommendations on ways in which the 
Office of Refugee Resettlement may improve 
digital literacy outcomes and the domestic ref-
ugee resettlement program with respect to dig-
ital literacy, equity, and inclusion. 
(J) Recommendations for metrics and cri-
teria for evaluating digital literacy, equity, and 
inclusion in populations within the mandate of 
the Office of Refugee Resettlement. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
on which a study under subsection (a) is completed, the 
Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee 
on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that de-
scribes the results of the study. 
CHAPTER 5—DOMESTIC REFUGEE RESET-
TLEMENT REFORM AND MODERNIZA-
TION ACT 
SEC. 1551. SHORT TITLE. 
This chapter may be cited as the ‘‘Domestic Refugee 
Resettlement Reform and Modernization Act of 2022’’. 
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SEC. 1552. DEFINITIONS. 
In this chapter: 
(1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist-
ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of the 
Office of Refugee Resettlement in the Department of 
Health and Human Services. 
(2) COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘community-based organization’’ means a non-
profit organization providing a variety of social, 
health, educational and community services to a pop-
ulation that includes refugees resettled into the 
United States. 
(3) NATIONAL
RESETTLEMENT
AGENCIES.— 
The term ‘‘national resettlement agencies’’ means 
voluntary agencies contracting with the Department 
of State to provide sponsorship and initial resettle-
ment services to refugees entering the United States. 
SEC. 1553. ASSESSMENT OF REFUGEE DOMESTIC RESET-
TLEMENT PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a study regarding the 
effectiveness of the domestic refugee resettlement pro-
grams operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. 
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(b) MATTERS TO BE STUDIED.—In the study re-
quired under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall 
determine and analyze— 
(1) how the Office of Refugee Resettlement de-
fines self-sufficiency and integration and if these 
definitions adequately represent refugees’ needs in 
the United States; 
(2) the effectiveness of Office of Refugee Reset-
tlement programs in helping refugees to meet self- 
sufficiency and integration; 
(3) technological solutions for consistently 
tracking secondary migration, including opportuni-
ties for interagency data sharing; 
(4) the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s budg-
etary resources and project the amount of additional 
resources needed to fully address the unmet needs of 
refugees with regard to self-sufficiency and integra-
tion; 
(5) the role of community-based organizations 
in serving refugees in areas experiencing a high 
number of new refugee arrivals; 
(6) how community-based organizations can be 
better utilized and supported in the Federal domes-
tic resettlement process; 
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(7) recertification processes for high-skilled ref-
ugees, specifically considering how to decrease bar-
riers for refugees and special immigrant visa holders 
to use their skills; and 
(8) recommended statutory changes to improve 
the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the domestic 
refugee program in relation to the matters analyzed 
under paragraphs (1) through (7). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House 
of Representatives that contains the results of the study 
conducted under this section. 
SEC. 1554. GUIDANCE REGARDING REFUGEE PLACEMENT 
DECISIONS. 
(a) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of State shall 
provide guidance to national resettlement agencies and 
State refugee coordinators on consultation with local 
stakeholders pertaining to refugee resettlement. 
(b) BEST PRACTICES.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, in collaboration with the Secretary of 
State, shall collect best practices related to the implemen-
tation of the guidance on stakeholder consultation on ref-
ugee resettlement from voluntary agencies and State ref-
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ugee coordinators and disseminate such best practices to 
such agencies and coordinators. 
CHAPTER 6—OVERSEAS PROCESSING AND 
PREPARATION 
SEC. 1561. REFUGEE BIOMETRIC DATA AND REPORTING. 
(a) The Department of State, in consultation with the 
Department of Homeland Security, shall permit United 
States Government staff already in-country to travel to 
collect the fingerprints and biometric data of refugees, in 
absence of circuit rides. 
(b) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, shall develop and imple-
ment methods to enhance virtual citizenship and virtual 
adjudication of citizenship applications, including remote 
interviews and ceremonies to expedite the process. 
(c) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
robustly implement the plan to permit the use of video 
and audio teleconferencing to conduct refugee interviews 
and establish the necessary infrastructure to do so. The 
Department of Homeland Security is directed to issue a 
report within 90 days of enactment that details how many 
interviews were conducted remotely or by video, what in-
frastructure was created to do so, and what the Depart-
ment needs to expand the use of remote interviews. The 
report shall also include challenges and best practices in 
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conducting remote interviews and factors that informed 
the Department’s decisions around which applicants were 
eligible for a remote interview. The report shall further 
include recommendations for a significant investment in 
internet infrastructure solutions, such as Wi-Fi and 
broadband access, in remote processing locations, as fail-
ure to do so will disproportionately impact processing and 
departures from certain parts of the world. 
