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S 1609 108th Congress Senate

PROMISE Act

Official title: A bill to make aliens ineligible to receive visas and exclude aliens from admission into the United States for nonpayment of child support.

Introduced: February 12, 2004 See on congress.gov
Immigration Alien laborAliensChild supportCivil actions and liability
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Collection of accountsFamiliesGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkLabor and EmploymentLawParent and childPaternityVisas
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 13, 2004
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 511.
May 13, 2004
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
May 13, 2004
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Sep 11, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11418)
Sep 11, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11417-11418)
Sep 11, 2003
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action May 13, 2004

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 511.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Parental Responsibility Obligations Met through Immigration System Enforcement Act or PROMISE Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to render aliens inadmissible for nonpayment of child support if arrearages exceed a specified amount unless payments are satisfied or the alien is in compliance with an approved payment agreement.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to parole such inadmissible aliens into the United States if parole is essential to the fulfillment of child support and the alien is placed in removal proceedings, has authorized employment, and is otherwise admissible. Prohibits entry of a final removal order against such aliens during the pendency of State court child support proceedings.

Adds nonpayment of child support to the INA's list of conduct barring a finding that an alien is a person of good moral character unless support payments are satisfied or the alien is in compliance with an approved payment agreement.

Authorizes immigration officers to serve process in child support or paternity cases on aliens seeking admission.

Amends the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, upon request by the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, or Secretary of State, to provide authorized persons with information that may aid alien child support delinquency determinations. Prohibits the further disclosure of such information other than for Federal law enforcement purposes. Authorizes disciplinary action and civil penalties for unauthorized disclosures.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1609: PROMISE Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1609/
MLA
"S. 1609: PROMISE Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1609/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1609, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1609/.
Markdown link
[S. 1609: PROMISE Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1609/)
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