summary
Introduced
10/30/2013
10/30/2013
In Committee
01/09/2014
01/09/2014
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2015
01/03/2015
Introduced Session
113th Congress
Bill Summary
American Families United Act - States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to enable the Attorney General (DOJ) or the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to expand his or her discretionary authority beyond a case-by-case basis, or to provide legalization or nationalization of persons covered under this Act. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to revise waiver of inadmissibility requirements, among other things waiving inadmissibility for: (1) certain persons who entered the United States before age 16 who have earned a degree from a U.S. institution of higher education, (2) false claims of U.S. citizenship by persons under age 18 or lacking mental competence to knowingly misrepresent a claim, and (3) false claims of U.S. citizenship if inadmissibility would create family separation hardship for the alien (including a self-petitioner under the Violence Against Women Act) or for a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member. Authorizes parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility for unlawful presence. Places a three-year limit on immigration-related misrepresentations rendering aliens inadmissible. Revises the definition "conviction" for INA purposes. Authorizes an immigration judge in specified circumstances, including family separation hardship, but with certain exceptions, to decline to order an alien removed, deported, or excluded and terminate related proceedings or grant permission to reapply for admission or for relief from removal.
AI Summary
This bill, the American Families United Act, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide certain individuals with waivers of inadmissibility, meaning they may be allowed to enter or remain in the United States despite otherwise qualifying for exclusion. Specifically, it allows for waivers for individuals who entered the U.S. before age 16 and earned a college degree, for those who falsely claimed U.S. citizenship before turning 18 or lacked the mental capacity to understand their claim, and for those whose false claims of citizenship would cause significant hardship to their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family members, with family separation itself considered a hardship. The bill also authorizes parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to apply for waivers for unlawful presence, limits immigration-related misrepresentations that make someone inadmissible to three years, and revises the definition of a "conviction" for immigration purposes to exclude certain withheld or expunged judgments. Furthermore, it grants immigration judges discretion in specific circumstances, including family separation hardship, to terminate removal proceedings or grant permission to reapply for admission, with certain exceptions for serious offenses. The bill explicitly states that it does not expand the discretionary authority of the Attorney General (DOJ) or the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) beyond a case-by-case basis, nor does it provide for legalization or nationalization for those covered.
Committee Categories
Justice, Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (12)
Beto O'Rourke (D)*,
Jim Costa (D),
Lloyd Doggett (D),
Keith Ellison (D),
Jim McGovern (D),
Gloria Negrete McLeod (D),
Erik Paulsen (R),
Stevan Pearce (R),
Scott Peters (D),
Eric Swalwell (D),
Mark Takano (D),
David Valadao (R),
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. (on 01/09/2014)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3431/all-info |
| BillText | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr3431ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr3431ih.pdf |
| Bill | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr3431ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr3431ih.pdf.pdf |
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