119th Congress Immigration
H.R. 2851: WISE Act
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill expands eligibility for U nonimmigrant visas (victims of criminal activity) and prohibits immigration enforcement activities in specified areas.
Generally, U visas are for victims of specified crimes (e.g., rape, trafficking, or domestic violence) who assist with the investigation or prosecution of the crime. The bill adds hate crimes, child abuse, and elder abuse as crimes that may qualify a victim for a U visa and removes criteria related to the victim's assistance with the investigation or prosecution of the crime.
Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must provide work authorization to U visa applicants, whereas currently DHS may grant work authorization but is not required to do so.
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The bill also eliminates the annual numerical cap on U visas.
The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that certain individuals, including U visa applicants and T visa (victims of human trafficking) applicants, shall not be detained while the application is pending.
Additionally, the bill provides immigration-related protections, such as by extending the admission period and providing work authorization, to the spouse or child of a nonimmigrant visa holder who subjected that spouse or child to battery or extreme cruelty.
Further, the bill prohibits, with some exceptions for exigent circumstances, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection from conducting immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a school, health care facility, place of worship, or other location specified in the bill.
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
- Yassamin Ansari D-AZOriginal
- Nanette Barragán D-CAOriginal
- Becca Balint D-VTOriginal
- Judy Chu D-CAOriginal
- Joaquin Castro D-TXOriginal
- Salud Carbajal D-CAOriginal
- Sean Casten D-ILOriginal
- Gregorio Casar D-TXOriginal
- Adriano Espaillat D-NYOriginal
- Jesús García D-ILOriginal
- Dan Goldman D-NYOriginal
- Valerie Hoyle D-OROriginal
- Henry Johnson D-GAOriginal
- Ro Khanna D-CAOriginal
- Sam Liccardo D-CAOriginal
- James McGovern D-MAOriginal
- Gwen Moore D-WIOriginal
- Grace Meng D-NYOriginal
- Kelly Morrison D-MNOriginal
- Eleanor Norton D-DCOriginal
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D-NYOriginal
- Ilhan Omar D-MNOriginal
- Jimmy Panetta D-CAOriginal
- Delia Ramirez D-ILOriginal
- Adam Smith D-WAOriginal
- Janice Schakowsky D-ILOriginal
- Mary Scanlon D-PAOriginal
- Melanie Stansbury D-NMOriginal
- Lateefah Simon D-CAOriginal
- Rashida Tlaib D-MIOriginal
- Shri Thanedar D-MIOriginal
- Nydia Velázquez D-NYOriginal
- Nikema Williams D-GAOriginal
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz D-FLOriginal
- J. Correa D-CA
- Sylvia Garcia D-TX
- Jerrold Nadler D-NY
- Juan Vargas D-CA
- George Latimer D-NY
- Summer Lee D-PA
- Yvette Clarke D-NY
- Andrea Salinas D-OR
- Mark Pocan D-WI
Who scored on this bill
- 1Pramila Jayapal SponsorReached a cosponsor milestone, introduced2 events+6
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History
- Introduced in the House by Pramila Jayapal.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Agriculture, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services, 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.