End Unaccountable Amnesty Act
End Unaccountable Amnesty Act
Plain Language Summary
# End Unaccountable Amnesty Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do** The End Unaccountable Amnesty Act would significantly restrict several immigration programs and change how certain non-citizens are handled by U.S. authorities.
Its main provisions would: (1) require Congress to approve Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for any foreign country, rather than allowing the Department of Homeland Security to grant it independently; (2) limit TPS status to a maximum of 12 months instead of its current multi-year terms; and (3) require the return of unaccompanied children who enter the country illegally to their home country, making this mandatory rather than optional for immigration authorities. **Who It Affects** This bill would primarily impact foreign nationals seeking to remain in the United States, including people from countries currently under TPS (such as Syria, Venezuela, and Haiti) and unaccompanied minors attempting to enter the country. It would also affect DHS officials who currently have discretion in how they handle these cases. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX) 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
End Unaccountable Amnesty ActThis bill revises, restricts, and repeals various laws and programs addressing the admissibility and deportability of certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law). The bill includes changes to the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, the treatment of unaccompanied children, and removal proceedings.Under current law, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may grant a foreign state Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which protects qualified nationals of that foreign state from removal from the United States. The bill instead requires an act of Congress to grant TPS to a foreign state. The bill limits TPS status to 12 months, subject to extension.The bill also generally requires the return of unaccompanied inadmissible children to their country of nationality or last habitual residence, among other changes. Under current law, DHS is authorized (not required) to return these children, and only if their country of nationality or last habitual residence is contiguous to the United States.The bill also repeals the law allowing for the cancellation of removal or adjustment of the immigration status of qualifying non-U.S. nationals. Under the bill, certain forms of identification, including a Notice to Appear issued by DHS, are no longer valid documents for purposes of airport security checkpoints.The bill also limits the ability of DHS to grant parole (temporary admission granted on a case-by-case basis). For example, the bill limits the granting of parole to a list of specific situations, such as the imminent death of a close family member.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.