American Families United Act
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
The American Families United Act allows the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice to exercise discretion in immigration cases, specifically regarding non-U.S. nationals and aliens seeking relief from removal. It enables officials to decline removal or deny requests for relief if doing so would cause hardship to U.S. citizen family members, such as spouses, parents, or children, with a presumption that family separation constitutes hardship. The bill also provides a two-year window for those previously ordered removed or denied entry to file a motion to reopen their case.
Key provisions
- Allows DHS or DOJ to decline removal or deny relief from removal for non-U.S. nationals based on hardship to U.S. citizen family members.
- Establishes a presumption that family separation constitutes hardship.
- Provides a two-year window for those previously ordered removed or denied entry to file a motion to reopen their case.
- Expands the discretion of the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to waive inadmissibility or deportability grounds.
- Addresses discretion related to the children and spouses of deceased U.S. citizens.
- Specifies grounds of inadmissibility and deportability that would preclude the exercise of discretion.
- Allows for reapplication for admission after denial of a request for relief from removal.
- Provides a mechanism for reopening or reconsidering prior denials of petitions or applications.
Who is affected
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Sponsors
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43 on record
Primary sponsor
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