HR 2851 119th Congress House Immigration

WISE Act

Introduced: April 10, 2025 Introduced by: Jayapal, Pramila Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced in House

Apr 10, 2025

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Agriculture, Education and 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.

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment Act or the WISE Act

This bill expands eligibility for U nonimmigrant visas (victims of criminal activity) and prohibits immigration enforcement activities in specified areas.

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 and removes criteria related to the victim's assistance with the investigation or prosecution of the crime.

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.

What's happening now April 10, 2025

Bill text 1 version

Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 6

Agriculture Committee
House of Representatives
Education and Workforce Committee
House of Representatives
Energy and Commerce Committee
House of Representatives
Financial Services Committee
House of Representatives
Judiciary Committee
House of Representatives
Ways and Means Committee
House of Representatives

Lobbying activity 5

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN
for NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN · District of Columbia · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2025
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN
for NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN · District of Columbia · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2025
KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE
for KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE · District of Columbia · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2025
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN
for NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN · District of Columbia · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2025
KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE
for KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE · District of Columbia · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2025