zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Stopping Trained in America Ph.D.s From Leaving the Economy Act of 2015 or the STAPLE Act 

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt from: (1) direct numerical limitations aliens who have earned a Ph.D. degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from a U.S. institution of higher education and who have an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to such degree; and (2) H-1B visa (specialty occupation) numerical limitations aliens who have a U.S. STEM Ph.D. and with respect to whom the petitioning employer requires such an education.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act of 2015 or the SAFE for America Act

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program.

Date: 2015-05-12
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Accountability in Immigration Detention Act of 2015

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that persons detained pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act are treated in compliance with specified requirements regarding: (1) humane treatment, (2) detention facility standards, (3) solitary confinement limitations, (4) telephone access, (5) facility location, (6) investigation of grievances, (7) transfers, (8) language and translation services, (9) recreational programs and voluntary work, (10) medical care, (11) vulnerable populations, and (12) legal access.

Directs the Secretary to establish nationwide alternatives to detention programs that incorporate case management services in each DHS field office to ensure appearances at immigration proceedings and public safety.

States that the number of detention beds maintained shall be determined by the Secretary and shall be based solely on detention needs.

Expresses the sense of Congress that appropriations Acts shall not mandate maintenance of a minimum number of detention beds.

Requires that all detention facilities be inspected by the Secretary on an annual basis and by an independent (third party) auditor on a biannual basis.

Directs the Secretary to impose meaningful financial penalties upon facilities that fail to comply with applicable detention standards.

Date: 2015-05-13
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
This bill amends titles XI and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow a state to delay or deny an individual's initial eligibility for Medicaid benefits without providing a reasonable opportunity to submit evidence of a satisfactory immigration status or pending official verification of such status. A state that elects to provide a reasonable period for an individual to provide such evidence may not receive payment for amounts expended on the individual's medical assistance during that period.

Date: 2015-05-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Health
Opportunity for Military Academies and Readiness Act 

Authorizes an alien who possesses an employment authorization document issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy of the Department of Homeland Security and who otherwise satisfies the requirements for admission to a military service academy, other than U.S. citizenship, to be appointed to and to attend such academy and, upon graduation, to be appointed as a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces.

Date: 2015-05-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the earned income tax credit to an alien who has been granted deferred action from removal in any taxable year in which such alien was not lawfully present in the United States or not authorized to work. The bill requires the Commissioner of Social Security to provide the Internal Revenue Service with information on social security account numbers granted to aliens under the deferred action from removal program.

Date: 2015-05-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Taxation
Stop Birth Tourism Act of 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize a consular officer or the Secretary of State to require that a nonimmigrant B-visa alien (temporary tourist or business visitor) provide a certification from a health care provider that the alien is not pregnant, or, if the alien is pregnant, regarding the status of the pregnancy.

Such an alien who is pregnant and likely to give birth in the United States is inadmissible.

Date: 2015-05-20
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Our Communities, Our Choices Act of 2015

Amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to require consultation with state and local elected officials and a public hearing before awarding grants or contracts to provide non-federal housing facilities for unaccompanied alien children.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Better Agriculture Resources Now Act or the BARN Act

Revises the H-2A nonimmigrant agricultural worker visa program, including with respect to: (1) agricultural labor and services, (2) application requirements, (3) wages, (4) period of authorized nonimmigrant status, (5) housing, (6) legal assistance, and (7) violations.

Date: 2015-06-01
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act of 2015

Makes 3,000 immigrant visas available in FY2016-FY2018 for individuals who were born in Tibet and have been continuously residing in India or Nepal prior to the date of the enactment of this Act.

Considers an individual to be a native of Tibet if such individual was born in Tibet or is the son, daughter, grandson, or granddaughter of an individual born in Tibet.

 Provides derivative status for accompanying/following spouses and children.

Date: 2015-06-04
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Training Highly Skilled Americans Act of 2015 

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish in the Treasury the STEM Education and Training Account.

