Overview

Title

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reform temporary protected status, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H. R. 10061 is a bill that wants to change the rules for how some people from other countries can stay in the U.S. for a while when their own country is not safe, and it also says how many people can come to the U.S. temporarily each year, like a 1,000-person limit.

Summary AI

H. R. 10061, also known as the “End Executive Branch Amnesty Act of 2024,” proposes changes to the U.S. immigration system, specifically reforming temporary protected status, which allows certain foreign nationals to stay in the U.S. due to unsafe conditions in their home countries. The bill requires an act of Congress to designate a country for this status, simplifies the termination process, and restricts eligibility for certain immigrants, such as unaccompanied children and those seeking special status. Additionally, it restricts the types of identification documents acceptable for air travel and reforms immigration parole, limiting the number of individuals granted temporary entry into the U.S. each year.

Published

2024-10-29
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-10-29
Package ID: BILLS-118hr10061ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
7
Words:
5,223
Pages:
25
Sentences:
67

Language

Nouns: 1,309
Verbs: 368
Adjectives: 220
Adverbs: 31
Numbers: 196
Entities: 161

Complexity

Average Token Length:
3.88
Average Sentence Length:
77.96
Token Entropy:
5.17
Readability (ARI):
39.12

AnalysisAI

The bill known as H. R. 10061, titled the “End Executive Branch Amnesty Act of 2024,” seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with a focus on reforming Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and related immigration policies. The bill proposes significant changes across several areas of immigration law, impacting how the United States handles individuals from foreign countries facing serious crises and the treatment of undocumented minors arriving without guardians.

General Summary

The bill outlines various reforms, starting with modifications to the Temporary Protected Status process. It sets stricter conditions under which a country can be designated for TPS, like ongoing conflict or environmental catastrophe, and allocates this decision-making power to the Secretary of Homeland Security instead of the Attorney General. The bill also updates rules on the handling and repatriation of unaccompanied immigrant children, addressing custody details and sharing of information with federal departments. Moreover, the bill repeals existing cancellation of removal provisions and adjusts the status process. It introduces a prohibition on using certain documents as identification for air travel, and it introduces limitations to the immigration parole system.

Significant Issues

This legislation includes numerous complex amendments, which could complicate public comprehension due to the specialized language used. For instance, the conditions and entities involved in exercising TPS and immigration parole are now more defined but may lead to bureaucracy and delay in response times during emergencies. The shift of authority from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security could lead to administrative challenges. Additionally, by prohibiting certain identification documents for air travel, the bill could impose new requirements but lacks clarity on enforcement procedures.

Impact on the Public

The bill could broadly impact individuals within the U.S. and those seeking entry for humanitarian reasons. By altering the TPS system, it could make seeking protection within the U.S. more difficult for individuals from countries experiencing crises, restricting immediate relief efforts. The removal of cancellation provisions for removal adjustments could result in increased deportations without judicial review, affecting many residing in the U.S. unlawfully. The adjustment of immigration parole limits may impact those needing urgent entry, such as in medical emergencies, significantly reducing their access or prolonging the process.

Impact on Stakeholders

For immigrants, the restrictions and heightened criteria might pose challenges, particularly for those from regions dealing with natural disasters or conflicts. They may face difficulties acquiring temporary protection or entry under humanitarian grounds. Airlines and travel stakeholders may need to adhere to new compliance protocols, which could present operational hurdles. On another front, state and local governments might find themselves juggling additional burdens due to the bill’s provision allowing civil action if harmed by federal enforcement of these changes, likely leading to increased litigation.

Overall, while aiming to strengthen the regulation of immigration processes, the bill's complexity and added stipulations present potential delays and accessibility concerns. Balancing tight regulatory frameworks with humanitarian exigencies will be crucial to achieving effective implementation without undue detriment to those in vulnerable circumstances.

Financial Assessment

The bill, known as the “End Executive Branch Amnesty Act of 2024,” has a limited focus on financial matters. However, there is a notable mention of financial implications in Section 6(c), which introduces the possibility of civil actions related to financial harm.

Civil Action for Financial Harm

Section 6(c) states that any person, state, or local government can bring a civil lawsuit against the federal government if they experience financial harm exceeding $1,000 due to the government's failure to apply this act lawfully. This provision empowers those financially impacted by any misapplication of the law to seek compensation or corrective action through the courts.

The financial threshold set at $1,000 indicates that even relatively small financial impacts could lead to legal actions, potentially increasing accountability but also possibly leading to a surge in litigation. This might result in additional administrative and legal costs for the judiciary and potentially strain the court system with increased caseloads, as highlighted in the list of issues.

