Venezuela TPS Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-161
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
Introduced: 2021-01-04
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Foreign labor

Immigration status and procedures

Latin America

Travel and tourism

User charges and fees

Venezuela
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-01-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Venezuela TPS Act of 2021 </b></p> <p>This bill permits nationals of Venezuela to qualify for temporary protected status, which prevents their removal from the United States and allows them to obtain employment and travel authorization. Such status shall be available to qualifying nationals of Venezuela for 18 months starting from this bill's enactment.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 161 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 4, 2021 Mr. Soto (for himself, Mr. Diaz-Balart , and Ms. Wasserman Schultz ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committee on the Budget , 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 A BILL To designate Venezuela under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit nationals of Venezuela to be eligible for temporary protected status under such section, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Venezuela TPS Act of 2021 . 2. Designation for purposes of granting temporary protected status (a) Designation (1) In general For purposes of section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1254a ), Venezuela shall be treated as if it had been designated under subsection (b)(1)(C) of that section, subject to the provisions of this section. (2) Period of designation The initial period of the designation referred to in paragraph (1) shall be for the 18-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Aliens eligible As a result of the designation made under subsection (a), an alien who is a national of Venezuela is deemed to satisfy the requirements under paragraph (1) of section 244(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c) ), subject to paragraph (3) of such section, if the alien— (1) has been continuously physically present in the United States since the date of the enactment of this Act; (2) is admissible as an immigrant, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2)(A) of such section, and is not ineligible for temporary protected status under paragraph (2)(B) of such section; and (3) registers for temporary protected status in a manner established by the Secretary of Homeland Security. (c) Consent To travel abroad (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall give prior consent to travel abroad, in accordance with section 244(f)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1254a(f)(3) ), to an alien who is granted temporary protected status pursuant to the designation made under subsection (a) if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Homeland Security that emergency and extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the alien require the alien to depart for a brief, temporary trip abroad. (2) Treatment upon return An alien returning to the United States in accordance with an authorization described in paragraph (1) shall be treated as any other returning alien provided temporary protected status under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1254a ). (d) Fee (1) In general In addition to any other fee authorized by law, the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to charge and collect a fee of $360 for each application for temporary protected status under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act by a person who is only eligible for such status by reason of subsection (a). (2) Waiver The Secretary of Homeland Security shall permit aliens to apply for a waiver of any fees associated with filing an application referred to in paragraph (1). 3. Determination of budgetary effects The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled “Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation” for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.