9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act
This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjust to permanent resident the status a qualifying alien who applies for adjustment not later than one year after enactment of this bill and who, after the September 11, 2011, terrorist attacks:
DHS may authorize an alien who has applied for adjustment of status under this bill to work during the pendency of his or her application.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3250 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3250
To provide aliens who performed rescue, recovery, demolition, debris
cleanup, or other related services after the September 11 terrorist
attacks an opportunity to adjust their status to that of an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 14, 2017
Mr. Crowley (for himself, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Espaillat, Ms.
Clarke of New York, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Serrano, and Mr. Jeffries)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide aliens who performed rescue, recovery, demolition, debris
cleanup, or other related services after the September 11 terrorist
attacks an opportunity to adjust their status to that of an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act''.
SEC. 2. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FOR CERTAIN WORKERS AFTER TERRORIST
ATTACKS.
(a) Adjustment of Status.--The status of any alien described in
subsection (b) may be adjusted by the Secretary of Homeland Security to
that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, if the
alien--
(1) applies for such adjustment not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, which may be extended at
the discretion of the Secretary in cases with compelling
circumstances;
(2) is not inadmissible to the United States under
paragraph (2) or (3) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)), or deportable under
paragraph (2) or (4) of section 237(a) of such Act (8 U.S.C.
1227(a)); except that in determining an alien's
inadmissibility--
(A) offenses for which an essential element was the
alien's immigration status shall not apply;
(B) arrests or criminal charges on their own shall
not apply; and
(C) cases where a judgment has been expunged, set
aside, or the equivalent shall not apply; and
(3) not later than the date on which the application under
paragraph (1) is submitted, satisfies any applicable Federal
tax liability by establishing that--
(A) no such tax liability exists; or
(B) all outstanding liabilities have been paid.
(b) Aliens Eligible for Adjustment of Status.--
(1) In general.--The benefit provided by subsection (a)
shall apply to any alien who--
(A) worked or volunteered onsite in rescue,
recovery, debris cleanup, or related support services
in lower Manhattan (south of Canal St.), the Staten
Island Landfill, or the barge loading piers, for at
least 4 hours during the period beginning on September
11, 2001, and ending on September 14, 2001, for at
least 24 hours during the period beginning on September
11, 2001, and ending on September 30, 2001, or for at
least 80 hours during the period beginning on September
11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002;
(B) was a vehicle-maintenance worker who was
exposed to debris from the former World Trade Center
while retrieving, driving, cleaning, repairing, and
maintaining vehicles contaminated by airborne toxins
from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks for any
time during the period beginning on September 11, 2001,
and ending on July 31, 2002;
(C) was a member of a fire or police department
(whether fire or emergency personnel, active or
retired), worked for a recovery or cleanup contractor,
or was a volunteer; and performed rescue, recovery,
demolition, debris cleanup, or other related services
at the Pentagon site of the terrorist-related aircraft
crash of September 11, 2001, during the period
beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on November
19, 2001; or
(D) was a member of a fire or police department
(whether fire or emergency personnel, active or
retired), worked for a recovery or cleanup contractor,
or was a volunteer; and performed rescue, recovery,
demolition, debris cleanup, or other related services
at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania, site of the
terrorist-related aircraft crash of September 11, 2001,
during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and
ending on October 3, 2001.
(2) Exception.--An alien shall not be provided any benefit
under this section if the Secretary of Homeland Security
determines that the alien has willfully made a material
misrepresentation or material omission in the proffer of
information described in paragraph (1)(C).
(c) Work Authorization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may
authorize an alien who has applied for adjustment of status under
subsection (a) to engage in employment in the United States during the
pendency of such application.
(d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
limit the existing authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security on
the date of the enactment of this Act to require any form or other
submission of information or to perform any background or security
check for the purpose of determining the admissibility, or eligibility
under this section, of any alien.
(e) Waiver of Regulations.--The Secretary of Homeland Security
shall issue guidance to carry out this section not later than 6 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, but is not required to
promulgate regulations prior to implementing this section.
(f) No Offset in Number of Visas Available.--When an alien is
granted the status of having been lawfully admitted for permanent
residence under this section, the Secretary of State shall not be
required to reduce the number of immigrant visas authorized to be
issued under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et
seq.).
(g) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
(1) The term ``applicable Federal tax liability'' means
liability for Federal taxes, including penalties and interest,
owed for any year for which the statutory period for assessment
of any deficiency for such taxes has not expired.
(2) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this
section, the definitions used in the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) (excluding the
definitions applicable exclusively to title III of such Act)
shall apply in the administration of this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
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