SEC. 1562. 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 section 
207(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1157(a)(1)), and refugees seeking reunification 
with relatives living in the United States, regardless 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— 
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(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. 
(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 
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(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 
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. 1563. PRIORITY 3 FAMILY REUNIFICATION CASES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Because of the importance of re-
uniting immediate refugee families who have been sepa-
rated while fleeing from persecution, Priority 3 processing 
shall be made available to individuals of all nationalities, 
including stateless individuals. 
(b) UNIVERSAL ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL NATIONALI-
TIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Eligible Priority 3 Affidavit 
of Relationship filers will include those admitted in 
asylum, refugee, or Afghan and Iraqi special immi-
grants admitted under section 1059 of the National 
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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 
(Public Law 110–181; 8 U.S.C. 1157 note), and sec-
tion 602 of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 
(Public Law 111–8; 8 U.S.C. 1101 note). 
(2) ELIGIBLE
AFFIDAVIT
OF
RELATIONSHIP 
FILES.—Eligible Affidavit of Relationship (referred 
to in this section as ‘‘AOR’’) filers include individ-
uals who are lawful permanent residents of the 
United States or United States citizens who initially 
were admitted to the United States in a status de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The United States-based filer 
shall be at least 18 years of age at the time that the AOR 
is filed. The filer shall file the AOR not later than 5 years 
after the date they were admitted as a refugee or special 
immigrant or were granted asylum. The Secretary of State 
may reject any AOR for a relationship that does not com-
port with public policy, such as under-age or plural mar-
riages. 
(d) FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The following family mem-
bers of the United States-based family members are 
qualified for Priority 3 access: 
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(A) Spouse. 
(B) Unmarried children who are younger 
than 21 years of age. 
(C) Parents. 
(2) PARTNERS.—The Secretary of State may 
allow a qualifying individual to file for Priority 3 ac-
cess for a partner of any gender if the filer can pro-
vide evidence of a relationship with the partner for 
at least one year overseas prior to the submission of 
the AOR and considered that person to be his or her 
spouse or life partner, and that the relationship is 
ongoing, together with evidence that legal marriage 
was not an obtainable option due to social or legal 
prohibitions. 
(e) DERIVATIVE REFUGEE STATUS.—In addition to 
the qualifying family members of a United States-based 
individual identified above, the qualifying family member’s 
spouse and unmarried children younger than 21 years of 
age may derive refugee status from the principal applicant 
for refugee status. 
(f) ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING FAMILY MEMBERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On a case-by-case basis, an 
individual may be added to a qualifying family mem-
ber’s Priority 3 case if that individual— 
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(A) lived in the same household as the 
qualifying family member in the country of na-
tionality or, if stateless, last habitual residence; 
(B) was part of the same economic unit as 
the qualifying family member in the country of 
nationality or, if stateless, last habitual resi-
dence; and 
(C) demonstrates exceptional and compel-
ling humanitarian circumstances that justify in-
clusion on the qualifying family member’s case. 
