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Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act

USA117th CongressHR-4736| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Jackie Speier

Jackie Speier

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (46)
Brenda L. Lawrence (Democratic)Dwight Evans (Democratic)Val Butler Demings (Democratic)Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)Ed Case (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Carolyn Bourdeaux (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Frank J. Mrvan (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)Sara Jacobs (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)James A. Himes (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Kathy Castor (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)Jason Crow (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Cheri Bustos (Democratic)Jamaal Bowman (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act This bill requires the Department of State to provide priority refugee status to eligible habitual residents of Afghanistan. To be eligible for such priority status, a habitual resident of Afghanistan must also be a national of Afghanistan or stateless. Such an individual shall receive priority refugee status if the individual (1) has suffered persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution and worked in a specified field that makes the individual a target of persecution on account of race, religion, or other characteristics; (2) was employed for at least one year in Afghanistan by U.S.-based media or nongovernmental entities or an entity that received a contract or grant from the U.S. government; or (3) is the beneficiary of a visa petition sponsored by a relative who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The State Department may also provide priority status to other groups of individuals who are nationals and residents of Afghanistan. Certain annual numerical limits on refugee admissions shall not apply to individuals who receive priority status under this bill. For refugee applications under this bill, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security shall ensure that all steps in the approval process in the U.S. government's control are completed within six months of an application's submission, with exceptions for cases that need more time to address national security concerns.
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Timeline
Jul 28, 2021
Introduced in House
Jul 28, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 28, 2021
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4146)
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • July 28, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • July 28, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • July 28, 2021
    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4146)


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration

AfghanistanAsiaConflicts and warsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresLawyers and legal servicesNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRacial and ethnic relationsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionWomen's rights

Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act

USA117th CongressHR-4736| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act This bill requires the Department of State to provide priority refugee status to eligible habitual residents of Afghanistan. To be eligible for such priority status, a habitual resident of Afghanistan must also be a national of Afghanistan or stateless. Such an individual shall receive priority refugee status if the individual (1) has suffered persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution and worked in a specified field that makes the individual a target of persecution on account of race, religion, or other characteristics; (2) was employed for at least one year in Afghanistan by U.S.-based media or nongovernmental entities or an entity that received a contract or grant from the U.S. government; or (3) is the beneficiary of a visa petition sponsored by a relative who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The State Department may also provide priority status to other groups of individuals who are nationals and residents of Afghanistan. Certain annual numerical limits on refugee admissions shall not apply to individuals who receive priority status under this bill. For refugee applications under this bill, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security shall ensure that all steps in the approval process in the U.S. government's control are completed within six months of an application's submission, with exceptions for cases that need more time to address national security concerns.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
Jul 28, 2021
Introduced in House
Jul 28, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 28, 2021
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4146)
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • July 28, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • July 28, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • July 28, 2021
    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4146)


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Jackie Speier

Jackie Speier

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (46)
Brenda L. Lawrence (Democratic)Dwight Evans (Democratic)Val Butler Demings (Democratic)Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)Ed Case (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Carolyn Bourdeaux (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Frank J. Mrvan (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)Sara Jacobs (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)James A. Himes (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Kathy Castor (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)Jason Crow (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Cheri Bustos (Democratic)Jamaal Bowman (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

Immigration

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AfghanistanAsiaConflicts and warsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresLawyers and legal servicesNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRacial and ethnic relationsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionWomen's rights