Connection to Identified Issues

The introduction of the right to initiate civil action against the government pertains directly to one of the identified issues: the potential burden on the judicial system due to numerous lawsuits. Given the possibility of frequent legal challenges, each involving financial implications, it is critical to consider the administrative costs that such legal actions might incur. This could involve expenses related to court operations, legal defenses, and potential damages paid if the government loses such suits.

Overall Financial Implications

While the bill does not directly involve specific appropriations or budgetary allocations, the provision for civil action does implicate potential indirect costs related to litigation. It invites a consideration of how taxpayer dollars might be spent in defending government actions and the broader economic impact of potentially frequent legal disputes.

Overall, the financial dimension of the bill is limited but potentially significant in the context of how it may lead to legal costs and administrative burden related to the enforcement and application of its provisions.

Issues

  • The bill's complexity and specialized language, particularly in Sections 2 (Temporary Protected Status) and 3 (Unaccompanied Alien Children), could make it difficult for the general public and stakeholders to understand without legal expertise.

  • The bill's amendments in Section 2 relating to Temporary Protected Status do not specify how determinations will be made regarding the continued eligibility of a foreign state, leading to potential ambiguity and uncertainty for impacted individuals.

  • Section 3 on Unaccompanied Alien Children introduces amendments without clearly outlining the financial implications, complicating assessments of potential costs or savings for policymakers.

  • The change in authority from 'Attorney General' to 'Secretary of Homeland Security' in Section 2 might cause logistical or bureaucratic issues if not properly coordinated, as different departments are involved.

  • Section 5, addressing prohibited identification documents for air travel, lacks clarity and detailed criteria, which may lead to confusion and inconsistent enforcement, particularly in defining what constitutes a 'prohibited identification document.'

  • The repeal and amendments in Section 4 regarding 'Cancellation of Removal; Adjustment of Status' are complex and may be unclear to non-lawyers due to the frequent use of legal citations without explanation.

  • Section 6's introduction of a 1,000 alien cap per fiscal year for immigration parole might be inadequate for humanitarian crises, potentially limiting the effectiveness of the parole system.

  • Section 2's shift to requiring enacted Acts for Temporary Protected Status designation could lead to delays in response to urgent humanitarian needs, affecting individuals from crisis-stricken regions.

  • The introduction of the right to initiate civil action against the government in Section 6 might lead to numerous lawsuits, potentially burdening the judicial system.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section establishes the short title of the bill as the “End Executive Branch Amnesty Act of 2024”.

2. Temporary Protected Status Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The text revises the rules about Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people from certain foreign countries in the U.S. It allows specific conditions like ongoing conflict, environmental disasters, or safety concerns to justify TPS, sets rules for how long TPS can last, and updates the authority from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security.

3. Unaccompanied alien children Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section of the bill updates existing laws about the handling of unaccompanied alien children, stipulating new rules for their repatriation, custody, and information-sharing between government agencies. It also modifies the criteria for immigrants seeking special juvenile status when they cannot reunify with their parents, ensuring legal protections aren't allowed if reunification is possible under state laws.

4. Repeal of cancellation of removal; adjustment of status Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The proposed section of the bill repeals Section 240A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which involves the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status. It also makes several technical amendments to align other sections of the act with this repeal, such as removing references to Section 240A in various clauses and subsections.

5. Prohibited identification documents for air travel Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section prohibits the use of certain documents as valid identification at airport security checkpoints, specifically barring air carriers from operating in the United States if they allow passengers to use these prohibited documents to board aircraft. The documents listed as prohibited include the U.S. Customs and Border Protection One Mobile App, and notices issued by the Department of Homeland Security such as Notices to Appear and Notices to Report.

40131. Prohibition on operations for air carriers allowing use of prohibited identification documents Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Airlines, whether they are based in the United States or another country, are not allowed to operate flights to or from the United States if they accept certain prohibited identification documents as valid ID for boarding. These specific documents are defined in a separate piece of legislation called the End Executive Branch Amnesty Act of 2024.

6. Immigration parole reform Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section reformulates the rules for granting immigration parole, allowing the Secretary of Homeland Security to temporarily allow certain aliens into the U.S. on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. It outlines specific conditions and limitations for issuing parole, includes reporting requirements, and clarifies employment authorization and status change restrictions for those paroled.

Money References

  • (c) Cause of action.—Any person, State, or local government that experiences financial harm in excess of $1,000 due to a failure of the Federal Government to lawfully apply the provisions of this section or the amendments made by this section shall have standing to bring a civil action against the Federal Government in an appropriate district court of the United States for appropriate relief.