Immigration Bills

H.R. 5163 would focus on addressing the increased influx of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) on the Southwest border. First and foremost, it removes the distinction between UACs from contiguous and noncontiguous countries, then requires those who are screened and do not qualify are returned within 72 hours. Various improvements are made to the system for processing UACs, including a new requirement that they are to remain in Border Patrol custody until voluntary departure, removal, or granting of legal status.

H.R. 5137, the Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2014, represents one of the most thorough responses to the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at the Southwest border. Aside from repealing the requirements that resulted in UACs from contiguous countries receiving differing treatment than those from noncontiguous countries, this bill requires immigration officers to order all illegal entrants removed upon screening, absent an asylum claim. In order to encourage cooperation with return, foreign countries who resist repatriation will face cuts to foreign assistance.

H.R. 463 would improve the U-Visa program through various adjustments to the existing system. First, the program is limited so that only spouses and children of U-Visa holders may accompany to join the recipient of the U-Visa. In order to prevent abuse of the system, the list of crimes that create U-Visa eligibility is limited to actual completed crimes. In other words, attempt, conspiracy, and solicitation to commit one of the crimes listed have been removed.