(2) REFUGEE
STATUS
INDEPENDENT
FROM 
PRINCIPAL APPLICANT.—To be added to a qualifying 
family member’s case under paragraph (1), an indi-
vidual described in paragraph (1) shall independ-
ently establish that they are refugees. 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, in collaboration with the Secretary of State, shall 
submit a report to Congress that— 
(1) describes the steps taken by the administra-
tion to re-examine and expedite Priority 3 proc-
essing, including— 
(A) reducing lengthy delays in the initial 
paper review by the U.S. Citizenship and Immi-
gration Services Refugee Access Verification 
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Unit (referred to in this subsection as 
‘‘RAVU’’) of the relationship between the an-
chor relative and overseas family member listed 
on the Affidavit of Relationship; 
(B) reducing inefficiencies in DNA testing; 
and 
(C) making more efficient other processing 
steps that are required only for Priority 3 
cases; 
(2) details the resources necessary to improve 
RAVU so as to improve Priority 3 processing and 
ensure that the number of U.S. Citizenship and Im-
migration Services employees dedicated to RAVU is 
consistently not less than 4 full-time dedicated per-
sonnel so as to maintain a capacity to complete 
RAVU within 30 days of receipt of each case; and 
(3) includes the following data as of the first 
day of each fiscal year and each of the 6 fiscal years 
preceding the date of the enactment of this Act, 
for— 
(A) Priority 3 refugee applicants who had 
submitted an AOR and were waiting for an ini-
tial interview with the resettlement support cen-
ter; 
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(B) Priority 3 refugee applicants who had 
completed the initial interview at the Refugee 
Processing Center and whose applications were 
not yet submitted by the Refugee Processing 
Center to RAVU; 
(C) Priority 3 refugee applicants whose ap-
plications were submitted by the Refugee Proc-
essing Center to RAVU and were pending a de-
cision by RAVU; 
(D) Priority 3 refugee applicants whose 
applications were decided by RAVU and were 
pending a pre-screening interview at the Ref-
ugee Processing Center; 
(E) Priority 3 refugee applicants who com-
pleted a pre-screening interview at the Refugee 
Processing Center and who were pending inter-
views with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services; 
(F) Priority 3 refugee applicants who had 
completed interviews and were pending security 
clearance; 
(G) Priority 3 refugee applicants who were 
ready for departure; and 
(H) Priority 3 refugee applicants who have 
died or gone missing while in the Priority appli-
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cation process without ever being reunited with 
their families. 
SEC. 1564. CREATING A ROVING RESETTLEMENT SUPPORT 
CENTER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
shall establish a Roving Resettlement Support Center to 
increase overall operational agility and responsiveness of 
the United States Refugee Admissions Program. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Roving Resettlement Support 
Center shall— 
(1) coordinate and manage refugee processing 
for the United States Refugee Admissions Program, 
including— 
(A) receive and process cases referred to 
the United States Refugee Admissions program 
by the United Nations High Commissioner for 
Refugees, nongovernmental organizations, and 
United States embassies; 
(B) receive and process resettlement appli-
cations under all Priority categories; and 
(2) build the operational capacity for the rapid 
deployment of single-site resettlement processing 
during unanticipated refugee crises; and 
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(3) provide support and technical assistance to 
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
to expand and improve referral capacity as needed. 
Subtitle F—Authorization of 
Appropriations 
SEC. 1601. 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 humanitarian backlog of ref-
ugee, asylum, and other humanitarian applications to the 
Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Direc-
torate. 
TITLE II—REFUGEE AND ASY-
LUM SEEKER PROCESSING IN 
WESTERN HEMISPHERE 
SEC. 2101. 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-
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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 
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 
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(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. 
(c) STRENGTHENING OF REFERRAL PATHWAYS.— 
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary, 
shall— 
(1) certify and partner with local and national 
nongovernmental organizations that operate overseas 
to make Priority 1 referrals to the United States 
Refugee Admissions Program— 
(A) to increase referral pathways for the 
United States Refugee Admissions Program; 
(B) to diversify referral pathways and pre-
vent program impacts due to operational delays 
and capacity limitations in the referral proc-
esses of the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees; and 
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(C) to expand access to the United States 
Refugee Admissions Program to particularly 
vulnerable refugees, including— 
(i) individuals with urgent protection 
needs who might otherwise be overlooked; 
(ii) individuals who are at risk in 
camps, such as LGBTQI individuals; and 
(iii) individuals living in noncamp set-
tings; 
(2) work with national nongovernmental organi-
zations to identify referrals from smaller nongovern-
mental organizations to the United States Refugee 
Admissions Program; 
(3) direct resettlement support centers to facili-
tate and accept such referrals; 
(4) provide training for new referral partners to 
encourage new nongovernmental organizations to 
participate in resettlement; 
(5) ensure coordination with partners already 
working with refugees in the region; and 
(6) continue to implement robust fraud-preven-
tion measures as part of the establishment of refer-
ral structures under this subsection— 
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(A) to continue to safeguard the integrity 
of the United States Refugee Admissions Pro-
gram; and 
(B) to prevent corruption through manipu-
lation of the resettlement system. 
SEC. 2102. STRENGTHENING REGIONAL HUMANITARIAN RE-
SPONSES. 
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Sec-
retary, and in coordination with international partners, in-
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 
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(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 
(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. 2103. 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 
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(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; 
(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. 2104. 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 
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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 
(6) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives. 
SEC. 2105. 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— 
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(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; 
(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 
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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; 
(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-
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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. 
(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. 
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(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. 