Requires employers to submit along with an application for a certification a $1,000 fee (to be deposited in the STEM Education and Training Account).

Sets aside specified amounts for: (1) a low-income STEM scholarship program, (2) K-12 STEM education, and (3) STEM capacity building at minority-serving institutions.

Authorizes grants to eligible entities for American Dream Accounts for a group of low-income students.

Date: 2015-06-04
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Visa Waiver Program Enhanced Security and Reform Act

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding the visa waiver program to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate any country as a program country; (2) adjust visa refusal rate criteria, including addition of a 3% maximum overstay rate; and (3) revise probationary and termination provisions.

Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress: (1) an evaluation of the security risks of aliens who enter the United States without an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization verification, and (2) a description of any improvements needed to minimize the number of aliens who enter the United States without such verification.

 Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary, in evaluating visa waiver program countries, should prioritize the reviews of countries in which circumstances indicate that such review is necessary or desirable.

Date: 2015-06-08
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that a returning H-2B alien (temporary nonagricultural worker) who has already been counted toward the applicable numerical limitation during one of the three preceding fiscal years: (1) shall not again be counted toward such limitation during a fiscal year, but (2) shall be considered a returning worker.

Date: 2015-06-12
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Karl Hoerig Foreign Aid Suspension Act

Prohibits assistance to Brazil until the President certifies to Congress that the government of Brazil has removed the prohibition on extradition of Brazilian nationals to other countries.

Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition on a case-by-case basis if in the U.S. national interest.

Date: 2015-06-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: International affairs
End Immuity for Brazilian Criminals Act 

Prohibits the issuance of a visa to a citizen, subject, national, or resident of Brazil until the President certifies to Congress that the government of Brazil has removed the prohibition on extradition of Brazilian nationals to other countries.

Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition on a case-by-case basis if in the U.S. national interest.

Date: 2015-06-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act

 Requires the Department of Homeland Security to work with the heads of other relevant federal agencies to conduct a review of refugee processing with the goal of streamlining processing, consistent with maintaining security.

 Requires the Department of State (Department) to establish overseas refugee English language and work orientation training programs prior to the departure for the United States of refugees who have been approved for U.S. admission.

Permits: (1) refugees (and their spouses and children) to be admitted to the United States as lawful permanent residents, and (2) asylum seekers (and their spouses and children) to be granted lawful permanent residency.

 Requires the Department when setting the amount of reception and placement grants to: (1) adjust the grant amount to account for anticipated initial refugee resettlement needs, and (2) ensure that funding is provided to national resettlement agencies at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should appoint a White House Coordinator on Refugee Protection.

Requires the Office of Refugee Resettlement to make grants to national resettlement agencies to operate a case management system to assist individuals access eligible services, benefits, and assistance provided by the Office, federal, state, or local agencies, and private or nonprofit organizations.

Requires the Office, subject to available appropriations, to provide refugees with a minimum of 12 months' assistance and social services for employment, health, and living expenses.

Authorizes the Office to award grants to community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and resettlement agencies for programs to assist newcomers integrate into U.S. civic life.

Expands eligibility for, and participation in, the refugee matching grant program (federal-private refugee assistance).

Establishes a Domestic Emergency Refugee Resettlement Fund to meet unanticipated refugee resettlement needs.

Makes SSI (supplemental security income) benefits available to qualified aliens, U-visa aliens (victim of criminal activity), or certain T-visa aliens (victims of trafficking in persons) who were ineligible for such benefits because of their failure to acquire citizenship within seven years.

Makes a child who has been granted special immigrant status as a victim of criminal activity (U-visa) eligible for specified refugee benefits.

Date: 2015-06-17
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Immigration Slush Fund Elimination Act of 2015 

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide that the following fees shall be miscellaneous receipts to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury:

 asylum fees, nonimmigrant nurse fees, employer fees, additional employer fees, Department of State and Department of Homeland Security fraud prevention and detection fees, visa waiver program fees, temporary protected status fees, adjustment of status fees, administrative fines and penalties, the genealogy fee, the premium fee for employment-based petitions and applications, biometric entry and data system fees, and nonimmigrant foreign student fees. Authority for the visa waiver program travel promotion fee is extended through September 30, 2015.

