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American Families United Act

USA119th CongressHR-2366| House 
| Updated: 3/26/2025
Veronica Escobar

Veronica Escobar

Democratic Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (36)
Robert Menendez (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Angie Craig (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Al Green (Democratic)Don Bacon (Republican)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Lucy McBath (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Gabe Evans (Republican)David G. Valadao (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "American Families United Act" aims to promote family unity by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act, granting new discretionary authority to the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security. This authority specifically applies to non-citizen spouses and children of United States citizens, allowing for greater flexibility in immigration decisions affecting these family members. The core purpose is to prevent family separation and facilitate immigration relief for these individuals. Under this bill, the Attorney General may terminate removal proceedings, decline removal orders, or waive grounds of inadmissibility or deportability for eligible individuals. Similarly, the Secretary of Homeland Security can waive inadmissibility, decline to issue notices to appear, or grant other immigration benefits. Both officials can exercise this discretion if they determine that removal or denial of relief would cause hardship to the alien's U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child, with a clear presumption that family separation constitutes hardship . The Act also includes special provisions for the spouses and children of deceased U.S. citizens, allowing for similar discretionary relief if sought within two years of the citizen's death or under extraordinary circumstances. However, this discretionary authority does not apply to aliens deemed inadmissible or deportable under specific serious criminal, security, or marriage fraud grounds. Finally, the bill permits motions to reopen or reconsider past immigration decisions if the outcome would have been different had these new provisions been in effect, provided such motions are filed within two years of the Act's enactment or due to extraordinary circumstances.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-8708
American Families United Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-2920
American Families United Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1698
American Families United Act
Mar 26, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 26, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-8708
    American Families United Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-2920
    American Families United Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1698
    American Families United Act


  • March 26, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 26, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 119-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025

American Families United Act

USA119th CongressHR-2366| House 
| Updated: 3/26/2025
The "American Families United Act" aims to promote family unity by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act, granting new discretionary authority to the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security. This authority specifically applies to non-citizen spouses and children of United States citizens, allowing for greater flexibility in immigration decisions affecting these family members. The core purpose is to prevent family separation and facilitate immigration relief for these individuals. Under this bill, the Attorney General may terminate removal proceedings, decline removal orders, or waive grounds of inadmissibility or deportability for eligible individuals. Similarly, the Secretary of Homeland Security can waive inadmissibility, decline to issue notices to appear, or grant other immigration benefits. Both officials can exercise this discretion if they determine that removal or denial of relief would cause hardship to the alien's U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child, with a clear presumption that family separation constitutes hardship . The Act also includes special provisions for the spouses and children of deceased U.S. citizens, allowing for similar discretionary relief if sought within two years of the citizen's death or under extraordinary circumstances. However, this discretionary authority does not apply to aliens deemed inadmissible or deportable under specific serious criminal, security, or marriage fraud grounds. Finally, the bill permits motions to reopen or reconsider past immigration decisions if the outcome would have been different had these new provisions been in effect, provided such motions are filed within two years of the Act's enactment or due to extraordinary circumstances.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-8708
American Families United Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-2920
American Families United Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1698
American Families United Act
Mar 26, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 26, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-8708
    American Families United Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-2920
    American Families United Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1698
    American Families United Act


  • March 26, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 26, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Veronica Escobar

Veronica Escobar

Democratic Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (36)
Robert Menendez (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Angie Craig (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Al Green (Democratic)Don Bacon (Republican)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Lucy McBath (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Gabe Evans (Republican)David G. Valadao (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 119-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted