USA Act of 2023
1/23/2024, 11:00 PMSummary of Bill HR 3217
The USA Act of 2023, also known as Bill 118 hr 3217, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to address various issues related to immigration and border security in the United States.One key aspect of the USA Act of 2023 is the establishment of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria. This pathway would allow eligible individuals to apply for legal status and eventually become US citizens. The bill also includes provisions for increasing border security measures, such as funding for additional border patrol agents and technology upgrades.
Additionally, the USA Act of 2023 aims to address the issue of visa overstays by implementing a biometric entry-exit system at all US ports of entry. This system would help track individuals who enter the country on temporary visas and ensure they depart when required. Overall, the USA Act of 2023 seeks to strike a balance between providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and enhancing border security measures. The bill is currently being debated in Congress, and its ultimate fate remains uncertain.
Congressional Summary of HR 3217
Updated Standards for Asylum Act of 2023 or the USA Act of 2023
This bill modifies standards and requirements related to individuals seeking asylum.
For an individual to establish a credible fear of persecution, the bill requires it to be more probable than not that the statements in support of the claim are true.
The bill also imposes certain rules relating to credible fear interviews, including requirements for recordings and interpreters. For example, the Department of Homeland Security must establish procedures to ensure that individuals subject to expedited removal are questioned in a uniform manner and that the questions and answers are recorded in a uniform fashion.
The bill also bars an individual from seeking asylum if that individual may be safely removed to a third country (i.e., not the individual's country of nationality), whereas currently this bar only applies if such removal is to a third country pursuant to an agreement with the United States.
If an individual is granted asylum because of fear of persecution in a country, the individual shall be deemed to have renounced asylum status by returning to that country, if there has been no change in the country's conditions.
Any individual who knowingly and willfully makes materially false statements or uses fraudulent documents in asylum-related proceedings shall be fined or imprisoned up to 10 years, or both.
