Bill Summary
This legislation, titled "TPS for Victims of Hurricane Dorian Act of 2019", aims to designate The Bahamas under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act for temporary protected status. This means that citizens of The Bahamas would be eligible for temporary protection in the US, subject to certain conditions, for the period of 18 months following the enactment of the bill. This bill also outlines the eligibility criteria for individuals seeking temporary protected status and allows for travel outside of the US under certain circumstances.
Possible Impacts
1. People from The Bahamas who are currently living in the United States may be eligible for temporary protected status under this legislation, which would allow them to legally stay and work in the US for a designated period of time. This could greatly benefit individuals who may have been displaced or affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
2. This legislation could also potentially allow for family reunification as eligible individuals from The Bahamas may be able to bring their family members to the US under temporary protected status. This could help alleviate the financial and emotional burden on families who have been separated due to the hurricane.
3. The designation of The Bahamas under this legislation may also lead to an increase in remittances being sent back to the country from individuals who are able to work in the US under temporary protected status. This could provide much needed financial support to families and communities in The Bahamas as they recover and rebuild after the hurricane.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4272 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4272
To designate The Bahamas under section 244 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act to permit nationals of The Bahamas to be eligible for
temporary protected status, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 10, 2019
Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Ms. Plaskett, and Ms. Lee of
California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To designate The Bahamas under section 244 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act to permit nationals of The Bahamas to be eligible for
temporary protected status, 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 ``TPS for Victims of Hurricane Dorian
Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION FOR PURPOSES OF GRANTING TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS
TO NATIONALS OF THE BAHAMAS.
(a) Designation.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of section 244 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a), The Bahamas
shall be treated as if it had been designated under subsection
(b) of that section, subject to the provisions of this section.
(2) Period of designation.--The initial period of the
designation referred to in paragraph (1) shall be for the 18-
month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(b) Aliens Eligible.--As a result of the designation made under
subsection (a), an alien who is a national of The Bahamas is deemed to
satisfy the requirements under paragraph (1) of section 244(c) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)), subject to
paragraph (3) of such section, if the alien--
(1) has been continuously physically present in the United
States since the date of the enactment of this Act;
(2) is admissible as an immigrant, except as otherwise
provided in paragraph (2)(A) of such section, and is not
ineligible for temporary protected status under paragraph
(2)(B) of such section; and
(3) registers for temporary protected status in a manner
established by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(c) Consent To Travel Abroad.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
give prior consent to travel abroad, in accordance with section
244(f)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1254a(f)(3)), to an alien who is granted temporary protected
status pursuant to the designation made under subsection (a) if
the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of
Homeland Security that emergency and extenuating circumstances
beyond the control of the alien require the alien to depart for
a brief, temporary trip abroad.
(2) Treatment upon return.--An alien returning to the
United States in accordance with an authorization described in
paragraph (1) shall be treated as any other returning alien
provided temporary protected status under section 244 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a).
<all>