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Safe Zones Act of 2023

USA118th CongressHR-2946| House 
| Updated: 4/27/2023
Vicente Gonzalez

Vicente Gonzalez

Democratic Representative

Texas

Homeland Security Committee, Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Safe Zones Act of 2023 This bill makes changes to procedures relating to seeking asylum, including by establishing facilities outside of the United States to accept and process refugee applications to the United States. Specifically, the Department of State must establish safe zones that accept applications for asylum from individuals who are nationals of (1) the country where that safe zone is located, or (2) a country next to the country where the safe zone is located. The State Department must establish at least three safe zones along the U.S.-Mexico border and one safe zone in Guatemala. For each safe zone, the State Department must (1) ensure that it is fortified from danger; (2) provide temporary housing for individuals with pending applications; (3) provide adequate meals; and (4) provide access to various services, including medical services. The bill also imposes various requirements related to safe zones, including deadlines for processing applications. The bill expands the definition of asylum officer (i.e., officers who conduct initial credible fear reviews to determine whether an asylum seeker's application may proceed) to include trained and qualified staff as determined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (In 2020, a federal court ruled that DHS may not use U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to conduct such interviews.) The bill also requires the hiring of additional border patrol agents and immigration judges.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8823
Safe Zones Act of 2022
Apr 27, 2023
Introduced in House
Apr 27, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
Apr 27, 2023
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8823
    Safe Zones Act of 2022


  • April 27, 2023
    Introduced in House


  • April 27, 2023
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.


  • April 27, 2023
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.

Immigration

Border security and unlawful immigrationGuatemalaImmigration status and proceduresInfectious and parasitic diseasesJudgesLaw enforcement officersMexicoRefugees, asylum, displaced personsUser charges and fees

Safe Zones Act of 2023

USA118th CongressHR-2946| House 
| Updated: 4/27/2023
Safe Zones Act of 2023 This bill makes changes to procedures relating to seeking asylum, including by establishing facilities outside of the United States to accept and process refugee applications to the United States. Specifically, the Department of State must establish safe zones that accept applications for asylum from individuals who are nationals of (1) the country where that safe zone is located, or (2) a country next to the country where the safe zone is located. The State Department must establish at least three safe zones along the U.S.-Mexico border and one safe zone in Guatemala. For each safe zone, the State Department must (1) ensure that it is fortified from danger; (2) provide temporary housing for individuals with pending applications; (3) provide adequate meals; and (4) provide access to various services, including medical services. The bill also imposes various requirements related to safe zones, including deadlines for processing applications. The bill expands the definition of asylum officer (i.e., officers who conduct initial credible fear reviews to determine whether an asylum seeker's application may proceed) to include trained and qualified staff as determined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (In 2020, a federal court ruled that DHS may not use U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to conduct such interviews.) The bill also requires the hiring of additional border patrol agents and immigration judges.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8823
Safe Zones Act of 2022
Apr 27, 2023
Introduced in House
Apr 27, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
Apr 27, 2023
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8823
    Safe Zones Act of 2022


  • April 27, 2023
    Introduced in House


  • April 27, 2023
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.


  • April 27, 2023
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.
Vicente Gonzalez

Vicente Gonzalez

Democratic Representative

Texas

Homeland Security Committee, Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee

Immigration

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Border security and unlawful immigrationGuatemalaImmigration status and proceduresInfectious and parasitic diseasesJudgesLaw enforcement officersMexicoRefugees, asylum, displaced personsUser charges and fees