Title: Hurricane Eta Relief Act of 2020
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
Hurricane Eta Relief Act of 2020
This bill designates Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala as temporary protected status (TPS) countries for 18 months from the enactment of this bill. (Qualified nationals of a TPS-designated country shall have work authorization and may not be removed from the United States while the designation is in effect.)
A national of one of these countries shall qualify for temporary protected status if the individual (1) has been continuously physically present in the United States since the bill's enactment, (2) meets certain admissibility and eligibility requirements generally required for such status, and (3) registers with the Department of Homeland Security.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8793 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8793

 To designate Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala under section 244 of 
      the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 19, 2020

   Ms. Velazquez (for herself, Mr. Sires, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. Watson 
Coleman, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Meng, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Escobar, Ms. 
 Norton, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Titus, Ms. Garcia of Texas, 
Mrs. Torres of California, Mr. Welch, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Takano, and Mr. 
   Pallone) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To designate Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala under section 244 of 
      the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hurricane Eta Relief Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION FOR PURPOSES OF GRANTING TEMPORARY PROTECTED 
              STATUS.

    (a) Designation.--
            (1) In general.--For purposes of section 244 of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a), the countries 
        described in paragraph (2) shall be treated as if each had been 
        designated under subsection (b)(1)(B) of that section, subject 
        to the provisions of this section.
            (2) Countries.--The countries described in this paragraph 
        are the following:
                    (A) Nicaragua.
                    (B) Honduras.
                    (C) Guatemala.
            (3) Period of designation.--The initial period of the 
        designation referred to in paragraph (1) shall be for the 18-
        month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.
    (b) Aliens Eligible.--As a result of the designation made under 
subsection (a), an alien who is a national of any country described in 
paragraph (2) is deemed to satisfy the requirements under paragraph (1) 
of section 244(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1254a(c)), subject to paragraph (3) of such section, if the alien--
            (1) has been continuously physically present in the United 
        States since the date of the enactment of this Act;
            (2) is admissible as an immigrant, except as otherwise 
        provided in paragraph (2)(A) of such section, and is not 
        ineligible for temporary protected status under paragraph 
        (2)(B) of such section; and
            (3) registers for temporary protected status in a manner 
        established by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
    (c) Consent To Travel Abroad.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
        give prior consent to travel abroad, in accordance with section 
        244(f)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1254a(f)(3)), to an alien who is granted temporary protected 
        status pursuant to the designation made under subsection (a) if 
        the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security that emergency and extenuating circumstances 
        beyond the control of the alien require the alien to depart for 
        a brief, temporary trip abroad.
            (2) Treatment upon return.--An alien returning to the 
        United States in accordance with an authorization described in 
        paragraph (1) shall be treated as any other returning alien 
        provided temporary protected status under section 244 of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a).
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