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U.S. Citizenship Act

Introduced: February 18, 2021 Introduced by: Sánchez, Linda T. Democratic · California See on congress.gov

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

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.