The public should be aware of bills in Congress because these proposed laws have the potential to impact everyday life significantly. By staying informed, citizens can understand how legislation might affect their communities, businesses, and personal lives. Tracking bills also empowers the public to hold their elected representatives accountable, ensuring that actions align with the interests and values of constituents. Public awareness, engagement, and advocacy can also influence the legislative process. The following brief examines several critical pieces of immigration-related legislation currently being discussed in Congress.
The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act
The Crime Victims Fund (CVF) Stabilization Act of 2024 (H.R.8061/S.4514) is a bipartisan, bicameral effort to address funding shortfalls for state victim assistance programs. This bill would provide resources to help stabilize the CVF and ensure that vital services, such as domestic violence shelters, community-based victim advocacy programs, children’s advocacy centers, crisis hotlines, emergency housing, legal assistance for survivors, and programs for survivors of human trafficking continue to receive the necessary support. Without sufficient funding, programs are often at capacity and cannot provide services to survivors and their families when they most need it.
The Destination Reception Assistance Act
The Destination Reception Assistance Act would expand the federal government’s role in the reception of asylum seekers and new arrivals. The proposed legislation would authorize grants to provide funding for medium-term services to asylum seekers and parolees. This bill offers a humane alternative to the border enforcement policies proposed in Senate negotiations earlier this year. It invests in our capacity to welcome, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to excel.
The Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act Amendment
Congress has failed to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) for over two years. The AAA would have provided resettled Afghan humanitarian parolees with a path to lawful permanent residency through a streamlined, vetted adjustment of status process. It would also have improved the consular processing of applications and visas for Afghans overseas. Congress can still do the right thing by supporting and clearing the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act amendment—the updated version of the AAA—in the Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), putting Afghans on the path to permanency, and responding to other challenges obstructing their relocation.
The Rohingya Genocide, Accountability, and Protection (GAP) Act
The Rohingya Genocide, Accountability, and Protection (GAP) Act (H.R.8936) would provide protection, support, and humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and internally displaced persons. The Rohingya GAP Act would be a step in the right direction to offer concrete solutions for the Rohingya who continue to experience conscription, persecution and discrimination, limited mobility and access to aid, and poor living conditions.
USCRI will continue to advocate for both temporary and permanent protections for survivors, asylum seekers, Afghans, Rohingya, and other vulnerable displaced populations. Congress must do its part by passing these bills. USCRI also urges its partners and network to contact Congress to support these bills.
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USCRI, founded in 1911, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization committed to working on behalf of refugees and immigrants and their transition to a dignified life.
For inquiries, please contact: policy@uscrimail.org