Break the Chain Act
Break the Chain Act
Plain Language Summary
# Break the Chain Act Summary **What it would do:** This bill would significantly restrict family-based immigration by changing who qualifies as an "immediate relative" of U.S. citizens (a category with no waiting list or numerical limits) and by drastically reducing the annual cap on family-sponsored visas. Specifically, it would eliminate parents of U.S. citizens from the immediate relative category and lower the annual cap for family-sponsored visas from 480,000 to approximately 87,934—a reduction of about 82%.
The bill would also change how family-sponsored visas are allocated and calculated. **Who it affects:** This bill would primarily affect immigrants seeking to sponsor family members to come to the U.S., particularly those hoping to bring parents or more distant relatives. It would impact both current applicants in the immigration system and future immigrants trying to reunite with family members. The restrictions would make family-based immigration significantly more difficult and create longer wait times for processing. **Current status:** The bill (HR 1747) was introduced by Representative W. Gregory Steube (R-FL) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Break the Chain ActThis bill makes various changes related to family-sponsored immigration, such as narrowing the definition of what constitutes an immediate relative and lowering the annual numerical cap on certain classes of family-sponsored visas.A non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is a parent of a U.S. citizen shall not qualify for a visa for immediate relatives, which is not subject to any direct numerical limits. Currently, the spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of citizens are considered immediate relatives.The bill also reduces the baseline annual cap for family-sponsored visas from 480,000 to 87,934, and revises the methods for calculating the cap. Currently, the 480,000 cap may be adjusted depending on various factors but shall not be less than 226,000. A spouse or child of a sponsoring lawful permanent resident (also known as a green card holder) shall be subject to the family-sponsored visa cap.The bill revises the rules for determining whether a non-U.S. national is a child for the purposes of family-sponsored immigration, and establishes that an individual who is married or turns 25 years old prior to a visa becoming available for issuance shall not qualify as a child.The bill creates a nonimmigrant classification for non-U.S. national parents of adult U.S. citizens, which authorizes such parents for admission into the United States for an initial five-year period. Such parents shall not be authorized for employment or to receive any public benefits.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.