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Title III — Interior enforcement

S. 744 · 113th Congress · Jun 27, 2013 · Lineage

III Interior enforcement

A Employment Verification System

Sec. 3101 Unlawful employment of unauthorized aliens

(a)
In general— Section 274A (8 U.S.C. 1324a) is amended to read as follows:

“274A. Unlawful employment of aliens

“(a) Making employment of unauthorized aliens unlawful

“(1) In general—It is unlawful for an employer—

“(A) to hire, recruit, or refer for a fee an alien for employment in the United States knowing that the alien is an unauthorized alien with respect to such employment; or

“(B) to hire, recruit, or refer for a fee for employment in the United States an individual without complying with the requirements under subsections (c) and (d).

“(2) Continuing employment

“(A) Prohibition on continued employment of unauthorized aliens—It is unlawful for an employer, after hiring an alien for employment, to continue to employ the alien in the United States knowing that the alien is (or has become) an unauthorized alien with respect to such employment.

“(B) Prohibition on consideration of previous unauthorized status—Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit the employment of an individual who is authorized for employment in the United States if such individual was previously an unauthorized alien.

“(3) Use of labor through contract—For purposes of this section, any employer that uses a contract, subcontract, or exchange to obtain the labor of an alien in the United States while knowing that the alien is an unauthorized alien with respect to performing such labor shall be considered to have hired the alien for employment in the United States in violation of paragraph (1)(A).

“(4) Use of State employment agency documentation—For purposes of paragraphs (1)(B), (5), and (6), an employer shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements under subsection (c) with respect to the hiring of an individual who was referred for such employment by a State employment agency (as defined by the Secretary) if the employer has and retains (for the period and in the manner described in subsection (c)(3)) appropriate documentation of such referral by such agency, certifying that such agency has complied with the procedures described in subsection (c) with respect to the individual’s referral. An employer that relies on a State agency’s certification of compliance with subsection (c) under this paragraph may utilize and retain the State agency’s certification of compliance with the procedures described in subsection (d), if any, in the manner provided under this paragraph.

“(5) Good faith defense

“(A) Defense—An employer, person, or entity that hires, employs, recruits, or refers individuals for employment in the United States, or is otherwise obligated to comply with the requirements under this section and establishes good faith compliance with the requirements under paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (c) and subsection (d)—

“(i) has established an affirmative defense that the employer, person, or entity has not violated paragraph (1)(A) with respect to hiring and employing; and

“(ii) has established compliance with its obligations under subparagraph (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) and subsection (c) unless the Secretary demonstrates that the employer had knowledge that an individuals hired, employed, recruited, or referred by the employer, person, or entity is an unauthorized alien.

“(B) Exception for certain employers—An employer who is not required to participate in the System or who is participating in the System on a voluntary basis pursuant to subsection (d)(2)(J) has established an affirmative defense under subparagraph (A) and need not demonstrate compliance with the requirements under subsection (d).

“(6) Good faith compliance

“(A) In general—Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an employer, person, or entity is considered to have complied with a requirement under this subsection notwithstanding a technical or procedural failure to meet such requirement if there was a good faith attempt to comply with the requirement.

“(B) Exception if failure to correct after notice—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if—

“(i) the failure is not de minimis;

“(ii) the Secretary of Homeland Security has explained to the employer, person, or entity the basis for the failure and why it is not de minimis;

“(iii) the employer, person, or entity has been provided a period of not less than 30 days (beginning after the date of the explanation) to correct the failure; and

“(iv) the employer, person, or entity has not corrected the failure voluntarily within such period.

“(C) Exception for pattern or practice violators—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to an employer, person, or entity that has engaged or is engaging in a pattern or practice of violations of paragraph (1)(A) or (2).

“(7) Presumption—After the date on which an employer is required to participate in the System under subsection (d), the employer is presumed to have acted with knowledge for purposes of paragraph (1)(A) if the employer hires, employs, recruits, or refers an employee for a fee and fails to make an inquiry to verify the employment authorization status of the employee through the System.

“(8) Continued application of workforce and labor protection remedies despite unauthorized employment

“(A) In general—Subject only to subparagraph (B), all rights and remedies provided under any Federal, State, or local law relating to workplace rights, including but not limited to back pay, are available to an employee despite—

“(i) the employee's status as an unauthorized alien during or after the period of employment; or

“(ii) the employer's or employee's failure to comply with the requirements of this section.

“(B) Reinstatement—Reinstatement shall be available to individuals who—

“(i) are authorized to work in the United States at the time such relief is ordered or effectuated; or

“(ii) lost employment-authorized status due to the unlawful acts of the employer under this section.

“(b) Definitions—In this section:

“(1) Commissioner—The term Commissioner means the Commissioner of Social Security.

“(2) Department—Except as otherwise provided, the term Department means the Department of Homeland Security.

“(3) Employer—The term employer means any person or entity, including an agency or department of a Federal, State, or local government, an agent, or a System service provider acting on behalf of an employer, that hires, employs, recruits, or refers for a fee an individual for employment in the United States that is not casual, sporadic, irregular, or intermittent (as defined by the Secretary).

“(4) Employment authorized status—The term employment authorized status means, with respect to an individual, that the individual is authorized to be employed in the United States under the immigration laws of the United States.

“(5) Secretary—Except as otherwise specifically provided, the term Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security.

“(6) System—The term System means the Employment Verification System established under subsection (d).

“(7) Unauthorized alien—The term unauthorized alien means an alien who, with respect to employment in the United States at a particular time—

“(A) is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence; or

“(B) is not authorized to be employed under this Act or by the Secretary.

“(8) Workplace rights—The term workplace rights means rights guaranteed under Federal, State, or local labor or employment laws, including laws concerning wages and hours, benefits and employment standards, labor relations, workplace health and safety, work-related injuries, nondiscrimination, and retaliation for exercising rights under such laws.

“(c) Document verification requirements—Any employer hiring an individual for employment in the United States shall comply with the following requirements and the requirements under subsection (d) to verify that the individual has employment authorized status.

“(1) Attestation after examination of documentation

“(A) In general

“(i) Examination by employer—An employer shall attest, under penalty of perjury on a form prescribed by the Secretary, that the employer has verified the identity and employment authorization status of the individual—

“(I) by examining—

“(aa) a document specified in subparagraph (C); or

“(bb) a document specified in subparagraph (D) and a document specified in subparagraph (E); and

“(II) by utilizing an identity authentication mechanism described in clause (iii) or (iv) of subparagraph (F).

“(ii) Publication of documents—The Secretary shall publish a picture of each document specified in subparagraphs (C) and (E) on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

“(B) Requirements

“(i) Form—The form referred to in subparagraph (A)(i)—

“(I) shall be prescribed by the Secretary not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act;

“(II) shall be available as—

“(aa) a paper form;

“(bb) a form that may be completed by an employer via telephone or video conference;

“(cc) an electronic form; or

“(dd) a form that is integrated electronically with the requirements under subsection (d).

“(ii) Attestation—Each such form shall require the employer to sign an attestation with a handwritten, electronic, or digital pin code signature, according to standards prescribed by the Secretary.

“(iii) Compliance—An employer has complied with the requirements under this paragraph with respect to examination of the documents included in subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph (A)(i) if—

“(I) the employer has, in good faith, followed applicable regulations and any written procedures or instructions provided by the Secretary; and

“(II) a reasonable person would conclude that the documentation is genuine and relates to the individual presenting such documentation.

“(C) Documents establishing identity and employment authorized status—A document is specified in this subparagraph if the document is unexpired (unless the validity of the document is extended by law) and is 1 of the following:

“(i) A United States passport or passport card issued to an individual pursuant to the Secretary of State's authority under the Act entitled “An Act to regulate the issue and validity of passports, and for other purposes”, approved July 3, 1926 (22 U.S.C. 211a).

“(ii) A document issued to an alien evidencing that the alien is lawfully admitted for permanent residence or another document issued to an individual evidencing the individual's employment authorized status, as designated by the Secretary, if the document—

“(I) contains a photograph of the individual, or such other personal identifying information relating to the individual as the Secretary determines, by regulation, to be sufficient for the purposes of this subparagraph;

“(II) is evidence of employment authorized status; and

“(III) contains security features to make the document resistant to tampering, counterfeiting, and fraudulent use.

“(iii) An enhanced driver’s license or identification card issued to a national of the United States by a State, an outlying possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe that—

“(I) meets the requirements under section 202 of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (division B of Public Law 109–13; 49 U.S.C. 30301 note); and

“(II) the Secretary has certified by notice published in the Federal Register and through appropriate notice directly to employers registered in the System 3 months prior to publication that such enhanced license or card is suitable for use under this subparagraph based upon the accuracy and security of the issuance process, security features on the document, and such other factors as the Secretary may prescribe.

“(iv) A passport issued by the appropriate authority of a foreign country accompanied by a Form I–94 or Form I–94A (or similar successor record), or other documentation as designated by the Secretary that specifies the individual’s status in the United States and the duration of such status if the proposed employment is not in conflict with any restriction or limitation specified on such form or documentation.

“(v) A passport issued by the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands with evidence of nonimmigrant admission to the United States under the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

“(D) Documents establishing identity of individual—A document is specified in this subparagraph if the document is unexpired (unless the validity of the document is extended by law) and is 1 of the following:

“(i) A driver’s license or identity card that is not described in subparagraph (C)(iii) and is issued to an individual by a State or an outlying possession of the United States, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or an agency (including military) of the Federal Government if the driver’s license or identity card includes, at a minimum—

“(I) the individual’s photograph, name, date of birth, gender, and driver’s license or identification card number; and

“(II) security features to make the license or card resistant to tampering, counterfeiting, and fraudulent use.

“(ii) A voter registration card.

“(iii) A document that complies with the requirements under section 7209(b)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–458; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note).

“(iv) For individuals under 18 years of age who are unable to present a document listed in clause (i) or (ii), documentation of personal identity of such other type as the Secretary determines will provide a reliable means of identification, which may include an attestation as to the individual’s identity by a parent or legal guardian under penalty of perjury.

“(E) Documents evidencing employment authorization—A document is specified in this subparagraph if the document is unexpired (unless the validity of the document is extended by law) and is 1 of the following:

“(i) A social security account number card issued by the Commissioner, other than a card which specifies on its face that the card is not valid to evidence employment authorized status or has other similar words of limitation.

“(ii) Any other documentation evidencing employment authorized status that the Secretary determines and publishes in the Federal Register and through appropriate notice directly to employers registered within the System to be acceptable for purposes of this subparagraph if such documentation, including any electronic security measures linked to such documentation, contains security features to make such documentation resistant to tampering, counterfeiting, and fraudulent use.

“(F) Identity authentication mechanism

“(i) Definitions—In this subparagraph:

“(I) Covered identity document—The term covered identity document means a valid—

“(aa) United States passport, passport card, or a document evidencing lawful permanent residence status or employment authorized status issued to an alien;

“(bb) enhanced driver's license or identity card issued by a participating State or an outlying possession of the United States; or

“(cc) photograph and appropriate identifying information provided by the Secretary of State pursuant to the granting of a visa.

“(II) Participating state—The term participating State means a State that has an agreement with the Secretary to provide the Secretary, for purposes of identity verification in the System, with photographs and appropriate identifying information maintained by the State.

“(ii) Requirement for identity authentication—In addition to verifying the documents specified in subparagraph (C), (D), or (E) and utilizing the System under subsection (d), each employer shall use an identity authentication mechanism described in clause (iii) or provided in clause (iv) after it becomes available to verify the identity of each individual the employer seeks to hire.

“(iii) Photo tool

“(I) Use requirement—An employer hiring an individual who has a covered identity document shall verify the identity of such individual using the photo tool described in subclause (II).

“(II) Development requirement—The Secretary shall develop and maintain a photo tool that enables employers to match the photo on a covered identity document provided to the employer to a photo maintained by a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services database.

“(iv) Additional security measures

“(I) Use requirement—An employer seeking to hire an individual whose identity may not be verified using the photo tool described in clause (iii) shall verify the identity of such individual using the additional security measures described in subclause (II).

“(II) Development requirement—The Secretary shall develop, after publication in the Federal Register and an opportunity for public comment, specific and effective additional security measures to adequately verify the identity of an individual whose identity may not be verified using the photo tool described in clause (iii). Such additional security measures—

“(aa) shall be kept up-to-date with technological advances; and

“(bb) shall provide a means of identity authentication in a manner that provides a high level of certainty as to the identity of such individual, using immigration and identifying information that may include review of identity documents or background screening verification techniques using publicly available information.

“(G) Authority to prohibit use of certain documents—If the Secretary determines, after publication in the Federal Register and an opportunity for public comment, that any document or class of documents specified in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) does not reliably establish identity or that employment authorized status is being used fraudulently to an unacceptable degree, the Secretary—

“(i) may prohibit or restrict the use of such document or class of documents for purposes of this subsection; and

“(ii) shall directly notify all employers registered within the System of the prohibition through appropriate means.

“(H) Authority to allow use of certain documents—If the Secretary has determined that another document or class of documents, such as a document issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe, may be used to reliably establish identity or employment authorized status, the Secretary—

“(i) may allow the use of that document or class of documents for purposes of this subsection after publication in the Federal Register and an opportunity for public comment;

“(ii) shall publish a description of any such document or class of documents on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website; and

“(iii) shall directly notify all employers registered within the System of the addition through appropriate means.

“(2) Individual attestation of employment authorization—An individual, upon commencing employment with an employer, shall—

“(A) attest, under penalty of perjury, on the form prescribed by the Secretary, that the individual is—

“(i) a citizen of the United States;

“(ii) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence;

“(iii) an alien who has employment authorized status; or

“(iv) otherwise authorized by the Secretary to be hired for such employment;

“(B) provide such attestation by a handwritten, electronic, or digital pin code signature; and

“(C) provide the individual’s social security account number to the Secretary, unless the individual has not yet been issued such a number, on such form as the Secretary may require.

“(3) Retention of verification record

“(A) In general—After completing a form for an individual in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), the employer shall retain a version of such completed form and make such form available for inspection by the Secretary or the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices of the Department of Justice during the period beginning on the hiring date of the individual and ending on the later of—

“(i) the date that is 3 years after such hiring date; or

“(ii) the date that is 1 year after the date on which the individual’s employment with the employer is terminated.

“(B) Requirement for electronic retention—The Secretary—

“(i) shall permit an employer to retain the form described in subparagraph (A) in electronic form; and

“(ii) shall permit an employer to retain such form in paper, microfiche, microfilm, portable document format, or other media.

“(4) Copying of documentation and recordkeeping—The Secretary may promulgate regulations regarding—

“(A) copying documents and related information pertaining to employment verification presented by an individual under this subsection; and

“(B) retaining such information during a period not to exceed the required retention period set forth in paragraph (3).

“(5) Penalties—An employer that fails to comply with any requirement under this subsection may be penalized under subsection (e)(4)(B).

“(6) Protection of civil rights

“(A) In general—Nothing in this section may be construed to diminish any rights otherwise protected by Federal law.

“(B) Prohibition on discrimination—An employer shall use the procedures for document verification set forth in this paragraph for all employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or, unless specifically permitted in this section, to citizenship status.

“(7) Receipts—The Secretary may authorize the use of receipts for replacement documents, and temporary evidence of employment authorization by an individual to meet a documentation requirement under this subsection on a temporary basis not to exceed 1 year, after which time the individual shall provide documentation sufficient to satisfy the documentation requirements under this subsection.

“(8) No authorization of national identification cards—Nothing in this section may be construed to directly or indirectly authorize the issuance, use, or establishment of a national identification card.

“(d) Employment Verification System

“(1) In general

“(A) Establishment—The Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner, shall establish the Employment Verification System.

“(B) Monitoring—The Secretary shall create the necessary processes to monitor—

“(i) the functioning of the System, including the volume of the workflow, the speed of processing of queries, the speed and accuracy of responses;

“(ii) the misuse of the System, including the prevention of fraud or identity theft;

“(iii) whether the use of the System results in wrongful adverse actions or discrimination based upon a prohibited factor against citizens or nationals of the United States or individuals who have employment authorized status; and

“(iv) the security, integrity, and privacy of the System.

“(C) Procedures—The Secretary—

“(i) shall create processes to provide an individual with direct access to the individual's case history in the System, including—

“(I) the identities of all persons or entities that have queried the individual through the System;

“(II) the date of each such query; and

“(III) the System response for each such query; and

“(ii) in consultation with the Commissioner, shall develop—

“(I) protocols to notify an individual, in a timely manner through the use of electronic correspondence or mail, that a query for the individual has been processed through the System; or

“(II) a process for the individual to submit additional queries to the System or notify the Secretary of potential identity fraud.

“(2) Participation requirements

“(A) Federal government—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), all agencies and departments in the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the Federal Government shall participate in the System beginning on the earlier of—

“(i) the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, to the extent required under section 402(e)(1) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104–208; 8 U.S.C. 1324a) and as already implemented by each agency or department; or

“(ii) the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.

“(B) Federal contractors—Federal contractors shall participate in the System as provided in the final rule relating to employment eligibility verification published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2008 (73 Fed. Reg. 67,651), or any similar subsequent regulation, for which purpose references to E-Verify in the final rule shall be construed to apply to the System.

“(C) Critical infrastructure

“(i) In general—Beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date on which regulations are published implementing this subsection, the Secretary may authorize or direct any employer, person, or entity responsible for granting access to, protecting, securing, operating, administering, or regulating part of the critical infrastructure (as defined in section 1016(e) of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))) to participate in the System to the extent the Secretary determines that such participation will assist in the protection of the critical infrastructure.

“(ii) Notification to employers—The Secretary shall notify an employer required to participate in the System under this subparagraph not later than 90 days before the date on which the employer is required to participate.

“(D) Employers with more than 5,000 employees—Not later than 2 years after regulations are published implementing this subsection, all employers with more than 5,000 employees shall participate in the System with respect to all newly hired employees and employees with expiring temporary employment authorization documents.

“(E) Employers with more than 500 employees—Not later than 3 years after regulations are published implementing this subsection, all employers with more than 500 employees shall participate in the System with respect to all newly hired employees and employees with expiring temporary employment authorization documents.

“(F) Agricultural employment—Not later than 4 years after regulations are published implementing this subsection, employers of employees performing agricultural employment (as defined in section 218A of this Act and section 2202 of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act) shall participate in the System with respect to all newly hired employees and employees with expiring temporary employment authorization documents. An agricultural employee shall not be counted for purposes of subparagraph (D) or (E).

“(G) All employers—Except as provided in subparagraph (H), not later than 4 years after regulations are published implementing this subsection, all employers shall participate in the System with respect to all newly hired employees and employees with expiring temporary employment authorization documents.

“(H) Tribal government employers

“(i) Rulemaking—In developing regulations to implement this subsection, the Secretary shall—

“(I) consider the effects of this section on federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal members; and

“(II) consult with the governments of federally recognized Indian tribes.

“(ii) Required participation—Not later than 5 years after regulations are published implementing this subsection, all employers owned by, or entities of, the government of a federally recognized Indian tribe shall participate in the System with respect to all newly hired employees and employees with expiring temporary employment authorization documents.

“(I) Immigration law violators

“(i) Orders finding violations—An order finding any employer to have violated this section or section 274C may, in the Secretary's discretion, require the employer to participate in the System with respect to newly hired employees and employees with expiring temporary employment authorization documents, if such employer is not otherwise required to participate in the System under this section. The Secretary shall monitor such employer’s compliance with System procedures.

“(ii) Pattern or practice of violations—The Secretary may require an employer that is required to participate in the System with respect to newly hired employees to participate in the System with respect to the employer's current employees if the employer is determined by the Secretary or other appropriate authority to have engaged in a pattern or practice of violations of the immigration laws of the United States.

“(J) Voluntary participation—The Secretary may permit any employer that is not required to participate in the System under this section to do so on a voluntary basis.

“(3) Consequence of failure to participate

“(A) In general—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the failure, other than a de minimis or inadvertent failure, of an employer that is required to participate in the System to comply with the requirements of the System with respect to an individual—

“(i) shall be treated as a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) with respect to that individual; and

“(ii) creates a rebuttable presumption that the employer has violated paragraph (1)(A) or (2) of subsection (a).

“(B) Exception

“(i) In general—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in a criminal prosecution.

“(ii) Use as evidence—Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to limit the use in the prosecution of a Federal crime, in a manner otherwise consistent with Federal criminal law and procedure, of evidence relating to the employer’s failure to comply with requirements of the System.

“(4) Procedures for participants in the system

“(A) In general—An employer participating in the System shall register such participation with the Secretary and, when hiring any individual for employment in the United States, shall comply with the following:

“(i) Registration of employers—The Secretary, through notice in the Federal Register, shall prescribe procedures that employers shall be required to follow to register with the System.

“(ii) Updating information—The employer is responsible for providing notice of any change to the information required under subclauses (I), (II), and (III) of clause (v) before conducting any further inquiries within the System, or on such other schedule as the Secretary may prescribe.

“(iii) Training—The Secretary shall require employers to undergo such training as the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure proper use, protection of civil rights and civil liberties, privacy, integrity, and security of the System. To the extent practicable, such training shall be made available electronically on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

“(iv) Notification to employees—The employer shall inform individuals hired for employment that the System—

“(I) will be used by the employer;

“(II) may be used for immigration enforcement purposes; and

“(III) may not be used to discriminate or to take adverse action against a national of the United States or an alien who has employment authorized status.

“(v) Provision of additional information—The employer shall obtain from the individual (and the individual shall provide) and shall record in such manner as the Secretary may specify—

“(I) the individual’s social security account number;

“(II) if the individual does not attest to United States citizenship or status as a national of the United States under subsection (c)(2), such identification or authorization number established by the Department as the Secretary shall specify; and

“(III) such other information as the Secretary may require to determine the identity and employment authorization of an individual.

“(vi) Presentation of documentation—The employer, and the individual whose identity and employment authorized status are being confirmed, shall fulfill the requirements under subsection (c).

“(B) Seeking confirmation

“(i) In general—An employer shall use the System to confirm the identity and employment authorized status of any individual during—

“(I) the period beginning on the date on which the individual accepts an offer of employment and ending 3 business days after the date on which employment begins; or

“(II) such other reasonable period as the Secretary may prescribe.

“(ii) Limitation—An employer may not make the starting date of an individual’s employment or training or any other term and condition of employment dependent on the receipt of a confirmation of identity and employment authorized status by the System.

“(iii) Reverification—If an individual has a limited period of employment authorized status, the individual's employer shall reverify such status through the System not later than 3 business days after the last day of such period.

“(iv) Other employment—For employers directed by the Secretary to participate in the System under paragraph (2)(C)(i) to protect critical infrastructure or otherwise specified circumstances in this section to verify their entire workforce, the System may be used for initial verification of an individual who was hired before the employer became subject to the System, and the employer shall initiate all required procedures on or before such date as the Secretary shall specify.

“(v) Notification

“(I) In general—The Secretary shall provide, and the employer shall utilize, as part of the System, a method of notifying employers of a confirmation or nonconfirmation of an individual’s identity and employment authorized status, or a notice that further action is required to verify such identity or employment eligibility (referred to in this subsection as a “further action notice”).

“(II) Procedures—The Secretary shall—

“(aa) directly notify the individual and the employer, by means of electronic correspondence, mail, text message, telephone, or other direct communication, of a nonconfirmation or further action notice;

“(bb) provide information about filing an administrative appeal under paragraph (6) and a filing for review before an administrative law judge under paragraph (7); and

“(cc) establish procedures to directly notify the individual and the employer of a confirmation.

“(III) Implementation—The Secretary may provide for a phased-in implementation of the notification requirements under this clause, as appropriate. The notification system shall cover all inquiries not later than 1 year from the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.

“(C) Confirmation or nonconfirmation

“(i) Initial response

“(I) In general—Except as provided in subclause (II), the System shall provide—

“(aa) a confirmation of an individual’s identity and employment authorized status or a further action notice at the time of the inquiry; and

“(bb) an appropriate code indicating such confirmation or such further action notice.

“(II) Alternative deadline—If the System is unable to provide immediate confirmation or further action notice for technological reasons or due to unforeseen circumstances, the System shall provide a confirmation or further action notice not later than 3 business days after the initial inquiry.

“(ii) Confirmation upon initial inquiry—If the employer receives an appropriate confirmation of an individual’s identity and employment authorized status under the System, the employer shall record the confirmation in such manner as the Secretary may specify.

“(iii) Further action notice and later confirmation or nonconfirmation

“(I) Notification and acknowledgment that further action is required—Not later than 3 business days after an employer receives a further action notice of an individual’s identity or employment eligibility under the System, or during such other reasonable time as the Secretary may prescribe, the employer shall notify the individual for whom the confirmation is sought of the further action notice and any procedures specified by the Secretary for addressing such notice. The further action notice shall be given to the individual in writing and the employer shall acknowledge in the System under penalty of perjury that it provided the employee with the further action notice. The individual shall affirmatively acknowledge in writing, or in such other manner as the Secretary may specify, the receipt of the further action notice from the employer. If the individual refuses to acknowledge the receipt of the further action notice, or acknowledges in writing that the individual will not contest the further action notice under subclause (II), the employer shall notify the Secretary in such manner as the Secretary may specify.

“(II) Contest—Not later than 10 business days after receiving notification of a further action notice under subclause (I), the individual shall contact the appropriate Federal agency and, if the Secretary so requires, appear in person for purposes of verifying the individual’s identity and employment eligibility. The Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall specify an available secondary verification procedure to confirm the validity of information provided and to provide a confirmation or nonconfirmation. Any procedures for reexamination shall not limit in any way an employee’s right to appeal a nonconfirmation.

“(III) No contest—If the individual refuses to acknowledge receipt of the further action notice, acknowledges that the individual will not contest the further action notice as provided in subclause (I), or does not contact the appropriate Federal agency within the period specified in subclause (II), following expiration of the period specified in subclause (II), a nonconfirmation shall be issued. The employer shall record the nonconfirmation in such manner as the Secretary may specify and terminate the individual’s employment. An individual’s failure to contest a further action notice shall not be considered an admission of guilt with respect to any violation of this section or any provision of law.

“(IV) Confirmation or nonconfirmation—Unless the period is extended in accordance with this subclause, the System shall provide a confirmation or nonconfirmation not later than 10 business days after the date on which the individual contests the further action notice under subclause (II). If the Secretary determines that good cause exists, after taking into account adverse impacts to the employer, and including time to permit the individual to obtain and provide needed evidence of identity or employment eligibility, the Secretary shall extend the period for providing confirmation or nonconfirmation for stated periods beyond 10 business days. When confirmation or nonconfirmation is provided, the confirmation system shall provide an appropriate code indicating such confirmation or nonconfirmation.

