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America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-5528| House 
| Updated: 9/19/2025
Deborah K. Ross

Deborah K. Ross

Democratic Representative

North Carolina

Cosponsors (23)
Chrissy Houlahan (Democratic)Zachary Nunn (Republican)Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Dave Min (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Daniel Meuser (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Jay Obernolte (Republican)Juan Ciscomani (Republican)Michael Lawler (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation establishes a new category for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status under the Immigration and Nationality Act, specifically for certain individuals who grew up in the United States as dependent children of nonimmigrants. To qualify, an applicant must have been lawfully present as a dependent child of an employment-based nonimmigrant for at least eight years and have maintained lawful presence in the U.S. for a total of ten years at the time of application. Additionally, applicants must have graduated from a U.S. institution of higher education and not be inadmissible or deportable. The bill introduces significant age-out protections for dependent children of nonimmigrants, retroactively applying these changes as if they were part of the Child Status Protection Act. For long-term dependents who spent at least eight years in the U.S. as a child of an employment-based nonimmigrant before turning 21, their age for immigration purposes will be determined by the filing date of their parent's initial nonimmigrant employment-based petition. This crucial provision prevents these individuals from losing their eligibility for immigration benefits simply by turning 21 while their parents' applications are pending. The legislation also allows for motions to reopen or reconsider previously denied petitions or applications if they would have been approved under these new rules, exempting such cases from numerical immigration limitations. Furthermore, the bill permits these long-term dependent children to maintain or extend their nonimmigrant dependent status, even if they marry, and grants them employment authorization incident to their status. It also reforms priority date retention rules, ensuring that both principal and derivative beneficiaries can retain the earliest priority date from any approved petition or labor certification. This means that children who age out or transition to different immigration categories can still benefit from their parents' original priority date, significantly shortening their wait times for permanent residency.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4331
America’s CHILDREN Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-3442
America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023
Sep 18, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2886
Introduced in Senate
Sep 19, 2025
Introduced in House
Sep 19, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4331
    America’s CHILDREN Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-3442
    America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023


  • September 18, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2886
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 19, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • September 19, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 119-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
  • S 119-2886: America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025

America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-5528| House 
| Updated: 9/19/2025
This legislation establishes a new category for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status under the Immigration and Nationality Act, specifically for certain individuals who grew up in the United States as dependent children of nonimmigrants. To qualify, an applicant must have been lawfully present as a dependent child of an employment-based nonimmigrant for at least eight years and have maintained lawful presence in the U.S. for a total of ten years at the time of application. Additionally, applicants must have graduated from a U.S. institution of higher education and not be inadmissible or deportable. The bill introduces significant age-out protections for dependent children of nonimmigrants, retroactively applying these changes as if they were part of the Child Status Protection Act. For long-term dependents who spent at least eight years in the U.S. as a child of an employment-based nonimmigrant before turning 21, their age for immigration purposes will be determined by the filing date of their parent's initial nonimmigrant employment-based petition. This crucial provision prevents these individuals from losing their eligibility for immigration benefits simply by turning 21 while their parents' applications are pending. The legislation also allows for motions to reopen or reconsider previously denied petitions or applications if they would have been approved under these new rules, exempting such cases from numerical immigration limitations. Furthermore, the bill permits these long-term dependent children to maintain or extend their nonimmigrant dependent status, even if they marry, and grants them employment authorization incident to their status. It also reforms priority date retention rules, ensuring that both principal and derivative beneficiaries can retain the earliest priority date from any approved petition or labor certification. This means that children who age out or transition to different immigration categories can still benefit from their parents' original priority date, significantly shortening their wait times for permanent residency.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4331
America’s CHILDREN Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-3442
America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023
Sep 18, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2886
Introduced in Senate
Sep 19, 2025
Introduced in House
Sep 19, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4331
    America’s CHILDREN Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-3442
    America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023


  • September 18, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2886
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 19, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • September 19, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Deborah K. Ross

Deborah K. Ross

Democratic Representative

North Carolina

Cosponsors (23)
Chrissy Houlahan (Democratic)Zachary Nunn (Republican)Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Dave Min (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Daniel Meuser (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Jay Obernolte (Republican)Juan Ciscomani (Republican)Michael Lawler (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 119-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
  • S 119-2886: America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted