USA Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2367
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2018-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Aquatic ecology
Arizona
Assault and harassment offenses
Border security and unlawful immigration
California
Canada
Child safety and welfare
Citizenship and naturalization
Colombia
Congressional oversight
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
El Salvador
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency communications systems
Federal officials
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign labor
Forests, forestry, trees
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Guatemala
Higher education
Honduras
Human rights
Human trafficking
Immigration status and procedures
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Lakes and rivers
Latin America
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mexico
Military personnel and dependents
Multilateral development programs
New Mexico
Organized crime
Pest management
Preschool education
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Rule of law and government transparency
Sex offenses
Smuggling and trafficking
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Telephone and wireless communication
Texas
User charges and fees
Violent crime
Visas and passports
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: 

Uniting and Securing America Act of 2018
 
or the USA Act of 2018

 
This bill provides conditional permanent resident status for an alien meeting specified requirements, including having entered the United States when younger than 18 years old and residing in the United States since December 31, 2013.
 
An individual may apply to have such conditional basis removed after meeting specified eligibility requirements.
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall cancel the removal of, and adjust to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence on a conditional basis, an individual who was granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, unless such individual has engaged in disqualifying conduct. 
 
The bill repeals provisions that deny an unlawful alien eligibility for higher education benefits on the basis of residence within a state unless a U.S. citizen or national is eligible for such benefits without regard to whether such citizen or national is such a resident.
 
DHS shall: (1) deploy the most practical and effective technology available in order to achieve situational awareness and operational control along the U.S. border; (2) submit to Congress a comprehensive southern border strategy to achieve border control; and (3) begin eradicating the carrizo cane plant and salt cedar along the Rio Grande River and the Lower Colorado River. 
 
DHS may construct new ports of entry along the northern and southern borders. 
 
The bill establishes Operation Stonegarden in DHS to provide border security grants to law enforcement agencies in border or maritime border states that are involved in U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations 
 
DHS shall establish a two-year grant program to improve emergency communications in the southern border region for individuals who are at risk of violence and lack cellular and LTE network service. 
 
The number of immigration judges is increased.
 
The President shall designate a senior official (Coordinator) to coordinate federal and international efforts to strengthen citizen security, the rule of law, and economic prosperity in Central America.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate