Freedom for Refugees Escaping Enmity (FREE) Act

Bill: 115-hr-1075
Sponsor: Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced: 2017-02-15 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Africa
Border security and unlawful immigration
Executive agency funding and structure
Immigration status and procedures
Iran
Iraq
Libya
Middle East
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports
Yemen

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-15
text: 

Freedom for Refugees Escaping Enmity (FREE) Act

 
This bill nullifies Executive Order 13769, entitled &quot;Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.&quot; No federal funds may be used to implement or enforce any of the policy changes set forth in such order. 
 
Among the order's major provisions are restrictions on the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants from seven countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) and additional limitations on refugee admissions to the United States. 
 
The Department of Homeland Security shall release any alien in custody under authority of such order. Visas or documentation that were revoked or refused under authority of such order shall be reissued or reconsidered as appropriate unless a consular officer knows, or has reason to believe, that the alien is ineligible to receive the visa or documentation under any provision of the immigration laws.
 
The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended to prohibit an alien from being given immigration visa preference, being discriminated against, or being denied U.S. entry or admission based upon religion or lack of religious beliefs.
 
The President may may not exercise his or her authority to suspend or restrict the U.S. entry of aliens or classes of aliens so as to modify the entry, reentry, or admission requirements of an alien having a valid and unexpired: (1) immigrant or nonimmigrant visa, or (2) refugee or legal permanent resident status. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2017-02-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2017-02-15
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-15
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-15
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-15
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-15
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-02-15
text: Introduced in House