 Fee disposition provisions are revised.

Fee revenues in all of the accounts under section 286 of INA, as of the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury on the effective date provided for by this Act.

All of the accounts authorized under such section (including the Immigration User Fee Account and the Land Border Inspection Account), as of the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be terminated on such date.

Date: 2015-06-18
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Requires the Government Accountability Office to study the effectiveness of the Office of Refugee Resettlement's domestic refugee resettlement programs.

Requires the Office to: (1) ensure that refugee assistance is provided to qualifying refugees who are secondary migrants; (2) report to Congress regarding states experiencing departures and arrivals due to secondary migration; and (3) expand the Office's data analysis, collection, and sharing activities to include data on mental and physical medical cases, housing needs, and refugee employment.

Requires the Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services to provide refugee resettlement guidance to appropriate national, state, and local entities.

Date: 2015-06-18
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Visa Overstay Enforcement Act of 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to subject any alien who remains in the United States after any visa or status under which the alien is lawfully present has expired to: (1) a fine or imprisonment for up to six months, or both, for a first offense; and (2) a fine or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, for any subsequent offense.

 Such penalties shall be waived if the overstay was due to medical necessity, public safety, or national security.

An alien convicted of a first offense may not be admitted to the United States for 5 years or granted a visa for 10 years.

 An alien convicted of a subsequent offense may not be admitted to the United States at all or granted a visa.

Date: 2015-06-23
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Adoptive Family Relief Act

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to declare that if an immigrant visa was issued on or after March 27, 2013, for a child who has been lawfully adopted, or who is coming to the United States to be adopted, by a U.S. citizen, any statutory immigrant visa fees relating to a renewal or replacement of such visa may be waived or refunded if:

 the child was unable to use the original immigrant visa during the period of its validity as a direct result of extraordinary circumstances, including the denial of an exit permit; and such inability was attributable to factors beyond the control of the adopting parent or parents.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Stop Catch and Release Act of 2015

This legislation amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require mandatory detention of any alien who is unlawfully present in the United States and arrested for inadmissible or deportable crimes.

The bill transfers release authority from the Department of Justice to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS may release the alien to an appropriate authority for proceedings related to the arrest, but DHS must resume custody for any period that the alien is not in custody of the appropriate authority. If the alien is not convicted of crimes for which the alien was arrested, then DHS must continue to detain the alien until removal proceedings are completed.

DHS must complete the removal proceedings within 90 days.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2015 or the CLEAR Act of 2015 

States that: (1) state and local law enforcement personnel, in the course of their routine duties, have the inherent authority to investigate, apprehend, or transfer to federal custody aliens in the United States (including interstate transportation of such aliens to detention centers) in order to assist in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws; and (2) effective two years after enactment of this Act, a state that has in effect a statute, policy, or practice prohibiting such law enforcement assistance shall not receive certain federal incarceration assistance.

Provides for the listing of immigration violators in the National Crime Information Center database.

Directs states and localities to provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with specified information about apprehended aliens who are believed to be in violation of U.S. immigration laws. Provides federal reimbursement for related state and local costs. (States that such provision shall not require state or local enforcement officials to provide DHS with information related to a victim of a crime or witness to a criminal offense.)

Directs DHS to make grants to states and political subdivisions that enforce immigration laws in the course of their routine law enforcement duties for special equipment and facilities related to arresting, detaining, or transporting illegal aliens.

Directs DHS to: (1) construct or acquire 20 additional detention facilities for aliens detained pending removal (or a decision on removal), and (2) consider the transfer of military installations under base closure laws for such purposes.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding illegal aliens apprehended by state or local authorities to provide for: (1) federal custody upon state or local request, and (2) state or local compensation for related incarceration and transportation costs.

Directs the Department of Justice or DHS to ensure that the detention of an alien subject to removal is in an adequate state or local prison, detention center, or other comparable facility prior to his or her removal examination.

Directs DHS to establish immigration-related training for state and local personnel.

Provides: (1) personal liability immunity to the same extent as corresponding federal immunity for state or local personnel enforcing immigration laws within the scope of their duties under this Act, and (2) civil rights money damage immunity for state or local agencies enforcing immigration laws unless their personnel violated criminal law in such enforcement.

Continues the institutional removal program, which shall be expanded to all states.

Authorizes state or local detention of an illegal alien after completion of such alien's prison sentence for: (1) up to 14 days to facilitate federal transfer, or (2) until transfer to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2016 and subsequent fiscal years for the state criminal alien assistance program.

Date: 2015-07-08
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Act 

Prohibits a state or local government from receiving federal financial assistance for a minimum of one year if it restricts or prohibits a government entity or official from: (1) sending to or receiving from the responsible federal immigration agency information regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status, or (2) maintaining or exchanging information about an individual's status.

Restores assistance eligibility upon a Department of Justice (DOJ) determination that the jurisdiction no longer restricts or prohibits such actions.

Directs DOJ to report each year to Congress regarding state or local jurisdictions that restrict or prohibit such actions.

Date: 2015-07-09
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act

(Sec. 2) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make a state or local subdivision ineligible for state criminal alien assistance program funding if it: (1) has in effect any law, policy, or procedure prohibiting or restricting communication with the Immigration and Naturalization Service or other government entity regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status; or (2) prohibits state or local law enforcement officials from gathering information regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status.

(Sec. 3) Withholds specified Department of Justice funds (for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, the Community-Oriented Policing Services program, and the Byrne JAG program) under parts Q and E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 from such states or local subdivisions.

Date: 2015-07-09
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Establishing Mandatory Minimums for Illegal Reentry Act of 2015 or Kate's Law

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase penalties applicable to aliens who unlawfully reenter the United States after being removed.

Date: 2015-07-09
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Notario Victim Relief Act

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the time limit on the filing of a motion to reopen a removal proceeding if the basis of the motion is fraud, negligence, misrepresentation, or extortion by, or the attempted, promised, or actual practice of law without authorization on the part of, a representative.

Date: 2015-07-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Sanctuary City All Funding Elimination Act of 2015 or the SAFE Act of 2015

This bill prohibits a state or local government from receiving federal financial assistance if it restricts or prohibits a government entity or official from: (1) sending to or receiving from the responsible federal immigration agency information regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status, or (2) maintaining or exchanging information about an individual's status.

 The prohibition shall be lifted when a state or local government submits a comprehensive plan to no longer restrict or prohibit such actions.

Date: 2015-07-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Tax Credit Accountability Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the earned income tax credit to any alien individual who is in an unlawful immigration status at any point during the taxable year.

Date: 2015-07-21
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Taxation
Arrest Statistics Reporting Act of 2015

This bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to publish annually and make publicly available a report that includes for each person arrested during the preceding year, and for whom a request was submitted to the Law Enforcement Support Center or any potential matches forwarded under the information sharing program between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, the following information:

 the person's nationality and immigration status, and the offense for which the person was arrested. The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall:

 revise the Uniform Crime Reports to require that each arrest report shall include such published arrest information, and publish a summary of the data which shall include a table containing the National Crime Information Center offense codes and the corresponding occurrences for each nationality and immigration status category.

Date: 2015-07-22
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Kerrie Orozco Act

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to declare that the following persons may be naturalized upon compliance with all naturalization requirements, except that no prior residence or specified physical presence within the United States shall be required:

 a person who is the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen who died as a result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by employment as a first responder; and in the case of such a surviving spouse, the person was living in marital union with the citizen spouse at the time of the citizen spouse's death. The Department of Homeland Security shall provide for the granting of posthumous citizenship at the time of death to a person who, while an alien or a noncitizen national of the United States, died as a result of injury or disease incurred or aggravated while serving as a first responder.

Date: 2015-07-22
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Safer DC Act of 2015

This bill requires the District of Columbia, upon an individual's arrest, to give the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) information necessary to determine the individual's citizenship and immigration status, including name, aliases, and fingerprints.

Upon receiving this information DHS shall:

 issue a detainer requiring the District to detain the alien for up to 48 hours after the conclusion of any criminal or other legal proceeding under District law, or after completion of any term of imprisonment to which the alien may be sentenced under District law; and take the alien into custody upon release from District custody. Upon receipt of a DHS detainer the District shall hold an arrested alien for up to 48 hours: (1) following conclusion of the District's charging or dismissal proceeding, or (2) after the alien has completed the his or her sentence.

 If DHS fails to issue a detainer, no DHS political appointee may perform certain functions until the alien in question has been taken into custody.

Any District officer, acting in his or her official capacity, who knowingly violates the notification or detention requirements under this Act shall pay a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each such violation.

Date: 2015-07-22
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
New American Success Act of 2015 

 This bill states that it is U.S. policy to promote the civic, linguistic, and economic integration of immigrants and their young children into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall award Initial Entry, Adjustment, and Citizenship Assistance grants to units of local government, community-based organizations, or public or private nonprofit organizations that provide direct assistance to immigrants to the United States.

Such grants shall be available for 10 fiscal years beginning with FY2018.

Assistance shall be available to a non-citizen who is seeking: (1) permanent residency or naturalization, or (2) relief from removal in order to remain lawfully in the United States.

 DHS may make grants on a competitive basis to state or local governments to improve the economic, linguistic, and civic integration of immigrants and their children. Such grants shall be available for 10 fiscal years beginning with FY2018.

The bill establishes in the Treasury the Integration Success Fund.

The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended to revise the waiver of the English language naturalization requirement for senior individuals.

Date: 2015-07-23
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Restore the Oath of Allegiance Act

This bill requires that the naturalization oath of allegiance be the same formulation, subject to the same potential omissions or alterations, as the formulation of the oath administered on July 20, 2015.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Resettlement Accountability National Security Act of 2015

This bill prohibits the admission of refugees into the United States until Congress passes a joint resolution giving the Department of Homeland Security authority to resume admitting refugees.

Requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on refugees who received benefits under any of the following programs:

 Medicare, Medicaid, disability insurance under title II of the Social Security Act, the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly the food stamp program), and section 8 rental assistance.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Entrepreneurial Businesses Creating Jobs Act of 2015 or the EB-JOBS Act of 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make conditional permanent resident (EB-6) visas (adjustable to permanent resident after two years) available to qualifying venture capital-backed and self-sponsored startup entrepreneurs based upon specified investment, job creation, and commercial activity requirements.

Permanent resident (EB-7) visas shall be made available to nonimmigrant treaty investors holding an E-2 visa who: (1) have maintained such status for at least 10 years, and (2) created full-time employment for at least 5 U.S. workers for at least 10 years.

EB-6 and EB-7 visa holders are exempted from worldwide immigration limits.

An alien who is eligible to receive an EB-6 or EB-7 visa may adjust to permanent resident status if he or she was present in the United States on the date of the enactment of this Act and has been continuously present since that date.

The EB-5 employment creation regional center program is made permanent with a set-aside of at least 5,000 visas.

A regional center shall: (1) have jurisdiction over a specific geographic area, which shall be consistent with the purpose of concentrating pooled investment in defined economic zones; and (2) certify compliance with U.S. securities laws, and supervise all offers, purchases, and sales of securities made by associated commercial enterprises to ensure securities compliance.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall terminate the designation of any regional center that does not provide such certification on an annual basis.

DHS shall deny or revoke the designation of a regional center if the center's program participation presents: (1) a threat to public safety or national security; or (2) a significant risk of criminal misuse, fraud, or abuse.

DHS shall: (1) establish a procedure for pre-approval of new commercial enterprises, (2) impose a fee for regional center designation, and (3) perform site visits.

Immigrant visa set-asides for job creation in a target employment area are revised to require:

 at least 2,000 visas for rural areas; at least 4,000 visas for high unemployment areas; and at least 2,000 visas for a county with a 20% or more population decrease since 1970, an area within a state or federal economic development incentive program, or an area within a military installation closed pursuant to a base closure law. Concurrent filing for adjustment of status is authorized for persons applying for EB-5, EB-6, and EB-7 visas.

The Immigrant Entrepreneur Account is established in the Treasury to collect from, and use for, the EB-5 and EB-6 programs, together with a premium processing fee.

Additional EB-5 visas shall be made available each year in which the annual cap is reached unless a joint resolution of Congress is enacted finding that such an increase is not needed.

The J-1 visa waiver (for Conrad state 30/medical services in under served areas) program is made permanent.

The E-verify and special immigrant non minister religious worker programs are reauthorized.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
This bill authorizes the governor of a state to withhold federal financial assistance from a local government unit in the state that has not complied with the immigration laws.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, in the case of an alien subject to removal, deportation, or exclusion and who is the parent of a U.S. citizen child, to authorize an immigration judge to decline to order such removal if the judge determines that action to be against the child's best interests.

States that such discretion shall not apply to an alien when the judge determines that the alien: (1) is excludable or deportable on security grounds, or (2) has engaged in sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking in persons.

Date: 2015-07-31
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend posthumous citizenship to an otherwise qualified noncitizen who enlisted, reenlisted, extended enlistment, or was inducted into the U.S. Armed Forces in the Philippines and died as a result of such active duty service during the period September 1, 1939-December 31, 1946.

The executive department under which a person served shall determine whether the person satisfied the requirements for posthumous citizenship.

Specified naturalization and other posthumous benefit provisions shall not apply to the surviving spouse, child, or parent of such a person.

Date: 2015-09-08
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to prohibit an alien who is not in a lawful immigration status from being eligible for any postsecondary education benefit unless every citizen and national of this country is eligible to receive that benefit in no less of an amount, duration, or scope. (This replaces a prohibition against a state's offering such aliens postsecondary benefits on the basis of their residence in the state that are more generous than those offered citizens or naturals of this country without regard to their state residence.)

Allows any citizen or national who is enrolled at a postsecondary educational institution that is alleged to have violated that prohibition to bring a civil action against any state official overseeing the institution to obtain appropriate relief, attorneys' fees, and court costs.

Date: 2015-09-18
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act of 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the President, after appropriate consultation with certain congressional committees, to recommend to Congress the number of refugees who may be admitted into the United States in a fiscal year.

Except in the case of an unforeseen emergency refugee situation, no refugees may be admitted in a fiscal year until Congress enacts a joint resolution setting the number of refugees who may be admitted in that fiscal year.

In determining an alien's admissibility on security and related grounds the Department of Homeland Security shall consult with the Director of National Intelligence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Beginning in FY2016 and ending in FY2020, the President, when considering the admission of refugees who are nationals or citizens of Iraq or Syria, shall give priority to members of a persecuted religious minority.

The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the refugee screening process in protecting U.S. security.

Date: 2015-09-18
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Protect Family Values at the Border Act 

Directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) consider safety and family concerns in any action related to the repatriation or prosecution of individuals apprehended for immigration violations, and (2) provide related training for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and cooperating entity personnel.

Directs DHS, with certain exceptions, to submit to Congress every 180 days written certification that DHS has deported or otherwise removed an apprehended individual from the United States through an entry or exit point on the southern border only during daylight hours.

Directs DHS to promulgate regulations establishing short-term custody standards providing for basic minimums of care at all CBP facilities holding individuals in CBP custody.

Date: 2015-09-24
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act

Directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) require the appropriate training of all personnel who come into contact with unaccompanied alien children, and (2) hire child welfare professionals.

Sets forth related protections for such children regarding: (1) prompt placement with the Office of Refugee Resettlement, (2) qualified resources and child welfare professionals at appropriate ports of entry and stations, (3) confidentiality of information, (4) notice of rights and access to counsel, (5) separation from non-family member adults, and (6) the presence of female officers during the transfer and transport of female detainees.

Directs the U.S. Agency for International Development to ensure that programs in the United States and within the country of return support the safe and sustainable repatriation and reintegration of unaccompanied alien children into their country of nationality or of last habitual residence.

Date: 2015-09-24
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Freedom of Faith Act of 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make the special immigrant non-minister religious worker program permanent.

Date: 2015-09-28
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 10, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Oversee Visa Integrity with Stakeholder Advisories Act or the O-VISA Act 

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Department of Homeland Security to give a copy of any decision regarding the nonimmigrant O-1 visa admission of an alien seeking to work in a motion picture or television production (or an accompanying O-2 visa alien involved in such production) to the labor union and management organizations that have provided advisory opinions with respect to such admission.

Date: 2015-09-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Fairness for Families Act of 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to define "mental or physical disability" as a mental or physical impairment or physical disability that: (1) a licensed examining physician designated by the Department of State has determined renders the individual unable to care for himself or herself as an adult, and (2) because of this impairment or disability the individual's parent or sibling is solely responsible for the individual's care.

U.S. citizens' sons and daughters with mental or physical disabilities shall be considered immediate relatives for exemption from numerical limitations on visas.

Date: 2015-09-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Exchange Inclusion for a Healthy America Act of 2015

This bill allows undocumented aliens to obtain health care coverage by amending: (1) the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the restriction of the tax credit for health care insurance premium assistance to persons lawfully present in the United States; and (2) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to eliminate restrictions of benefits under such Act, including cost-sharing reduction, pre-existing condition coverage, and minimum essential health care coverage, to persons lawfully present in the United States. This expanded coverage is effective for taxable or plan years beginning after December 31, 2015.

The bill also extends PPACA benefits to individuals who are granted deferral from removal under specified Department of Homeland Security deferred action plans.  

Date: 2015-09-30
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Taxation
Military Enlistment Opportunity Act of 2015

Amends citizenship and residency qualifications for enlistment in the armed forces to permit enlistment of additional persons who: (1) have resided continuously in a lawful status in the United States for at least two years, or (2) possess an employment authorization document issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under requirements of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy entitled Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

 Requires authorized enlistees who are not citizens or other nationals of the United States or lawfully admitted for permanent residence to be adjusted to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under an exception to specified provisions of Immigration and Nationality Act. (Such enlistees need not establish that they entered the United States prior to January 1, 1972, or comply with other specified requirements.)

Directs DHS to rescind such adjusted status if the person is separated from the armed forces under other than honorable conditions before the person served for a period or periods aggregating five years.

Date: 2015-10-07
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill makes E-3 nonimmigrant visas (specialty occupation) for Australian nationals that are unused during a fiscal year available on the same basis in the subsequent fiscal year to nationals of Ireland residing in Ireland.

The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended to make eligible for an E-3 visa an alien who is a national of Ireland coming to the United States to perform services as an employee who has at least a high school education or its equivalent, or has, within five years, at least two years of work experience in an occupation classified as Zone 2 or higher by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Date: 2015-10-08
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act

This bill prohibits an executive agency from using the following terms in any rule, regulation, interpretation, publication, other document, display, or sign issued by the agency except to the extent that the term is used in quoting or reproducing text written by a source other than an officer or employee of the agency:

 "alien" when used to refer to an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national, and "illegal alien" when used to refer to an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or who lacks a lawful U.S. immigration status. In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of various U.S. administrative bureaus and agencies, the term "foreign national" in federal law means any individual other than an individual who: (1) is a U.S. citizen; or (2) though not a U.S. citizen, owes permanent allegiance to the United States.

Any reference in any federal statute, rule, regulation, executive order, publication, or other U.S. document to the term:

 "alien" when used to refer to an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national is deemed to refer to the term "foreign national," and "illegal alien" when used to refer to an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or who lacks a lawful U.S. immigration status is deemed to refer to the term "undocumented foreign national." Conforming amendments are made to specified Acts.

Date: 2015-10-21
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Department of Homeland Security to authorize employment for an asylum applicant who is not in detention and whose asylum application has not been determined to be frivolous.

Employment authorization shall be: (1) for a period of one year, and (2) renewable for additional one-year periods for the entire period necessary to adjudicate the applicant's asylum claim.

Date: 2015-10-22
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Strengthen Employment And Seasonal Opportunities Now (SEASON) Act

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide, effective as if enacted on January 1, 2015, that a returning H-2B visa alien (temporary nonagricultural worker) who has already been counted toward the applicable numerical limitation during one of the three preceding fiscal years: (1) shall not again be counted toward such limitation during a fiscal year, but (2) shall be considered a returning worker.

 "Other temporary service or labor" for H-2B purposes means that an employer's need for labor will not exceed 1 year and is a seasonal (not to exceed 10 months), peak load, or intermittent need, unless it is a one-time occurrence not exceeding 3 years.

 An H-2B employer shall file an employee petition with the Department of Homeland Security. Additional filings with the Department of Labor are not required.

 H-2B employer requirements are set forth regarding: (1) petitions, (2) admissions and maximum stay in status, (3) housing, (4) enforcement, (5) transportation, (6) recruitment, (7) U.S. worker protections, and (8) wages.

 An H-2B worker shall not be entitled to: (1) tax credit assistance for a qualified health plan, and shall be subject to plan rules applicable to individuals not lawfully present in the United States; (2) the child tax credit; and (3) the earned income tax credit.

Date: 2015-11-04
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Ending the Sanctuary Capitol Policy Act of 2015

This bill authorizes U.S. Capitol Police officers, in the performance of official duties, to make arrests and otherwise enforce immigration laws on Capitol Grounds.

Date: 2015-11-04
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Congress
Save Christians from Genocide Act

This bill recognizes that Christians and Yazidis in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and Libya are targets of genocide.

The Department of Homeland Security shall provide for expedited visa processing and shall ensure that such applications receive first priority among refugee and (family- or employment-based) immigrant applications for an alien who:

 is a citizen or national of Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, or Libya, or in the case of an alien having no nationality, whose country of last habitual residence was Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, or Libya; is a Christian or Yazidi; and is seeking refugee or immigrant admission to the United States.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Jobs in America Act

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish an employment-based, conditional immigrant visa (StartUp visa) for a sponsored alien entrepreneur: (1) with required amounts of financial backing from a qualifying investor or venture capitalist; and (2) whose commercial activities will generate required levels of employment, revenue, or capital investment.

The Department of Homeland Security shall terminate the status of a sponsored entrepreneur (and the alien spouse and children of such entrepreneur) if not later than three years after the date on which such permanent resident status was conferred: (1) the sponsoring venture capitalist or investor fails to meet investment requirements; or (2) the entrepreneur fails to meet job creation, capital investment, or revenue requirements.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 or the American SAFE Act of 2015

This bill prohibits a covered refugee from being admitted to the United States until the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies to Congress that such individual is not a security threat to the United States. The Inspector General of DHS shall review 20% of all such certifications each fiscal year.

The term "covered refugee" is defined as any alien applying for refugee status who is: (1) a national or resident of Iraq or Syria, or (2) present in Iraq or Syria at any time while the application for refugee status is pending.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shall take actions to ensure that each covered refugee receives a thorough background investigation prior to admission. A covered refugee may not be admitted until the FBI certifies that such covered refugee has received such an investigation.

Date: 2015-11-16
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Assuring Law Enforcement Requests Are Timely Evaluated by the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2015 or the ALERTED Act of 2015

 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, upon request by a federal, state, or local law enforcement official, to determine whether to issue a detainer to detain an alien arrested by such official for a violation of any law, not just one relating to controlled substances.

Date: 2015-11-16
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration