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H.R. 5145 118th Congress House

WISE Act of 2023

Official title: To extend immigration benefits to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other gender-based violence, and for other purposes.

Introduced: August 4, 2023 Introduced by: Pramila Jayapal Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
Immigration Border security and unlawful immigrationCemeteries and funeralsChild safety and welfareCongressional oversight
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Crime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDepartment of Homeland SecurityDetention of personsDisability and paralysisDisability assistanceDisaster relief and insuranceDomestic violence and child abuseEducation of the disadvantagedEducational facilities and institutionsElementary and secondary educationEvidence and witnessesFamily relationshipsFood assistance and reliefForeign laborGovernment buildings, facilities, and propertyHealth care coverage and accessHealth facilities and institutionsHomelessness and emergency shelterImmigrant health and welfareImmigration status and proceduresLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersLawyers and legal servicesLow- and moderate-income housingMarriage and family statusMedicaidMedicarePoverty and welfare assistanceProtest and dissentRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionSocial security and elderly assistanceU.S. territories and protectorates
This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 17, 2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Sep 21, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.
Aug 11, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Aug 4, 2023
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Agriculture, Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, and Financial Services, 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.
Aug 4, 2023
Introduced in House
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 Latest action December 17, 2024

Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment Act of 2023 or the WISE Act of 2023

This bill expands eligibility for U nonimmigrant visas (victims of criminal activity) and addresses related issues.

Generally, U visas are for victims of specified crimes (e.g., rape, trafficking, or domestic violence) who assist with the investigation or prosecution of the crime. The bill adds hate crimes, child abuse, and elder abuse as crimes that may qualify a victim for a U visa.  

Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must provide work authorization to U visa applicants, whereas currently DHS may grant work authorization but is not required to do so.

The bill also eliminates the annual numerical cap on U visas. 

The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that certain individuals, including U visa applicants and T visa (victims of human trafficking) applicants, shall not be detained while the application is pending.

Additionally, the bill provides immigration-related protections, such as by extending the admission period and providing work authorization, to the spouse or child of a nonimmigrant visa holder who subjected that spouse or child to battery or extreme cruelty.

Further, the bill prohibits, with some exceptions for exigent circumstances, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection from conducting immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a school, health care facility, place of worship, or other location specified in the bill.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 9
 Cosponsors 44
D
Thanedar, Shri
Michigan · Jul 24, 2024
D
Menendez, Robert
New Jersey · Apr 18, 2024
D
Kim, Andy
New Jersey · Apr 9, 2024
D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Florida · Apr 9, 2024
D
Garcia, Sylvia R.
Texas · Mar 5, 2024
Porter, Katie
· Feb 23, 2024
D
Ramirez, Delia C.
Illinois · Feb 23, 2024
D
DeSaulnier, Mark
California · Dec 19, 2023
D
Salinas, Andrea
Oregon · Dec 7, 2023
D
Balint, Becca
Vermont · Nov 1, 2023
D
Khanna, Ro
California · Nov 1, 2023
D
Stansbury, Melanie A.
New Mexico · Nov 1, 2023
D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Oct 26, 2023
D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Oct 6, 2023
Bush, Cori
· Sep 28, 2023
D
Goldman, Daniel S.
New York · Sep 22, 2023
Bowman, Jamaal
· Sep 12, 2023
D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Aug 29, 2023
D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Aug 15, 2023
D
Ross, Deborah K.
North Carolina · Aug 11, 2023
D
Williams, Nikema
Georgia · Aug 11, 2023
D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · Aug 4, 2023
Blumenauer, Earl
· Aug 4, 2023
D
Carbajal, Salud O.
California · Aug 4, 2023
D
Casar, Greg
Texas · Aug 4, 2023
D
Casten, Sean
Illinois · Aug 4, 2023
D
Castro, Joaquin
Texas · Aug 4, 2023
D
Chu, Judy
California · Aug 4, 2023
D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · Aug 4, 2023
D
García, Jesús G. "Chuy"
Illinois · Aug 4, 2023
Jackson Lee, Sheila
· Aug 4, 2023
D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Aug 4, 2023
Lee, Barbara
· Aug 4, 2023
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Aug 4, 2023
D
Meng, Grace
New York · Aug 4, 2023
D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Aug 4, 2023
Napolitano, Grace
· Aug 4, 2023
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Aug 4, 2023
D
Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria
New York · Aug 4, 2023
D
Omar, Ilhan
Minnesota · Aug 4, 2023
D
Panetta, Jimmy
California · Aug 4, 2023
D
Scanlon, Mary Gay
Pennsylvania · Aug 4, 2023
D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Aug 4, 2023
D
Tlaib, Rashida
Michigan · Aug 4, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5145: WISE Act of 2023. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-5145/
MLA
"H.R. 5145: WISE Act of 2023." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-5145/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5145, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-5145/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5145: WISE Act of 2023](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-5145/)
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