H.R. 6460, the Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act, would help reform both the pre-arrival processing of refugees for resettlement and the post-arrival resettlement program, with a goal of supporting refugees’ integration into U.S. communities. Read The Advocates for Human Right’s letter of support to Representative Keith Ellison here.

The "Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections" Act, or HELP Separated Families Act, would help prevent the needless and sometimes permanent separation of children from their families as a result of immigration enforcement actions.

The Refugee Protection Act would remove many of the barriers to protection of bona fide refugees and asylum seekers that exist under current law and would be a major step toward ensuring that the United States is in compliance with international refugee protection obligations. Read The Advocates for Human Rights written statement for the record submitted to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary's May 19, 2010 hearing on the Refugee Protection Act of 2010. Read S. 1202 and H.R. 2185.

Next Hearings:

4/24/12 10:00am EDT - G-50 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Topic: Immigration, Refugees and Border SEcurity Subcommittee hearing on "Examining the Constitutionality and Prudence of State and Local Governments Enforcing Immigration Law"

4/25/12 10:00am EDT - 226 Dirksen Sentate Office Building. Topic: Full committee hearing on "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security"

Latest Major Action: 4/17/2012 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Hearings held. Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) introduced S. 1670, the End Racial Profiling Act of 2011 on October 6, 2011.Existing state laws and federal law enforcement guidance provide inconsistent and insufficient solutions to resolve racial profiling, a nationwide problem. This bill is critical to creating a more comprehensive national approach to ending racial profiling and protecting the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. 

Latest Major Action: 6/1/2011 - Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement. H.R. 1842, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2011 (DREAM Act) was introduced in the House on May 11, 2011. The DREAM Act would provide undocumented immigrants who entered the United States prior to their 16th birthday and who meet other conditions with a path toward permanent residency.

Latest Major Action: 7/11/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.The Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2011, S. 656 / H.R. 1293, would provide a path to permanent resident status for those Liberians who fled their country's civil conflict and who have lived in the United States under temporary status since 1991. Senator Jack Reed [RI] introduced S. 656, joined by original co-sponsors Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD], Sen Durbin, Richard [IL], Sen Franken, Al [MN],Sen Kerry, John F. [MA], Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN], Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD]and Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] on March 28, 2011. Rep. Keith Ellison [MN] introduced H.R. 1293, joined by original co-sponsors Rep Cicilline, David N. [RI-1] and Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] on March 31, 2011.

Latest Major Action: 11/17/2011 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 237. H.R. 2189, The Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2011, requires states that receive certain criminal justice assistance grants to report to the Attorney General on a quarterly basis certain information regarding the death of any person who is detained, arrested, en route to incarceration, or incarcerated in state or local facilities or a boot camp prison. Imposes penalties on states that fail to comply with such reporting requirements. This bill would help gather data on deaths in immigration custody. 

Latest Major Action: 6/22/2011 - Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced S. 1258, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) Act of 2011 on June 22, 2011. The CIR Act of 2011 would take steps toward creating a lawful prospective immigrant status for a qualifying alien present in the United States, as well as for such alien's qualifying spouse and children who may be outside the United States. Provides for status adjustment to lawful permanent resident. 

Latest Major Action: 10/18/2011 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 171 H.R. 1932, the Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2011, would amend federal immigration law to permit indefinite detention of noncitizens ordered removed from the United States. This proposal would violate US obligations to protect against arbitrary detention.