Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-3048
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2019-12-12
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor

Immigration status and procedures

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Latest action: action_date: 2019-12-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7030)

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-12-12
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide employment authorization for eligible asylum applicants. Currently, such individuals are not entitled to employment authorization but may be granted such by the Department of Justice. </p> <p>DHS shall grant employment authorization to an asylum seeker (1) who is not in detention, (2) whose application for asylum has not been deemed frivolous, and (3) whose identity has been checked against certain databases. Such employment authorization shall last for one year and be renewable for one-year terms during the period necessary to adjudicate the applicant's asylum claim.</p> <p>The bill also shortens the waiting period for receiving employment authorization to 30 days from the filing of the asylum application.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3048 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 12, 2019 Ms. Collins (for herself and Ms. Sinema ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To authorize certain aliens seeking asylum to be employed in the United States while their applications are being adjudicated.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2019 . 2. Employment authorization for aliens seeking asylum Section 208(d)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(2) is amended to read as follows: (2) Employment authorization (A) Eligibility The Secretary of Homeland Security shall authorize employment for an applicant for asylum— (i) who is not in detention; (ii) whose application for asylum has not been determined frivolous; and (iii) with respect to whom the procedures required under paragraph (5)(A)(i) have been completed. (B) Application The Secretary may not grant employment authorization under this paragraph to an applicant for asylum who is not otherwise eligible for employment authorization until 30 days after the date on which the applicant filed an application for asylum. (C) Term Employment authorization under this paragraph— (i) shall be for a period of 1 year; and (ii) shall be renewable for additional 1-year periods while the applicant’s asylum claim is being adjudicated, including administrative or judicial review. .