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H.R. 2851: Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment Act

The Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment Act is designed to provide essential support and protection for non-citizen survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and gender-based violence. The bill aims to ease the process of obtaining immigration benefits for these individuals by addressing and removing certain barriers in the current system. Key aspects of the bill include:

Facilitating Immigration Benefits

The bill specifically targets non-citizen survivors of domestic violence and related crimes, allowing them to apply for immigration benefits under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). This includes:

Prohibiting deportation while humanitarian applications are being processed.
Expediting the application process to enhance access to crucial immigration benefits.

Protection from Law Enforcement Actions

Law enforcement agencies are restricted from interfering with the protections related to immigrant status while enforcing laws that are not connected to immigration. This ensures that survivors can seek help without the fear of being reported or deported, thereby:

Safeguarding their rights and safety when interacting with law enforcement.
Encouraging victims to report crimes and seek assistance without the risk of jeopardizing their immigration status.

Adjustment of Status for Special Immigrant Juveniles

For individuals with pending or approved special immigrant juvenile status petitions, the bill allows them to file one motion for adjustment of status without being subject to numerical limits. This provision includes:

The ability to pause their removal proceedings while their adjustment application is being processed.
Empowering immigration judges to either hold these motions in abeyance or approve them while waiting for available visas.’

Overall Impact

This legislation seeks to create a more supportive and protective immigration environment for vulnerable non-citizen individuals, especially those affected by violence and abuse. By ensuring their safety and easing their path to legal status, the bill aims to improve the well-being of these individuals and promote justice in situations of domestic and gender-based violence.

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Actions

2 actions

Date	Action
Apr. 10, 2025	Introduced in House
Apr. 10, 2025	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.

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