“(V) Reexamination—Nothing in this section shall prevent the Secretary from establishing procedures to reexamine a case where a confirmation or nonconfirmation has been provided if subsequently received information indicates that the confirmation or nonconfirmation may not have been correct. Any procedures for reexamination shall not limit in any way an employee’s right to appeal a nonconfirmation.

“(VI) Employee protections—An employer may not terminate employment or take any other adverse action against an individual solely because of a failure of the individual to have identity and employment eligibility confirmed under this subsection until—

“(aa) a nonconfirmation has been issued;

“(bb) if the further action notice was contested, the period to timely file an administrative appeal has expired without an appeal or the contestation to the further action notice is withdrawn; or

“(cc) if an appeal before an administrative law judge under paragraph (7) has been filed, the nonconfirmation has been upheld or the appeal has been withdrawn or dismissed.

“(iv) Notice of nonconfirmation—Not later than 3 business days after an employer receives a nonconfirmation, or during such other reasonable time as the Secretary may provide, the employer shall notify the individual who is the subject of the nonconfirmation, and provide information about filing an administrative appeal pursuant to paragraph (6) and a request for a hearing before an administrative law judge pursuant to paragraph (7). The nonconfirmation notice shall be given to the individual in writing and the employer shall acknowledge in the System under penalty of perjury that it provided the notice (or adequately attempted to provide notice, but was unable to do so despite reasonable efforts). The individual shall affirmatively acknowledge in writing, or in such other manner as the Secretary may prescribe, the receipt of the nonconfirmation notice from the employer. If the individual refuses or fails to acknowledge the receipt of the nonconfirmation notice, the employer shall notify the Secretary in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe.

“(D) Consequences of nonconfirmation

“(i) Termination of continued employment—Except as provided in clause (iii), an employer that has received a nonconfirmation regarding an individual and has made reasonable efforts to notify the individual in accordance with subparagraph (C)(iv) shall terminate the employment of the individual upon the expiration of the time period specified in paragraph (7).

“(ii) Continued employment after nonconfirmation—If the employer continues to employ an individual after receiving nonconfirmation and exhaustion of all appeals or expiration of all rights to appeal if not appealed, in violation of clause (i), a rebuttable presumption is created that the employer has violated paragraphs (1)(A) and (2) of subsection (a). Such presumption shall not apply in any prosecution under subsection (k)(1).

“(iii) Effect of administrative appeal or review by administrative law judge—If an individual files an administrative appeal of the nonconfirmation within the time period specified in paragraph (6)(A), or files for review with an administrative law judge specified in paragraph (7)(A), the employer shall not terminate the individual’s employment under this subparagraph prior to the resolution of the administrative appeal unless the Secretary or Commissioner terminates the stay under paragraph (6)(B) or (7)(B).

“(iv) Weekly report—The Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall submit a weekly report to the Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement that includes, for each individual who receives final nonconfirmation through the System—

“(I) the name of such individual;

“(II) his or her social security number or alien file number;

“(III) the name and contact information for his or her current employer; and

“(IV) any other critical information that the Assistant Secretary determines to be appropriate.

“(E) Obligation to respond to queries and additional information

“(i) In general—Employers shall comply with requests for information from the Secretary and the Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices of the Department of Justice, including queries concerning current and former employees, within the time frame during which records are required to be maintained under this section regarding such former employees, if such information relates to the functioning of the System, the accuracy of the responses provided by the System, or any suspected misuse, discrimination, fraud, or identity theft in the use of the System. Failure to comply with a request under this clause constitutes a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B).

“(ii) Action by individuals

“(I) In general—Individuals being verified through the System may be required to take further action to address questions identified by the Secretary or the Commissioner regarding the documents relied upon for purposes of subsection (c).

“(II) Notification—Not later than 3 business days after the receipt of such questions regarding an individual, or during such other reasonable time as the Secretary may prescribe, the employer shall—

“(aa) notify the individual of any such requirement for further actions; and

“(bb) record the date and manner of such notification.

“(III) Acknowledgment—The individual shall acknowledge the notification received from the employer under subclause (II) in writing, or in such other manner as the Secretary may prescribe.

“(iii) Rulemaking

“(I) In general—The Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner and the Attorney General, is authorized to issue regulations implementing, clarifying, and supplementing the requirements under this subparagraph—

“(aa) to facilitate the functioning, accuracy, and fairness of the System;

“(bb) to prevent misuse, discrimination, fraud, or identity theft in the use of the System; or

“(cc) to protect and maintain the confidentiality of information that could be used to locate or otherwise place at risk of harm victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking, and of the applicant or beneficiary of any petition described in section 384(a)(2) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1367(a)(2)).

“(II) Notice—The regulations issued under subclause (I) shall be—

“(aa) published in the Federal Register; and

“(bb) provided directly to all employers registered in the System.

“(F) Designated agents—The Secretary shall establish a process—

“(i) for certifying, on an annual basis or at such times as the Secretary may prescribe, designated agents and other System service providers seeking access to the System to perform verification queries on behalf of employers, based upon training, usage, privacy, and security standards prescribed by the Secretary;

“(ii) for ensuring that designated agents and other System service providers are subject to monitoring to the same extent as direct access users; and

“(iii) for establishing standards for certification of electronic I–9 programs.

“(G) Requirement to provide information

“(i) In general—No later than 3 months after the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner, the Attorney General, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall commence a campaign to disseminate information respecting the procedures, rights, and remedies prescribed under this section.

“(ii) Campaign requirements—The campaign authorized under clause (i)—

“(I) shall be aimed at increasing the knowledge of employers, employees, and the general public concerning employer and employee rights, responsibilities, and remedies under this section; and

“(II) shall be coordinated with the public education campaign conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

“(iii) Assessment—The Secretary shall assess the success of the campaign in achieving the goals of the campaign.

“(iv) Authority to contract—In order to carry out and assess the campaign under this subparagraph, the Secretary may, to the extent deemed appropriate and subject to the availability of appropriations, contract with public and private organizations for outreach and assessment activities under the campaign.

“(v) Authorization of appropriations—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2016.

“(H) Authority to modify information requirements—Based on a regular review of the System and the document verification procedures to identify misuse or fraudulent use and to assess the security of the documents and processes used to establish identity or employment authorized status, the Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner, after publication of notice in the Federal Register and an opportunity for public comment, may modify, if the Secretary determines that the modification is necessary to ensure that the System accurately and reliably determines the identity and employment authorized status of employees and maintain existing protections against misuse, discrimination, fraud, and identity theft—

“(i) the information that shall be presented to the employer by an individual;

“(ii) the information that shall be provided to the System by the employer; and

“(iii) the procedures that shall be followed by employers with respect to the process of verifying an individual through the System.

“(I) Self-verification—Subject to appropriate safeguards to prevent misuse of the system, the Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner, shall establish a secure self-verification procedure to permit an individual who seeks to verify the individual’s own employment eligibility to contact the appropriate agency and, in a timely manner, correct or update the information contained in the System.

“(5) Protection from liability for actions taken on the basis of information provided by the System—An employer shall not be liable to a job applicant, an employee, the Federal Government, or a State or local government, under Federal, State, or local criminal or civil law for any employment-related action taken with respect to a job applicant or employee in good faith reliance on information provided by the System.

“(6) Administrative appeal

“(A) In general—An individual who is notified of a nonconfirmation may, not later than 10 business days after the date that such notice is received, file an administrative appeal of such nonconfirmation with the Commissioner if the notice is based on records maintained by the Commissioner, or in any other case, with the Secretary. An individual who did not timely contest a further action notice timely received by that individual for which the individual acknowledged receipt may not be granted a review under this paragraph.

“(B) Administrative stay of nonconfirmation—The nonconfirmation shall be automatically stayed upon the timely filing of an administrative appeal, unless the nonconfirmation resulted after the individual acknowledged receipt of the further action notice but failed to contact the appropriate agency within the time provided. The stay shall remain in effect until the resolution of the appeal, unless the Secretary or the Commissioner terminates the stay based on a determination that the administrative appeal is frivolous or filed for purposes of delay.

“(C) Review for error—The Secretary and the Commissioner shall develop procedures for resolving administrative appeals regarding nonconfirmations based upon the information that the individual has provided, including any additional evidence or argument that was not previously considered. Any such additional evidence or argument shall be filed within 10 business days of the date the appeal was originally filed. Appeals shall be resolved within 20 business days after the individual has submitted all evidence and arguments the individual wishes to submit, or has stated in writing that there is no additional evidence that the individual wishes to submit. The Secretary and the Commissioner may, on a case by case basis for good cause, extend the filing and submission period in order to ensure accurate resolution of an appeal before the Secretary or the Commissioner.

“(D) Preponderance of evidence—Administrative appeal under this paragraph shall be limited to whether a nonconfirmation notice is supported by a preponderance of the evidence.

“(E) Damages, fees, and costs—No money damages, fees or costs may be awarded in the administrative appeal process under this paragraph.

“(7) Review by administrative law judge

“(A) In general—Not later than 30 days after the date an individual receives a final determination on an administrative appeal under paragraph (6), the individual may obtain review of such determination by filing a complaint with a Department of Justice administrative law judge in accordance with this paragraph.

“(B) Stay of nonconfirmation—The nonconfirmation related to such final determination shall be automatically stayed upon the timely filing of a complaint under this paragraph, and the stay shall remain in effect until the resolution of the complaint, unless the administrative law judge determines that the action is frivolous or filed for purposes of delay.

“(C) Service—The respondent to complaint filed under this paragraph is either the Secretary or the Commissioner, but not both, depending upon who issued the administrative order under paragraph (6). In addition to serving the respondent, the plaintiff shall serve the Attorney General.

“(D) Authority of administrative law judge

“(i) Rules of practice—The Secretary shall promulgate regulations regarding the rules of practice in appeals brought pursuant to this subsection.

“(ii) Authority of administrative law judge—The administrative law judge shall have power to—

“(I) terminate a stay of a nonconfirmation under subparagraph (B) if the administrative law judge determines that the action is frivolous or filed for purposes of delay;

“(II) adduce evidence at a hearing;

“(III) compel by subpoena the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence at any designated place or hearing;

“(IV) resolve claims of identity theft; and

“(V) enter, upon the pleadings and any evidence adduced at a hearing, a decision affirming or reversing the result of the agency, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing.

“(iii) Subpoena—In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena lawfully issued under this section and upon application of the administrative law judge, an appropriate district court of the United States may issue an order requiring compliance with such subpoena and any failure to obey such order may be punished by such court as a contempt of such court.

“(iv) Training—An administrative law judge hearing cases shall have special training respecting employment authorized status verification.

“(E) Order by administrative law judge

“(i) In general—The administrative law judge shall issue and cause to be served to the parties in the proceeding an order which may be appealed as provided in subparagraph (G).

“(ii) Contents of order—Such an order shall uphold or reverse the final determination on the request for reconsideration and order lost wages and other appropriate remedies as provided in subparagraph (F).

“(F) Compensation for error

“(i) In general—In cases in which the administrative law judge reverses the final determination of the Secretary or the Commissioner made under paragraph (6), and the administrative law judge finds that—

“(I) the nonconfirmation was due to gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the employer, the administrative law judge may order the employer to pay the individual lost wages, and reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees incurred during administrative and judicial review; or

“(II) such final determination was erroneous by reason of the negligence of the Secretary or the Commissioner, the administrative law judge may order the Secretary or the Commissioner to pay the individual lost wages, and reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees incurred during the administrative appeal and the administrative law judge review.

“(ii) Calculation of lost wages—Lost wages shall be calculated based on the wage rate and work schedule that prevailed prior to termination. The individual shall be compensated for wages lost beginning on the first scheduled work day after employment was terminated and ending 120 days after completion of the administrative law judge’s review described in this paragraph or the day after the individual is reinstated or obtains employment elsewhere, whichever occurs first. If the individual obtains employment elsewhere at a lower wage rate, the individual shall be compensated for the difference in wages for the period ending 120 days after completion of the administrative law judge review process. No lost wages shall be awarded for any period of time during which the individual was not in employment authorized status.

“(iii) Payment of compensation—Notwithstanding any other law, payment of compensation for lost wages, costs, and attorneys’ fees under this paragraph, or compromise settlements of the same, shall be made as provided by section 1304 of title 31, United States Code. Appropriations made available to the Secretary or the Commissioner, accounts provided for under section 286, and funds from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund shall not be available to pay such compensation.

“(G) Appeal—No later than 45 days after the entry of such final order, any person adversely affected by such final order may seek review of such order in the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the violation is alleged to have occurred or in which the employer resides or transacts business.

“(8) Management of the system

“(A) In general—The Secretary is authorized to establish, manage, and modify the System, which shall—

“(i) respond to inquiries made by participating employers at any time through the internet, or such other means as the Secretary may designate, concerning an individual’s identity and whether the individual is in employment authorized status;

“(ii) maintain records of the inquiries that were made, of confirmations provided (or not provided), and of the codes provided to employers as evidence of their compliance with their obligations under the System; and

“(iii) provide information to, and require action by, employers and individuals using the System.

“(B) Design and operation of system—The System shall be designed and operated—

“(i) to maximize its reliability and ease of use by employers consistent with protecting the privacy and security of the underlying information, and ensuring full notice of such use to employees;

“(ii) to maximize its ease of use by employees, including direct notification of its use, of results, and ability to challenge results;

“(iii) to respond accurately to all inquiries made by employers on whether individuals are authorized to be employed and to register any times when the system is unable to receive inquiries;

“(iv) to maintain appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information, misuse by employers and employees, and discrimination;

“(v) to require regularly scheduled refresher training of all users of the System to ensure compliance with all procedures;

“(vi) to allow for auditing of the use of the System to detect misuse, discrimination, fraud, and identity theft, to protect privacy and assess System accuracy, and to preserve the integrity and security of the information in all of the System, including—

“(I) to develop and use tools and processes to detect or prevent fraud and identity theft, such as multiple uses of the same identifying information or documents to fraudulently gain employment;

“(II) to develop and use tools and processes to detect and prevent misuse of the system by employers and employees;

“(III) to develop tools and processes to detect anomalies in the use of the system that may indicate potential fraud or misuse of the system;

“(IV) to audit documents and information submitted by employees to employers, including authority to conduct interviews with employers and employees, and obtain information concerning employment from the employer;

“(vii) to confirm identity and employment authorization through verification and comparison of records as determined necessary by the Secretary;

“(viii) to confirm electronically the issuance of the employment authorization or identity document and—

“(I) if such photograph is available, to display the digital photograph that the issuer placed on the document so that the employer can compare the photograph displayed to the photograph on the document presented by the employee; or

“(II) if a photograph is not available from the issuer, to confirm the authenticity of the document using such alternative procedures as the Secretary may specify; and

“(ix) to provide appropriate notification directly to employers registered with the System of all changes made by the Secretary or the Commissioner related to allowed and prohibited documents, and use of the System.

“(C) Safeguards to the System

“(i) Requirement to develop—The Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner and other appropriate Federal and State agencies, shall develop policies and procedures to ensure protection of the privacy and security of personally identifiable information and identifiers contained in the records accessed or maintained by the System. The Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner and other appropriate Federal and State agencies, shall develop and deploy appropriate privacy and security training for the Federal and State employees accessing the records under the System.

“(ii) Privacy audits—The Secretary, acting through the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department, shall conduct regular privacy audits of the policies and procedures established under clause (i), including any collection, use, dissemination, and maintenance of personally identifiable information and any associated information technology systems, as well as scope of requests for this information. The Chief Privacy Officer shall review the results of the audits and recommend to the Secretary any changes necessary to improve the privacy protections of the program.

“(iii) Accuracy audits

“(I) In general—Not later than November 30 of each year, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit a report to the Secretary, with a copy to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, that sets forth the error rate of the System for the previous fiscal year and the assessments required to be submitted by the Secretary under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (10). The report shall describe in detail the methodology employed for purposes of the report, and shall make recommendations for how error rates may be reduced.

“(II) Error rate defined—In this clause, the term error rate means the percentage determined by dividing—

“(aa) the number of employment authorized individuals who received further action notices, contested such notices, and were subsequently found to be employment authorized; by

“(bb) the number of System inquiries submitted for employment authorized individuals.

“(III) Reduction of penalties for recordkeeping or verification practices following persistent system inaccuracies—Notwithstanding subsection (e)(4)(C)(i), in any calendar year following a report by the Inspector General under subclause (I) that the System had an error rate higher than 0.3 percent for the previous fiscal year, the civil penalty assessable by the Secretary or an administrative law judge under that subsection for each first-time violation by an employer who has not previously been penalized under this section may not exceed $1,000.

“(iv) Records security program—Any person, including a private third party vendor, who retains document verification or System data pursuant to this section shall implement an effective records security program that—

“(I) ensures that only authorized personnel have access to document verification or System data; and

“(II) ensures that whenever such data is created, completed, updated, modified, altered, or corrected in electronic format, a secure and permanent record is created that establishes the date of access, the identity of the individual who accessed the electronic record, and the particular action taken.

“(v) Records security program—In addition to the security measures described in clause (iv), a private third party vendor who retains document verification or System data pursuant to this section shall implement an effective records security program that—

“(I) provides for backup and recovery of any records maintained in electronic format to protect against information loss, such as power interruptions; and

“(II) ensures that employees are trained to minimize the risk of unauthorized or accidental alteration or erasure of such data in electronic format.

“(vi) Authorized personnel defined—In this subparagraph, the term authorized personnel means anyone registered as a System user, or anyone with partial or full responsibility for completion of employment authorization verification or retention of data in connection with employment authorization verification on behalf of an employer.

“(D) Available facilities and alternative accommodations—The Secretary shall make appropriate arrangements and develop standards to allow employers or employees, including remote hires, who are otherwise unable to access the System to use electronic and telephonic formats (including video conferencing, scanning technology, and other available technologies), Federal Government facilities, public facilities, or other available locations in order to utilize the System.

“(E) Responsibilities of the Secretary

“(i) In general—As part of the System, the Secretary shall maintain a reliable, secure method, which, operating through the System and within the time periods specified, compares the name, alien identification or authorization number, or other information as determined relevant by the Secretary, provided in an inquiry against such information maintained or accessed by the Secretary in order to confirm (or not confirm) the validity of the information provided, the correspondence of the name and number, whether the alien has employment authorized status (or, to the extent that the Secretary determines to be feasible and appropriate, whether the records available to the Secretary verify the identity or status of a national of the United States), and such other information as the Secretary may prescribe.

“(ii) Photograph display—As part of the System, the Secretary shall establish a reliable, secure method, which, operating through the System, displays the digital photograph described in subparagraph (B)(viii)(I).

“(iii) Timing of notices—The Secretary shall have authority to prescribe when a confirmation, nonconfirmation, or further action notice shall be issued.

“(iv) Use of information—The Secretary shall perform regular audits under the System, as described in subparagraph (B)(vi) and shall utilize the information obtained from such audits, as well as any information obtained from the Commissioner pursuant to part E of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.), for the purposes of this section and to administer and enforce the immigration laws.

“(v) Identity fraud protection—To prevent identity fraud, not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, the Secretary shall—

“(I) in consultation with the Commissioner, establish a program to provide a reliable, secure method for an individual to temporarily suspend or limit the use of the individual's social security account number or other identifying information for verification by the System; and

“(II) for each individual being verified through the System—

“(aa) notify the individual that the individual has the option to limit the use of the individual's social security account number or other identifying information for verification by the System; and

“(bb) provide instructions to the individuals for exercising the option referred to in item (aa).

“(vi) Allowing parents to prevent theft of their child's identity—The Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner, shall establish a program that provides a reliable, secure method by which parents or legal guardians may suspend or limit the use of the social security account number or other identifying information of a minor under their care for the purposes of the System. The Secretary may implement the program on a limited pilot program basis before making it fully available to all individuals.

“(vii) Protection from multiple use—The Secretary and the Commissioner shall establish a procedure for identifying and handling a situation in which a social security account number has been identified to be subject to unusual multiple use in the System or is otherwise suspected or determined to have been compromised by identity fraud.

“(viii) Monitoring and compliance unit—The Secretary shall establish or designate a monitoring and compliance unit to detect and reduce identity fraud and other misuse of the System.

“(ix) Civil rights and civil liberties assessments

“(I) Requirement to conduct—The Secretary shall conduct regular civil rights and civil liberties assessments of the System, including participation by employers, other private entities, and Federal, State, and local government entities.

“(II) Requirement to respond—Employers, other private entities, and Federal, State, and local entities shall timely respond to any request in connection with such an assessment.

“(III) Assessment and recommendations—The Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department shall review the results of each such assessment and recommend to the Secretary any changes necessary to improve the civil rights and civil liberties protections of the System.

“(F) Grants to States

“(i) In general—The Secretary shall create and administer a grant program to help provide funding for States that grant—

“(I) the Secretary access to driver’s license information as needed to confirm that a driver’s license presented under subsection (c)(1)(D)(i) confirms the identity of the subject of the System check, and that a driver’s license matches the State’s records; and

“(II) such assistance as the Secretary may request in order to resolve further action notices or nonconfirmations relating to such information.

“(ii) Construction with the Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994—The provision of a photograph to the Secretary as described in clause (i) may not be construed as a violation of section 2721 of title 18, United States Code, and is a permissible use under subsection (b)(1) of that section.

“(iii) Authorization of appropriations—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $250,000,000 to carry out this subparagraph.

“(G) Responsibilities of the Secretary of State—As part of the System, the Secretary of State shall provide to the Secretary access to passport and visa information as needed to confirm that a passport, passport card, or visa presented under subsection (c)(1)(C) confirms the identity of the subject of the System check, and that a passport, passport card, or visa photograph matches the Secretary of State’s records, and shall provide such assistance as the Secretary may request in order to resolve further action notices or nonconfirmations relating to such information.

“(H) Updating information—The Commissioner, the Secretary, and the Secretary of State shall update their information in a manner that promotes maximum accuracy and shall provide a process for the prompt correction of erroneous information.

“(9) Limitation on use of the System—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this subsection may be construed to permit or allow any department, bureau, or other agency of the United States Government or any other entity to utilize any information, database, or other records assembled under this subsection for any purpose other than for employment verification or to ensure secure, appropriate and nondiscriminatory use of the System.

“(10) Annual report and certification—Not later than 18 months after the promulgation of regulations to implement this subsection, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following:

“(A) An assessment, as submitted to the Secretary by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security pursuant to paragraph (8)(C)(iii)(I), of the accuracy rates of further action notices and other System notices provided by employers to individuals who are authorized to be employed in the United States.

“(B) An assessment, as submitted to the Secretary by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security pursuant to paragraph (8)(C)(iii)(I), of the accuracy rates of further action notices and other System notices provided directly (by the System) in a timely fashion to individuals who are not authorized to be employed in the United States.

“(C) An assessment of any challenges faced by small employers in utilizing the System.

“(D) An assessment of the rate of employer noncompliance (in addition to failure to provide required notices in a timely fashion) in each of the following categories:

“(i) Taking adverse action based on a further action notice.

“(ii) Use of the System for nonemployees or other individuals before they are offered employment.

“(iii) Use of the System to reverify employment authorized status of current employees except if authorized to do so.

“(iv) Use of the System selectively, except in cases in which such use is authorized.

“(v) Use of the System to deny employment or post-employment benefits or otherwise interfere with labor rights.

“(vi) Requiring employees or applicants to use any self-verification feature or to provide self-verification results.

“(vii) Discouraging individuals who receive a further action notice from challenging the further action notice or appealing a determination made by the System.

“(E) An assessment of the rate of employee noncompliance in each of the following categories:

“(i) Obtaining employment when unauthorized with an employer complying with the System in good faith.

“(ii) Failure to provide required documents in a timely manner.

“(iii) Attempting to use fraudulent documents or documents not related to the individual.

“(iv) Misuse of the administrative appeal and judicial review process.

“(F) An assessment of the amount of time taken for—

“(i) the System to provide the confirmation or further action notice;

“(ii) individuals to contest further action notices;

“(iii) the System to provide a confirmation or nonconfirmation of a contested further action notice;

“(iv) individuals to file an administrative appeal of a nonconfirmation; and

“(v) resolving administrative appeals regarding nonconfirmations.

“(11) Annual GAO study and report

“(A) Requirement—The Comptroller General shall, for each year, undertake a study to evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, integrity, and impact of the System.

“(B) Report—Not later than 18 months after the promulgation of regulations to implement this subsection, and yearly thereafter, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the findings of the study carried out under this paragraph. Each such report shall include, at a minimum, the following:

“(i) An assessment of System performance with respect to the rate at which individuals who are eligible for employment in the United States are correctly approved within the required periods, including a separate assessment of such rate for naturalized United States citizens, nationals of the United States, and aliens.

“(ii) An assessment of the privacy and confidentiality of the System and of the overall security of the System with respect to cybertheft and theft or misuse of private data.

“(iii) An assessment of whether the System is being implemented in a manner that is not discriminatory or used for retaliation against employees.

“(iv) An assessment of the most common causes for the erroneous issuance of nonconfirmations by the System and recommendations to correct such causes.

“(v) The recommendations of the Comptroller General regarding System improvements.

“(vi) An assessment of the frequency and magnitude of changes made to the System and the impact on the ability for employers to comply in good faith.

“(vii) An assessment of the direct and indirect costs incurred by employers in complying with the System, including costs associated with retaining potential employees through the administrative appeals process and receiving a nonconfirmation.

“(viii) An assessment of any backlogs or delays in the System providing the confirmation or further action notice and impacts to hiring by employers.

“(e) Compliance

“(1) Complaints and investigations—The Secretary shall establish procedures—

“(A) for individuals and entities to file complaints respecting potential violations of subsections (a) or (f)(1);

“(B) for the investigation of those complaints which the Secretary deems appropriate to investigate; and

“(C) for providing notification to the Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices of the Department of Justice of potential violations of section 274B.

“(2) Authority in investigations—In conducting investigations and proceedings under this subsection—

“(A) immigration officers shall have reasonable access to examine evidence of the employer being investigated;

“(B) immigration officers designated by the Secretary, and administrative law judges and other persons authorized to conduct proceedings under this section, may compel by subpoena the attendance of relevant witnesses and the production of relevant evidence at any designated place in an investigation or case under this subsection. In case of refusal to fully comply with a subpoena lawfully issued under this paragraph, the Secretary may request that the Attorney General apply in an appropriate district court of the United States for an order requiring compliance with the subpoena, and any failure to obey such order may be punished by the court as contempt. Failure to cooperate with the subpoena shall be subject to further penalties, including further fines and the voiding of any mitigation of penalties or termination of proceedings under paragraph (4)(E); and

“(C) the Secretary, in cooperation with the Commissioner and Attorney General, and in consultation with other relevant agencies, shall establish a Joint Employment Fraud Task Force consisting of, at a minimum—

“(i) the System’s compliance personnel;

“(ii) immigration law enforcement officers;

“(iii) personnel of the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices of the Department of Justice;

“(iv) personnel of the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department; and

“(v) personnel of Office of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration.

“(3) Compliance procedures

“(A) Pre-penalty notice—If the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe that there has been a civil violation of this section in the previous 3 years, the Secretary shall issue to the employer concerned a written notice of the Department’s intention to issue a claim for a monetary or other penalty. Such pre-penalty notice shall—

“(i) describe the violation;

“(ii) specify the laws and regulations allegedly violated;

“(iii) disclose the material facts which establish the alleged violation;

“(iv) describe the penalty sought to be imposed; and

“(v) inform such employer that such employer shall have a reasonable opportunity to make representations as to why a monetary or other penalty should not be imposed.

“(B) Employer’s response—Whenever any employer receives written pre-penalty notice of a fine or other penalty in accordance with subparagraph (A), the employer may, within 60 days from receipt of such notice, file with the Secretary its written response to the notice. The response may include any relevant evidence or proffer of evidence that the employer wishes to present with respect to whether the employer violated this section and whether, if so, the penalty should be mitigated, and shall be filed and considered in accordance with procedures to be established by the Secretary.

“(C) Right to a hearing—Before issuance of an order imposing a penalty on any employer, person, or entity, the employer, person, or entity shall be entitled to a hearing before an administrative law judge, if requested within 60 days of the notice of penalty. The hearing shall be held at the nearest location practicable to the place where the employer, person, or entity resides or of the place where the alleged violation occurred.

“(D) Issuance of orders—If no hearing is so requested, the Secretary’s imposition of the order shall constitute a final and unappealable order. If a hearing is requested and the administrative law judge determines, upon clear and convincing evidence received, that there was a violation, the administrative law judge shall issue the final determination with a written penalty claim. The penalty claim shall specify all charges in the information provided under clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (A) and any mitigation of the penalty that the administrative law judge deems appropriate under paragraph (4)(E).

“(4) Civil penalties

“(A) Hiring or continuing to employ unauthorized aliens—Any employer that violates any provision of subsection (a)(1)(A) or (a)(2) shall—

“(i) pay a civil penalty of not less than $3,500 and not more than $7,500 for each unauthorized alien with respect to which each violation of either subsection (a)(1)(A) or (a)(2) occurred;

“(ii) if the employer has previously been fined as a result of a previous enforcement action or previous violation under this paragraph, pay a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 and not more than $15,000 for each unauthorized alien with respect to which a violation of either subsection (a)(1)(A) or (a)(2) occurred; and

“(iii) if the employer has previously been fined more than once under this paragraph, pay a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $25,000 for each unauthorized alien with respect to which a violation of either subsection (a)(1)(A) or (a)(2) occurred.

“(B) Enhanced penalties—After the Secretary certifies to Congress that the System has been established, implemented, and made mandatory for use by all employers in the United States, the Secretary may establish an enhanced civil penalty for an employer who—

“(i) fails to query the System to verify the identify and work authorized status of an individual; and

“(ii) violates a Federal, State, or local law related to—

“(I) the payment of wages;

“(II) hours worked by employees; or

“(III) workplace health and safety.

“(C) Recordkeeping or verification practices—Any employer that violates or fails to comply with any requirement under subsection (a)(1)(B), other than a minor or inadvertent failure, as determined by the Secretary, shall pay a civil penalty of—

“(i) not less than $500 and not more than $2,000 for each violation;

“(ii) if an employer has previously been fined under this paragraph, not less than $1,000 and not more than $4,000 for each violation; and

“(iii) if an employer has previously been fined more than once under this paragraph, not less than $2,000 and not more than $8,000 for each violation.

“(D) Other penalties—The Secretary may impose additional penalties for violations, including cease and desist orders, specially designed compliance plans to prevent further violations, suspended fines to take effect in the event of a further violation, and in appropriate cases, the remedy provided by paragraph (f)(2).

“(E) Mitigation—The Secretary or, if an employer requests a hearing, the administrative law judge, is authorized, upon such terms and conditions as the Secretary or administrative law judge deems reasonable and just and in accordance with such procedures as the Secretary may establish or any procedures established governing the administrative law judge’s assessment of penalties, to reduce or mitigate penalties imposed upon employers, based upon factors including, the employer’s hiring volume, compliance history, good-faith implementation of a compliance program, the size and level of sophistication of the employer, and voluntary disclosure of violations of this subsection to the Secretary. The Secretary or administrative law judge shall not mitigate a penalty below the minimum penalty provided by this section, except that the Secretary may, in the case of an employer subject to penalty for recordkeeping or verification violations only who has not previously been penalized under this section, in the Secretary’s or administrative law judge’s discretion, mitigate the penalty below the statutory minimum or remit it entirely. In any case where a civil money penalty has been imposed on an employer under section 274B for an action or omission that is also a violation of this section, the Secretary or administrative law judge shall mitigate any civil money penalty under this section by the amount of the penalty imposed under section 274B.

“(F) Effective date—The civil money penalty amounts and the enhanced penalties provided by subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of this paragraph and by subsection (f)(2) shall apply to violations of this section committed on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. For violations committed prior to such date of enactment, the civil money penalty amounts provided by regulations implementing this section as in effect the minute before such date of enactment with respect to knowing hiring or continuing employment, verification, or indemnity bond violations, as appropriate, shall apply.

“(5) Order of internal review and certification of compliance

“(A) Employer compliance—If the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe that an employer has failed to comply with this section, the Secretary is authorized, at any time, to require that the employer certify that it is in compliance with this section, or has instituted a program to come into compliance.

“(B) Employer certification

“(i) Requirement—Except as provided in subparagraph (C), not later than 60 days after receiving a notice from the Secretary requiring a certification under subparagraph (A), an official with responsibility for, and authority to bind the company on, all hiring and immigration compliance notices shall certify under penalty of perjury that the employer is in conformance with the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (c), pertaining to document verification requirements, and with subsection (d), pertaining to the System (once the System is implemented with respect to that employer according to the requirements under subsection (d)(2)), and with any additional requirements that the Secretary may promulgate by regulation pursuant to subsection (c) or (d) or that the employer has instituted a program to come into compliance with these requirements.

“(ii) Application—Clause (i) shall not apply until the date that the Secretary certifies to Congress that the System has been established, implemented, and made mandatory for use by all employers in the United States.

“(C) Extension of deadline—At the request of the employer, the Secretary may extend the 60-day deadline for good cause.

“(D) Standards or methods—The Secretary is authorized to publish in the Federal Register standards or methods for such certification, require specific recordkeeping practices with respect to such certifications, and audit the records thereof at any time. This authority shall not be construed to diminish or qualify any other penalty provided by this section.

“(6) Requirements for review of a final determination—With respect to judicial review of a final determination or penalty order issued under paragraph (3)(D), the following requirements apply:

“(A) Deadline—The petition for review must be filed no later than 30 days after the date of the final determination or penalty order issued under paragraph (3)(D).

“(B) Venue and forms—The petition for review shall be filed with the court of appeals for the judicial circuit where the employer’s principal place of business was located when the final determination or penalty order was made. The record and briefs do not have to be printed. The court shall review the proceeding on a typewritten or electronically filed record and briefs.

“(C) Service—The respondent is the Secretary. In addition to serving the respondent, the petitioner shall serve the Attorney General.

“(D) Petitioner’s brief—The petitioner shall serve and file a brief in connection with a petition for judicial review not later than 40 days after the date on which the administrative record is available, and may serve and file a reply brief not later than 14 days after service of the brief of the respondent, and the court may not extend these deadlines, except for good cause shown. If a petitioner fails to file a brief within the time provided in this paragraph, the court shall dismiss the appeal unless a manifest injustice would result.

“(E) Scope and standard for review—The court of appeals shall conduct a de novo review of the administrative record on which the final determination was based and any additional evidence that the Court finds was previously unavailable at the time of the administrative hearing.

“(F) Exhaustion of administrative remedies—A court may review a final determination under paragraph (3)(C) only if—

“(i) the petitioner has exhausted all administrative remedies available to the petitioner as of right, including any administrative remedies established by regulation, and

“(ii) another court has not decided the validity of the order, unless the reviewing court finds that the petition presents grounds that could not have been presented in the prior judicial proceeding or that the remedy provided by the prior proceeding was inadequate or ineffective to test the validity of the order.

“(G) Enforcement of orders—If the final determination issued against the employer under this subsection is not subjected to review as provided in this paragraph, the Attorney General, upon request by the Secretary, may bring a civil action to enforce compliance with the final determination in any appropriate district court of the United States. The court, on a proper showing, shall issue a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction requiring that the employer comply with the final determination issued against that employer under this subsection. In any such civil action, the validity and appropriateness of the final determination shall not be subject to review.

“(7) Creation of lien—If any employer liable for a fee or penalty under this section neglects or refuses to pay such liability after demand and fails to file a petition for review (if applicable) as provided in paragraph (6), the amount of the fee or penalty shall be a lien in favor of the United States on all property and rights to property, whether real or personal, belonging to such employer. If a petition for review is filed as provided in paragraph (6), the lien shall arise upon the entry of a final judgment by the court. The lien continues for 20 years or until the liability is satisfied, remitted, set aside, or terminated.

“(8) Filing notice of lien

“(A) Place for filing—The notice of a lien referred to in paragraph (7) shall be filed as described in 1 of the following:

“(i) Under State laws

“(I) Real property—In the case of real property, in 1 office within the State (or the county, or other governmental subdivision), as designated by the laws of such State, in which the property subject to the lien is situated.

“(II) Personal property—In the case of personal property, whether tangible or intangible, in 1 office within the State (or the county, or other governmental subdivision), as designated by the laws of such State, in which the property subject to the lien is situated, except that State law merely conforming to or reenacting Federal law establishing a national filing system does not constitute a second office for filing as designated by the laws of such State.

“(ii) With clerk of district court—In the office of the clerk of the United States district court for the judicial district in which the property subject to the lien is situated, whenever the State has not by law designated 1 office which meets the requirements of clause (i).

“(iii) With recorder of deeds of the District of Columbia—In the office of the Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia, if the property subject to the lien is situated in the District of Columbia.

“(B) Situs of property subject to lien—For purposes of subparagraph (A), property shall be deemed to be situated as follows:

“(i) Real property—In the case of real property, at its physical location.

“(ii) Personal property—In the case of personal property, whether tangible or intangible, at the residence of the taxpayer at the time the notice of lien is filed.

“(C) Determination of residence—For purposes of subparagraph (B)(ii), the residence of a corporation or partnership shall be deemed to be the place at which the principal executive office of the business is located, and the residence of a taxpayer whose residence is outside the United States shall be deemed to be in the District of Columbia.

“(D) Effect of filing notice of lien

“(i) In general—Upon filing of a notice of lien in the manner described in this paragraph, the lien shall be valid against any purchaser, holder of a security interest, mechanic’s lien, or judgment lien creditor, except with respect to properties or transactions specified in subsection (b), (c), or (d) of section 6323 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for which a notice of tax lien properly filed on the same date would not be valid.

“(ii) Notice of lien—The notice of lien shall be considered a notice of lien for taxes payable to the United States for the purpose of any State or local law providing for the filing of a notice of a tax lien. A notice of lien that is registered, recorded, docketed, or indexed in accordance with the rules and requirements relating to judgments of the courts of the State where the notice of lien is registered, recorded, docketed, or indexed shall be considered for all purposes as the filing prescribed by this section.

“(iii) Other provisions—The provisions of section 3201(e) of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to liens filed as prescribed by this paragraph.

“(E) Enforcement of a lien—A lien obtained through this paragraph shall be considered a debt as defined by section 3002 of title 28, United States Code and enforceable pursuant to chapter 176 of such title.

“(9) Attorney General adjudication—The Attorney General shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate administrative proceedings under this subsection. Such proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with requirements of section 554 of title 5, United States Code.

“(f) Criminal and civil penalties and injunctions

“(1) Prohibition of indemnity bonds—It is unlawful for an employer, in the hiring of any individual, to require the individual to post a bond or security, to pay or agree to pay an amount, or otherwise to provide a financial guarantee or indemnity, against any potential liability arising under this section relating to such hiring of the individual.

“(2) Civil penalty—Any employer who is determined, after notice and opportunity for mitigation of the monetary penalty under subsection (e), to have violated paragraph (1) shall be subject to a civil penalty of $10,000 for each violation and to an administrative order requiring the return of any amounts received in violation of such paragraph to the employee or, if the employee cannot be located, to the general fund of the Treasury.

“(g) Government contracts

“(1) Contractors and recipients—Whenever an employer who is a Federal contractor (meaning an employer who holds a Federal contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, or reasonably may be expected to submit an offer for or be awarded a government contract) is determined by the Secretary to have violated this section on more than 3 occasions or is convicted of a crime under this section, the employer shall be considered for debarment from the receipt of Federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements in accordance with the procedures and standards and for the periods prescribed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation. However, any administrative determination of liability for civil penalty by the Secretary or the Attorney General shall not be reviewable in any debarment proceeding.

“(2) Inadvertent violations—Inadvertent violations of recordkeeping or verification requirements, in the absence of any other violations of this section, shall not be a basis for determining that an employer is a repeat violator for purposes of this subsection.

“(3) Other remedies available—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to modify or limit any remedy available to any agency or official of the Federal Government for violation of any contractual requirement to participate in the System, as provided in the final rule relating to employment eligibility verification published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2008 (73 Fed. Reg. 67,651), or any similar subsequent regulation.

“(h) Preemption—The provisions of this section preempt any State or local law, ordinance, policy, or rule, including any criminal or civil fine or penalty structure, relating to the hiring, continued employment, or status verification for employment eligibility purposes, of unauthorized aliens. A State, locality, municipality, or political subdivision may exercise its authority over business licensing and similar laws as a penalty for failure to use the System.

“(i) Deposit of amounts received—Except as otherwise specified, civil penalties collected under this section shall be deposited by the Secretary into the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1) of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.

“(j) Challenges to validity of the System

“(1) In general—Any right, benefit, or claim not otherwise waived or limited pursuant to this section is available in an action instituted in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, but shall be limited to determinations of—

“(A) whether this section, or any regulation issued to implement this section, violates the Constitution of the United States; or

“(B) whether such a regulation issued by or under the authority of the Secretary to implement this section, is contrary to applicable provisions of this section or was issued in violation of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code.

“(2) Deadlines for bringing actions—Any action instituted under this subsection must be filed no later than 180 days after the date the challenged section or regulation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) becomes effective. No court shall have jurisdiction to review any challenge described in subparagraph (B) after the time period specified in this subsection expires.

“(k) Criminal penalties and injunctions for pattern or practice violations

“(1) Pattern and practice—Any employer who engages in a pattern or practice of knowing violations of subsection (a)(1)(A) or (a)(2) shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, no more than $10,000 for each unauthorized alien with respect to whom such violation occurs, imprisoned for not more than 2 years for the entire pattern or practice, or both.

“(2) Term of imprisonment—The maximum term of imprisonment of a person convicted of any criminal offense under the United States Code shall be increased by 5 years if the offense is committed as part of a pattern or practice of violations of subsection (a)(1)(A) or (a)(2).

“(3) Enjoining of pattern or practice violations—Whenever the Secretary or the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that an employer is engaged in a pattern or practice of employment in violation of subsection (a)(1)(A) or (a)(2), the Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate district court of the United States requesting such relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against the employer, as the Secretary or Attorney General deems necessary.

“(l) Criminal penalties for unlawful and abusive employment

“(1) In general—Any person who, during any 12-month period, knowingly employs or hires, employs, recruits, or refers for a fee for employment 10 or more individuals within the United States who are under the control and supervision of such person—

“(A) knowing that the individuals are unauthorized aliens; and

“(B) under conditions that violate section 5(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 654(a) (relating to occupational safety and health), section 6 or 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206 and 207) (relating to minimum wages and maximum hours of employment), section 3142 of title 40, United States Code, (relating to required wages on construction contracts), or sections 6703 or 6704 of title 41, United States Code, (relating to required wages on service contracts),

“(2) Attempt and conspiracy—Any person who attempts or conspires to commit any offense under this section shall be punished in the same manner as a person who completes the offense.”

(b)
Report on use of the System in the agricultural industry— Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit a report to Congress that assesses implementation of the Employment Verification System established under section 274A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by subsection (a), in the agricultural industry, including the use of such System technology in agriculture industry hiring processes, user, contractor, and third-party employer agent employment practices, timing and logistics regarding employment verification and reverification processes to meet agriculture industry practices, and identification of potential challenges and modifications to meet the unique needs of the agriculture industry. Such report shall review—
(1)
the modality of access, training and outreach, customer support, processes for further action notices and secondary verifications for short-term workers, monitoring, and compliance procedures for such System;
(2)
the interaction of such System with the process to admit nonimmigrant workers pursuant to section 218 or 218A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1188 et seq.) and with enforcement of the immigration laws; and
(3)
the collaborative use of processes of other Federal and State agencies that intersect with the agriculture industry.
(c)
Report on impact of the System on employers— Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that assesses—
(1)
the implementation of the Employment Verification System established under section 274A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by subsection (a), by employers;
(2)
any adverse impact on the revenues, business processes, or profitability of employers required to use such System; and
(3)
the economic impact of such System on small businesses.
(d)
Government Accountability Office study of the effects of document requirements on employment authorized persons and employers—
(1)
Study— The Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a study of—
(A)
the effects of the documentary requirements of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by subsection (a), on employers, naturalized United States citizens, nationals of the United States, and individuals with employment authorized status; and
(B)
the challenges such employers, citizens, nationals, or individuals may face in obtaining the documentation required under that section.
(2)
Report— Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the findings of the study carried out under paragraph (1). Such report shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(A)
An assessment of available information regarding the number of working age nationals of the United States and individuals who have employment authorized status who lack documents required for employment by such section 274A.
(B)
A description of the additional steps required for individuals who have employment authorized status and do not possess the documents required by such section 274A to obtain such documents.
(C)
A general assessment of the average financial costs for individuals who have employment authorized status who do not possess the documents required by such section 274A to obtain such documents.
(D)
A general assessment of the average financial costs and challenges for employers who have been required to participate in the Employment Verification System established by subsection (d) of such section 274A.
(E)
A description of the barriers to individuals who have employment authorized status in obtaining the documents required by such section 274A, including barriers imposed by the executive branch of the Government.
(F)
Any particular challenges facing individuals who have employment authorized status who are members of a federally recognized Indian tribe in complying with the provisions of such section 274A.
(e)
Repeal of pilot programs and E-Verify and transition procedures—
(1)
Repeal— Sections 401, 402, 403, 404, and 405 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104–208; 8 U.S.C. 1324a note) are repealed.
(2)
Transition procedures—
(A)
Continuation of E-Verify Program— Notwithstanding the repeals made by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall continue to operate the E-Verify Program as described in section 403 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104–208; 8 U.S.C. 1324a note), as in effect the minute before the date of the enactment of this Act, until the transition to the System described in section 274A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by subsection (a), is determined by the Secretary to be complete.
(B)
Transition to the system— Any employer who was participating in the E-Verify Program described in section 403 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104–208; 8 U.S.C. 1324a note), as in effect the minute before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall participate in the System described in section 274A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by subsection (a), to the same extent and in the same manner that the employer participated in such E-Verify Program.
(3)
Construction— The repeal made by paragraph (1) may not be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to allow or continue to allow the participation in such System of employers who have participated in such E-Verify Program, as in effect on the minute before the date of the enactment of this Act.
(f)
Conforming amendment— Section 274(a) (8 U.S.C. 1324(a)) is amended—
(1)
by striking paragraph (3); and
(2)
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).

Sec. 3102 Increasing security and integrity of social security cards

(a)
Fraud-resistant, tamper-resistant, wear-resistant, and identity theft-resistant social security cards—
(1)
Issuance—
(A)
Preliminary work— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall begin work to administer and issue fraud-resistant, tamper-resistant, wear-resistant, and identity theft-resistant social security cards.
(B)
Completion— Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall issue only social security cards determined to be fraud-resistant, tamper-resistant, wear-resistant, and identity theft-resistant.
(2)
Amendment—
(A)
In general— Section 205(c)(2)(G) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(G)) is amended by striking the second sentence and inserting the following: “The social security card shall be fraud-resistant, tamper-resistant, wear-resistant, and identity theft-resistant.”.
(B)
Effective date— The amendment made by subparagraph (A) shall take effect on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3)
Authorization of appropriation— There are authorized to be appropriated, from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1), such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section.
(4)
Emergency designation for congressional enforcement— In the Senate, amounts made available under this subsection are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010.
(5)
Emergency designation for statutory paygo— Amounts made available under this subsection are designated as an emergency requirement under section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–139; 2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
(b)
Multiple cards— Section 205(c)(2)(G) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(G)), as amended by subsection (a)(2), is amended—
(1)
by inserting “(i)” after “(G)”; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:

“(ii) The Commissioner of Social Security shall restrict the issuance of multiple replacement social security cards to any individual to 3 per year and 10 for the life of the individual, except that the Commissioner may allow for reasonable exceptions from the limits under this clause on a case-by-case basis in compelling circumstances.”

(c)
Criminal penalties—
(1)
Social security fraud—
(A)
In general— Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following:

“1041. Social security fraud

“Any person who—

“(1) knowingly possesses or uses a social security account number or social security card knowing that the number or card was obtained from the Commissioner of Social Security by means of fraud or false statement;

“(2) knowingly and falsely represents a number to be the social security account number assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security to him or her or to another person, when such number is known not to be the social security account number assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security to him or her or to such other person;

“(3) knowingly, and without lawful authority, buys, sells, or possesses with intent to buy or sell a social security account number or a social security card that is or purports to be a number or card issued by the Commissioner of Social Security;

“(4) knowingly alters, counterfeits, forges, or falsely makes a social security account number or a social security card;

“(5) knowingly uses, distributes, or transfers a social security account number or a social security card knowing the number or card to be intentionally altered, counterfeited, forged, falsely made, or stolen; or

“(6) without lawful authority, knowingly produces or acquires for any person a social security account number, a social security card, or a number or card that purports to be a social security account number or social security card,”

(B)
Table of sections amendment— The table of sections for chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 1040 the following:
(2)
Information disclosure—
(A)
In general— Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), the Commissioner of Social Security shall disclose for the purpose of investigating a violation of section 1041 of title 18, United States Code, or section 274A, 274B, or 274C of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a, 1324b, and 1324c), after receiving a written request from an officer in a supervisory position or higher official of any Federal law enforcement agency, the following records of the Social Security Administration:
(i)
Records concerning the identity, address, location, or financial institution accounts of the holder of a social security account number or social security card.
(ii)
Records concerning the application for and issuance of a social security account number or social security card.
(iii)
Records concerning the existence or nonexistence of a social security account number or social security card.
(B)
Limitation— The Commissioner of Social Security shall not disclose any tax return or tax return information pursuant to subparagraph (A) except as authorized by section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Sec. 3103 Increasing security and integrity of immigration documents

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the feasibility, advantages, and disadvantages of including, in addition to a photograph, other biometric information on each employment authorization document issued by the Department.

Sec. 3104 Responsibilities of the Social Security Administration

Title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new part:

“E Employment Verification

“1186. Responsibilities of the Commissioner of Social Security

“(a) Confirmation of employment verification data—As part of the employment verification system established by the Secretary of Homeland Security under the provisions of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a) (in this section referred to as the System), the Commissioner of Social Security shall, subject to the provisions of section 274A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(d)), establish a reliable, secure method that, operating through the System and within the time periods specified in section 274A(d) of such Act—

“(1) compares the name, date of birth, social security account number, and available citizenship information provided in an inquiry against such information maintained by the Commissioner in order to confirm (or not confirm) the validity of the information provided regarding an individual whose identity and employment eligibility must be confirmed;

“(2) determines the correspondence of the name, date of birth, and number;

“(3) determines whether the name and number belong to an individual who is deceased according to the records maintained by the Commissioner;

“(4) determines whether an individual is a national of the United States, as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)); and

“(5) determines whether the individual has presented a social security account number that is not valid for employment.

“(b) Prohibition—The System shall not disclose or release social security information to employers through the confirmation system (other than such confirmation or nonconfirmation, information provided by the employer to the System, or the reason for the issuance of a further action notice).”

Sec. 3105 Improved prohibition on discrimination based on national origin or citizenship status

(a)
In general— Section 274B(a) (8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)) is amended to read as follows:

“(a) Prohibition on discrimination based on national origin or citizenship status

“(1) Prohibition on discrimination generally—It is an unfair immigration-related employment practice for a person, other entity, or employment agency, to discriminate against any individual (other than an unauthorized alien defined in section 274A(b)) because of such individual’s national origin or citizenship status, with respect to the following:

“(A) The hiring of the individual for employment.

“(B) The verification of the individual’s eligibility to work in the United States.

“(C) The discharging of the individual from employment.

“(2) Exceptions—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the following:

“(A) A person, other entity, or employer that employs 3 or fewer employees, except for an employment agency.

“(B) A person’s or entity’s discrimination because of an individual’s national origin if the discrimination with respect to that employer, person, or entity and that individual is covered under section 703 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–2), unless the discrimination is related to an individual’s verification of employment authorization.

“(C) Discrimination because of citizenship status which—

“(i) is otherwise required in order to comply with a provision of Federal, State, or local law related to law enforcement;

“(ii) is required by Federal Government contract; or

“(iii) the Secretary or Attorney General determines to be essential for an employer to do business with an agency or department of the Federal Government or a State, local, or tribal government.

“(3) Additional exception providing right to prefer equally qualified citizens—Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, it is not an unfair immigration-related employment practice for an employer (as defined in section 274A(b)) to prefer to hire, recruit, or refer for a fee an individual who is a citizen or national of the United States over another individual who is an alien if the 2 individuals are equally qualified.

“(4) Unfair immigration-related employment practices relating to the System—It is also an unfair immigration-related employment practice for a person, other entity, or employment agency—

“(A) to discharge or constructively discharge an individual solely due to a further action notice issued by the Employment Verification System created by section 274A until the administrative appeal described in section 274A(d)(6) is completed;

“(B) to use the System with regard to any person for any purpose except as authorized by section 274A(d);

“(C) to use the System to reverify the employment authorization of a current employee, including an employee continuing in employment, other than reverification upon expiration of employment authorization, or as otherwise authorized under section 274A(d) or by regulation;

“(D) to use the System selectively for employees, except where authorized by law;

“(E) to fail to provide to an individual any notice required in section 274A(d) within the relevant time period;

“(F) to use the System to deny workers’ employment or post-employment benefits;

“(G) to misuse the System to discriminate based on national origin or citizenship status;

“(H) to require an employee or prospective employee to use any self-verification feature of the System or provide, as a condition of application or employment, any self-verification results;

“(I) to use an immigration status verification system, service, or method other than those described in section 274A for purposes of verifying employment eligibility; or

“(J) to grant access to document verification or System data, to any individual or entity other than personnel authorized to have such access, or to fail to take reasonable safeguards to protect against unauthorized loss, use, alteration, or destruction of System data.

“(5) Prohibition of intimidation or retaliation—It is also an unfair immigration-related employment practice for a person, other entity, or employment agency to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or retaliate against any individual—

“(A) for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured under this section; or

“(B) because the individual intends to file or has filed a charge or a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this section.

“(6) Treatment of certain documentary practices as employment practices—A person’s, other entity’s, or employment agency’s request, for purposes of verifying employment eligibility, for more or different documents than are required under section 274A, or for specific documents, or refusing to honor documents tendered that reasonably appear to be genuine shall be treated as an unfair immigration-related employment practice.

“(7) Prohibition of withholding employment records—It is an unfair immigration-related employment practice for an employer that is required under Federal, State, or local law to maintain records documenting employment, including dates or hours of work and wages received, to fail to provide such records to any employee upon request.

“(8) Professional, commercial, and business licenses—An individual who is authorized to be employed in the United States may not be denied a professional, commercial, or business license on the basis of his or her immigration status.

“(9) Employment agency defined—In this section, the term employment agency means any employer, person, or entity regularly undertaking with or without compensation to procure employees for an employer or to procure for employees opportunities to work for an employer and includes an agent of such employer, person, or entity.”

(b)
Referral by EEOC— Section 274B(b) (8 U.S.C. 1324b(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(3) Referral by EEOC—The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall refer all matters alleging immigration-related unfair employment practices filed with the Commission, including those alleging violations of paragraphs (1), (4), (5), and (6) of subsection (a) to the Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices of the Department of Justice.”

(c)
Authorization of appropriations— Section 274B(l)(3) (8 U.S.C. 1324b(l)(3)) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting “and an additional $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2016.”.
(d)
Fines—
(1)
In general— Section 274B(g)(2)(B) (8 U.S.C. 1324b(g)(2)(B)) is amended by striking clause (iv) and inserting the following:

“(iv) to pay any applicable civil penalties prescribed below, the amounts of which may be adjusted periodically to account for inflation as provided by law—

“(I) except as provided in subclauses (II) through (IV), to pay a civil penalty of not less than $2,000 and not more than $5,000 for each individual subjected to an unfair immigration-related employment practice;

“(II) except as provided in subclauses (III) and (IV), in the case of an employer, person, or entity previously subject to a single order under this paragraph, to pay a civil penalty of not less than $4,000 and not more than $10,000 for each individual subjected to an unfair immigration-related employment practice;

“(III) except as provided in subclause (IV), in the case of an employer, person, or entity previously subject to more than 1 order under this paragraph, to pay a civil penalty of not less than $8,000 and not more than $25,000 for each individual subjected to an unfair immigration-related employment practice; and

“(IV) in the case of an unfair immigration-related employment practice described in paragraphs (4) through (7) of subsection (a), to pay a civil penalty of not less than $500 and not more than $2,000 for each individual subjected to an unfair immigration-related employment practice.”

(2)
Effective date— The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and apply to violations occurring on or after such date of enactment.

Sec. 3106 Rulemaking

(a)
Interim final regulations—
(1)
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act—
(A)
the Secretary, shall issue regulations implementing sections 3101 and 3104 and the amendments made by such sections (except for section 274A(d)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act); and
(B)
the Attorney General shall issue regulations implementing section 274A(d)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 3101, section 3105, and the amendments made by such sections.
(2)
Effective date— Regulations issued pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be effective immediately on an interim basis, but are subject to change and revision after public notice and opportunity for a period for public comment.
(b)
Final regulations— Within a reasonable time after publication of the interim regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security and the Attorney General, shall publish final regulations implementing this subtitle.

Sec. 3107 Office of the Small Business and Employee Advocate

(a)
Establishment of Small Business and Employee Advocate— The Secretary shall establish and maintain within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services the Office of the Small Business and Employee Advocate (in this section referred to as the “Office”). The purpose of the Office shall be to assist small businesses and individuals in complying with the requirements of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a), as amended by this Act, including the resolution of conflicts arising in the course of attempted compliance with such requirements.
(b)
Functions— The functions of the Office shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1)
Informing small businesses and individuals about the verification practices required by section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, including, but not limited to, the document verification requirements and the employment verification system requirements under subsections (c) and (d) of that section.
(2)
Assisting small businesses and individuals in addressing allegedly erroneous further action notices and nonconfirmations issued under subsection (d) of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
(3)
Informing small businesses and individuals of the financial liabilities and criminal penalties that apply to violations and failures to comply with the requirements of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, including, but not limited to, by issuing best practices for compliance with that section.
(4)
To the extent practicable, proposing changes to the Secretary in the administrative practices of the employment verification system required under subsection (d) of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act to mitigate the problems identified under paragraph (2).
(5)
Making recommendations through the Secretary to Congress for legislative action to mitigate such problems.
(c)
Authority To issue assistance order—
(1)
In general— Upon application filed by a small business or individual with the Office (in such form, manner, and at such time as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe), the Office may issue an assistance order if—
(A)
the Office determines the small business or individual is suffering or about to suffer a significant hardship as a result of the manner in which the employment verification laws under subsections (c) and (d) of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act are being administered by the Secretary; or
(B)
the small business or individual meets such other requirements as are set forth in regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
(2)
Determination of hardship— For purposes of paragraph (1), a significant hardship shall include—
(A)
an immediate threat of adverse action;
(B)
a delay of more than 60 days in resolving employment verification system problems;
(C)
the incurring by the small business or individual of significant costs if relief is not granted; or
(D)
irreparable injury to, or a long-term adverse impact on, the small business or individual if relief is not granted.
(3)
Standards when administrative guidance not followed— In cases where a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employee is not following applicable published administrative guidance, the Office shall construe the factors taken into account in determining whether to issue an assistance order under this subsection in the manner most favorable to the small business or individual.
(4)
Terms of assistance order— The terms of an assistance order under this subsection may require the Secretary within a specified time period—
(A)
to determine whether any employee is or is not authorized to work in the United States; or
(B)
to abate any penalty under section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act that the Office determines is arbitrary, capricious, or disproportionate to the underlying offense.
(5)
Authority to modify or rescind— Any assistance order issued by the Office under this subsection may be modified or rescinded—
(A)
only by the Office, the Director or Deputy Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or the Secretary or the Secretary's designee; and
(B)
if rescinded by the Director or Deputy Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, only if a written explanation of the reasons of such official for the modification or rescission is provided to the Office.
(6)
Suspension of running of period of limitation— The running of any period of limitation with respect to an action described in paragraph (4)(A) shall be suspended for—
(A)
the period beginning on the date of the small business or individual’s application under paragraph (1) and ending on the date of the Office’s decision with respect to such application; and
(B)
any period specified by the Office in an assistance order issued under this subsection pursuant to such application.
(7)
Independent action of office— Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the Office from taking any action in the absence of an application under paragraph (1).
(d)
Accessibility to the public—
(1)
In person, online, and telephone assistance— The Office shall provide information and assistance specified in subsection (b) in person at locations designated by the Secretary, online through an Internet website of the Department available to the public, and by telephone.
(2)
Availability to all employers— In making information and assistance available, the Office shall prioritize the needs of small businesses and individuals. However, the information and assistance available through the Office shall be available to any employer.
(e)
Avoiding duplication through coordination— In the discharge of the functions of the Office, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner, the Attorney General, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration in order to avoid duplication of efforts across the Federal Government.
(f)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
The term employer has the meaning given that term in section 274A(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
(2)
The term small business means an employer with 49 or fewer employees.
(g)
Funding— There shall be appropriated, from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established by section 6(a)(1) of this Act, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Office.

B Protecting United States workers

Sec. 3201 Protections for victims of serious violations of labor and employment law or crime

(a)
In general— Section 101(a)(15)(U) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(U)) is amended—
(1)
in clause (i)—
(A)
by amending subclause (I) to read as follows:

“(I) the alien—

“(aa) has suffered substantial physical or mental abuse or substantial harm as a result of having been a victim of criminal activity described in clause (iii) or of a covered violation described in clause (iv); or

“(bb) is a victim of criminal activity described in clause (iii) or of a covered violation described in clause (iv) and would suffer extreme hardship upon removal;”

(B)
in subclause (II), by inserting “, or a covered violation resulting in a claim described in clause (iv) that is not the subject of a frivolous lawsuit by the alien” before the semicolon at the end; and
(C)
by amending subclauses (III) and (IV) to read as follows:

“(III) the alien (or in the case of an alien child who is younger than 16 years of age, the parent, legal guardian, or next friend of the alien) has been helpful, is being helpful, or is likely to be helpful to—

“(aa) a Federal, State, or local law enforcement official, a Federal, State, or local prosecutor, a Federal, State, or local judge, the Department of Homeland Security, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, or other Federal, State, or local authorities investigating or prosecuting criminal activity described in clause (iii); or

“(bb) any Federal, State, or local governmental agency or judge investigating, prosecuting, or seeking civil remedies for any cause of action, whether criminal, civil, or administrative, arising from a covered violation described in clause (iv) and presents a certification from such Federal, State, or local governmental agency or judge attesting that the alien has been helpful, is being helpful, or is likely to be helpful to such agency in the investigation, prosecution, or adjudication arising from a covered violation described in clause (iv); and

“(IV) the criminal activity described in clause (iii) or the covered violation described in clause (iv)—

“(aa) violated the laws of the United States; or

“(bb) occurred in the United States (including Indian country and military installations) or the territories and possessions of the United States;”

(2)
in clause (ii)(II), by striking “and” at the end;
(3)
by moving clause (iii) 2 ems to the left;
(4)
in clause (iii), by inserting “child abuse; elder abuse;” after “stalking;”;
(5)
by adding at the end the following:

“(iv) a covered violation referred to in this clause is—

“(I) a serious violation involving 1 or more of the following or any similar activity in violation of any Federal, State, or local law: serious workplace abuse, exploitation, retaliation, or violation of whistleblower protections;

“(II) a violation giving rise to a civil cause of action under section 1595 of title 18, United States Code; or

“(III) a violation resulting in the deprivation of due process or constitutional rights.”

(b)
Savings provision— Nothing in section 101(a)(15)(U)(iv)(I) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by subsection (a), may be construed as altering the definition of retaliation or discrimination under any other provision of law.
(c)
Temporary stay of removal— Section 274A (8 U.S.C. 1324a), as amended by section 3101, is further amended—
(1)
in subsection (e) by adding at the end the following:

“(10) Conduct in enforcement actions—If the Secretary undertakes an enforcement action at a facility about which a bona fide workplace claim has been filed or is contemporaneously filed, or as a result of information provided to the Secretary in retaliation against employees for exercising their rights related to a bona fide workplace claim, the Secretary shall ensure that—

“(A) any aliens arrested or detained who are necessary for the investigation or prosecution of a bona fide workplace claim or criminal activity (as described in subparagraph (T) or (U) of section 101(a)(15)) are not removed from the United States until after the Secretary—

“(i) notifies the appropriate law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over such violations or criminal activity; and

“(ii) provides such agency with the opportunity to interview such aliens;

“(B) no aliens entitled to a stay of removal or abeyance of removal proceedings under this section are removed; and

“(C) the Secretary shall stay the removal of an alien who—

“(i) has filed a claim regarding a covered violation described in clause (iv) of section 101(a)(15)(U) and is the victim of the same violations under an existing investigation;

“(ii) is a material witness in any pending or anticipated proceeding involving a bona fide workplace claim or civil rights claim; or

“(iii) has filed for relief under such section if the alien is working with law enforcement as described in clause (i)(III) of such section.”

(2)
by adding at the end the following:

“(m) Victims of criminal activity or labor and employment violations—The Secretary of Homeland Security may permit an alien to remain temporarily in the United States and authorize the alien to engage in employment in the United States if the Secretary determines that the alien—

“(1) has filed for relief under section 101(a)(15)(U); or

“(2)

“(A) has filed, or is a material witness to, a bona fide claim or proceedings resulting from a covered violation (as defined in section 101(a)(15)(U)(iv)); and

“(B) has been helpful, is being helpful, or is likely to be helpful, in the investigation, prosecution of, or pursuit of civil remedies related to the claim arising from a covered violation, to—

“(i) a Federal, State, or local law enforcement official;

“(ii) a Federal, State, or local prosecutor;

“(iii) a Federal, State, or local judge;

“(iv) the Department of Homeland Security;

“(v) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; or

“(vi) the Department of Labor.”

(d)
Conforming amendments— Section 214(p) (8 U.S.C. 1184(p)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by striking “in section 101(a)(15)(U)(iii).” both places it appears and inserting “in clause (iii) of section 101(a)(15)(U) or investigating, prosecuting, or seeking civil remedies for claims resulting from a covered violation described in clause (iv) of such section.”; and
(2)
in the first sentence of paragraph (6)—
(A)
by striking “in section 101(a)(15)(U)(iii)” and inserting “in clause (iii) of section 101(a)(15)(U) or claims resulting from a covered violation described in clause (iv) of such section”; and
(B)
by inserting “or claim arising from a covered violation” after “prosecution of such criminal activity”.
(e)
Modification of limitation on authority To adjust status for victims of crimes— Section 245(m)(1) (8 U.S.C. 1255(m)(1)) is amended, in the matter before subparagraph (A), by inserting “or an investigation or prosecution regarding a workplace or civil rights claim” after “prosecution”.
(f)
Expansion of limitation on sources of information that may be used To make adverse determinations—
(1)
In general— Section 384(a)(1) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1367(a)(1)) is amended—
(A)
in each of subparagraphs (A) through (D), by striking the comma at the end and inserting a semicolon;
(B)
subparagraph (E), by striking “the criminal activity,” and inserting “abuse and the criminal activity or bona fide workplace claim (as defined in subsection (e)); ”;
(C)
in subparagraph (F), by striking “, the trafficker or perpetrator,” and inserting “), the trafficker or perpetrator; or”; and
(D)
by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:

“(G) the alien's employer; or”

(2)
Workplace claim defined— Section 384 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1367) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(e) Workplace claims

“(1) Workplace claims defined

“(A) In general—In subsection (a)(1), the term workplace claim means any claim, petition, charge, complaint, or grievance filed with, or submitted to, a Federal, State, or local agency or court, relating to the violation of applicable Federal, State, or local labor or employment laws.

“(B) Construction—Subparagraph (A) may not be construed to alter what constitutes retaliation or discrimination under any other provision of law.

“(2) Penalty for false claims—Any person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim to a law enforcement official in relation to a covered violation described in section 101(a)(15)(U)(iv) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for the purpose of obtaining a benefit under this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.

“(3) Limitation on stay of adverse determinations—In the case of an alien applying for status under section 101(a)(15)(U) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and seeking relief under that section, the prohibition on adverse determinations under subsection (a) shall expire on the date that the alien's application for status under such section is denied and all opportunities for appeal of the denial have been exhausted.”

(g)
Removal proceedings— Section 239(e) (8 U.S.C. 1229(e)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
by striking “In cases where” and inserting “If”; and
(B)
by striking “paragraph (2),” and inserting “paragraph (2) or as a result of information provided to the Secretary of Homeland Security in retaliation against individuals for exercising or attempting to exercise their employment rights or other legal rights,”; and
(2)
in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following:

“(C) At a facility about which a bona fide workplace claim has been filed or is contemporaneously filed.”

Sec. 3202 Employment Verification System Education Funding

(a)
Disposition of civil penalties— Penalties collected under subsections (e)(4) and (f)(3) of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, amended by section 3101, shall be deposited, as offsetting receipts, into the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1).
(b)
Expenditures— Amounts deposited into the Trust Fund under subsection (a) shall be made available to the Secretary and the Attorney General to provide education to employers and employees regarding the requirements, obligations, and rights under the Employment Verification System.
(c)
Determination of budgetary effects—
(1)
Emergency designation for congressional enforcement— In the Senate, amounts made available under this section are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010.
(2)
Emergency designation for statutory paygo— Amounts made available under this section are designated as an emergency requirement under section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–139; 2 U.S.C. 933(g)).

Sec. 3203 Directive to the United States Sentencing Commission

(a)
In general— Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with subsection (b), the United States Sentencing Commission shall promulgate sentencing guidelines or amend existing sentencing guidelines to modify, if appropriate, the penalties imposed on persons convicted of offenses under—
(1)
section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a), as amended by section 3101;
(2)
section 16 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216); and
(3)
any other Federal law covering similar conduct.
(b)
Requirements— In carrying out subsection (a), the Sentencing Commission shall provide sentencing enhancements for any person convicted of an offense described in subsection (a) if such offense involves—
(1)
the intentional confiscation of identification documents;
(2)
corruption, bribery, extortion, or robbery;
(3)
sexual abuse;
(4)
serious bodily injury;
(5)
an intent to defraud; or
(6)
a pattern of conduct involving multiple violations of law that—
(A)
creates, through knowing and intentional conduct, a risk to the health or safety of any victim; or
(B)
denies payments due to victims for work completed.

C Other provisions

Sec. 3301 Funding

(a)
Establishment of the Interior Enforcement Account— There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States an account which shall be known as the Interior Enforcement Account.
(b)
Appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Interior Enforcement Account $1,000,000,000 to carry out this title and the amendments made by this title, including the following appropriations:
(1)
In each of the 5 years beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the appropriations necessary to increase to a level not less than 5,000, by the end of such 5-year period, the total number of personnel of the Department assigned exclusively or principally to an office or offices in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (and consistent with the missions of such agencies), dedicated to administering the System, and monitoring and enforcing compliance with sections 274A, 274B, and 274C of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a, 1324b, and 1324c), including compliance with the requirements of the Electronic Verification System established under section 274A(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(d)), as amended by section 3101. Such personnel shall perform compliance and monitoring functions, including the following:
(A)
Verify compliance of employers participating in such System with the requirements for participation that are prescribed by the Secretary.
(B)
Monitor such System for multiple uses of social security account numbers and immigration identification numbers that could indicate identity theft or fraud.
(C)
Monitor such System to identify discriminatory or unfair practices.
(D)
Monitor such System to identify employers who are not using such System properly, including employers who fail to make available appropriate records with respect to their queries and any notices of confirmation, nonconfirmation, or further action.
(E)
Identify instances in which an employee alleges that an employer violated the employee's privacy or civil rights, or misused such System, and create procedures for an employee to report such an allegation.
(F)
Analyze and audit the use of such System and the data obtained through such System to identify fraud trends, including fraud trends across industries, geographical areas, or employer size.
(G)
Analyze and audit the use of such System and the data obtained through such System to develop compliance tools as necessary to respond to changing patterns of fraud.
(H)
Provide employers with additional training and other information on the proper use of such System, including training related to privacy and employee rights.
(I)
Perform threshold evaluation of cases for referral to the Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices of the Department of Justice or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other officials or agencies with responsibility for enforcing anti-discrimination, civil rights, privacy, or worker protection laws, as may be appropriate.
(J)
Any other compliance and monitoring activities that the Secretary determines are necessary to ensure the functioning of such System.
(K)
Investigate identity theft and fraud detected through such System and undertake the necessary enforcement or referral actions.
(L)
Investigate use of or access to fraudulent documents and undertake the necessary enforcement actions.
(M)
Perform any other investigations that the Secretary determines are necessary to ensure the lawful functioning of such System, and undertake any enforcement actions necessary as a result of such investigations.
(2)
The appropriations necessary to acquire, install, and maintain technological equipment necessary to support the functioning of such System and the connectivity between U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Justice, and other agencies or officials with respect to the sharing of information to support such System and related immigration enforcement actions.
(3)
The appropriations necessary to establish a robust redress process for employees who wish to appeal contested nonconfirmations to ensure the accuracy and fairness of such System.
(4)
The appropriations necessary to provide a means by which individuals may access their own employment authorization data to ensure the accuracy of such data, independent of an individual's employer.
(5)
The appropriations necessary to carry out the identity authentication mechanisms described in section 274A(c)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by section 3101(a).
(6)
The appropriations necessary for the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Office of Privacy of the Department to perform the responsibilities of such Offices related to such System.
(7)
The appropriations necessary to make grants to States to support the States in assisting the Federal Government in carrying out the provisions of this title and the amendments made by this title.
(c)
Establishment of reimbursable agreement between the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration— Effective for fiscal years beginning on or after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Commissioner of Social Security shall enter into and maintain an agreement that—
(1)
provides funds to the Commissioner for the full costs of the responsibilities of the Commissioner under this section, including—
(A)
acquiring, installing, and maintaining technological equipment and systems necessary for the fulfillment of the responsibilities of the Commissioner under this section; and
(B)
responding to individuals who contest a further action notice provided by the employment verification system established under section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by section 3101;
(2)
provides such funds quarterly in advance of the applicable quarter based on estimating methodology agreed to by the Commissioner and the Secretary; and
(3)
requires an annual accounting and reconciliation of the actual costs incurred and the funds provided under the agreement which shall be reviewed by the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration and the Department.
(d)
Authorization of appropriations to the Attorney General— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title and the amendments made by this title, including enforcing compliance with section 274B of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by section 3105.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations to the Secretary of State— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title and the amendments made by this title.

Sec. 3302 Effective date

Except as otherwise specifically provided, this title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 3303 Mandatory exit system

(a)
Establishment—
(1)
In general— Not later than December 31, 2015, the Secretary shall establish a mandatory exit data system that shall include a requirement for the collection of data from machine-readable visas, passports, and other travel and entry documents for all categories of aliens who are exiting from air and sea ports of entry.
(2)
Biometric exit data system— Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a mandatory biometric exit data system at the 10 United States airports that support the highest volume of international air travel, as determined by Department of Transportation international flight departure data.
(3)
Implementation report— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report the implementation of the biometric exit data system referred to in paragraph (2), the impact of such system on any additional wait times for travelers, and projections for new officer personnel, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
(4)
Effectiveness report— Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that analyzes the effectiveness of biometric exit data collection at the 10 airports referred to in paragraph (2).
(5)
Mandatory biometric exit data system— Absent intervening action by Congress, the Secretary, not later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, shall establish a mandatory biometric exit data system at all the Core 30 international airports in the United States, as so designated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
(6)
Expansion of biometric exit data system to major sea and land ports— Not later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a plan to Congress for the expansion of the biometric exit system to major sea and land entry and exit points within the United States based upon—
(A)
the performance of the program established pursuant to paragraph (2);
(B)
the findings of the study conducted pursuant to paragraph (4); and
(C)
the projected costs to develop and deploy an effective biometric exit data system.
(7)
Data collection— There are authorized to be appropriated, from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1), such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section
(b)
Integration and interoperability—
(1)
Integration of data system— The Secretary shall fully integrate all data from databases and data systems that process or contain information on aliens, which are maintained by—
(A)
the Department, at—
(i)
the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
(ii)
the U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and
(iii)
the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
(B)
the Department of Justice, at the Executive Office for Immigration Review; and
(C)
the Department of State, at the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
(2)
Interoperable component— The fully integrated data system under paragraph (1) shall be an interoperable component of the exit data system.
(3)
Interoperable data system— The Secretary shall fully implement an interoperable electronic data system to provide current and immediate access to information in the databases of Federal law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community that is relevant to determine—
(A)
whether to issue a visa; or
(B)
the admissibility or deportability of an alien.
(4)
Training— The Secretary shall establish ongoing training modules on immigration law to improve adjudications at United States ports of entry, consulates, and embassies.
(c)
Information sharing— The Secretary shall report to the appropriate Federal law enforcement agency, intelligence agency, national security agency, or component of the Department of Homeland Security any alien who was lawfully admitted into the United States and whose individual data in the integrated exit data system shows that he or she has not departed the country when he or she was legally required to do so, and shall ensure that—
(1)
if the alien has departed the United States when he or she was legally required to do so, the information contained in the integrated exit data system is updated to reflect the alien’s departure; or
(2)
if the alien has not departed the United States when he or she was legally required to do so, reasonably available enforcement resources are employed to locate the alien and to commence removal proceedings against the alien.

Sec. 3304 Identity-theft resistant manifest information for passengers, crew, and non-crew onboard departing aircraft and vessels

(a)
Definitions— Except as otherwise specifically provided, in this section:
(1)
Identity-theft resistant collection location— The term identity-theft resistant collection location means a location within an airport or seaport—
(A)
within the path of the departing alien, such that the alien would not need to significantly deviate from that path to comply with exit requirements at which air or vessel carrier employees, as applicable, either presently or routinely are available if an alien needs processing assistance; and
(B)
which is equipped with technology that can securely collect and transmit identity-theft resistant departure information to the Department.
(2)
US–VISIT— The term US–VISIT means the United States-Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology system.
(b)
Identity theft resistant manifest information—
(1)
Passport or visa collection requirement— Except as provided in subsection (c), an appropriate official of each commercial aircraft or vessel departing from the United States to any port or place outside the United States shall ensure transmission to U.S. Customs and Border Protection of identity-theft resistant departure manifest information covering alien passengers, crew, and non-crew. Such identity-theft resistant departure manifest information—
(A)
shall be transmitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the place and time specified in paragraph (3) by means approved by the Secretary; and
(B)
shall set forth the information specified in paragraph (4) or other information as required by the Secretary.
(2)
Manner of collection— Carriers boarding alien passengers, crew, and noncrew subject to the requirement to provide information upon departure for US–VISIT processing shall collect identity-theft resistant departure manifest information from each alien at an identity-theft resistant collection location at the airport or seaport before boarding that alien on transportation for departure from the United States, at a time as close to the originally scheduled departure of that passenger's aircraft or sea vessel as practicable.
(3)
Time and manner of submission—
(A)
In general— The appropriate official specified in paragraph (1) shall ensure transmission of the identity-theft resistant departure manifest information required and collected under paragraphs (1) and (2) to the Data Center or Headquarters of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or such other data center as may be designated.
(B)
Transmission— The biometric departure information may be transmitted to the Department over any means of communication authorized by the Secretary for the transmission of other electronic manifest information containing personally identifiable information and under transmission standards currently applicable to other electronic manifest information.
(C)
Submission along with other information— Files containing the identity-theft resistant departure manifest information—
(i)
may be sent with other electronic manifest data prior to departure or may be sent separately from any topically related electronic manifest data; and
(ii)
may be sent in batch mode.
(4)
Information required— The identity-theft resistant departure information required under paragraphs (1) through (3) for each covered passenger or crew member shall contain alien data from machine-readable visas, passports, and other travel and entry documents issued to the alien.
(c)
Exception— The identity-theft resistant departure information specified in this section is not required for any alien active duty military personnel traveling as passengers on board a departing Department of Defense commercial chartered aircraft.
(d)
Carrier maintenance and use of identity-Theft resistant departure manifest information— Carrier use of identity-theft resistant departure manifest information for purposes other than as described in standards set by the Secretary is prohibited. Carriers shall immediately notify the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department in writing in the event of unauthorized use or access, or breach, of identity-theft resistant departure manifest information.
(e)
Collection at specified location— If the Secretary determines that an air or vessel carrier has not adequately complied with the provisions of this section, the Secretary may, in the Secretary's discretion, require the air or vessel carrier to collect identity-theft resistant departure manifest information at a specific location prior to the issuance of a boarding pass or other document on the international departure, or the boarding of crew, in any port through which the carrier boards aliens for international departure under the supervision of the Secretary for such period as the Secretary considers appropriate to ensure the adequate collection and transmission of biometric departure manifest information.
(f)
Funding— There shall be appropriated to the Interior Enforcement Account $500,000,000 to reimburse carriers for their reasonable actual expenses in carrying out their duties as described in this section.
(g)
Determination of budgetary effects—
(1)
Emergency designation for congressional enforcement— In the Senate, amounts made available under this section are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010.
(2)
Emergency designation for statutory paygo— Amounts made available under this section are designated as an emergency requirement under section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–139; 2 U.S.C. 933(g)).

Sec. 3305 Profiling

(a)
Prohibition— In making routine or spontaneous law enforcement decisions, such as ordinary traffic stops, Federal law enforcement officers may not use race or ethnicity to any degree, except that officers may rely on race and ethnicity if a specific suspect description exists.
(b)
Exceptions—
(1)
Specific investigation— In conducting activities in connection with a specific investigation, Federal law enforcement officers may consider race and ethnicity only to the extent that there is trustworthy information, relevant to the locality or time frame, that links persons of a particular race or ethnicity to an identified criminal incident, scheme, or organization. This standard applies even where the use of race or ethnicity might otherwise be lawful.
(2)
National security— In investigating or preventing threats to national security or other catastrophic events (including the performance of duties related to air transportation security), or in enforcing laws protecting the integrity of the Nation’s borders, Federal law enforcement officers may not consider race or ethnicity except to the extent permitted by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
(3)
Defined term— In this section, the term Federal law enforcement officer means any officer, agent, or employee of the United States authorized by law or by a Government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of Federal law.
(c)
Study and regulations—
(1)
Data collection— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin collecting data regarding the individualized immigration enforcement activities of covered Department officers.
(2)
Study— Not later than 180 days after data collection under paragraph (1) commences, the Secretary shall complete a study analyzing the data.
(3)
Regulations— Not later than 90 days after the date the study required by paragraph (2) is completed, the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall issue regulations regarding the use of race, ethnicity, and any other suspect classifications the Secretary deems appropriate by covered Department officers.
(4)
Reports— Not later than 30 days after completion of the study required by paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit the study to—
(A)
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(B)
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;
(C)
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(D)
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
(E)
the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; and
(F)
the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
(5)
Defined term— In this subsection, the term covered Department officer means any officer, agent, or employee of United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the Transportation Security Administration.

Sec. 3306 Enhanced penalties for certain drug offenses on Federal lands

(a)
Cultivating or manufacturing controlled substances on Federal property— Section 401(b)(5) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841(b)(5)) is amended by striking “as provided in this subsection” and inserting “for not more than 10 years, in addition to any other term of imprisonment imposed under this subsection,”.
(b)
Use of hazardous substances— Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission shall amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and policy statements to ensure that the guidelines provide an additional penalty increase of 2 offense levels above the sentence otherwise applicable for a violation of section 401(a) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841(a)) if the offense—
(1)
includes the use of a poison, chemical, or other hazardous substance to cultivate or manufacture controlled substances on Federal property;
(2)
creates a hazard to humans, wildlife, or domestic animals;
(3)
degrades or harms the environment or natural resources; or
(4)
pollutes an aquifer, spring, stream, river, or body of water.
(c)
Stream diversion or clear cutting on Federal property—
(1)
Prohibition on stream diversion or clear cutting on Federal property— Section 401(b) of the Controlled Substances Act is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(8) Destruction of bodies of water—Any person who violates subsection (a) in a manner that diverts, redirects, obstructs, or drains an aquifer, spring, stream, river, or body of water or clear cuts timber while cultivating or manufacturing a controlled substance on Federal property shall be fined in accordance with title 18, United States Code.”

(2)
Federal Sentencing Guidelines enhancement— Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission shall amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and policy statements to ensure that the guidelines provide an additional penalty increase of 2 offense levels for above the sentence otherwise applicable for a violation of section 401(a) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841(a)) if the offense involves the diversion, redirection, obstruction, or draining of an aquifer, spring, stream, river, or body of water or the clear cut of timber while cultivating or manufacturing a controlled substance on Federal property.
(d)
Booby traps on Federal land— Section 401(d)(1) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841(d)(1)) is amended by inserting “cultivated,” after “is being”.
(e)
Use or possession of firearms in connection with drug offenses on Federal lands— Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission shall amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and policy statements to ensure that the guidelines provide an additional penalty increase of 2 offense levels above the sentence otherwise applicable for a violation of section 401(a) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841(a)) if the offense involves the possession of a firearm while cultivating or manufacturing controlled substances on Federal lands.

D Asylum and refugee provisions

Sec. 3400 Short title

This subtitle may be cited as the “Frank R. Lautenberg Asylum and Refugee Reform Act”.

Sec. 3401 Time limits and efficient adjudication of genuine asylum claims

Section 208(a)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting “or the Secretary of Homeland Security” after “Attorney General” both places such term appears;
(2)
by striking subparagraphs (B) and (D);
(3)
by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B);
(4)
in subparagraph (B), as redesignated, by striking “subparagraph (D)” and inserting “subparagraphs (C) and (D)”; and
(5)
by inserting after subparagraph (B), as redesignated, the following:

“(C) Changed circumstances—Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), an application for asylum of an alien may be considered if the alien demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, the existence of changed circumstances that materially affect the applicant’s eligibility for asylum.

“(D) Motion to reopen certain meritorious claims—Notwithstanding subparagraph (B) or section 240(c)(7), an alien may file a motion to reopen an asylum claim during the 2-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act if the alien—

“(i) was denied asylum based solely upon a failure to meet the 1-year application filing deadline in effect on the date on which the application was filed;

“(ii) was granted withholding of removal pursuant to section 241(b)(3) and has not obtained lawful permanent residence in the United States pursuant to any other provision of law;

“(iii) is not subject to the safe third country exception under subparagraph (A) or a bar to asylum under subsection (b)(2) and should not be denied asylum as a matter of discretion; and

“(iv) is physically present in the United States when the motion is filed.”

Sec. 3402 Refugee family protections

(a)
Children of refugee or asylee spouses and children— A child of an alien who qualifies for admission as a spouse or child under section 207(c)(2)(A) or 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)(2)(A) and 1158(b)(3)) shall be entitled to the same status as such alien if the child—
(1)
is accompanying or following to join such alien; and
(2)
is otherwise eligible under section 207(c)(2)(A) or 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Sec. 3403 Clarification on designation of certain refugees

(a)
Termination of certain preferential treatment in immigration of Amerasians— Section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(f) No visa may be issued under this section if the petition or application for such visa is submitted on or after the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.”

(b)
Refugee designation— Section 207(c)(1) (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)(1)) is amended—
(1)
by inserting “(A)” before “Subject to the numerical limitations”; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:

“(B)

“(i) The President, upon a recommendation of the Secretary of State made in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, and after appropriate consultation, may designate specifically defined groups of aliens—

“(I) whose resettlement in the United States is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest; and

“(II) who—

“(aa) share common characteristics that identify them as targets of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; or

“(bb) having been identified as targets as described in item (aa), share a common need for resettlement due to a specific vulnerability.

“(ii) An alien who establishes membership in a group designated under clause (i) to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Homeland Security shall be considered a refugee for purposes of admission as a refugee under this section unless the Secretary determines that such alien ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

“(iii) A designation under clause (i) is for purposes of adjudicatory efficiency and may be revoked by the President at any time after notification to Congress.

“(iv) Categories of aliens established under section 599D of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 (Public Law 101–167; 8 U.S.C. 1157 note)—

“(I) shall be designated under clause (i) until the end of the first fiscal year commencing after the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act; and

“(II) shall be eligible for designation thereafter at the discretion of the President, considering, among other factors, whether a country under consideration has been designated by the Secretary of State as a “Country of Particular Concern” for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

“(v) A designation under clause (i) shall not influence decisions to grant, to any alien, asylum under section 208, protection under section 241(b)(3), or protection under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done at New York December 10, 1984.

“(vi) A decision to deny admission under this section to an alien who establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the alien is a member of a group designated under clause (i) shall—

“(I) be in writing; and

“(II) state, to the maximum extent feasible, the reason for the denial.

“(vii) Refugees admitted pursuant to a designation under clause (i) shall be subject to the number of admissions and be admissible under this section.”

Sec. 3404 Asylum determination efficiency

Section 235(b)(1)(B)(ii) (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking “asylum.” and inserting “asylum by an asylum officer. The asylum officer, after conducting a nonadversarial asylum interview and seeking supervisory review, may grant asylum to the alien under section 208 or refer the case to a designee of the Attorney General, for a de novo asylum determination, for relief under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done at New York December 10, 1984, or for protection under section 241(b)(3).”.

Sec. 3405 Stateless persons in the United States

(a)
In general— Chapter 1 of title II (8 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“210A. Protection of certain stateless persons in the United States

“(a) Stateless persons

“(1) In general—In this section, the term stateless person means an individual who is not considered a national under the operation of the laws of any country.

“(2) Designation of specific stateless groups—The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may, in the discretion of the Secretary, designate specific groups of individuals who are considered stateless persons, for purposes of this section.

“(b) Status of stateless persons

“(1) Relief for certain individuals determined to be stateless persons—The Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General may, in his or her discretion, provide conditional lawful status to an alien who is otherwise inadmissible or deportable from the United States if the alien—

“(A) is a stateless person present in the United States;

“(B) applies for such relief;

“(C) has not lost his or her nationality as a result of his or her voluntary action or knowing inaction after arrival in the United States;

“(D) except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), is not inadmissible under section 212(a); and

“(E) is not described in section 241(b)(3)(B)(i).

“(2) Inapplicability of certain provisions—The provisions under paragraphs (4), (5), (7), and (9)(B) of section 212(a) shall not apply to any alien seeking relief under paragraph (1).

“(3) Waiver—The Secretary or the Attorney General may waive any other provisions of such section, other than subparagraphs (B), (C), (D)(ii), (E), (G), (H), or (I) of paragraph (2), paragraph (3), paragraph (6)(C)(i) (with respect to misrepresentations relating to the application for relief under paragraph (1)), or subparagraphs (A), (C), (D), or (E) of paragraph (10) of section 212(a), with respect to such an alien for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or if it is otherwise in the public interest.

“(4) Submission of passport or travel document—Any alien who seeks relief under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General—

“(A) any available passport or travel document issued at any time to the alien (whether or not the passport or document has expired or been cancelled, rescinded, or revoked); or

“(B) an affidavit, sworn under penalty of perjury—

“(i) stating that the alien has never been issued a passport or travel document; or

“(ii) identifying with particularity any such passport or travel document and explaining why the alien cannot submit it.

“(5) Work authorization—The Secretary of Homeland Security may authorize an alien who has applied for and is found prima facie eligible for or been granted relief under paragraph (1) to engage in employment in the United States.

“(6) Travel documents—The Secretary may issue appropriate travel documents to an alien who has been granted relief under paragraph (1) that would allow him or her to travel abroad and be admitted to the United States upon return, if otherwise admissible.

“(7) Treatment of spouse and children—The spouse or child of an alien who has been granted conditional lawful status under paragraph (1) shall, if not otherwise eligible for admission under paragraph (1), be granted conditional lawful status under this section if accompanying, or following to join, such alien if—

“(A) the spouse or child is admissible (except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (2) and (3)) and is not described in section 241(b)(3)(B)(i); and

“(B) the qualifying relationship to the principal beneficiary existed on the date on which such alien was granted conditional lawful status.

“(c) Adjustment of status

“(1) Inspection and examination—At the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date on which an alien has been granted conditional lawful status under subsection (b), the alien may apply for lawful permanent residence in the United States if—

“(A) the alien has been physically present in the United States for at least 1 year;

“(B) the alien’s conditional lawful status has not been terminated by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General, pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary or the Attorney General may prescribe; and

“(C) the alien has not otherwise acquired permanent resident status.

“(2) Requirements for adjustment of status—The Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General, under such regulations as the Secretary or the Attorney General may prescribe, may adjust the status of an alien granted conditional lawful status under subsection (b) to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if such alien—

“(A) is a stateless person;

“(B) properly applies for such adjustment of status;

“(C) has been physically present in the United States for at least 1 year after being granted conditional lawful status under subsection (b);

“(D) is not firmly resettled in any foreign country; and

“(E) is admissible (except as otherwise provided under paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (b)) as an immigrant under this chapter at the time of examination of such alien for adjustment of status.

“(3) Record—Upon approval of an application under this subsection, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a record of the alien’s admission for lawful permanent residence as of the date that is 1 year before the date of such approval.

“(4) Numerical limitation—The number of aliens who may receive an adjustment of status under this section for a fiscal year shall be subject to the numerical limitation of section 203(b)(4).

“(d) Proving the claim—In determining an alien’s eligibility for lawful conditional status or adjustment of status under this subsection, the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General shall consider any credible evidence relevant to the application. The determination of what evidence is credible and the weight to be given that evidence shall be within the sole discretion of the Secretary or the Attorney General.

“(e) Review

“(1) Administrative review—No appeal shall lie from the denial of an application by the Secretary, but such denial will be without prejudice to the alien’s right to renew the application in proceedings under section 240.

“(2) Motions to reopen—Notwithstanding any limitation imposed by law on motions to reopen removal, deportation, or exclusion proceedings, any individual who is eligible for relief under this section may file a motion to reopen proceedings in order to apply for relief under this section. Any such motion shall be filed within 2 years of the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.

“(f) Limitation

“(1) Applicability—The provisions of this section shall only apply to aliens present in the United States.

“(2) Savings provision—Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize or require—

“(A) the admission of any alien to the United States;

“(B) the parole of any alien into the United States; or

“(C) the grant of any motion to reopen or reconsider filed by an alien after departure or removal from the United States.”

(b)
Judicial review— Section 242(a)(2)(B)(ii) (8 U.S.C. 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking “208(a).” and inserting “208(a) or 210A.”.
(c)
Conforming amendment— Section 203(b)(4) (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(4)) is amended by inserting “to aliens granted an adjustment of status under section 210A(c) or” after “level,”.
(d)
Clerical amendment— The table of contents for the Immigration and Nationality Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 210 the following:

Sec. 3406 U visa accessibility

Section 214(p)(2)(A) (8 U.S.C. 1184(p)(2)(A)) is amended by striking “10,000.” and inserting “18,000, of which not more than 3,000 visas may be issued for aliens who are victims of a covered violation described in section 101(a)(15)(U).”.

Sec. 3407 Work authorization while applications for U and T visas are pending

(a)
U visas— Section 214(p) (8 U.S.C. 1184(p)), as amended by section 3406 of this Act, is further amended—
(1)
in paragraph (6), by striking the last sentence; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:

“(7) Work authorization—Notwithstanding any provision of this Act granting eligibility for employment in the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall grant employment authorization to an alien who has filed an application for nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(U) on the date that is the earlier of—

“(A) the date on which the alien’s application for such status is approved; or

“(B) a date determined by the Secretary that is not later than 180 days after the date on which the alien filed the application.”

(b)
T visas— Section 214(o) (8 U.S.C. 1184(o)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(8) Notwithstanding any provision of this Act granting eligibility for employment in the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall grant employment authorization to an alien who has filed an application for nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(T) on the date that is the earlier of—

“(A) the date on which the alien’s application for such status is approved; or

“(B) a date determined by the Secretary that is not later than 180 days after the date on which the alien filed the application.”

Sec. 3408 Representation at overseas refugee interviews

Section 207(c) (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(5) The adjudicator of an application for refugee status under this section shall consider all relevant evidence and maintain a record of the evidence considered.

“(6) An applicant for refugee status may be represented, including at a refugee interview, at no expense to the Government, by an attorney or accredited representative who—

“(A) was chosen by the applicant; and

“(B) is authorized by the Secretary of Homeland Security to be recognized as the representative of such applicant in an adjudication under this section.

“(7)

“(A) A decision to deny an application for refugee status under this section—

“(i) shall be in writing; and

“(ii) shall provide, to the maximum extent feasible, information on the reason for the denial, including—

“(I) the facts underlying the determination; and

“(II) whether there is a waiver of inadmissibility available to the applicant.

“(B) The basis of any negative credibility finding shall be part of the written decision.

“(8)

“(A) An applicant who is denied refugee status under this section may file a request with the Secretary for a review of his or her application not later than 120 days after such denial.

“(B) A request filed under subparagraph (A) shall be adjudicated by refugee officers who have received training on considering requests for review of refugee applications that have been denied.

“(C) The Secretary shall publish the standard applied to a request for review.

“(D) A request for review may result in the decision being granted, denied, or reopened for a further interview.

“(E) A decision on a request for review under this paragraph—

“(i) shall be in writing; and

“(ii) shall provide, to the maximum extent feasible, information on the reason for the denial.”

Sec. 3409 Law enforcement and national security checks

(a)
Refugees— Section 207(c)(1) (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “No alien shall be admitted as a refugee until the identity of the applicant, including biographic and biometric data, has been checked against all appropriate records or databases maintained by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and other Federal records or databases that the Secretary of Homeland Security considers necessary, to determine any national security, law enforcement, or other grounds on which the alien may be inadmissible to the United States or ineligible to apply for or be granted refugee status.”.
(b)
Asylees— Section 208(d)(5)(A)(i) (8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(i)) is amended to read as follows:

“(i) asylum shall not be granted until the identity of the applicant, using biographic and biometric data, has been checked against all appropriate records or databases maintained by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and other Federal records or databases that the Secretary of Homeland Security considers necessary, to determine any national security, law enforcement, or other grounds on which the alien may be inadmissible to the United States or ineligible to apply for or be granted asylum;”

Sec. 3410 Tibetan refugee assistance

(a)
Short title— This section may be cited as the “Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act of 2013”.
(b)
Transition for displaced Tibetans— Notwithstanding the numerical limitations specified in sections 201 and 202 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151 and 1152), 5,000 immigrant visas shall be made available to qualified displaced Tibetans described in subsection (c) during the 3-year period beginning on October 1, 2013.
(c)
Qualified displaced Tibetan described—
(1)
In general— An individual is a qualified displaced Tibetan if such individual—
(A)
is a native of Tibet; and
(B)
has been continuously residing in India or Nepal since before the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2)
Native of Tibet described— For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), an individual shall be considered a native of Tibet if such individual—
(A)
was born in Tibet; or
(B)
is the son, daughter, grandson, or granddaughter of an individual who was born in Tibet.
(d)
Derivative status for spouses and children— A spouse or child (as defined in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section 101(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(1))) shall, if not otherwise entitled to an immigrant status and the immediate issuance of a visa under this section, be entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, provided under this section, if accompanying, or following to join, the spouse or parent of such spouse or child.
(e)
Distribution of visa numbers— The Secretary of State shall ensure that immigrant visas provided under subsection (b) are made available to qualified displaced Tibetans described in subsection (c) or (d) in an equitable manner, giving preference to those qualified displaced Tibetans who—
(1)
are not resettled in India or Nepal; or
(2)
are most likely to be resettled successfully in the United States.

Sec. 3411 Termination of asylum or refugee status

(a)
Termination of status— Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), any alien who is granted asylum or refugee status under this Act or the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), who, without good cause as determined by the Secretary or the Attorney General, subsequently returns to the country of such alien’s nationality or, in the case of an alien having no nationality, returns to any country in which such alien last habitually resided, and who applied for such status because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution in that country on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, shall have his or her refugee or asylum status terminated.
(b)
Waiver— The Secretary has discretion to waive subsection (a) if it is established to the satisfaction of the Secretary or the Attorney General that the alien had good cause for the return. The waiver may be sought prior to departure from the United States or upon return.
(c)
Exception for certain aliens from Cuba— Subsection (a) shall not apply to an alien who is eligible for adjustment to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence pursuant to the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 (Public Law 89–732).

Sec. 3412 Asylum clock

Section 208(d)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(2)) is amended by striking “is not entitled to employment authorization” and all that follows through “prior to 180 days after” and inserting “shall be provided employment authorization 180 days after”.

E Shortage of immigration court resources for removal proceedings

Sec. 3501 Shortage of immigration court personnel for removal proceedings

(a)
Immigration court judges— The Attorney General shall increase the total number of immigration judges to adjudicate current pending cases and efficiently process future cases by at least—
(1)
75 in fiscal year 2014;
(2)
75 in fiscal year 2015; and
(3)
75 in fiscal year 2016.
(b)
Necessary support staff for immigration court judges— The Attorney General shall address the shortage of support staff for immigration judges by ensuring that each immigration judge has the assistance of the necessary support staff, including the equivalent of 1 staff attorney or law clerk and 1 legal assistant.
(c)
Annual increases in board of immigration appeals personnel— The Attorney General shall increase the number of Board of Immigration Appeals staff attorneys (including the necessary additional support staff) to efficiently process cases by at least—
(1)
30 in fiscal year 2014;
(2)
30 in fiscal year 2015; and
(3)
30 in fiscal year 2016.
(d)
Funding— There shall be appropriated, from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1), such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Sec. 3502 Improving immigration court efficiency and reducing costs by increasing access to legal information

(a)
Clarification regarding the authority of the Attorney General To appoint counsel to aliens in immigration proceedings— Section 292 (8 U.S.C. 1362) is amended—
(1)
by inserting “(a)” before “In any”;
(2)
by striking “(at no expense to the Government)”;
(3)
by striking “he shall” and inserting “the person shall”; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:

“(b) The Government is not required to provide counsel to aliens under subsection (a). However, the Attorney General may, in the Attorney General’s sole and unreviewable discretion, appoint or provide counsel to aliens in immigration proceedings conducted under section 240 of this Act.”

(b)
Appointment of counsel in certain cases; right To review certain documents in removal proceedings— Section 240(b) (8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (4)—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively;
(B)
in subparagraph (A), by striking “, at no expense to the Government,”;
(C)
by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph:

“(B) the alien shall, at the beginning of the proceedings or at a reasonable time thereafter, automatically receive a complete copy of all relevant documents in the possession of the Department of Homeland Security, including all documents (other than documents protected from disclosure by privilege, including national security information referenced in subparagraph (C), law enforcement sensitive information, and information prohibited from disclosure pursuant to any other provision of law) contained in the file maintained by the Government that includes information with respect to all transactions involving the alien during the immigration process (commonly referred to as an “A-file”), and all documents pertaining to the alien that the Department of Homeland Security has obtained or received from other government agencies, unless the alien waives the right to receive such documents by executing a knowing and voluntary waiver in a language that he or she understands fluently,”

(D)
by adding at the end the following:
(2)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(8) Failure to provide alien required documents—In the absence of a waiver under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4), a removal proceeding may not proceed until the alien has received the documents as required under such subparagraph.”

(c)
Appointment of counsel for unaccompanied alien children and aliens with a serious mental disability— Section 292 (8 U.S.C. 1362), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Attorney General shall appoint counsel, at the expense of the Government if necessary, to represent an alien in a removal proceeding who has been determined by the Secretary to be an unaccompanied alien child, is incompetent to represent himself or herself due to a serious mental disability that would be included in section 3(1) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102(1)), or is considered particularly vulnerable when compared to other aliens in removal proceedings, such that the appointment of counsel is necessary to help ensure fair resolution and efficient adjudication of the proceedings.”

(d)
Funding— There shall be appropriated, from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1), such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section.

Sec. 3503 Office of Legal Access Programs

(a)
Establishment of Office of Legal Access Programs— The Attorney General shall maintain, within the Executive Office for Immigration Review, an Office of Legal Access Programs to develop and administer a system of legal orientation programs to make immigration proceedings more efficient and cost effective by educating aliens regarding administrative procedures and legal rights under United States immigration law and to establish other programs to assist in providing aliens access to legal information.
(b)
Legal orientation programs— The legal orientation programs—
(1)
shall provide programs to assist detained aliens in making informed and timely decisions regarding their removal and eligibility for relief from removal in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs in immigration proceedings and Federal custody processes and to improve access to counsel and other legal services;
(2)
may provide services to detained aliens in immigration proceedings under sections 235, 238, 240, and 241(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225, 1228, 1229a, and 1231(a)(5)) and to other aliens in immigration and asylum proceedings under sections 235, 238, and 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225, 1228, and 1229a); and
(3)
shall identify unaccompanied alien children, aliens with a serious mental disability, and other particularly vulnerable aliens for consideration by the Attorney General pursuant to section 292(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 3502(c).
(c)
Procedures— The Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall establish procedures that ensure that legal orientation programs are available for all detained aliens within 5 days of arrival into custody and to inform such aliens of the basic procedures of immigration hearings, their rights relating to those hearings under the immigration laws, information that may deter such aliens from filing frivolous legal claims, and any other information deemed appropriate by the Attorney General, such as a contact list of potential legal resources and providers.
(d)
Rule of construction— Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to create any substantive or procedural right or benefit that is legally enforceable by any party against the United States or its agencies or officers or any other person.
(e)
Funding— There shall be appropriated, from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1), such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Sec. 3504 Codifying Board of Immigration Appeals

(a)
Definition of board member— Section 101(a) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(53) The term Board Member means an attorney whom the Attorney General appoints to serve on the Board of Immigration Appeals within the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and is qualified to review decisions of immigration judges and other matters within the jurisdiction of the Board of Immigration Appeals.”

(b)
Board of Immigration Appeals— Section 240(a)(1) (8 U.S.C. 1229a(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “The Board of Immigration Appeals and its Board Members shall review decisions of immigration judges under this section.”.
(c)
Appeals— Section 240(b)(4) (8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)(4)), as amended by section 3502(b), is further amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (B), by striking “, and” and inserting a semicolon;
(2)
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
(3)
by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:

“(D) the alien or the Department of Homeland Security may appeal the immigration judge’s decision to a 3-judge panel of the Board of Immigration Appeals.”

(d)
Decision and burden of proof— Section 240(c)(1)(A) (8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(1)(A)) is amended to read as follows:

“(A) In general—At the conclusion of the proceeding, the immigration judge shall decide whether an alien is removable from the United States. The determination of the immigration judge shall be based only on the evidence produced at the hearing. On appeal, the Board of Immigration Appeals shall issue a written opinion. The opinion shall address all dispositive arguments raised by the parties. The panel may incorporate by reference the opinion of the immigration judge whose decision is being reviewed, provided that the panel also addresses any arguments made by the nonprevailing party regarding purported errors of law, fact, or discretion.”

Sec. 3505 Improved training for immigration judges and Board Members

(a)
In general— Section 240 (8 U.S.C. 1229a) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(f) Improved training

“(1) Improved training for immigration judges and board members

“(A) In general—In consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of the Federal Judicial Center, the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review shall review and modify, as appropriate, training programs for immigration judges and Board Members.

“(B) Elements of review—Each such review shall study—

“(i) the expansion of the training program for new immigration judges and Board Members;

“(ii) continuing education regarding current developments in the field of immigration law; and

“(iii) methods to ensure that immigration judges are trained on properly crafting and dictating decisions.

“(2) Improved training and guidance for staff—The Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review shall—

“(A) modify guidance and training regarding screening standards and standards of review; and

“(B) ensure that Board Members provide staff attorneys with appropriate guidance in drafting decisions in individual cases, consistent with the policies and directives of the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Chairman of the Board of Immigration Appeals.”

(b)
Funding— There shall be appropriated, from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1), such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section and the amendment made by this section.

Sec. 3506 Improved resources and technology for immigration courts and Board of Immigration Appeals

(a)
Improved on-bench reference materials and decision templates— The Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review shall ensure that immigration judges are provided with updated reference materials and standard decision templates that conform to the law of the circuits in which they sit.
(b)
Practice manual— The Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review shall produce a practice manual describing best practices for the immigration courts and shall make such manual available electronically to counsel and litigants who appear before the immigration courts.
(c)
Recording system and other technologies—
(1)
Plan required— The Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review shall provide the Attorney General with a plan and a schedule to replace the immigration courts’ tape recording system with a digital recording system that is compatible with the information management systems of the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
(2)
Audio recording system— Consistent with the plan described in paragraph (1), the Director shall pilot a digital audio recording system not later than 1 year after the enactment of this Act, and shall begin nationwide implementation of that system as soon as practicable.
(d)
Improved transcription services— Not later than 1 year after the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review shall report to the Attorney General on the current transcription services utilized by the Office and recommend improvements to this system regarding quality and timeliness of transcription.
(e)
Improved interpreter selection— Not later than 1 year after the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review shall report to the Attorney General on the current interpreter selection process utilized by the Office and recommend improvements to this process regarding screening, hiring, certification, and evaluation of staff and contract interpreters.
(f)
Funding— There shall be appropriated, from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1), such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Sec. 3507 Transfer of responsibility for trafficking protections

(a)
Transfer of responsibility—
(1)
In general— All unexpended balances appropriated or otherwise available to the Department of Health and Human Services and its Office of Refugee Resettlement in connection with the functions provided for in paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 235(c) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(c)), shall, subject to section 202 of the Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950, be transferred to the Department of Justice. Funds transferred pursuant to this paragraph shall remain available until expended and shall be used only for the purposes for which the funds were originally authorized and appropriated.
(2)
Contract authority— The Attorney General may award grants to, and enter into contracts to carry out the functions set forth in paragraphs (5) and (6) of Section 235(c) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.
(b)
Conforming amendments— Section 235(c) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(c)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (5)—
(A)
by striking “Secretary of Health and Human Services” each place it appears and inserting “Attorney General”; and
(B)
by striking the last sentence; and
(2)
in paragraph (6)—
(A)
by striking “Secretary of Health and Human Services” each place it appears and inserting “Attorney General”;
(B)
in subparagraphs (B)(ii), (D), and (F), by striking “Secretary” each place it appears and inserting “Attorney General”; and
(C)
in subparagraph (F), by striking “and Human Services”.

F Prevention of trafficking in persons and abuses involving workers recruited abroad

Sec. 3601 Definitions

(a)
In general— Except as otherwise provided by this subtitle, the terms used in this subtitle shall have the same meanings, respectively, as are given those terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
(b)
Other definitions—
(1)
Foreign labor contractor— The term foreign labor contractor means any person who performs foreign labor contracting activity, including any person who performs foreign labor contracting activity wholly outside of the United States, except that the term does not include any entity of the United States Government.
(2)
Foreign labor contracting activity— The term foreign labor contracting activity means recruiting, soliciting, or related activities with respect to an individual who resides outside of the United States in furtherance of employment in the United States, including when such activity occurs wholly outside of the United States.
(3)
Person— The term person means any natural person or any corporation, company, firm, partnership, joint stock company or association or other organization or entity (whether organized under law or not), including municipal corporations.
(4)
Worker— The term worker means an individual who is the subject of foreign labor contracting activity and does not include an exchange visitor (as defined in section 62.2 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, or any similar successor regulation).

Sec. 3602 Disclosure

(a)
Requirement for disclosure— Any person who engages in foreign labor contracting activity shall ascertain and disclose in writing in English and in the primary language of the worker at the time of the worker’s recruitment, the following information:
(1)
The identity and address of the employer and the identity and address of the person conducting the recruiting on behalf of the employer, including any subcontractor or agent involved in such recruiting.
(2)
All assurances and terms and conditions of employment, from the prospective employer for whom the worker is being recruited, including the work hours, level of compensation to be paid, the place and period of employment, a description of the type and nature of employment activities, any withholdings or deductions from compensation and any penalties for terminating employment.
(3)
A signed copy of the work contract between the worker and the employer.
(4)
The type of visa under which the foreign worker is to be employed, the length of time for which the visa will be valid, the terms and conditions under which the visa may be renewed, and a clear statement of any expenses associated with securing or renewing the visa.
(5)
An itemized list of any costs or expenses to be charged to the worker and any deductions to be taken from wages, including any costs for housing or accommodation, transportation to and from the worksite, meals, health insurance, workers’ compensation, costs of benefits provided, medical examinations, healthcare, tools, or safety equipment costs.
(6)
The existence of any labor organizing effort, strike, lockout, or other labor dispute at the place of employment.
(7)
Whether and the extent to which workers will be compensated through workers' compensation, private insurance, or otherwise for injuries or death, including work-related injuries and death, during the period of employment and, if so, the name of the State workers' compensation insurance carrier or the name of the policyholder of the private insurance, the name and the telephone number of each person who must be notified of an injury or death, and the time period within which such notice must be given.
(8)
A statement, in a form specified by the Secretary—
(A)
stating that—
(i)
no foreign labor contractor, agent, or employee of a foreign labor contractor, may lawfully assess any fee (including visa fees, processing fees, transportation fees, legal expenses, placement fees, and other costs) to a worker for any foreign labor contracting activity; and
(ii)
the employer may bear such costs or fees for the foreign labor contractor, but that these fees cannot be passed along to the worker;
(B)
explaining that—
(i)
no additional significant requirements or changes may be made to the original contract signed by the worker without at least 24 hours to consider such changes and the specific consent of the worker, obtained voluntarily and without threat of penalty; and
(ii)
any significant changes made to the original contract that do not comply with clause (i) shall be a violation of this subtitle and be subject to the provisions of section 3610 of this Act; and
(C)
describing the protections afforded the worker by this section and by section 202 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1375b) and any applicable visa program, including—
(i)
relevant information about the procedure for filing a complaint provided for in section 3610; and
(ii)
the telephone number for the national human trafficking resource center hotline number.
(9)
Any education or training to be provided or required, including—
(A)
the nature, timing, and cost of such training;
(B)
the person who will pay such costs;
(C)
whether the training is a condition of employment, continued employment, or future employment; and
(D)
whether the worker will be paid or remunerated during the training period, including the rate of pay.
(b)
Relationship to labor and employment laws— Nothing in the disclosure required by subsection (a) shall constitute a legal conclusion as to the worker’s status or rights under the labor and employment laws.
(c)
Prohibition on false and misleading information— No foreign labor contractor or employer who engages in any foreign labor contracting activity shall knowingly provide materially false or misleading information to any worker concerning any matter required to be disclosed under subsection (a). The disclosure required by this section is a document concerning the proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of a department or agency of the United States for the purposes of section 1519 of title 18, United States Code.

Sec. 3603 Prohibition on discrimination

(a)
In general— It shall be unlawful for an employer or a foreign labor contractor to fail or refuse to hire, discharge, intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, or blacklist any individual or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, creed, sex, national origin, religion, age, or disability.
(b)
Determinations of discrimination— For the purposes of determining the existence of unlawful discrimination under subsection (a)—
(1)
in the case of a claim of discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, national origin, or religion, the same legal standards shall apply as are applicable under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.);
(2)
in the case of a claim of discrimination based on unlawful discrimination based on age, the same legal standards shall apply as are applicable under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 621 et seq.); and
(3)
in the case of a claim of discrimination based on disability, the same legal standards shall apply as are applicable under title I of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq.).

Sec. 3604 Recruitment fees

No employer, foreign labor contractor, or agent or employee of a foreign labor contractor, shall assess any fee (including visa fees, processing fees, transportation fees, legal expenses, placement fees, and other costs) to a worker for any foreign labor contracting activity.

Sec. 3605 Registration

(a)
Requirement To register—
(1)
In general— Subject to paragraph (2), prior to engaging in any foreign labor contracting activity, any person who is a foreign labor contractor or who, for any money or other valuable consideration paid or promised to be paid, performs a foreign labor contracting activity on behalf of a foreign labor contractor, shall obtain a certificate of registration from the Secretary of Labor pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Secretary under subsection (c).
(2)
Exception for certain employers— An employer, or employee of an employer, who engages in foreign labor contracting activity solely to find employees for that employer’s own use, and without the participation of any other foreign labor contractor, shall not be required to register under this section.
(b)
Notification—
(1)
Annual employer notification— Each employer shall notify the Secretary, not less frequently than once every year, of the identity of any foreign labor contractor involved in any foreign labor contracting activity for, or on behalf of, the employer, including at a minimum, the name and address of the foreign labor contractor, a description of the services for which the foreign labor contractor is being used, whether the foreign labor contractor is to receive any economic compensation for the services, and, if so, the identity of the person or entity who is paying for the services.
(2)
Annual foreign labor contractor notification— Each foreign labor contractor shall notify the Secretary, not less frequently than once every year, of the identity of any subcontractee, agent, or foreign labor contractor employee involved in any foreign labor contracting activity for, or on behalf of, the foreign labor contractor.
(3)
Noncompliance notification— An employer shall notify the Secretary of the identity of a foreign labor contractor whose activities do not comply with this subtitle.
(4)
Agreement— Not later than 7 days after receiving a request from the Secretary, an employer shall provide the Secretary with the identity of any foreign labor contractor with which the employer has a contract or other agreement.
(c)
Regulations— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to establish an efficient electronic process for the timely investigation and approval of an application for a certificate of registration of foreign labor contractors, including—
(1)
a declaration, subscribed and sworn to by the applicant, stating the applicant's permanent place of residence, the foreign labor contracting activities for which the certificate is requested, and such other relevant information as the Secretary may require;
(2)
a set of fingerprints of the applicant;
(3)
an expeditious means to update registrations and renew certificates;
(4)
providing for the consent of any foreign labor recruiter to the designation by a court of the Secretary as an agent available to accept service of summons in any action against the applicant, if the applicant has left the jurisdiction in which the action is commenced, otherwise has become unavailable to accept service, or is subject to personal jurisdiction in no State;
(5)
providing for the consent of any foreign labor recruiter to jurisdiction in the Department or any Federal or State court in the United States for any action brought by any aggrieved individual or worker;
(6)
providing for cooperation in any investigation by the Secretary or other appropriate authorities;
(7)
providing for consent to the forfeiture of the bond for failure to cooperate with these provisions;
(8)
providing for consent to be liable for violations of this subtitle by any agents or subcontractees of any level in relation to the foreign labor contracting activity of the agent or subcontractee to the same extent as if the foreign labor contractor had committed the violation; and
(9)
providing for consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies to determine whether any reason exists to deny registration to a foreign labor contractor.
(d)
Term of registration— Unless suspended or revoked, a certificate under this section shall be valid for 2 years.
(e)
Application fee—
(1)
Requirement for fee— In addition to any other fees authorized by law, the Secretary shall impose a fee, to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, on a foreign labor contractor that submits an application for a certificate of registration under this section.
(2)
Amount of fee— The amount of the fee required by paragraph (1) shall be set at a level that the Secretary determines sufficient to cover the full costs of carrying out foreign labor contract registration activities under this subtitle, including worker education and any additional costs associated with the administration of the fees collected.
(f)
Refusal To issue; revocation— In accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, the Secretary shall refuse to issue or renew, or shall revoke and debar from eligibility to obtain a certificate of registration for a period of not greater than 5 years, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, a certificate of registration under this section if—
(1)
the applicant for, or holder of, the certification has knowingly made a material misrepresentation in the application for such certificate;
(2)
the applicant for, or holder of, the certification is not the real party in interest in the application or certificate of registration and the real party in interest—
(A)
is a person who has been refused issuance or renewal of a certificate;
(B)
has had a certificate revoked; or
(C)
does not qualify for a certificate under this section;
(3)
the applicant for, or holder of, the certification has been convicted within the preceding 5 years of—
(A)
any felony under State or Federal law or crime involving robbery, bribery, extortion, embezzlement, grand larceny, burglary, arson, violation of narcotics laws, murder, rape, assault with intent to kill, assault which inflicts grievous bodily injury, prostitution, peonage, or smuggling or harboring individuals who have entered the United States illegally; or
(B)
any crime relating to gambling, or to the sale, distribution or possession of alcoholic beverages, in connection with or incident to any labor contracting activities; or
(4)
the applicant for, or holder of, the certification has materially failed to comply with this section.
(g)
Re-registration of violators— The Secretary shall establish a procedure by which a foreign labor contractor that has had its registration revoked under subsection (f) may seek to re-register under this subsection by demonstrating to the Secretary’s satisfaction that the foreign labor contractor has not violated this subtitle in the previous 5 years and that the foreign labor contractor has taken sufficient steps to prevent future violations of this subtitle.

Sec. 3606 Bonding requirement

(a)
In general— The Secretary shall require a foreign labor contractor to post a bond in an amount sufficient to ensure the ability of the foreign labor contractor to discharge its responsibilities and to ensure protection of workers, including wages.
(b)
Regulations— The Secretary, by regulation, shall establish the conditions under which the bond amount is determined, paid, and forfeited.
(c)
Relationship to other remedies— The bond requirements and forfeiture of the bond under this section shall be in addition to other remedies under 3610 or any other law.

Sec. 3607 Maintenance of lists

(a)
In general— The Secretary shall maintain—
(1)
a list of all foreign labor contractors registered under this subsection, including—
(A)
the countries from which the contractors recruit;
(B)
the employers for whom the contractors recruit;
(C)
the visa categories and occupations for which the contractors recruit; and
(D)
the States where recruited workers are employed; and
(2)
a list of all foreign labor contractors whose certificate of registration the Secretary has revoked.
(b)
Updates; availability— The Secretary shall—
(1)
update the lists required by subsection (a) on an ongoing basis, not less frequently than every 6 months; and
(2)
make such lists publicly available, including through continuous publication on Internet websites and in written form at and on the websites of United States embassies in the official language of that country.
(c)
Inter-agency availability— The Secretary shall share the information described in subsection (a) with the Secretary of State.

Sec. 3608 Amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act

Section 214 (8 U.S.C. 1184) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(s) A visa shall not be issued under the subparagraph (A)(iii), (B)(i) (but only for domestic servants described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 274a.12(c)(17) of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on December 4, 2007)), (G)(v), (H), (J), (L), (Q), (R), or (W) of section 101(a)(15) until the consular officer—

“(1) has provided to and reviewed with the applicant, in the applicant’s language (or a language the applicant understands), a copy of the information and resources pamphlet required by section 202 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1375b); and

“(2) has reviewed and made a part of the visa file the foreign labor recruiter disclosures required by section 3602 of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, including whether the foreign labor recruiter is registered pursuant to that section.”

Sec. 3609 Responsibilities of Secretary of State

(a)
In general— The Secretary of State shall ensure that each United States diplomatic mission has a person who shall be responsible for receiving information from any worker who has been subject to violations of this subtitle.
(b)
Provision of information— The responsible person referred to in subsection (a) shall ensure that the information received is provided to the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, or any other relevant Federal agency.
(c)
Mechanisms— The Attorney General and the Secretary shall ensure that there is a mechanism for any actions that need to be taken in response to information received under subsection (a).
(d)
Assistance from foreign government— The person designated for receiving information pursuant to subsection (a) is strongly encouraged to coordinate with governments and civil society organizations in the countries of origin to ensure the worker receives additional support.
(e)
Maintenance and availability of information— The Secretary of State shall ensure that consulates maintain information regarding the identities of foreign labor contractors and the employers to whom the foreign labor contractors supply workers. The Secretary of State shall make such information publicly available in written form and online, including on the websites of United States embassies in the official language of that country.
(f)
Annual public disclose— The Secretary of State shall make publicly available online, on an annual basis, data disclosing the gender, country of origin and state, if available, date of birth, wage, level of training, and occupation category, disaggregated by job and by visa category and subcategory.

Sec. 3610 Enforcement provisions

(a)
Complaints and investigations— The Secretary—
(1)
shall establish a process for the receipt, investigation, and disposition of complaints filed by any person, including complaints respecting a foreign labor contractor’s compliance with this subtitle; and
(2)
either pursuant to the process required by paragraph (1) or otherwise, may investigate employers or foreign labor contractors, including actions occurring in a foreign country, as necessary to determine compliance with this subtitle.
(b)
Enforcement—
(1)
In general— A worker who believes that he or she has suffered a violation of this subtitle may seek relief from an employer by—
(A)
filing a complaint with the Secretary within 3 years after the date on which the violation occurred or date on which the employee became aware of the violation; or
(B)
if the Secretary has not issued a final decision within 120 days of the filing of the complaint and there is no showing that such delay is due to the bad faith of the claimant, bringing an action at law or equity for de novo review in the appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction over such an action without regard to the amount in controversy.
(2)
Procedure—
(A)
In general— Unless otherwise provided herein, a complaint under paragraph (1)(A) shall be governed under the rules and procedures set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2)(A) of section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code.
(B)
Exception— Notification of a complaint under paragraph (1)(A) shall be made to each person or entity named in the complaint as a defendant and to the employer.
(C)
Statute of limitations— An action filed in a district court of the United States under paragraph (1)(B) shall be commenced not later than 180 days after the last day of the 120-day period referred to in that paragraph.
(D)
Jury trial— A party to an action brought under paragraph (1)(B) shall be entitled to trial by jury.
(c)
Administrative enforcement—
(1)
In general— If the Secretary finds, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, any foreign labor contractor or employer failed to comply with any of the requirements of this subtitle, the Secretary may impose the following against such contractor or employer—
(A)
a fine in an amount not more than $10,000 per violation; and
(B)
upon the occasion of a third violation or a failure to comply with representations, a fine of not more than $25,000 per violation.
(d)
Authority To ensure compliance— The Secretary is authorized to take other such actions, including issuing subpoenas and seeking appropriate injunctive relief and recovery of damages, as may be necessary to assure compliance with the terms and conditions of this subtitle.
(e)
Bonding— Pursuant to the bonding requirement in section 3606, bond liquidation and forfeitures shall be in addition to other remedies under this section or any other law.
(f)
Civil action—
(1)
In general— The Secretary or any person aggrieved by a violation of this subtitle may bring a civil action against any foreign labor contractor that does not meet the requirements under subsection (g)(2) in any court of competent jurisdiction—
(A)
to seek remedial action, including injunctive relief;
(B)
to recover damages on behalf of any worker harmed by a violation of this subsection; and
(C)
to ensure compliance with requirements of this section.
(2)
Actions by the secretary of homeland security—
(A)
Sums recovered— Any sums recovered by the Secretary on behalf of a worker under paragraph (1) or through liquidation of the bond held pursuant to section 3606 shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Secretary, directly to each worker affected. Any such sums not paid to a worker because of inability to do so within a period of 5 years shall be credited as an offsetting collection to the appropriations account of the Secretary for expenses for the administration of this section and shall remain available to the Secretary until expended or may be used for enforcement of the laws within the jurisdiction of the wage and hour division or may be transferred to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the purpose of providing support to programs that provide assistance to victims of trafficking in persons or other exploited persons. The Secretary shall work with any attorney or organization representing workers to locate workers owed sums under this section.
(B)
Representation— Except as provided in section 518(a) of title 28, United States Code, the Attorney General may appear for and represent the Secretary in any civil litigation brought under this paragraph. All such litigation shall be subject to the direction and control of the Attorney General.
(3)
Actions by individuals—
(A)
Award— If the court finds in a civil action filed by an individual under this section that the defendant has violated any provision of this subtitle (or any regulation issued pursuant to this subtitle), the court may award—
(i)
damages, up to and including an amount equal to the amount of actual damages, and statutory damages of up to $1,000 per plaintiff per violation, or other equitable relief, except that with respect to statutory damages—
(I)
multiple infractions of a single provision of this subtitle (or of a regulation under this subtitle) shall constitute only 1 violation for purposes of section 3602(a) to determine the amount of statutory damages due a plaintiff; and
(II)
if such complaint is certified as a class action the court may award—
(aa)
damages up to an amount equal to the amount of actual damages; and
(bb)
statutory damages of not more than the lesser of up to $1,000 per class member per violation, or up to $500,000; and other equitable relief;
(ii)
reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs; and
(iii)
such other and further relief, including declaratory and injunctive relief, as necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subtitle.
(B)
Criteria— In determining the amount of statutory damages to be awarded under subparagraph (A), the court is authorized to consider whether an attempt was made to resolve the issues in dispute before the resort to litigation.
(C)
Bond— To satisfy the damages, fees, and costs found owing under this clause, the Secretary shall release as much of the bond held pursuant to section 3606 as necessary.
(D)
Appeal— Any civil action brought under this section shall be subject to appeal as provided in chapter 83 of title 28, United States Code (28 U.S.C. 1291 et seq.).
(E)
Access to legal services corporation— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Legal Services Corporation and recipients of its funding may provide legal assistance on behalf of any alien with respect to any provision of this subtitle.
(g)
Agency liability—
(1)
In general— Beginning 180 days after the Secretary has promulgated regulations pursuant to section 3605(c), an employer who retains the services of a foreign labor contractor shall only use those foreign labor contractors who are registered under section 3605.
(2)
Safe harbor— An employer shall not have any liability under this section if the employer hires workers referred by a foreign labor contractor that has a valid registration with the Department pursuant to section 3604.
(3)
Liability for agents— Foreign labor contractors shall be subject to the provisions of this section for violations committed by the foreign labor contractor's agents or subcontractees of any level in relation to their foreign labor contracting activity to the same extent as if the foreign labor contractor had committed the violation.
(h)
Retaliation—
(1)
In general— No person shall intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, discharge, or in any other manner discriminate or retaliate against any worker or their family members (including a former employee or an applicant for employment) because such worker disclosed information to any person that the worker reasonably believes evidences a violation of this section (or any rule or regulation pertaining to this section), including seeking legal assistance of counsel or cooperating with an investigation or other proceeding concerning compliance with this section (or any rule or regulation pertaining to this section).
(2)
Enforcement— An individual who is subject to any conduct described in paragraph (1) may, in a civil action, recover appropriate relief, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, with respect to that violation. Any civil action under this subparagraph shall be stayed during the pendency of any criminal action arising out of the violation.
(i)
Waiver of rights— Agreements by employees purporting to waive or to modify their rights under this subtitle shall be void as contrary to public policy.
(j)
Presence during pendency of actions—
(1)
In general— If other immigration relief is not available, the Attorney General and the Secretary shall grant advance parole to permit a nonimmigrant to remain legally in the United States for time sufficient to fully and effectively participate in all legal proceedings related to any action taken pursuant to this section.
(2)
Regulations— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out paragraph (1).

Sec. 3611 Detecting and preventing child trafficking

The Secretary shall mandate the live training of all U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel who are likely to come into contact with unaccompanied alien children. Such training shall incorporate the services of child welfare professionals with expertise in culturally competent, trauma-centered, and developmentally appropriate interviewing skills to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the screening of children attempting to enter the United States.

Sec. 3612 Protecting child trafficking victims

(a)
Short title— This section may be cited as the “Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act”.
(b)
Defined term— In this section, the term unaccompanied alien children has the meaning given such term in section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279).
(c)
Care and transportation— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall ensure that all unaccompanied alien children who will undergo any immigration proceedings before the Department or the Executive Office for Immigration Review are duly transported and placed in the care and legal and physical custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement not later than 72 hours after their apprehension absent exceptional circumstances, including a natural disaster or comparable emergency beyond the control of the Secretary or the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The Secretary, to the extent practicable, shall ensure that female officers are continuously present during the transfer and transport of female detainees who are in the custody of the Department.
(d)
Qualified resources—
(1)
In general— The Secretary shall provide adequately trained and qualified staff and resources, including the accommodation of child welfare officials, in accordance with subsection (e), at U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports of entry and stations.
(2)
Child welfare professionals— The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary, shall hire, on a full- or part-time basis, child welfare professionals who will provide assistance, either in person or by other appropriate methods of communication, in not fewer than 7 of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection offices or stations with the largest number of unaccompanied alien child apprehensions in the previous fiscal year.
(e)
Child welfare professionals—
(1)
In general— The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall ensure that qualified child welfare professionals with expertise in culturally competent, trauma-centered, and developmentally appropriate interviewing skills are available at each major port of entry described in subsection (d).
(2)
Duties— Child welfare professionals described in paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
develop guidelines for treatment of unaccompanied alien children in the custody of the Department;
(B)
conduct screening of all unaccompanied alien children in accordance with section 235(a)(4) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(a)(4));
(C)
notify the Department and the Office of Refugee Resettlement of children that potentially meet the notification and transfer requirements set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of section 235 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1232);
(D)
interview adult relatives accompanying unaccompanied alien children;
(E)
provide an initial family relationship and trafficking assessment and recommendations regarding unaccompanied alien children's initial placements to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which shall be conducted in accordance with the time frame set forth in subsections (a)(4) and (b)(3) of section 235 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1232); and
(F)
ensure that each unaccompanied alien child in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection—
(i)
receives emergency medical care when necessary;
(ii)
receives emergency medical and mental health care that complies with the standards adopted pursuant to section 8(c) of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (42 U.S.C. 15607(c)) whenever necessary, including in cases in which a child is at risk to harm himself, herself, or others;
(iii)
is provided with climate appropriate clothing, shoes, basic personal hygiene and sanitary products, a pillow, linens, and sufficient blankets to rest at a comfortable temperature;
(iv)
receives adequate nutrition;
(v)
enjoys a safe and sanitary living environment;
(vi)
has access to daily recreational programs and activities if held for a period longer than 24 hours;
(vii)
has access to legal services and consular officials; and
(viii)
is permitted to make supervised phone calls to family members.
(3)
Final determinations— The Office of Refugee Resettlement in accordance with applicable policies and procedures for sponsors, shall submit final determinations on family relationships to the Secretary, who shall consider such adult relatives for community-based support alternatives to detention.
(4)
Report— Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that—
(A)
describes the screening procedures used by the child welfare professionals to screen unaccompanied alien children;
(B)
assesses the effectiveness of such screenings; and
(C)
includes data on all unaccompanied alien children who were screened by child welfare professionals;
(f)
Immediate notification— The Secretary shall notify the Office of Refugee Resettlement of an unaccompanied alien child in the custody of the Department as soon as practicable, but generally not later than 48 hours after the Department encounters the child, to effectively and efficiently coordinate the child’s transfer to and placement with the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
(g)
Notice of rights and right to access to counsel—
(1)
In general— The Secretary shall ensure that all unaccompanied alien children, upon apprehension, are provided—
(A)
an interview and screening with a child welfare professional described in subsection (e)(1); and
(B)
an orientation and oral and written notice of their rights under the Immigration and Nationality Act, including—
(i)
their right to relief from removal;
(ii)
their right to confer with counsel (as guaranteed under section 292 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1362)), family, or friends while in the temporary custody of the Department; and
(iii)
relevant complaint mechanisms to report any abuse or misconduct they may have experienced.
(2)
Languages— The Secretary shall ensure that—
(A)
the video orientation and written notice of rights described in paragraph (1) is available in English and in the 5 most common native languages spoken by the unaccompanied children held in custody at that location during the preceding fiscal year; and
(B)
the oral notice of rights is available in English and in the most common native language spoken by the unaccompanied children held in custody at that location during the preceding fiscal year.
(h)
Confidentiality— The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall maintain the privacy and confidentiality of all information gathered in the course of providing care, custody, placement, and follow-up services to unaccompanied alien children, consistent with the best interest of the unaccompanied alien child, by not disclosing such information to other government agencies or nonparental third parties unless such disclosure is—
(1)
recorded in writing and placed in the child’s file;
(2)
in the child's best interest; and
(3)
(A)
authorized by the child or by an approved sponsor in accordance with section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (Public Law 104–191); or
(B)
provided to a duly recognized law enforcement entity to prevent imminent and serious harm to another individual.
(i)
Other policies and procedures— The Secretary shall adopt fundamental child protection policies and procedures—
(1)
for reliable age determinations of children, developed in consultation with medical and child welfare experts, which exclude the use of fallible forensic testing of children’s bone and teeth;
(2)
to utilize all legal authorities to defer the child’s removal if the child faces a risk of life-threatening harm upon return including due to the child’s mental health or medical condition; and
(3)
to ensure, in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.), that unaccompanied alien children, while in detention, are—
(A)
physically separated from any adult who is not an immediate family member; and
(B)
separated from—
(i)
immigration detainees and inmates with criminal convictions;
(ii)
pretrial inmates facing criminal prosecution; and
(iii)
inmates exhibiting violent behavior.
(j)
Repatriation and reintegration program—
(1)
In general— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in conjunction with the Secretary, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Attorney General, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations in the United States with expertise in repatriation and reintegration, shall create a multi-year program to develop and implement best practices and sustainable programs in the United States and within the country of return to ensure the safe and sustainable repatriation and reintegration of unaccompanied alien children into their country of nationality or of last habitual residence, including placement with their families, legal guardians, or other sponsoring agencies.
(2)
Report on repatriation and reintegration of unaccompanied alien children— Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator of the Agency for International Development shall submit a substantive report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on efforts to improve repatriation and reintegration programs for unaccompanied alien children.
(k)
Transfer of funds—
(1)
Authorization— The Secretary, in accordance with a written agreement between the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall transfer such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the duties described in subsection (f)(2) from amounts appropriated for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to the Department of Health and Human Services.
(2)
Report— Not later than 15 days before any proposed transfer under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary, shall submit a detailed expenditure plan that describes the actions proposed to be taken with amounts transferred under such paragraph to—
(A)
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

Sec. 3613 Rule of construction

Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to preempt or alter any other rights or remedies, including any causes of action, available under any other Federal or State law.

Sec. 3614 Regulations

The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, prescribe regulations to implement this subtitle and to develop policies and procedures to enforce the provisions of this subtitle.

G Interior enforcement

Sec. 3701 Criminal street gangs

(a)
Inadmissibility— Section 212(a)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)) is amended by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:

“(J) Aliens in criminal street gangs

“(i) In general—Any alien is inadmissible—

“(I) who has been convicted of an offense for which an element was active participation in a criminal street gang (as defined in section 521(a) of title 18, United States Code) and the alien—

“(aa) had knowledge that the gang’s members engaged in or have engaged in a continuing series of offenses described in section 521(c) of title 18, United States Code; and

“(bb) acted with the intention to promote or further the felonious activities of the criminal street gang or maintain or increase his or her position in the gang; or

“(II) subject to clause (ii), who is 18 years of age or older, who is physically present outside the United States, whom the Secretary determines by clear and convincing evidence, based upon law enforcement information deemed credible by the Secretary, has, since the age of 18, knowingly and willingly participated in a criminal street gang with knowledge that such participation promoted or furthered the illegal activity of the gang.

“(ii) Waiver—The Secretary may waive clause (i)(II) if the alien has renounced all association with the criminal street gang, is otherwise admissible, and is not a threat to the security of the United States.”

(b)
Grounds for deportation— Section 237(a)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(G) Aliens associated with criminal street gangs—Any alien is removable who has been convicted of an offense for which an element was active participation in a criminal street gang (as defined in section 521(a) of title 18, United States Code), and the alien—

“(i) had knowledge that the gang's members engaged in or have engaged in a continuing series of offenses described in section 521(c) of title 18, United States Code; and

“(ii) acted with the intention to promote or further the felonious activities the criminal street gang or increase his or her position in such gang.”

(c)
Ground of ineligibility for registered provisional immigrant status—
(1)
In general— An alien who is 18 years of age or older is ineligible for registered provisional immigrant status if the Secretary determines that the alien—
(A)
has been convicted of an offense for which an element was active participation in a criminal street gang (as defined in section 521(a) of title 18, United States Code, and the alien—
(i)
had knowledge that the gang's members engaged in or have engaged in a continuing series of offenses described in section 521(c) of title 18, United States Code; and
(ii)
acted with the intention to promote or further the felonious activities of the criminal street gang or maintain or increase his or her position in such gang; or
(B)
subject to paragraph (2), any alien who is 18 years of age or older whom the Secretary determines by clear and convincing evidence, based upon law enforcement information deemed credible by the Secretary, has, since the age of 18, knowingly and willingly participated in a such gang with knowledge that such participation promoted or furthered the illegal activity of such gang.
(2)
Waiver— The Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1)(B) if the alien has renounced all association with the criminal street gang, is otherwise admissible, and is not a threat to the security of the United States.

Sec. 3702 Banning habitual drunk drivers from the United States

(a)
Grounds for inadmissibility— Section 212(a)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)), as amended by section 3701(a), is further amended—
(1)
by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (L); and
(2)
by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:

“(F) Habitual drunk drivers—An alien convicted of 3 or more offenses for driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated on separate dates is inadmissible.”

(b)
Grounds for deportation— Section 237(a)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)), as amended by section 3701(b), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(H) Habitual drunk drivers—An alien convicted of 3 or more offenses for driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated, at least 1 of which occurred after the date of the enactment of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, is deportable.”

(c)
In general—
(1)
Aggravated felony— Section 101(a)(43)(F) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(43)(F)) is amended by striking “for which the term of imprisonment” and inserting “, including a third drunk driving conviction, for which the term of imprisonment is”.
(2)
Effective date and application—
(A)
Effective date— The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(B)
Application—
(i)
In general— Except as provided in subparagraph (ii), the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to a conviction for drunk driving that occurred before, on, or after such date of enactment.
(ii)
Two or more prior convictions— An alien who received 2 or more convictions for drunk driving before the date of the enactment of this Act may not be subject to removal for the commission of an aggravated felony pursuant to section 237(a)(2)(A)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)(A)(iii)) on the basis of such convictions until the date on which the alien is convicted of a drunk driving offense after such date of enactment.

Sec. 3703 Sexual abuse of a minor

Section 101(a)(43)(A) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(43)(A)) is amended by striking “murder, rape, or sexual abuse of a minor;” and inserting “murder, rape, or sexual abuse of a minor, whether or not the minority of the victim is established by evidence contained in the record of conviction or by credible evidence extrinsic to the record of conviction;”.

Sec. 3704 Illegal entry

(a)
In general— Section 275 (8 U.S.C. 1325) is amended to read as follows:

“275. Illegal entry

“(a) In general

“(1) Criminal offenses—An alien shall be subject to the penalties set forth in paragraph (2) if the alien—

“(A) enters or crosses the border into the United States at any time or place other than as designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security;

“(B) eludes examination or inspection by an immigration officer, or a customs or agriculture inspection at a port of entry; or

“(C) enters or crosses the border to the United States by means of a knowingly false or misleading representation or the concealment of a material fact.

“(2) Criminal penalties—Any alien who violates any provision under paragraph (1)—

“(A) shall, for the first violation, be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than 12 months, or both;

“(B) shall, for a second or subsequent violation, or following an order of voluntary departure, be fined under such title, imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both;

“(C) if the violation occurred after the alien had been convicted of 3 or more misdemeanors with the convictions occurring on different dates or of a felony for which the alien served a term of imprisonment of 15 days or more, shall be fined under such title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both; and

“(D) if the violation occurred after the alien had been convicted of a felony for which the alien was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 months, shall be fined under such title, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.

“(3) Prior convictions—The prior convictions described in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (2) are elements of the offenses described in that paragraph and the penalties in such subparagraphs shall apply only in cases in which the conviction or convictions that form the basis for the additional penalty are—

“(A) alleged in the indictment or information; and

“(B) proven beyond a reasonable doubt at trial or admitted by the defendant under oath as part of a plea agreement.

“(b) Improper time or place; civil penalties—Any alien older than 18 years of age who is apprehended while knowingly entering, attempting to enter, or crossing or attempting to cross the border to the United States at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers shall be subject to a civil penalty, in addition to any criminal or other civil penalties that may be imposed under any other provision of law, in an amount equal to—

“(1) not less than $250 or more than $5,000 for each such entry, crossing, attempted entry, or attempted crossing; or

“(2) twice the amount specified in paragraph (1) if the alien had previously been subject to a civil penalty under this subsection.

“(c) Fraudulent marriage—An individual who knowingly enters into a marriage for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, fined not more than $250,000, or both.

“(d) Commercial enterprises—Any individual who knowingly establishes a commercial enterprise for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, fined in accordance with title 18, United States Code, or both.”

(b)
Clerical amendment— The table of contents is amended by striking the item relating to section 275 and inserting the following:
(c)
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 3705 Reentry of removed alien

Section 276 (8 U.S.C. 1326) is amended to read as follows:

“276. Reentry of removed alien

“(a) Reentry after removal—Any alien who has been denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed, or who has departed the United States while an order of exclusion, deportation, or removal is outstanding, and subsequently enters, attempts to enter, crosses the border to, attempts to cross the border to, or is at any time found in the United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, and imprisoned not more than 2 years.

“(b) Reentry of criminal offenders—Notwithstanding the penalty provided in subsection (a), if an alien described in that subsection—

“(1) was convicted for 3 or more misdemeanors, with the convictions occurring on different dates, before such removal or departure, the alien shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, and imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both;

“(2) was convicted for a felony before such removal or departure for which the alien was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 months, the alien shall be fined under such title, and imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both;

“(3) was convicted for a felony before such removal or departure for which the alien was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 60 months, the alien shall be fined under such title, and imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both;

“(4) was convicted for 3 felonies, with the convictions occurring on different dates before such removal or departure, the alien shall be fined under such title, and imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both; or

“(5) was convicted, before such removal or departure, for murder, rape, kidnapping, or a felony offense described in chapter 77 (relating to peonage and slavery) or 113B (relating to terrorism) of such title, the alien shall be fined under such title, and imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

“(c) Reentry after repeated removal—Any alien who has been denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed 3 or more times and thereafter enters, attempts to enter, crosses the border to, attempts to cross the border to, or is at any time found in the United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, and imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

“(d) Proof of prior convictions—The prior convictions described in subsection (b) are elements of the offenses described in that subsection, and the penalties in such subsection shall apply only in cases in which the conviction or convictions that form the basis for the additional penalty are—

“(1) alleged in the indictment or information; and

“(2) proven beyond a reasonable doubt at trial or admitted by the defendant under oath as part of a plea agreement.

“(e) Affirmative defenses—It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of this section that—

“(1) prior to the alleged violation, the alien had sought and received the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States; or

“(2) at the time of the prior exclusion, deportation, removal, or denial of admission alleged in the violation, the alien had not yet reached 18 years of age and had not been convicted of a crime or adjudicated a delinquent minor by a court of the United States, or a court of a state or territory, for conduct that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult.

“(f) Limitation on collateral attack on underlying deportation order—In a criminal proceeding under this section, an alien may not challenge the validity of the deportation order described in subsection (a) or subsection (c) unless the alien demonstrates that—

“(1) the alien exhausted any administrative remedies that may have been available to seek relief against the order;

“(2) the deportation proceedings at which the order was issued improperly deprived the alien of the opportunity for judicial review; and

“(3) the entry of the order was fundamentally unfair.

“(g) Reentry of alien removed prior to completion of term of imprisonment—Any alien removed pursuant to section 241(a)(4) who enters, attempts to enter, crosses the border to, attempts to cross the border to, or is at any time found in, the United States shall be incarcerated for the remainder of the sentence of imprisonment which was pending at the time of deportation without any reduction for parole or supervised release unless the alien affirmatively demonstrates that the Secretary of Homeland Security has expressly consented to the alien's reentry or the alien is prima facie eligible for protection from removal. Such alien shall be subject to such other penalties relating to the reentry of removed aliens as may be available under this section or any other provision of law.

“(h) Limitation—It is not aiding and abetting a violation of this section for an individual to provide an alien with emergency humanitarian assistance, including emergency medical care and food, or to transport the alien to a location where such assistance can be rendered without compensation or the expectation of compensation.

“(i) Definitions—In this section:

“(1) Felony—The term felony means any criminal offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year under the laws of the United States, any State, or a foreign government.

“(2) Misdemeanor—The term misdemeanor means any criminal offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than 1 year under the applicable laws of the United States, any State, or a foreign government.

“(3) Removal—The term removal includes any denial of admission, exclusion, deportation, or removal, or any agreement by which an alien stipulates or agrees to exclusion, deportation, or removal.

“(4) State—The term State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.”

Sec. 3706 Penalties relating to vessels and aircraft

Section 243(c) (8 U.S.C. 1253(c)) is amended—
(1)
by striking “Attorney General” each place such term appears and inserting “Secretary of Homeland Security”;
(2)
by striking “Commissioner” each place such term appears and inserting “Secretary of Homeland Security”; and
(3)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by striking “$2,000” and inserting “$5,000”;
(B)
in subparagraph (B), by striking “$5,000” and inserting “$10,000”;
(C)
by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:

“(C) Compromise—The Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary’s unreviewable discretion and upon the receipt of a written request, may mitigate the monetary penalties required under this subsection for each alien stowaway to an amount equal to not less than $2,000, upon such terms that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.”

(D)
by inserting at the end the following:

“(D) Exception—A person, acting without compensation or the expectation of compensation, is not subject to penalties under this paragraph if the person is—

“(i) providing, or attempting to provide, an alien with humanitarian assistance, including emergency medical care or food or water; or

“(ii) transporting the alien to a location where such humanitarian assistance can be rendered without compensation or the expectation of compensation.”

Sec. 3707 Reform of passport, visa, and immigration fraud offenses

(a)
Trafficking in passports— Section 1541 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

“1541. Trafficking in passports

“(a) Multiple passports—Subject to subsection (b), any person who, during any period of 3 years or less, knowingly—

“(1) and without lawful authority produces, issues, or transfers 3 or more passports;

“(2) forges, counterfeits, alters, or falsely makes 3 or more passports;

“(3) secures, possesses, uses, receives, buys, sells, or distributes 3 or more passports, knowing the passports to be forged, counterfeited, altered, falsely made, stolen, procured by fraud, or produced or issued without lawful authority; or

“(4) completes, mails, prepares, presents, signs, or submits 3 or more applications for a United States passport, knowing the applications to contain any materially false statement or representation,

“(b) Use in a terrorism offense—Any person who commits an offense described in subsection (a) to facilitate an act of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 25 years, or both.

“(c) Passport materials—Any person who knowingly and without lawful authority produces, buys, sells, possesses, or uses any official material (or counterfeit of any official material) used to make 10 or more passports, including any distinctive paper, seal, hologram, image, text, symbol, stamp, engraving, or plate, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.”

(b)
False statement in an application for a passports— Section 1542 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

“1542. False statement in an application for a passport

“(a) In general—Any person who knowingly makes any material false statement or representation in an application for a United States passport, or mails, prepares, presents, or signs an application for a United States passport knowing the application to contain any material false statement or representation, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 25 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of this title)), 20 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 929(a) of this title)), 15 years (in the case of any other offense), or both.

“(b) Venue

“(1) In general—An offense under subsection (a) may be prosecuted in any district—

“(A) in which the false statement or representation was made or the application for a United States passport was prepared or signed; or

“(B) in which or to which the application was mailed or presented.

“(2) Offenses outside the United States—An offense under subsection (a) involving an application prepared and adjudicated outside the United States may be prosecuted in the district in which the resultant passport was or would have been produced.

“(c) Savings clause—Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the venue otherwise available under sections 3237 and 3238 of this title.”

(c)
Misuse of a passport— Section 1544 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

“1544. Misuse of a passport

“Any person who knowingly—

“(1) misuses or attempts to misuse for their own purposes any passport issued or designed for the use of another;

“(2) uses or attempts to use any passport in violation of the laws, regulations, or rules governing the issuance and use of the passport;

“(3) secures, possesses, uses, receives, buys, sells, or distributes or attempts to secure, possess, use, receive, buy, sell, or distribute any passport knowing the passport to be forged, counterfeited, altered, falsely made, procured by fraud, or produced or issued without lawful authority; or

“(4) substantially violates the terms and conditions of any safe conduct duly obtained and issued under the authority of the United States,”

(d)
Schemes To provide fraudulent immigration services— Section 1545 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

“1545. Schemes to provide fraudulent immigration services

“(a) In general—Any person who knowingly executes a scheme or artifice, in connection with any matter that is authorized by or arises under any Federal immigration law or any matter the offender claims or represents is authorized by or arises under any Federal immigration law, to—

“(1) defraud any person; or

“(2) obtain or receive money or anything else of value from any person by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises,

“(b) Misrepresentation—Any person who knowingly and falsely represents that such person is an attorney or an accredited representative (as that term is defined in section 1292.1 of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)) in any matter arising under any Federal immigration law shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.”

(e)
Immigration and visa fraud— Section 1546 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by amending the section heading to read as follows:

“1546. Immigration and visa fraud”

(2)
by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d); and
(3)
by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsections:

“(b) Trafficking—Any person who, during any period of 3 years or less, knowingly—

“(1) and without lawful authority produces, issues, or transfers 3 or more immigration documents;

“(2) forges, counterfeits, alters, or falsely makes 3 or more immigration documents;

“(3) secures, possesses, uses, buys, sells, or distributes 3 or more immigration documents, knowing the immigration documents to be forged, counterfeited, altered, stolen, falsely made, procured by fraud, or produced or issued without lawful authority; or

“(4) completes, mails, prepares, presents, signs, or submits 3 or more immigration documents knowing the documents to contain any materially false statement or representation,

“(c) Immigration document materials—Any person who knowingly and without lawful authority produces, buys, sells, possesses, or uses any official material (or counterfeit of any official material) used to make 10 or more immigration documents, including any distinctive paper, seal, hologram, image, text, symbol, stamp, engraving, or plate, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.”

(f)
Alternative imprisonment maximum for certain offenses— Section 1547 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “(other than an offense under section 1545)”;
(2)
in paragraph (1), by striking “15” and inserting “20”; and
(3)
in paragraph (2), by striking “20” and inserting “25”.
(g)
Authorized law enforcement activities— Chapter 75 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 1547 the following:

“1548. Authorized law enforcement activities

“Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit—

“(1) any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, or an intelligence agency of the United States; or

“(2) any activity authorized under title V of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 (Public Law 91–452; 84 Stat. 933).”

(h)
Table of sections amendment— The table of sections for chapter 75 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3708 Combating schemes to defraud aliens

(a)
Regulations, forms, and procedures— The Secretary and the Attorney General, for matters within their respective jurisdictions arising under the immigration laws, shall promulgate appropriate regulations, forms, and procedures defining the circumstances in which—
(1)
persons submitting applications, petitions, motions, or other written materials relating to immigration benefits or relief from removal under the immigration laws will be required to identify who (other than immediate family members) assisted them in preparing or translating the immigration submissions; and
(2)
any person or persons who received compensation (other than a nominal fee for copying, mailing, or similar services) in connection with the preparation, completion, or submission of such materials will be required to sign the form as a preparer and provide identifying information.
(b)
Civil injunctions against immigration service provider— The Attorney General may commence a civil action in the name of the United States to enjoin any immigration service provider from further engaging in any fraudulent conduct that substantially interferes with the proper administration of the immigration laws or who willfully misrepresents such provider's legal authority to provide representation before the Department of Justice or the Department.
(c)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
Immigration laws— The term immigration laws has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)).
(2)
Immigration service provider— The term immigration service provider means any individual or entity (other than an attorney or individual otherwise authorized to provide representation in immigration proceedings as provided in Federal regulation) who, for a fee or other compensation, provides any assistance or representation to aliens in relation to any filing or proceeding relating to the alien which arises, or which the provider claims to arise, under the immigration laws, executive order, or presidential proclamation.

Sec. 3709 Inadmissibility and removal for passport and immigration fraud offenses

(a)
Inadmissibility— Section 212(a)(2)(A)(i) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)) is amended—
(1)
in subclause (I), by striking “, or” at the end and inserting a semicolon;
(2)
in subclause (II), by striking the comma at the end and inserting “; or”; and
(3)
by inserting after subclause (II) the following:

“(III) a violation of section 1541, 1545, and subsection (b) of section 1546 of title 18, United States Code,”

(b)
Removal— Section 237(a)(3)(B)(iii) (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(3)(B)(iii)) is amended to read as follows:

“(iii) of a violation of section 1541, 1545, and subsection (b) of section 1546 of title 18, United States Code,”

(c)
Effective date— The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to proceedings pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, with respect to conduct occurring on or after that date.

Sec. 3710 Directives related to passport and document fraud

(a)
Directive to the United States Sentencing Commission—
(1)
In general— Pursuant to the authority under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission shall promulgate or amend the sentencing guidelines, policy statements, and official commentaries, if appropriate, related to passport fraud offenses, including the offenses described in chapter 75 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by section 3707, to reflect the serious nature of such offenses.
(2)
Report— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the United States Sentencing Commission shall submit a report on the implementation of this subsection to—
(A)
the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
(b)
Protection for legitimate refugees and asylum seekers—
(1)
In general—
(A)
Requirement for guidelines— The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary, shall develop binding prosecution guidelines for Federal prosecutors to ensure that each prosecution of an alien seeking entry into the United States by fraud is consistent with the United States treaty obligations under Article 31(1) of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, done at Geneva July 28, 1951 (as made applicable by the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, done at New York January 31, 1967 (19 UST 6223)).
(B)
No private right of action— The guidelines developed pursuant to subparagraph (A), and any internal office procedures related to such guidelines—
(i)
are intended solely for the guidance of attorneys of the United States; and
(ii)
are not intended to, do not, and may not be relied upon to, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any party in any administrative, civil, or criminal matter.
(2)
Protection of vulnerable persons— A person described in paragraph (3) may not be prosecuted under chapter 75 of title 18, United States Code, or under section 275 or 276 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1325 and 1326), in connection with the person’s entry or attempted entry into the United States until after the date on which the person’s application for such protection, classification, or status has been adjudicated and denied in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(3)
Persons seeking protection, classification, or status— A person described in this paragraph is a person who—
(A)
is seeking protection, classification, or status; and
(B)
(i)
has filed an application for asylum under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158), withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3)), or relief under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done at New York, December 10, 1994, pursuant to title 8, Code of Federal Regulations;
(ii)
indicates immediately after apprehension, that he or she intends to apply for such asylum, withholding of removal, or relief and promptly files the appropriate application;
(iii)
has been referred for a credible fear interview, a reasonable fear interview, or an asylum-only hearing under section 235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225) or part 208 of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations; or
(iv)
has filed an application for classification or status under—
(I)
subparagraph (T) or (U) of paragraph (15), paragraph (27)(J), or paragraph (51) of section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)); or
(II)
section 216(c)(4)(C) or 240A(b)(2) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1186a(c)(4)(C) and 1229b(b)(2)).

Sec. 3711 Inadmissible aliens

(a)
Deterring aliens ordered removed from remaining in the United States unlawfully— Section 212(a)(9)(A) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(A)) is amended—
(1)
in clause (i), by striking “seeks admission within 5 years of the date of such removal (or within 20 years” and inserting “seeks admission not later than 5 years after the date of the alien’s removal (or not later than 20 years after the alien’s removal”; and
(2)
in clause (ii), by striking “seeks admission within 10 years of the date of such alien’s departure or removal (or within 20 years of” and inserting “seeks admission not later than 10 years after the date of the alien’s departure or removal (or not later than 20 years after”.
(b)
Biometric screening— Section 212 (8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)(7), by adding at the end the following:

“(C) Withholding information—Except as provided in subsection (d)(2), any alien who willfully, through his or her own fault, refuses to comply with a lawful request for biometric information is inadmissible.”

(2)
in subsection (d), by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

“(2) The Secretary may waive the application of subsection (a)(7)(C) for an individual alien or a class of aliens.”

