H.R. 1177
117th Congress
House
U.S. Citizenship Act
Official title: To provide an earned path to citizenship, to address the root causes of migration and responsibly manage the southern border, and to reform the immigrant visa system, and for other purposes.
Immigration
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdult education and literacyAdvanced technology and technological innovations
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Advisory bodiesAfghanistanAgricultural prices, subsidies, creditAlternative and renewable resourcesAlternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationArizonaAsiaAssault and harassment offensesAviation and airportsBorder security and unlawful immigrationBusiness educationCaliforniaChild healthChild safety and welfareCitizenship and naturalizationCivil actions and liabilityCompetitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficitsConflicts and warsCongressional oversightCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentCrime preventionCrime victimsCrimes against womenCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal procedure and sentencingCustoms enforcementDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartment of JusticeDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDisaster relief and insuranceDomestic violence and child abuseDrug trafficking and controlled substancesEconomic developmentEducation programs fundingEducational facilities and institutionsEl SalvadorElementary and secondary educationEmergency communications systemsEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee hiringEmployee performanceEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchExecutive agency funding and structureFamily relationshipsFinancial services and investmentsFood supply, safety, and labelingForeign aid and international reliefForeign and international bankingForeign laborForeign language and bilingual programsFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsGuatemalaHealth personnelHealth technology, devices, suppliesHigher educationHondurasHousing and community development fundingHousing finance and home ownershipHuman rightsHuman traffickingImmigration status and proceduresIndian lands and resources rightsIntergovernmental relationsInternational organizations and cooperationIraqJudicial procedure and administrationJudicial review and appealsLabor standardsLatin AmericaLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersLawyers and legal servicesLicensing and registrationsMarine and inland water transportationMarriage and family statusMedical educationMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMexicoMiddle EastMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborMotor carriersMotor vehiclesNatural disastersNorthern Mariana IslandsNutrition and dietOrganized crimePedestrians and bicyclingPerformance measurementPhilippinesPoverty and welfare assistancePublic contracts and procurementRacial and ethnic relationsRailroadsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionRight of privacyRule of law and government transparencyRural conditions and developmentSex offensesSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSmall businessSmuggling and traffickingSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusState and local government operationsSyriaTax administration and collection, taxpayersTeaching, teachers, curriculaTechnology assessmentTelephone and wireless communicationTexasTransportation safety and securityTravel and tourismU.S. territories and protectoratesUnited NationsUser charges and feesViolent crimeVisas and passportsWages and earningsWater use and supplyWestern HemisphereWomen's employmentWomen's healthYouth employment and child labor
Everywhere this bill has been
6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 28, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Feb 19, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 19, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
Feb 18, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Education and Labor, House Administration, Financial Services, Natural Resources, Oversight and Reform, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 18, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 18, 2021
Introduced in House
Ask about this bill
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.
Latest action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Plain-English summary
U.S. Citizenship Act
This bill establishes a path to citizenship for certain undocumented individuals. The bill also replaces the term alien with noncitizen in the immigration statutes and addresses other related issues.
Specifically, the bill establishes a new status of lawful prospective immigrant. This status shall be available to an applying noncitizen who meets certain requirements, including being continually present in the United States from January 1, 2021, and passing background checks. After at least five years with this status, an eligible noncitizen may apply for and receive permanent resident status.
The bill also provides permanent resident status to certain applying noncitizens, specifically for eligible noncitizens who (1) entered the United States as a minor, (2) were eligible for temporary protected status or deferred enforced departure on January 1, 2017, or (3) worked a certain amount of agricultural labor in the five years prior to applying.
Among other things, the bill also
- redefines for immigration purposes the term conviction to exclude convictions that have been expunged or vacated,
- requires the Department of State to implement a strategy to advance reforms in Central America and address key factors contributing to migration from the region to the United States,
- requires the State Department to establish refugee processing centers in Central America,
- requires Customs and Border Patrol sectors and stations to have a certain number of employees with certain qualifications such as paramedic training,
- generally prohibits religious discrimination in granting or denying immigration benefits, and
- establishes grant programs for providing training and services to immigrants.
Related & companion bills
6
Bill text
1 version
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Committees of jurisdiction
16
- Armed Services Committee
- Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee
- Committee on House Administration
- Education and Workforce Committee
- Energy and Commerce Committee
- Financial Services Committee
- Foreign Affairs Committee
- Health Subcommittee
- Health Subcommittee
- Homeland Security Committee
- Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee
- Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Natural Resources Committee
- Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- Ways and Means Committee
Cosponsors
137
D
Tlaib, Rashida
D
Stevens, Haley M.
Payne, Donald
D
Stansbury, Melanie A.
D
Cohen, Steve
Sarbanes, John
D
Dingell, Debbie
D
Khanna, Ro
McEachin, A.
D
Cleaver, Emanuel
D
DelBene, Suzan K.
D
Adams, Alma S.
D
Tonko, Paul
D
Underwood, Lauren
Pascrell, Bill
D
Sherman, Brad
D
Kaptur, Marcy
D
Pocan, Mark
D
Beatty, Joyce
D
Jayapal, Pramila
D
Mfume, Kweisi
PRICE, DAVID
D
Boyle, Brendan F.
D
Foster, Bill
D
García, Jesús G. "Chuy"
Higgins, Brian
D
Huffman, Jared
D
Keating, William R.
D
Kelly, Robin L.
D
Krishnamoorthi, Raja
D
Larsen, Rick
D
Moore, Gwen
D
Raskin, Jamie
D
Sewell, Terri A.
D
Casten, Sean
D
Dean, Madeleine
D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
D
DeSaulnier, Mark
D
Doggett, Lloyd
JOHNSON, EDDIE
Lowenthal, Alan
D
Meng, Grace
D
Morelle, Joseph D.
D
Moulton, Seth
Perlmutter, Ed
D
Pingree, Chellie
D
Smith, Adam
D
Strickland, Marilyn
D
Thompson, Mike
D
Waters, Maxine
Page 1 of 3
Next
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1177: U.S. Citizenship Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1177/
"H.R. 1177: U.S. Citizenship Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1177/.
H.R. 1177, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1177/.
[H.R. 1177: U.S. Citizenship Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1177/)