118th Congress Immigration
S. 1392: Citizenship for Essential Workers Act
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- Passed House (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill establishes a mechanism for eligible non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who worked as essential workers during the declared COVID-19 public health emergency to apply for and obtain lawful permanent resident status (sometimes referred to as a green card). The bill also narrows certain grounds for deportability and inadmissibility.
To be eligible for a green card under this bill, an individual must have earned income at any point during the COVID-19 emergency period doing work deemed essential by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or a state or local government. An individual may also be eligible if that individual is a parent, spouse, or child of (1) an eligible individual who died from COVID-19, or (2) a member of the Armed Forces. Certain individuals shall be ineligible, such as an individual who was a refugee on January 1, 2023.
To obtain a green card under this bill, an applying individual must satisfy additional requirements, including by passing a background check.
Read the full summary
Furthermore, the bill repeals provisions providing for three-year bars and permanent bars to admission into the United States. (Generally, these bars apply to individuals who were previously removed or unlawfully present.)
The bill also narrows the scope of certain crime-based grounds for inadmissibility or deportability, such as by redefining the term conviction to exclude expunged convictions.
The Department of Justice or DHS may waive certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability (1) for humanitarian purposes, (2) to ensure family unity, or (3) for the public interest.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Richard Blumenthal D-CTOriginal
- Cory Booker D-NJOriginal
- Richard Durbin D-ILOriginal
- Tammy Duckworth D-ILOriginal
- Kirsten Gillibrand D-NYOriginal
- Mazie Hirono D-HIOriginal
- Ben Luján D-NMOriginal
- Edward Markey D-MAOriginal
- Bernard Sanders I-VTOriginal
- Tina Smith D-MNOriginal
- Sheldon Whitehouse D-RIOriginal
- Elizabeth Warren D-MAOriginal
- Patty Murray D-WA
Who scored on this bill
- 1Alejandro Padilla SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced2 events+6
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
Other bills by Alejandro Padilla
- S. 2735: Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act of 2025
- S. 1413: To authorize additional funding for the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act
- S. 291: Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025
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- S. 2881: To provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California, and for other purposes
History
- Introduced in the Senate by Alejandro Padilla.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
- Introduced in Senate
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1442-1443)