PROMISE Act

Bill: 108-s-1609
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2003-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Alien labor
Aliens
Child support
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Labor and Employment
Law
Parent and child
Paternity
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: 
Parental Responsibility Obligations Met through Immigration System Enforcement Act or PROMISE Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) make an alien excludable from U.S. admission for nonpayment of child support (permits admission upon satisfaction of payments or in compliance with a payment schedule); (2) authorize an immigration officer to serve an alien with legal process in child support cases; and (3) include nonpayment of child support among the considerations for failure of an alien to establish good moral character.
 
Amends the Social Security Act to authorize the disclosure of an alien's child support-related information to the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Secretary of State.

action_date: 2004-05-13
text: 
Parental Responsibility Obligations Met through Immigration System Enforcement Act or PROMISE Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to render aliens inadmissible for nonpayment of child support if arrearages exceed a specified amount unless payments are satisfied or the alien is in compliance with an approved payment agreement.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to parole such inadmissible aliens into the United States if parole is essential to the fulfillment of child support and the alien is placed in removal proceedings, has authorized employment, and is otherwise admissible. Prohibits entry of a final removal order against such aliens during the pendency of State court child support proceedings.
 
Adds nonpayment of child support to the INA's list of conduct barring a finding that an alien is a person of good moral character unless support payments are satisfied or the alien is in compliance with an approved payment agreement.
 
Authorizes immigration officers to serve process in child support or paternity cases on aliens seeking admission.
 
Amends the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, upon request by the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, or Secretary of State, to provide authorized persons with information that may aid alien child support delinquency determinations. Prohibits the further disclosure of such information other than for Federal law enforcement purposes. Authorizes disciplinary action and civil penalties for unauthorized disclosures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 511.
action_date: 2004-05-13
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2004-05-13
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2004-05-13
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11418)
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11417-11418)
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate