S. 1392 · 118th Congress
Citizenship for Essential Workers Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 118th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
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PadillaSponsor13 cosponsors · 12 D, 1 I
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Blumenthal
CB
D
Booker
RD
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Durbin
TD
D
Duckworth
KG
D
Gillibrand
MH
D
Hirono
BL
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Luján
EM
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Markey
BS
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Sanders
TS
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Smith
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Whitehouse
EW
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Warren
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Murray12 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill establishes a mechanism for eligible non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who worked as essential workers during the declared COVID-19 public health emergency to apply for and obtain lawful permanent resident status (sometimes referred to as a green card). The bill also narrows certain grounds for deportability and inadmissibility.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · May 1, 2023
Citizenship for Essential Workers Act
This bill establishes a mechanism for eligible non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who worked as essential workers during the declared COVID-19 public health emergency to apply for and obtain lawful permanent resident status (sometimes referred to as a green card). The bill also narrows certain grounds for deportability and inadmissibility.
To be eligible for a green card under this bill, an individual must have earned income at any point during the COVID-19 emergency period doing work deemed essential by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or a state or local government. An individual may also be eligible if that individual is a parent, spouse, or child of (1) an eligible individual who died from COVID-19, or (2) a member of the Armed Forces. Certain individuals shall be ineligible, such as an individual who was a refugee on January 1, 2023.
To obtain a green card under this bill, an applying individual must satisfy additional requirements, including by passing a background check.
Furthermore, the bill repeals provisions providing for three-year bars and permanent bars to admission into the United States. (Generally, these bars apply to individuals who were previously removed or unlawfully present.)
The bill also narrows the scope of certain crime-based grounds for inadmissibility or deportability, such as by redefining the term conviction to exclude expunged convictions.
The Department of Justice or DHS may waive certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability (1) for humanitarian purposes, (2) to ensure family unity, or (3) for the public interest.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Citizenship for Essential Workers Act
Latest action (May 1, 2023): Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1442-1443)
Policy area: Immigration · Origin: Senate · Introduced: May 1, 2023
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.