Skip to main content
HR 2430 116th Congress House

Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2019

Official title: To provide for punishments for immigration-related fraud, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 1, 2019 Introduced by: Foster, Bill Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
Immigration Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal procedure and sentencing
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Department of Homeland SecurityDepartment of JusticeFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesImmigration status and proceduresLawyers and legal services
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 20, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
May 20, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
May 1, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 1, 2019
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action May 20, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2019

This bill establishes that certain acts of immigration-related fraud shall be punished by fines, imprisonment, or both.

The bill provides for such punishment for a person who knowingly or recklessly executes a scheme or artifice in a matter arising under immigration law to (1) defraud any person; or (2) obtain anything of value from any person through false pretenses, representations, or promises.

A person who knowingly and falsely represents that such person is an attorney or accredited representative in any matter arising under immigration law shall be subject to such punishment.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) may seek civil injunctions to stop an immigration service provider from further engaging in fraudulent conduct or willfully misrepresenting the provider's authority to provide representation in immigration matters.

An alien who left the United States based on erroneous advice from a person engaged in immigration practitioner fraud or the unauthorized practice of law shall not be barred from reentering the country.

An alien may withdraw an application for immigration benefits that was prepared or submitted by an individual engaging in immigration practitioner fraud or the unauthorized practice of law, if the alien had no prior knowledge of the individual's fraudulent or unauthorized status. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State, and DOJ shall develop procedures for allowing such an alien to submit corrected filings.

DHS and DOJ shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide direct legal services to aliens.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2430: Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-2430/
MLA
"H.R. 2430: Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-2430/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2430, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-2430/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2430: Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-2430/)
Report a problem