Closing Asylum Loopholes Act

Bill: 116-hr-517
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4]
Introduced: 2019-01-11
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Administrative remedies

Foreign language and bilingual programs

Immigration status and procedures

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Sound recording
Latest action: action_date: 2019-02-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-01-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Closing Asylum Loopholes Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires an alien's &quot;credible fear of persecution&quot; to be more probable than not in order to be eligible for asylum. It also directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that the questions asked in expedited removal proceedings are done so in a uniform manner, and to record interviews in expedited removal and asylum proceedings. </p> <p>If an asylum seeker needs an interpreter, DHS shall ensure that a competent interpreter is used who is not affiliated with the government of the country the alien is seeking asylum frrom. <br> </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 517 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 11, 2019 Mr. Johnson of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To close loopholes in the immigration laws that serve as incentives to aliens to attempt to enter the United States unlawfully, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Closing Asylum Loopholes Act . 2. Credible fear interviews Section 235(b)(1)(B)(v) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B)(v) ) is amended by striking claim and all that follows, and inserting claim, as determined pursuant to section 208(b)(1)(B)(iii), and such other facts as are known to the officer, that the alien could establish eligibility for asylum under section 208, and it is more probable than not that the statements made by, and on behalf of, the alien in support of the alien’s claim are true. . 3. Jurisdiction of asylum applications Section 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 ) is amended by striking subparagraph (C). 4. Recording expedited removal and credible fear interviews (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish quality assurance procedures and take steps to effectively ensure that questions by employees of the Department of Homeland Security exercising expedited removal authority under section 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b) ) are asked in a uniform manner, to the extent possible, and that both these questions and the answers provided in response to them are recorded in a uniform fashion. (b) Factors relating to sworn statements Where practicable, any sworn or signed written statement taken of an alien as part of the record of a proceeding under section 235(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(A) ) shall be accompanied by a recording of the interview which served as the basis for that sworn statement. (c) Interpreters The Secretary shall ensure that a competent interpreter, not affiliated with the government of the country from which the alien may claim asylum, is used when the interviewing officer does not speak a language understood by the alien. (d) Recordings in immigration proceedings There shall be an audio or audio visual recording of interviews of aliens subject to expedited removal. The recording shall be included in the record of proceeding and shall be considered as evidence in any further proceedings involving the alien. (e) No private right of action Nothing in this section shall be construed to create any right, benefit, trust, or responsibility, whether substantive or procedural, enforceable in law or equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any person, nor does this section create any right of review in any administrative, judicial, or other proceeding.