WISE Act

Hozzl · 2025-05-08T08:05:53Z

Explore the details of House Bill 2851 WISE Act currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on undefined. Stay informed on legislative developments.

5/8/2025, 8:05 AM

Summary of Bill HR 2851

The bill introduced in the 119th Congress with the designation H.R. 2851 aims to extend immigration benefits to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other gender-based violence, among other purposes.

Congressional Summary of HR 2851

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.

Read the Full Bill

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Current Status of Bill HR 2851

Bill HR 2851 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since April 10, 2025. Bill HR 2851 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the House on April 10, 2025. Bill HR 2851's most recent activity was 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. as of April 10, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 2851

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

151

Democrat Cosponsors

151

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 2851

Primary Policy Focus

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 2851

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