(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 2106; 
(B) the Central American Minors Program 
described in section 2107; and 
(C) the Central American Family Reunifi-
cation Parole Program described in section 
2108. 
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(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-
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. 
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SEC. 2106. 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 the fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 
and 2027, not fewer than 100,000 nationals of El 
Salvador, 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— 
(A) the alien registers at a designated 
processing center on or before September 30, 
2027; 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-
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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 2105(b), who shall provide an alter-
native procedure for applicants who are unable to 
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-
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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. 
(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 
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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 
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 2105(d)(5). An ap-
plicant who has been denied status as a refugee of 
special humanitarian concern under this section may 
request 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-
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246 
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-
mitted by gangs or other organized criminal or-
ganizations; 
(C) a severe form of trafficking in persons; 
(D) a threat to life, physical or psycho-
logical integrity, including from adverse impacts 
on livelihoods and exceptional situations, such 
as environmental disasters, (including from the 
effects of climate change) for which there is no 
adequate remedy in the country of origin; or 
(E) 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 
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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.— 
(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) 
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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. 
(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 
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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— 
(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-
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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)— 
(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 appropriations Acts, the Secretary shall appoint such 
additional refugee officers as may be necessary to carry 
out this section. 
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SEC. 2107. 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; 
‘‘(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-
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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.). 
(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. 
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253 
(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. 
(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 
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254 
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. 
(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-
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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. 
(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. 2108. CENTRAL AMERICAN FAMILY REUNIFICATION 
PAROLE 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 2105(d)(5)— 
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(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; 
(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). 
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257 
(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 
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-
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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. 
SEC. 2109. 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. 
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259 
TITLE III—SPECIAL IMMIGRANT 
VISA PROGRAMS 
SEC. 3101. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM REPORT-
ING 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. 
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260 
(c) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under sub-
section (a) shall evaluate— 
(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; 
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261 
(F) the effect of uncertainty of visa avail-
ability on visa processing; 
(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 
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262 
(8) wherever possible, current and former em-
ployees of the offices referred to in paragraphs (1) 
through (6). 
SEC. 3102. 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-
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 (Public Law 
110–181; 8 U.S.C. 1157 note), section 602 of the Afghan 
Allies Protection Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–8; 8 
U.S.C. 1101 note), or section 308 of the Refugee Protec-
tion Act of 2022’’ after ‘‘who have entered the United 
States,’’. 
TITLE IV—NONDISCRIMINATION 
SEC. 4101. EXPANSION OF NONDISCRIMINATION PROVI-
SION. 
Section 202(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(a)(1)(A)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Except as specifically provided 
in paragraph (2) and in sections 101(a)(27), 
201(b)(2)(A)(i), and 203, no’’ and inserting ‘‘No’’; 
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263 
(2) by inserting ‘‘or a nonimmigrant visa, ad-
mission or other entry into the United States, or the 
approval or revocation of any immigration benefit’’ 
after ‘‘immigrant visa’’; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘religion,’’ after ‘‘sex,’’; and 
(4) by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘, except as specifically provided in para-
graph (2), in sections 101(a)(27), 201(b)(2)(A)(i), 
and 203, if otherwise expressly required by statute, 
or if a statutorily authorized benefit takes into con-
sideration such factors’’. 
SEC. 4102. TRANSFER AND LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITY TO 
SUSPEND OR RESTRICT THE ENTRY OF A 
CLASS OF ALIENS. 
Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND OR RESTRICT THE 
ENTRY OF A CLASS OF ALIENS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
if the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, determines, based 
on specific and credible facts, that the entry of any 
aliens or any class of aliens into the United States 
would undermine the security or public safety of the 
United States or the preservation of human rights, 
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264 
democratic processes or institutions, or international 
stability, the President may temporarily— 
‘‘(A) suspend the entry of such aliens or 
class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants; 
or 
‘‘(B) impose any restrictions on the entry 
of such aliens that the President deems appro-
priate. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.—In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the President, the Secretary of State, and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall— 
‘‘(A) only issue a suspension or restriction 
when required to address specific acts impli-
cating a compelling government interest in a 
factor identified in paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) narrowly tailor the suspension or re-
striction, using the least restrictive means, to 
achieve such compelling government interest; 
‘‘(C) specify the duration of the suspension 
or restriction; 
‘‘(D) consider waivers to any class-based 
restriction or suspension and apply a rebuttable 
presumption in favor of granting family-based 
and humanitarian waivers; and 
‘‘(E) comply with all provisions of this Act. 
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