The Unity, Security, Accountability, and Family Act (U.S.A. Family Act)
SUMMARY of H.R. 440
en español
1) Legalization for those in the United States for 5 or more years: The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security ("the Secretary") shall adjust the status of any undocumented immigrant to that of a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence if the individual:
(a) Application:
(i) files an application with the Secretary within the 24 month period beginning on the date final regulations are issued
(ii) pays a fee that will cover the costs of processing the application
(b) Residence requirements:
(i) establishes that the applicant has resided continuously in the United States for the 5 years prior to the date of the bill’s introduction (January 29, 2003)
(ii) continuous residence does not include absences that are brief, casual and
innocent
(c) Undergoes a background check
(d) Undergoes a medical examination
(e) Has not received public cash assistance
(f) Has not been convicted of a felony or three or more misdemeanors
2) Conditional Legalization for those here less than five years: The Secretary shall adjust the status of any undocumented immigrant to that of a person lawfully admitted for conditional permanent residence if the individual:
(a) Complies with all the requirements above (1a through 1f)
(b) Petitions to remove conditional basis of permanent residence status once the individual resides in the U.S. five years in aggregate
3) Family Unification: Spouses and children of the principle applicant are eligible for the same relief (either permanent residence or conditional permanent residence) as the principle applicant. Also, see numbers 12) and 13), below.
4) Grounds to Inadmissibility:
(a) Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) grounds of inadmissibility apply to principle applicants and their dependents, except for those concerned with document fraud, misrepresentations, entry without inspection, and the 3/10 year bars of inadmissibility.
(b) The current 3- and 10-year bars on re-entry into the United States currently imposed on immigrants who had been unlawfully present in the United States shall be repealed.
5) False Statements in Applications: Penalizes false statements in accordance with fines and/or imprisonment for less than five years.
6) Confidentiality of Information: Neither the Secretary nor any other employee or official of the Department of Homeland Security, or bureau or agency thereof, may use the information furnished with the application for any other purpose than to make a determination on the application unless they committed fraud, a crime that makes them inadmissible, or are a national security threat.
7) Advance Parole: While application is pending, permits applicant to travel abroad in cases of emergent need.
8) Judicial review: Provides administrative and judicial review for denials of an application.
9) Work Authorization: Provides applicant and eligible dependents with work authorization within 90 days of applying for residence, provided that they have prima facie eligibility and pass the background check.
10) Eliminates retroactive application of certain provisions of the INA: Ensures that immigrants who commit offenses will be subject to potential deportation or exclusion only if that crime was a deportable offense at the time it occurred.
11) Restoration of the Proportionality to Grounds of Removal: Restores the proportionality to grounds of removal for crimes of moral turpitude, aggravated felony, convictions, and imprisonment.
12) Visa Backlog Reduction: Removes immediate relatives from the world wide cap on visas.
13) Visas for spouses and children of permanent residents temporarily waiting for visa numbers: Amends the "V" visa for qualifying spouses and children or permanent residents who seek to enter the United States to achieve family unity. Such immigrants who wish to join their permanent resident relative will be allowed to enter the U.S. immediately where they can wait for a permanent immigrant visa (in contrast to the current V visas which are available only to spouses or children who have been waiting for such visas for at least three years).
Congresista Luis V. Gutiérrez
El Acta de Unidad, Seguridad, Responsabilidad y Familia
(Unity, Security, Accountability, and Family Act --U.S.A. Family Act)
RESUMEN de H.R. 440
1) Legalización para personas que han vivido en los Estados Unidos por 5 ó más años: El Secretario del Departamento de la Seguridad del Interior (DHS) de los Estados Unidos deberá ajustar el estatus migratorio de cualquier inmigrante indocumentado quien pasará a ser residente permanente si el individuo cumple con los siguientes requisitos:
(a) Solicitud:
(i) completa una solicitud con el Secretario durante el periódo de 24 meses, siendo el primer día, la fecha en la que se establece la ley;
(ii) paga un honorario que corresponde a los gastos de tramitación de la solicitud.
(b) Requisitos de residencia:
(i) confirma que el solicitante ha residido en los Estados Unidos por un periódo continuo de 5 años antes de la presentación de la propuesta de ley.
(ii) este periódo continuo no incluye ausencias breves, casuales e inocentes.
(c) Es sometido a una investigación de seguridad (background check)
(d) Es sometido a un examen médico
(e) Nunca ha recibido asistencia económica pública
(f) Nunca ha cometido un delito grave (felony), o 3 ó más delitos leves (misdemeanor)
2) Legalización condicional para personas que han residido en los Estados Unidos menos de 5 años: El Secretario de DHS deberá ajustar el estatus migratorio de cualquier inmigrante indocumentado y pasará a ser residente permanente condicional si el individuo:
(a) Cumple con todos los requisitos necesarios mencionados desde el 1(a) al 1(f)
(b) Solicita al gobierno que ajusten su estatus migratorio de residente permanente condicional a residente permanente al completar 5 años de residencia en los Estados Unidos.
3) Reunificación familiar: Conyuges e hijos menores del solicitante serán elegibles para ajustar su estatus de igual forma que el solicitante principal (residencia permanente o residencia permanente condicional). También lea la información en el punto12 más abajo.
4) Reglas de inadmisibilidad.