117th CONGRESS 1st Session |
To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to expedite the special immigrant visa process for certain Afghan allies, and for other purposes.
June 17, 2021
Mr. Crow (for himself, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Bacon, Mr. San Nicolas, Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Meijer, Mr. Bera, Mr. Welch, Mr. Baird, Ms. Jacobs of California, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Malinowski, Mr. Lamb, Ms. Dean, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Wenstrup) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to expedite the special immigrant visa process for certain Afghan allies, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021” or as the “Allies Act of 2021”.
SEC. 2. Improving Afghan special immigrant visa program.
(a) Evidence of serious threat.—Section 602(b)(2) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended—
(1) by striking subparagraph (E); and
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (E).
(b) Activities for United States military personnel stationed at International Security Assistance Force.—Section 602(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II)(bb) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended by striking “sensitive and trusted”.
(c) Applicability.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to any application for special immigrant visas under the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) that are pending on the date of the enactment of this Act or filed on or after such date.
(d) Rule of construction.—The amendments made by this section shall not diminish, replace or override any vetting, verification of employment, approval by chief of mission, or any other screening process required for a special immigrant visa under the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note).
SEC. 3. Additional Afghan special immigrant visa allotment.
Section 602(b)(3) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(G) SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS.—Beginning on the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, in addition to any unused balance under this paragraph, 8,000 principal aliens may be granted special immigrant status under this subsection. For purposes of status provided under this subparagraph the authority to issue visas shall commence on the date of the enactment of this subparagraph and shall terminate on the date such visas are exhausted.”.