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H.R. 2169 112th Congress House

POWER Act

Official title: To protect victims of crime or serious labor violations from deportation during Department of Homeland Security enforcement actions, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 14, 2011 Introduced by: Judy Chu Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Immigration Administrative remediesCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationEmployment discrimination and employee rights
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Foreign laborImmigration status and procedures
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 25, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
Jun 14, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 14, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 25, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation Act or the POWER Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude from the definition of "immigrant" under such Act a nonimmigrant alien who files a petition for status if the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) determines that the alien: (1) has suffered abuse or harm as a result of having been a victim of criminal activity; (2) has suffered substantial abuse or harm related to specified labor or employment violations related to a workplace claim (workplace violation); (3) is a victim of specified criminal activity and would suffer extreme hardship upon removal; (4) has suffered a workplace violation and would suffer extreme hardship upon removal; (5) has been helpful to a local judge, DHS, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Department of Labor, or the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) or to other authorities investigating, prosecuting, or seeking civil remedies for workplace violation; or (6) has filed, is a material witness in, or is likely to be helpful in the investigation of, a bona fide workplace claim and reasonably fears, has been threatened with, or has been the victim of, an action involving force, physical restraint, retaliation, or abuse of the immigration or other legal process by the employer in relation to acts underlying or related to the filing of the claim.

Authorizes the Secretary to permit an alien to temporarily remain in the United States and grant the alien employment authorization upon determining that the alien: (1) has filed for relief under such provisions; (2) has filed, or is a material witness to, a bona fide workplace claim; and (3) has been helpful to a federal, state, or local law enforcement official, prosecutor, or judge, to DHS, EEOC, the Department of Labor, or NLRB, or to other federal, state, or local authorities investigating, prosecuting, or seeking civil remedies related to the claim.

Sets forth provisions governing procedural requirements and protections in an enforcement action leading to a removal proceeding taken against an alien: (1) as a result of information provided to DHS in retaliation against an individual for exercising or attempting to exercise employment or other legal rights; (2) at a facility about which a workplace claim has been filed; or (3) who has filed a workplace claim, who is a material witness in any proceeding involving a bona fide workplace claim, or who has filed for relief under this Act. Makes exceptions to any entitlement to a stay of removal or other specified relief where DHS establishes, by a preponderance of the evidence in proceedings before the immigration judge presiding over that alien's removal hearing, that: (1) the alien has been convicted of a felony, or (2) the workplace claim was filed in bad faith with intent to delay or avoid the alien's removal.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2169: POWER Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2169/
MLA
"H.R. 2169: POWER Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2169/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2169, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2169/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2169: POWER Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2169/)
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