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Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act

USA117th CongressHR-461| House 
| Updated: 3/5/2021
John R. Curtis

John R. Curtis

Republican Representative

Utah

Cosponsors (27)
David Schweikert (Republican)Chris Stewart (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)John Garamendi (Democratic)Brad R. Wenstrup (Republican)Young Kim (Republican)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Tom McClintock (Republican)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)Christopher H. Smith (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)Rodney Davis (Republican)Mike Gallagher (Republican)Adam Kinzinger (Republican)Vicky Hartzler (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Colin Z. Allred (Democratic)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Burgess Owens (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act This bill designates certain Hong Kong residents with priority status for refugee consideration and contains other related provisions. An individual and certain family members shall have such priority status if the individual (1) is a Hong Kong resident who suffered persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution as a result of peaceful political activity; or (2) has been formally charged, detained, or convicted for certain peaceful actions. An individual receiving refugee status under this bill shall not be counted against various numerical limitations. When determining whether an individual shall be admitted as a refugee under this bill, an individual whose citizenship, nationality, or residency was revoked for submitting a nonfrivolous application for a U.S. immigration benefit shall be considered to have suffered persecution on account of political opinion. The general presumption that an alien is seeking immigrant status shall not apply to certain Hong Kong residents seeking asylum into the United States. (Typically, an alien seeking admission as a nonimmigrant must establish that the alien does not intend to immigrate to the United States.) This exception to the presumption shall apply to certain individuals involved in the 2019 and 2020 protests against China's encroachment into Hong Kong's autonomy (Hong Kong is a part of China but has a separate legal and economic system). An individual from Hong Kong may not be denied admission into the United States if the primary reason for the denial is a politically motivated government action against the individual's involvement in protests.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-7415
Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act
Jan 25, 2021
Introduced in House
Jan 25, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.
Feb 8, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-295
Introduced in Senate
Mar 5, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-7415
    Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act


  • January 25, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • January 25, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.


  • February 8, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-295
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 5, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 117-295: Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act
AlliancesAsiaChinaCitizenship and naturalizationCongressional oversightDetention of personsGovernment information and archivesHong KongHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresInternational organizations and cooperationNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRefugees, asylum, displaced persons

Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act

USA117th CongressHR-461| House 
| Updated: 3/5/2021
Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act This bill designates certain Hong Kong residents with priority status for refugee consideration and contains other related provisions. An individual and certain family members shall have such priority status if the individual (1) is a Hong Kong resident who suffered persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution as a result of peaceful political activity; or (2) has been formally charged, detained, or convicted for certain peaceful actions. An individual receiving refugee status under this bill shall not be counted against various numerical limitations. When determining whether an individual shall be admitted as a refugee under this bill, an individual whose citizenship, nationality, or residency was revoked for submitting a nonfrivolous application for a U.S. immigration benefit shall be considered to have suffered persecution on account of political opinion. The general presumption that an alien is seeking immigrant status shall not apply to certain Hong Kong residents seeking asylum into the United States. (Typically, an alien seeking admission as a nonimmigrant must establish that the alien does not intend to immigrate to the United States.) This exception to the presumption shall apply to certain individuals involved in the 2019 and 2020 protests against China's encroachment into Hong Kong's autonomy (Hong Kong is a part of China but has a separate legal and economic system). An individual from Hong Kong may not be denied admission into the United States if the primary reason for the denial is a politically motivated government action against the individual's involvement in protests.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-7415
Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act
Jan 25, 2021
Introduced in House
Jan 25, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.
Feb 8, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-295
Introduced in Senate
Mar 5, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-7415
    Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act


  • January 25, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • January 25, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.


  • February 8, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-295
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 5, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
John R. Curtis

John R. Curtis

Republican Representative

Utah

Cosponsors (27)
David Schweikert (Republican)Chris Stewart (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)John Garamendi (Democratic)Brad R. Wenstrup (Republican)Young Kim (Republican)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Tom McClintock (Republican)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Barry Loudermilk (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)Christopher H. Smith (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)Rodney Davis (Republican)Mike Gallagher (Republican)Adam Kinzinger (Republican)Vicky Hartzler (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Colin Z. Allred (Democratic)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Burgess Owens (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 117-295: Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AlliancesAsiaChinaCitizenship and naturalizationCongressional oversightDetention of personsGovernment information and archivesHong KongHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresInternational organizations and cooperationNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRefugees, asylum, displaced persons