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End Unaccountable Amnesty Act

USA119th CongressS-225| Senate 
| Updated: 1/23/2025
Jim Banks

Jim Banks

Republican Senator

Indiana

Cosponsors (2)
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Mike Lee (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "End Unaccountable Amnesty Act" proposes substantial changes to several key areas of U.S. immigration policy, primarily by shifting authority and imposing stricter limitations. One major reform involves Temporary Protected Status (TPS) , transferring the power to designate, terminate, or extend TPS for foreign states from the executive branch to an Act of Congress. Under this bill, TPS designations and extensions would be limited to a maximum of 12 months, and individuals lacking lawful immigration status would be explicitly ineligible for TPS. The bill also enacts significant reforms to the treatment of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) . It eliminates the distinction for UACs from contiguous countries, potentially leading to more expedited returns for these children. New provisions require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to share detailed sponsor information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and DHS would be mandated to initiate removal proceedings for unlawfully present sponsors. Additionally, it modifies eligibility for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), making it more difficult to obtain by requiring that reunification with *any* parent or legal guardian is not viable due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. A critical component of the bill is the repeal of Section 240A of the Immigration and Nationality Act , which currently allows certain non-permanent residents and permanent residents to apply for cancellation of removal and adjustment of status. This repeal would eliminate a significant pathway to legal status for many individuals in removal proceedings. The bill also addresses air travel security by prohibiting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air carriers from accepting specific immigration documents, such as the CBP One Mobile Application, Notices to Appear, and DHS Form I-385, as valid identification at airport security checkpoints. Finally, the legislation dramatically reforms immigration parole authority , severely restricting the Secretary of Homeland Security's discretion. Parole would be limited to a strict "case-by-case basis" for narrowly defined urgent humanitarian reasons (e.g., life-threatening medical emergencies, organ donation) or specific significant public benefits (e.g., law enforcement assistance). The bill imposes an annual cap of 1,000 parole grants and generally limits their duration to one year, with limited exceptions for extensions. It also clarifies that parole does not automatically confer eligibility for adjustment of status or other immigration benefits. The bill includes a provision allowing individuals, states, or local governments to bring civil actions against the federal government for financial harm resulting from the unlawful application of these parole provisions.
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Timeline
Jan 23, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-696
Introduced in House
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 23, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • January 23, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-696
    Introduced in House


  • January 23, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 23, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 119-696: End Unaccountable Amnesty Act
  • S 119-1589: Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2025
  • HR 119-4201: TPS Reform Act of 2025

End Unaccountable Amnesty Act

USA119th CongressS-225| Senate 
| Updated: 1/23/2025
The "End Unaccountable Amnesty Act" proposes substantial changes to several key areas of U.S. immigration policy, primarily by shifting authority and imposing stricter limitations. One major reform involves Temporary Protected Status (TPS) , transferring the power to designate, terminate, or extend TPS for foreign states from the executive branch to an Act of Congress. Under this bill, TPS designations and extensions would be limited to a maximum of 12 months, and individuals lacking lawful immigration status would be explicitly ineligible for TPS. The bill also enacts significant reforms to the treatment of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) . It eliminates the distinction for UACs from contiguous countries, potentially leading to more expedited returns for these children. New provisions require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to share detailed sponsor information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and DHS would be mandated to initiate removal proceedings for unlawfully present sponsors. Additionally, it modifies eligibility for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), making it more difficult to obtain by requiring that reunification with *any* parent or legal guardian is not viable due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. A critical component of the bill is the repeal of Section 240A of the Immigration and Nationality Act , which currently allows certain non-permanent residents and permanent residents to apply for cancellation of removal and adjustment of status. This repeal would eliminate a significant pathway to legal status for many individuals in removal proceedings. The bill also addresses air travel security by prohibiting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air carriers from accepting specific immigration documents, such as the CBP One Mobile Application, Notices to Appear, and DHS Form I-385, as valid identification at airport security checkpoints. Finally, the legislation dramatically reforms immigration parole authority , severely restricting the Secretary of Homeland Security's discretion. Parole would be limited to a strict "case-by-case basis" for narrowly defined urgent humanitarian reasons (e.g., life-threatening medical emergencies, organ donation) or specific significant public benefits (e.g., law enforcement assistance). The bill imposes an annual cap of 1,000 parole grants and generally limits their duration to one year, with limited exceptions for extensions. It also clarifies that parole does not automatically confer eligibility for adjustment of status or other immigration benefits. The bill includes a provision allowing individuals, states, or local governments to bring civil actions against the federal government for financial harm resulting from the unlawful application of these parole provisions.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Jan 23, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-696
Introduced in House
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 23, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • January 23, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-696
    Introduced in House


  • January 23, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 23, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jim Banks

Jim Banks

Republican Senator

Indiana

Cosponsors (2)
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Mike Lee (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 119-696: End Unaccountable Amnesty Act
  • S 119-1589: Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2025
  • HR 119-4201: TPS Reform Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted