SECURE Act

Key Points

• This bill, introduced in the Senate, would allow certain immigrants to apply for a green card to become permanent residents. It specifically helps people from countries that have been hit by wars, natural disasters, or other emergencies and were given special temporary permission to stay in the U.S. safely.
• To qualify, a person must have lived in the U.S. for at least three years and pass criminal and national security background checks. The bill also allows some people who were recently deported or left the country after September 2016 to apply for residency from abroad if they met the requirements before they left.
• Spouses and children of eligible immigrants could also apply for green cards. Most applicants would pay a fee of up to $1,440, but this fee can be waived for people under 18, those with very low incomes, children in foster care, or people with serious disabilities.
• While an application is being processed, the person cannot be deported and is legally allowed to work in the U.S. The bill also protects the privacy of applicants by banning the government from using the information in the application to try to deport them, except in cases of fraud or serious crimes.
• The bill requires the government to write a detailed report before ending a country's protected status. This report must explain if the country is stable enough for people to return, looking at the country's economy, political stability, and ability to care for its citizens.