Calling for comprehensive legislation that addresses United States policies contributing to forced migration and displacement, promotes an immigration system that addresses the root causes of migration, reaffirms United States commitment to asylum, and provides a roadmap to citizenship for immigrants living in the United States.

S. 4361 Securing the Border Act of 2024 - The bill expands Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to address the processing of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) and provides supplemental appropriations for related purposes. Among other provisions, the bill provides DHS emergency authority to summarily remove or prohibit the entry of certain non-U.S. nationals within 100 miles of the southwest land border. DHS may exercise this authority if DHS encounters an average of 4,000 non-U.S. nationals within a seven-day period. If the number of encounters reach certain higher thresholds, DHS must exercise the emergency authority. This emergency border authority expires after three years and may be modified by the President under specified circumstances. Next, the bill establishes an expedited process that authorizes asylum officers to adjudicate certain asylum claims. Among other provisions, these provisional noncustodial removal proceedings impose certain target timelines for determining asylum claims and limit review of denied claims. The bill also establishes a stricter threshold for individuals to remain in the United States pending adjudication of an asylum petition. H.R. 9217 S. 4861 Destination Reception Act - Establish the Destination Reception Services Program New Arrival Services Board in the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and to authorize a grant program to provide funding for medium-term services to asylum seekers and parolees in destination States and localities. The grant program would promote self-sufficiency; reduce costs of extended emergency shelter; maximize benefit to new arrivals and host communities; provide diversion from homelessness; and promote the effective navigation and compliance of the immigration process. H.R.1325 - Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023: This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to provide employment authorization for eligible asylum applicants. Currently, such individuals are not entitled to employment authorization but may be granted such by the Department of Justice. H.R. 9649 UNRWA Restoration of Emergency Funding Act - To restore funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). H. Res. 1525 Resolution to Reduce Forced Migration and Displacement - Calling for comprehensive legislation that addresses United States policies contributing to forced migration and displacement, promotes an immigration system that addresses the root causes of migration, reaffirms United States commitment to asylum, and provides a roadmap to citizenship for immigrants living in the United States. Bipartisan immigration bill (yet to be introduced) - Reps. Suozzi and Luttrell bipartisan bill negotiations to enact comprehensive immigration reform. Securing Help for Immigrants through Education and Legal Development (SHIELD) Act (pending introduction): To authorize the Attorney General to provide grants to States, units of local government, and organizations to support the recruitment, training, and development of staff and infrastructure needed to support the due process rights of individuals facing deportation. Refugee Protection Act of 2025 (pending introduction): To provide for the admission and protection of refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable individuals, to provide for the processing of refugees and asylum seekers in the Western Hemisphere, and to modify certain special immigrant visa programs, and for other purposes. Migrant Shelter and Services Program Act (pending introduction) Executive Branch A Proclamation on Securing the Border and rule: Encouraged the administration to rescind the rule. The new policy bars access to asylum for most people arriving between ports of entry when the number of apprehensions reaches a certain level. It imposes additional uncertainties and obstacles to asylum building upon existing restrictive policies already in place. The Rule flouts domestic asylum law and the United States obligations under the Refugee Convention, and will face immediate legal challenge in the courts. Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Rule: Encouraged the administration to terminate the rule, increase processing of asylum seekers at ports of entry. Affirmative Asylum Processing: urged a number of recommendations to improve processing of affirmative asylum claims before USCIS. Somalia: Urged and welcomed the redesignation and extension of TPS for Somalia for 18 months, from September 18, 2024, to March 17, 2026. Work permit processing: urged administration to clear asylum work permit backlog Refugee Designation for Palestinians: urged the designation of a P2 program for Palestinians. Funding for UNRWA: urged the US to restore funding to the UNRWA. Protections for Haitians: urged the administration to halt deportations to Haiti and implement other protections for Haitians seeking humanitarian protection.

Client expense: $97,550 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office