Results for

  • Guatemala Rule of Law Accountability Act

    HR #1630 | Last Action: 3/7/2019
    Guatemala Rule of Law Accountability Act This bill directs the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on certain foreign persons that have engaged in corruption, money laundering, or other specified activities in Guatemala. Specifically, the sanctions shall apply to a current or former Guatemalan official, or a foreign person acting in cooperation with such an official, that knowingly (1) committed or facilitated acts of significant corruption, money laundering, or narcotics trafficking; (2) obstructed investigations into any of those acts; (3) misued equipment provided by the Department of State or Department of Defense to Guatemala's military or national police for the purpose of combating drug trafficking or securing Guatemala's border; or (4) disobeyed rulings of the Guatemalan Constitutional Court. The President shall report to Congress on the implementation of such sanctions. In agreements to transfer equipment to Guatemala's military or national police, the State Department shall include a provision allowing the United States to recover such equipment if it is used in a way that violates an end-use agreement.
  • Guatemala Rule of Law Accountability Act

    S #716 | Last Action: 3/7/2019
    Guatemala Rule of Law Accountability Act This bill directs the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on certain foreign persons that have engaged in corruption, money laundering, or other specified activities in Guatemala. Specifically, the sanctions shall apply to a current or former Guatemalan official, or a foreign person acting in cooperation with such an official, that knowingly (1) committed or facilitated acts of significant corruption, money laundering, or narcotics trafficking; (2) obstructed investigations into any of those acts; (3) violated agreements related to the intended use of equipment provided by the U.S. government; or (4) disobeyed rulings of the Guatemalan Constitutional Court. The President shall report to Congress on the implementation of such sanctions. In agreements to transfer equipment to Guatemala's military or national police, the Department of State shall include a provision allowing the United States to recover such equipment if it is used in a way that violates an end-use agreement.
  • A resolution expressing support for free, fair, and transparent elections in the Republic of Guatemala in order to increase prosperity, security, and access to justice for all Guatemalans.

    SRES #244 | Last Action: 6/11/2019
    This resolution supports the people of Guatemala as they prepare to exercise their fundamental democratic right to vote in their country's June 16, 2019, general elections. It encourages all Guatemalan political actors and institutions to take continued steps to uphold a free, fair, and transparent electoral process and calls upon political leaders of Guatemala and the United States to support Guatemalan human rights and the rule of law.
  • Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should continue to engage with and support the people and governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in order to improve security and prosperity and address the root causes of migration to the United States.

    HRES #426 | Last Action: 6/4/2019
    This resolution reaffirms the importance of U.S. engagement in Central America and U.S. support to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, specifically. The resolution also urges the U.S. government to address the root causes of migration.
  • Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should redirect and target foreign assistance provided to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in a manner that addresses the driving causes of illegal immigration into the United States from such countries, and for other purposes.

    HRES #18 | Last Action: 1/3/2019
    This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should redirect foreign assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras away from the central governments of those countries and towards local governmental, private sector, and civil society entities that are addressing the causes of illegal immigration into the United States.
  • Central American Women and Children Protection Act of 2019

    S #1781 | Last Action: 6/11/2019
    Central American Women and Children Protection Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of State to enter into bilateral agreements with the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to assist such countries in addressing violence against women and children. Such agreements shall establish a plan to achieve certain objectives, such as (1) identifying areas of the highest incidence of violence against women and children, (2) evaluating victims' access to justice and the ability of the justice system to hold perpetrators accountable, and (3) identifying measurable goals to deter crimes against women and children. The State Department may assist the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras if such a government enters into an agreement with the United States, but no funds provided under this bill may be given directly to such a government.
  • Central American Women and Children Protection Act of 2019

    HR #2836 | Last Action: 5/17/2019
    Central American Women and Children Protection Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of State to enter into bilateral agreements with the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to assist such countries in addressing violence against women and children. Such agreements shall establish a plan to achieve certain objectives, such as (1) identifying areas of the highest incidence of violence against women and children, (2) evaluating victims' access to justice and the ability of the justice system to hold perpetrators accountable, and (3) identifying measurable goals to deter crimes against women and children. The State Department may assist the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras if such a government enters into an agreement with the United States, but no funds provided under this bill may be given directly to such a government.
  • Unaccompanied Alien Children Assistance Control Act

    HR #2049 | Last Action: 4/3/2019
    Unaccompanied Alien Children Assistance Control Act This bill directs the President to reduce foreign assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras based on how many unaccompanied alien children from each of those countries are placed in custody for immigration status. For each unaccompanied alien child placed in custody who is a citizen or national of one of these countries, the President shall reduce assistance to that country by $30,000 the following fiscal year.
  • Border and Refugee Assistance Act of 2019

    HR #2347 | Last Action: 4/18/2019
    Border and Refugee Assistance Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to work to expand in-country refugee application processing centers in the Northern Triangle countries (typically defined as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador). It also states that victims of domestic violence and gangs are eligible for refugee protections.
  • Hurricane Eta Relief Act of 2020

    HR #8793 | Last Action: 11/19/2020
    Hurricane Eta Relief Act of 2020 This bill designates Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala as temporary protected status (TPS) countries for 18 months from the enactment of this bill. (Qualified nationals of a TPS-designated country shall have work authorization and may not be removed from the United States while the designation is in effect.) A national of one of these countries shall qualify for temporary protected status if the individual (1) has been continuously physically present in the United States since the bill's enactment, (2) meets certain admissibility and eligibility requirements generally required for such status, and (3) registers with the Department of Homeland Security.
  • Trafficking and Smuggling Intelligence Act of 2019

    HR #3720 | Last Action: 7/11/2019
    Trafficking and Smuggling Intelligence Act of 2019 This bill directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to report on issues pertaining to the Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) and Mexico. Specifically, the office shall report on (1) the activities of drug-trafficking organizations in such countries, (2) the human-trafficking activities of individuals and organizations, and (3) an assessment of current intelligence-collection priorities in such countries.
  • Central America Reform and Enforcement Act

    S #1445 | Last Action: 5/14/2019
    Central America Reform and Enforcement Act This bill establishes programs to address the humanitarian crisis in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (the Northern Triangle countries) and to handle asylum-seekers from those countries. The Department of State shall report to Congress a five-year interagency strategy to address the factors driving migration from Central America. The bill establishes various new immigration-related penalties, such as making it unlawful to knowingly destroy any government-deployed border-control device (e.g., fence or camera). The State Department shall work to expand the capacity of other countries to provide asylum. The State Department shall establish at least four Designated Application Processing Centers in the Northern Triangle countries and Mexico to adjudicate asylum applications and admit qualified aliens from the Northern Triangle countries as refugees. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall provide certain assessments and health care services to unaccompanied alien children. The rights of a parent or guardian over an unaccompanied alien child may be terminated only pursuant to a court order. The Office of Refugee Resettlement shall conduct certain background checks on prospective sponsors of an unaccompanied alien child. To receive certain funding, a local educational agency must ensure that unaccompanied alien children are served. An unaccompanied alien child shall be appointed free counsel in immigration proceedings. The Department of Justice shall increase the number of immigration judges and Board of Immigration Appeals staff attorneys. The Department of Homeland Security, HHS, and the State Department shall develop a process for repatriating unaccompanied children to their country of origin. This process must require a determination of the child's best interests.
  • Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act

    HR #3524 | Last Action: 7/30/2019
    Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act This bill authorizes assistance to the Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) to address the causes of migration to the United States and contains provisions related to the handling of such migrants. The Department of State shall create and implement a Northern Triangle strategy to (1) address crime and violence, (2) improve democratic governance, and (3) promote economic development and tackle extreme poverty. The State Department shall (1) help strengthen the capacity of Western Hemisphere countries to accept and care for refugees, and (2) establish Designated Processing Centers in various Latin American countries to process individuals seeking to migrate to the United States. At least 100,000 additional nationals from Northern Triangle countries shall be admitted as refugees each year from FY2020 through FY2024. The bill requires the hiring of additional Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, immigration judges, and related staff. The Department of Homeland Security shall establish standards of minimum care for individuals in CBP custody and additional guidelines and standards relating to children in CBP custody. The bill expands penalties related to smuggling and establishes criminal penalties for certain actions related to evading border controls. The bill contains various other immigration-related provisions, including (1) limits on when asylum applicants may be removed, (2) an expansion of alternatives to detention programs, and (3) a requirement that the Department of Justice provide counsel to children and particularly vulnerable individuals in immigration proceedings.
  • United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act

    HR #2615 | Last Action: 7/15/2019
    United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act This bill authorizes foreign assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (the Northern Triangle), and requires the Department of State to devise strategies to address economic development, corruption, and other issues in those countries. It also requires reports on various related topics, including factors that drive migrants from those countries to the United States. A portion of the assistance authorized for the Northern Triangle shall be conditioned upon the receiving country taking various actions, including (1) informing its citizens of the dangers of the journey to the United States, (2) fighting human and drug trafficking, and (3) combatting corruption. The State Department shall devise strategies directed at the Northern Triangle region to (1) promote inclusive economic growth that addresses the underlying causes of poverty and inequality, (2) combat corruption, (3) strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law, and (4) improve security conditions through means such as the professionalization of security services. The State Department shall designate a Senior Rule of Law Advisor for the Northern Triangle. The State Department shall also devise a strategy to work with Mexico to strengthen its southern border. The President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons determined to be involved in a significant act of corruption in a Northern Triangle country. Individuals who engage in such corruption shall be subject to property-blocking sanctions and barred from entering the United States.
  • Mirador-Calakmul Basin Maya Security and Conservation Partnership Act of 2019

    S #3131 | Last Action: 12/19/2019
    Mirador-Calakmul Basin Maya Security and Conservation Partnership Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of the Interior to establish the Maya Security and Conservation Partnership program. The goal of this program shall be to foster collaborative research efforts between the United States and local entities to create a sustainable tourism model that provides low-impact, controlled access to the archaeological sites of the Mirador-Calakmul Basin in Central America with an emphasis on providing economic opportunity for the communities in and around the basin.