(c)
Precluding admissibility of aliens convicted of serious criminal offenses and domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and violation of protection orders—
(1)
Inadmissibility on criminal and related grounds; waivers— Section 212 (8 U.S.C. 1182), as amended by this Act, is further amended—
(A)
in subsection (a)(2), as amended by sections 3401 and 3402, is further amended by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:

“(K) Crimes of domestic violence, stalking, or violation of protective orders; crimes against children

“(i) Domestic violence, stalking, and child abuse

“(I) In general—Any alien who has been convicted of a crime of domestic violence, a crime of stalking, or a crime of child abuse, child neglect, or child abandonment, provided the alien served at least 1 year imprisonment for the crime, or provided the alien was convicted of offenses constituting more than 1 such crime, not arising out of a single scheme of criminal misconduct, is inadmissible.

“(II) Crime of domestic violence defined—In this clause, the term crime of domestic violence means any crime of violence (as defined in section 16 of title 18, United States Code) against a person committed by a current or former spouse of the person, by an individual with whom the person shares a child in common, by an individual who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the person as a spouse, by an individual similarly situated to a spouse of the person under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction where the offense occurs, or by any other individual against a person who is protected from that individual's acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the United States or any State, Indian tribal government, or unit of local or foreign government.

“(ii) Violators of protection orders

“(I) In general—Any alien who at any time is enjoined under a protection order issued by a court and whom the court determines has engaged in conduct that constitutes criminal contempt of the portion of a protection order that involves protection against credible threats of violence, repeated harassment, or bodily injury to the person or persons for whom the protection order was issued, is inadmissible.

“(II) Protection order defined—In this clause, the term protection order means any injunction issued for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts of domestic violence, including temporary or final orders issued by civil or criminal courts (other than support or child custody orders or provisions) whether obtained by filing an independent action or as an independent order in another proceeding.

“(iii) Applicability—This subparagraph shall not apply to an alien who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty and who is not and was not the primary perpetrator of violence in the relationship, upon a determination by the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security that—

“(I) the alien was acting in self-defense;

“(II) the alien was found to have violated a protection order intended to protect the alien; or

“(III) the alien committed, was arrested for, was convicted of, or pled guilty to committing a crime that did not result in serious bodily injury.”

(B)
in subsection (h)—
(i)
by striking “The Attorney General may, in his discretion, waive the application of subparagraphs (A)(i)(I), (B), (D), and (E) of subsection (a)(2)” and inserting “The Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security may waive the application of subparagraphs (A)(i)(I), (B), (D), and (E) of subsection (a)(2)”; and
(ii)
by inserting “or the Secretary of Homeland Security” after “the Attorney General” each place that term appears.
(2)
Effective date— The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to any acts that occurred on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 3712 Organized and abusive human smuggling activities

(a)
Enhanced penalties—
(1)
In general— Title II (8 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“295. Organized human smuggling

“(a) Prohibited activities—Whoever, while acting for profit or other financial gain, knowingly directs or participates in an effort or scheme to assist or cause 5 or more persons (other than a parent, spouse, or child of the offender)—

“(1) to enter, attempt to enter, or prepare to enter the United States—

“(A) by fraud, falsehood, or other corrupt means;

“(B) at any place other than a port or place of entry designated by the Secretary; or

“(C) in a manner not prescribed by the immigration laws and regulations of the United States; or

“(2) to travel by air, land, or sea toward the United States (whether directly or indirectly)—

“(A) knowing that the persons seek to enter or attempt to enter the United States without lawful authority; and

“(B) with the intent to aid or further such entry or attempted entry; or

“(3) to be transported or moved outside of the United States—

“(A) knowing that such persons are aliens in unlawful transit from 1 country to another or on the high seas; and

“(B) under circumstances in which the persons are in fact seeking to enter the United States without official permission or legal authority;

“(b) Conspiracy and attempt—Any person who attempts or conspires to violate subsection (a) of this section shall be punished in the same manner as a person who completes a violation of such subsection.

“(c) Base penalty—Except as provided in subsection (d), any person who violates subsection (a) or (b) shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both.

“(d) Enhanced penalties—Any person who violates subsection (a) or (b) shall—

“(1) in the case of a violation during and in relation to which a serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365 of title 18) occurs to any person, be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 30 years, or both;

“(2) in the case of a violation during and in relation to which the life of any person is placed in jeopardy, be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 30 years, or both;

“(3) in the case of a violation involving 10 or more persons, be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 30 years, or both;

“(4) in the case of a violation involving the bribery or corruption of a U.S. or foreign government official, be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 30 years, or both;

“(5) in the case of a violation involving robbery or extortion (as those terms are defined in paragraph (1) or (2), respectively, of section 1951(b)) be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 30 years, or both;

“(6) in the case of a violation during and in relation to which any person is subjected to an involuntary sexual act (as defined in section 2246(2) of title 18), be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 30 years, or both; or

“(7) in the case of a violation resulting in the death of any person, be fined under title 18, imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both.

“(e) Lawful authority defined

“(1) In general—In this section, the term lawful authority—

“(A) means permission, authorization, or license that is expressly provided for in the immigration laws of the United States or accompanying regulations; and

“(B) does not include any such authority secured by fraud or otherwise obtained in violation of law, nor does it include authority sought, but not approved.

“(2) Application to travel or entry—No alien shall be deemed to have lawful authority to travel to or enter the United States if such travel or entry was, is, or would be in violation of law.

“(f) Effort or scheme—For purposes of this section, “effort or scheme to assist or cause 5 or more persons” does not require that the 5 or more persons enter, attempt to enter, prepare to enter, or travel at the same time so long as the acts are completed within 1 year.

“296. Unlawfully hindering immigration, border, and customs controls

“(a) Illicit spotting—Whoever knowingly transmits to another person the location, movement, or activities of any Federal, State, or tribal law enforcement agency with the intent to further a Federal crime relating to United States immigration, customs, controlled substances, agriculture, monetary instruments, or other border controls shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

“(b) Destruction of united states border controls—Whoever knowingly and without lawful authorization destroys, alters, or damages any fence, barrier, sensor, camera, or other physical or electronic device deployed by the Federal Government to control the border or a port of entry or otherwise seeks to construct, excavate, or make any structure intended to defeat, circumvent or evade any such fence, barrier, sensor camera, or other physical or electronic device deployed by the Federal government to control the border or a port of entry shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both, and if, at the time of the offense, the person uses or carries a firearm or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm, that person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

“(c) Conspiracy and attempt—Any person who attempts or conspires to violate subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be punished in the same manner as a person who completes a violation of such subsection.”

(2)
Table of contents amendment— The table of contents is amended by adding after the item relating to section 294 the following:
(b)
Prohibiting carrying or use of a firearm during and in relation to an alien smuggling crime— Section 924(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting “, alien smuggling crime,” after “crime of violence” each place that term appears; and
(B)
in subparagraph (D)(ii), by inserting “, alien smuggling crime,” after “crime of violence”; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:

“(6) For purposes of this subsection, the term alien smuggling crime means any felony punishable under section 274(a), 277, or 278 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324(a), 1327, and 1328).”

(c)
Statute of limitations— Section 3298 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting “, 295, 296, or 297” after “274(a)”.

Sec. 3713 Preventing criminals from renouncing citizenship during wartime

Section 349(a) (8 U.S.C. 1481(a)) is amended—
(1)
by striking paragraph (6) ; and
(2)
redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (6).

Sec. 3714 Diplomatic security service

Paragraph (1) of section 37(a) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2709(a)) is amended to read as follows:

“(1) conduct investigations concerning—

“(A) illegal passport or visa issuance or use;

“(B) identity theft or document fraud affecting or relating to the programs, functions, and authorities of the Secretary of State;

“(C) violations of chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code; and

“(D) Federal offenses committed within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7(9) of title 18, United States Code);”

Sec. 3715 Secure alternatives programs

(a)
In general— The Secretary shall establish secure alternatives programs that incorporate case management services in each field office of the Department to ensure appearances at immigration proceedings and public safety.
(b)
Contract authority— The Secretary shall contract with nongovernmental community-based organizations to conduct screening of detainees, provide appearance assistance services, and operate community-based supervision programs. Secure alternatives shall offer a continuum of supervision mechanisms and options, including community support, depending on an assessment of each individual’s circumstances. The Secretary may contract with nongovernmental organizations to implement secure alternatives that maintain custody over the alien.
(c)
Individualized determinations— In determining whether to use secure alternatives, the Secretary shall make an individualized determination, and for each individual placed on secure alternatives, shall review the level of supervision on a monthly basis. Secure alternatives shall not be used when release on bond or recognizance is determined to be a sufficient measure to ensure appearances at immigration proceedings and public safety.
(d)
Custody— The Secretary may use secure alternatives programs to maintain custody over any alien detained under the Immigration and Nationality Act, except for aliens detained under section 236A of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1226a). If an individual is not eligible for release from custody or detention, the Secretary shall consider the alien for placement in secure alternatives that maintain custody over the alien, including the use of electronic ankle devices.

Sec. 3716 Oversight of detention facilities

(a)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
Applicable standards— The term applicable standards means the most recent version of detention standards and detention-related policies issued by the Secretary or the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
(2)
Detention facility— The term detention facility means a Federal, State, or local government facility, or a privately owned and operated facility, that is used, in whole or in part, to hold individuals under the authority of the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including facilities that hold such individuals under a contract or agreement with the Director.
(b)
Detention requirements— The Secretary shall ensure that all persons detained pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) are treated humanely and benefit from the protections set forth in this section.
(c)
Oversight requirements—
(1)
Annual inspection— All detention facilities shall be inspected by the Secretary on a regular basis, but not less than annually, for compliance with applicable detention standards issued by the Secretary and other applicable regulations.
(2)
Routine oversight— In addition to annual inspections, the Secretary shall conduct routine oversight of detention facilities, including unannounced inspections.
(3)
Availability of records— All detention facility contracts, memoranda of agreement, and evaluations and reviews shall be considered records for purposes of section 552(f)(2) of title 5, United States Code.
(4)
Consultation— The Secretary shall seek input from nongovernmental organizations regarding their independent opinion of specific facilities.
(d)
Compliance mechanisms—
(1)
Agreements—
(A)
New agreements— Compliance with applicable standards of the Secretary and all applicable regulations, and meaningful financial penalties for failure to comply, shall be a material term in any new contract, memorandum of agreement, or any renegotiation, modification, or renewal of an existing contract or agreement, including fee negotiations, executed with detention facilities.
(B)
Existing agreements— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall secure a modification incorporating these terms for any existing contracts or agreements that will not be renegotiated, renewed, or otherwise modified.
(C)
Cancellation of agreements— Unless the Secretary provides a reasonable extension to a specific detention facility that is negotiating in good faith, contracts or agreements with detention facilities that are not modified within 1 year of the date of the enactment of this Act will be cancelled.
(D)
Provision of information— In making modifications under this paragraph, the Secretary shall require that detention facilities provide to the Secretary all contracts, memoranda of agreement, evaluations, and reviews regarding the facility on a regular basis. The Secretary shall make these materials publicly available.
(2)
Financial penalties—
(A)
Requirement to impose— Subject to subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall impose meaningful financial penalties upon facilities that fail to comply with applicable detention standards issued by the Secretary and other applicable regulations.
(B)
Timing of imposition— Financial penalties imposed under subparagraph (A) shall be imposed immediately after a facility fails to achieve an adequate or the equivalent median score in any performance evaluation.
(C)
Waiver— The requirements of subparagraph (A) may be waived if the facility corrects the noted deficiencies and receives an adequate score in not more than 90 days.
(D)
Multiple offenders— In cases of persistent and substantial noncompliance, including scoring less than adequate or the equivalent median score in 2 consecutive inspections, the Secretary shall terminate contracts or agreements with such facilities within 60 days, or in the case of facilities operated by the Secretary, such facilities shall be closed within 90 days.
(e)
Reporting requirements—
(1)
Objectives— Not later than June 30 of each year, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on inspection and oversight activities of detention facilities.
(2)
Contents— Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A)
a description of each detention facility found to be in noncompliance with applicable detention standards issued by the Department and other applicable regulations;
(B)
a description of the actions taken by the Department to remedy any findings of noncompliance or other identified problems, including financial penalties, contract or agreement termination, or facility closure; and
(C)
information regarding whether the actions described in subparagraph (B) resulted in compliance with applicable detention standards and regulations.

Sec. 3717 Procedures for bond hearings and filing of notices to appear

(a)
Aliens in custody— Section 236 (8 U.S.C. 1226) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(f) Procedures for custody hearings—For any alien taken into custody under any provision of this Act, with the exception of minors being transferred to or in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the following shall apply:

“(1) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, without unnecessary delay and not later than 72 hours after the alien is taken into custody, file the Notice to Appear or other relevant charging document with the immigration court having jurisdiction over the location where the alien was apprehended, and serve such notice on the alien.

“(2) The Secretary shall immediately determine whether the alien shall remain in custody or be released and, without unnecessary delay and not later than 72 hours after the alien was taken into custody, serve upon the alien the custody decision specifying the reasons for continued custody and the amount of bond if any.

“(3) The Attorney General shall ensure the alien has the opportunity to appear before an immigration judge for a custody determination hearing promptly after service of the Secretary’s custody decision. The immigration judge may, on the Secretary’s motion and upon a showing of good cause, postpone a custody redetermination hearing for no more than 72 hours after service of the custody decision, except that in no case shall the hearing occur more than 6 days (including weekends and holidays) after the alien was taken into custody.

“(4) The immigration judge shall advise the alien of the right to postpone the custody determination hearing and shall, on the oral or written request of the individual, postpone the custody determination hearing for a period of not more than 14 days.

“(5) Except for aliens that the immigration judge has determined are deportable under section 236(c) or certified under section 236A, the immigration judge shall review the custody determination de novo and may continue to detain the alien only if the Secretary demonstrates that no conditions, including the use of alternatives to detention that maintain custody over the alien, will reasonably assure the appearance of the alien as required and the safety of any other person and the community. For aliens whom the immigration judge has determined are deportable under section 236(c), the immigration judge may review the custody determination if the Secretary agrees the alien is not a danger to the community, and alternatives to detention exist that ensure the appearance of the alien, as required, and the safety of any other person and the community.

“(6) In the case of any alien remaining in custody after a custody determination, the Attorney General shall provide de novo custody determination hearings before an immigration judge every 90 days so long as the alien remains in custody. An alien may also obtain a de novo custody redetermination hearing at any time upon a showing of good cause.

“(7) The Secretary shall inform the alien of his or her rights under this paragraph at the time the alien is first taken into custody.”

(b)
Limitations on solitary confinement—
(1)
In general— Section 236(d) (8 U.S.C. 1226(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(3) Nature of detention

“(A) Definitions—In this paragraph:

“(i) Administrative segregation—The term administrative segregation means a nonpunitive form of solitary confinement for administrative reasons.

“(ii) Disciplinary segregation—The term disciplinary segregation means a punitive form of solitary confinement for disciplinary reasons.

“(iii) Serious mental illness—The term serious mental illness means a substantial disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life.

“(iv) Solitary confinement—The term solitary confinement means cell confinement of 22 hours or more per day.

“(B) Limitations on solitary confinement

“(i) In general—The use of solitary confinement of an alien in custody pursuant to this section, section 235, or section 241 shall be limited to situations in which such confinement—

“(I) is necessary—

“(aa) to control a threat to detainees, staff, or the security of the facility;

“(bb) to discipline the alien for a serious disciplinary infraction if alternative sanctions would not adequately regulate the alien’s behavior; or

“(cc) for good order during the last 24 hours before an alien is released, removed, or transferred from the facility;

“(II) is limited to the briefest term and under the least restrictive conditions practicable and consistent with the rationale for placement and with the progress achieved by the alien; and

“(III) complies with the requirements set forth in this subparagraph.

“(ii) Children—Children who are younger than 18 years of age may not be placed in solitary confinement.

“(iii) Serious mental illness

“(I) In general—An alien with a serious mental illness may not be placed in involuntary solitary confinement due to mental illness unless—

“(aa) such confinement is necessary for the alien's own protection; or

“(bb) if the alien requires emergency stabilization or poses a significant threat to staff or others in general population.

“(II) Maximum period—An alien diagnosed with serious mental illness may not be placed in solitary confinement for more than 15 days unless the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that—

“(aa) any less restrictive alternative is more likely than not to cause greater harm to the alien than the solitary confinement period imposed; or

“(bb) the likely harm to the alien is not substantial and the period of solitary confinement is the least restrictive alternative necessary to protect the alien, other detainees, or others.

“(iv) Own protection

“(I) In general—Involuntary solitary confinement for an alien’s own protection may be used only for the least amount of time practicable and if no readily available and less restrictive alternative will maintain the alien’s safety.

“(II) Maximum period—An alien may not be placed in involuntary solitary confinement for the alien's own protection for longer than 15 days unless the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that any less restrictive alternative is more likely than not to cause greater harm to the alien than the solitary confinement period imposed.

“(III) Prohibited factors—The Secretary of Homeland Security may not rely solely on an alien’s age, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or religion. The Secretary shall make an individualized assessment in each case.

“(v) Medical care—An alien placed in solitary confinement—

“(I) shall be visited by a medical professional at least 3 times each week;

“(II) shall receive at least weekly mental health monitoring by a licensed mental health clinician; and

“(III) shall be removed from solitary confinement if—

“(aa) a mental health clinician determines that such detention is having a significant negative impact on the alien’s mental health; and

“(bb) an appropriate alternative is available.

“(vi) Notification; access to counsel—If an alien is placed in solitary confinement, the alien—

“(I) shall be informed verbally, and in writing, of the reason for such confinement and the intended duration of such confinement, if specified at the time of initial placement; and

“(II) shall be offered access to counsel on the same basis as detainees in the general population.

“(vii) Longer solitary confinement periods—If an alien has been subject to involuntary solitary confinement for more than 14 consecutive days, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct a timely review to determine whether continued placement is justified by an extreme disciplinary infraction or is the least restrictive means of protecting the alien or others. Any alien held in solitary confinement for more than 7 days shall be given a reasonable opportunity to challenge such placement with the detention facility administrator, which will promptly respond to such challenge in writing.

“(viii) Oversight—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that—

“(I) he or she is regularly informed about the use of solitary confinement in all facilities at which aliens are detained; and

“(II) the Department fully complies with the provisions under this paragraph.

“(C) Disciplinary segregation—Disciplinary segregation is authorized only pursuant to the order of a facility disciplinary panel following a hearing in which the detainee is determined to have violated a facility rule.

“(D) Administrative segregation—Administrative segregation is authorized only as necessary to ensure the safety of the detainee or others, the protection of property, or the security or good order of the facility. Detainees in administrative segregation shall be offered programming opportunities and privileges consistent with those available in the general population, except where precluded by safety or security concerns.”

(2)
Annual report— The Secretary shall—
(A)
collect and compile information regarding the prevalence, reasons for, and duration of solitary confinement in all facilities described in paragraph (3);
(B)
submit an annual report containing the information described in subparagraph (A) to Congress not later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period; and
(C)
make the data contained in the report submitted under subparagraph (B) publicly available.
(3)
Rulemaking— The Secretary shall adopt regulations or policies to carry out section 236(d)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by paragraph (1), at all facilities at which aliens are detained pursuant to section 235, 236, or 241 of such Act.
(c)
Stipulated removal— Section 240(d) (8 U.S.C. 1229a) is amended to read as follows:

“(d) Stipulated removal—The Attorney General shall provide by regulation for the entry by an immigration judge of an order of removal stipulated to by the alien (or the alien's representative) and the Service. An immigration judge may enter a stipulated removal order only upon a finding at an in-person hearing that the stipulation is voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. A stipulated order shall constitute a conclusive determination of the alien's removability from the United States.”

Sec. 3718 Sanctions for countries that delay or prevent repatriation of their nationals

Section 243(d) (8 U.S.C. 1253(d)) is amended to read as follows:

“(d) Discontinuing granting visas to nationals of countries that deny or delay accepting aliens—Notwithstanding section 221(c), if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines, in consultation with the Secretary of State, that the government of a foreign country denies or unreasonably delays accepting aliens who are citizens, subjects, nationals, or residents of that country after the Secretary asks whether the government will accept an alien under this section, or after a determination that the alien is inadmissible under paragraph (6) or (7) of section 212(a), the Secretary of State shall order consular officers in that foreign country to discontinue granting visas, or classes of visas, until the Secretary of Homeland Security notifies the Secretary of State that the country has accepted the aliens.”

Sec. 3719 Gross violations of human rights

(a)
Inadmissibility of certain aliens— Section 212(a)(3)(E) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(E)) is amended by striking clause (iii) and inserting the following:

“(iii) Commission of acts of torture, extrajudicial killings, war crimes, or widespread or systematic attacks on civilians—Any alien who planned, ordered, assisted, aided and abetted, committed, or otherwise participated, including through command responsibility, in the commission of—

“(I) any act of torture (as defined in section 2340 of title 18, United States Code);

“(II) any extrajudicial killing (as defined in section 3(a) of the Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991 (28 U.S.C. 1350 note)) under color of law of any foreign nation;

“(III) a war crime (as defined in section 2441 of title 18, United States Code); or

“(IV) any of the following acts as a part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population, with knowledge of the attack: murder, extermination, enslavement, forcible transfer of population, arbitrary detention, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity; persecution on political racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, or gender grounds; enforced disappearance of persons; or other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering or serious bodily or mental injury,

“(iv) Limitation—Clause (iii) shall not apply to an alien if the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General determine that the actions giving rise to the alien’s inadmissibility under such clause were committed under duress. In determining whether the alien was subject to duress, the Secretary may consider, among relevant factors, the age of the alien at the time such actions were committed.”

(b)
Denying safe haven to foreign human rights violators— Section 2(a)(2) of the Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991 (28 U.S.C. 1350 note) is amended—
(1)
by inserting after “killing” the following: “, a war crime (as defined in subsections (c) and (d) of section 2441 of title 18, United States Code), a widespread or systematic attack on civilians (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(E)(iii)(IV) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), or genocide (as defined in section 1091(a) of such title 18)”; and
(2)
by striking “to the individual’s legal representative” and inserting “to that individual or to that individual’s legal representative”.
(c)
Nonapplicability of confidentiality requirement with respect to visa records— The President may make public, without regard to the requirements under section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1202(f)), with respect to confidentiality of records pertaining to the issuance or refusal of visas or permits to enter the United States, the names of aliens deemed inadmissible on the basis of section 212(a)(3)(E)(iii) of such Act, as amended by subsection (a).

Sec. 3720 Reporting and record keeping requirements relating to the detention of aliens

(a)
In general— In order for Congress and the public to assess the full costs of apprehending, detaining, processing, supervising, and removing aliens, and how the money Congress appropriates for detention is allocated by Federal agencies, the Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (referred to in this section as the “Assistant Secretary”), the Director of the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and the Commissioner responsible for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (referred to in this section as the “Commissioner”) shall—
(1)
maintain the information required under subsections (b), (c), and (d); and
(2)
submit reports on that information to Congress and make that information available to the public in accordance with subsection (e).
(b)
Maintenance of information by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement— The Assistant Secretary shall record and maintain, in the database of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement relating to detained aliens, the following information with respect to each alien detained pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.):
(1)
The provision of law that provides specific authority for the alien’s detention and the beginning and end dates of the alien’s detention pursuant to that authority. If the alien’s detention is authorized by different provisions of law during different periods of time, the Assistant Secretary shall record and maintain the provision of law that provides authority for the alien’s detention during each such period.
(2)
The place where the alien was apprehended or where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assumed custody of the alien.
(3)
Each location where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detains the alien until the alien is released from custody or removed from the United States, including any period of redetention.
(4)
The gender and age of each detained alien in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
(5)
The number of days the alien is detained, including the number of days spent in any given detention facility and the total amount of time spent in detention.
(6)
The immigration charges that are the basis for the alien’s removal proceedings.
(7)
The status of the alien’s removal proceedings and each date on which those proceedings progress from 1 stage of proceeding to another.
(8)
The length of time the alien was detained following a final administrative order of removal and the reasons for the continued detention.
(9)
The initial custody determination or review made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including whether the alien received notice of a custody determination or review and when the custody determination or review took place.
(10)
The risk assessment results for the alien, including if the alien is subject to mandatory custody or detention.
(11)
The reason for the alien’s release from detention and the conditions of release imposed on the alien, if applicable.
(c)
Maintenance of information by Executive Office of Immigration Review— The Director of the Executive Office of Immigration Review shall record and maintain, in the database of the Executive Office of Immigration Review relating to detained aliens in removal proceedings, the following information with respect to each such alien:
(1)
The immigration charges that are the basis for the alien’s removal proceedings, including any revision of the immigration charges and the date of each such revision.
(2)
The gender and age of the alien.
(3)
The status of the alien’s removal proceedings and each date on which those proceedings progress from one stage of proceeding to another.
(4)
The statutory basis for any bond hearing conducted and the outcomes of the bond hearing.
(5)
Whether each court hearing is conducted in person, by audio link, or by video conferencing.
(6)
The date of each attorney entry of appearance before an immigration judge using Form EOIR–28 and the scope of the appearance to which the form related.
(d)
Maintenance of information by U.S. Customs and Border Protection— The Commissioner shall record and maintain in the database of U.S. Customs and Border Protection relating to detained aliens the following information with respect to each alien detained pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.):
(1)
The provision of law that provides specific authority for the alien’s detention and the beginning and end dates of the alien’s detention.
(2)
The place where the alien was apprehended.
(3)
The gender and age of the alien.
(4)
Each location where U.S. Customs and Border Protection detains the alien until the alien is released from custody or removed from the United States, including any period of redetention.
(5)
The number of days that the alien is detained in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
(6)
The immigration charges that are the basis for the alien’s removal proceedings while the alien is in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
(7)
The initial custody determination by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including whether the alien received notice of a custody determination or review, when the custody determination or review took place, and whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection offered the option of stipulated removal to a detained alien.
(8)
The reason for the alien’s release from detention and the conditions of release to detention imposed on the alien, if applicable.
(e)
Reporting requirements—
(1)
Periodic reports— The Assistant Secretary, the Director of the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and the Commissioner shall periodically, but not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a report containing a summary of the information required to be maintained by this section. Each such report shall include summaries of national-level data as well as summaries of the information required by this section by State and county.
(2)
Other reports— The Assistant Secretary shall report to Congress not less frequently than annually on—
(A)
the number of aliens detained for more than 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years; and
(B)
the average period of detention before receipt of a final administrative order of removal and after receipt of such an order.
(3)
Availability to public— The reports required under this subsection and the information for each alien on which the reports are based shall be made available to the public without the need to submit a request under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the “Freedom of Information Act”).
(4)
Privacy protections— No alien's identity may be disclosed when information described in paragraph (3) is made publicly available.
(f)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
Case outcome— The term case outcome includes a grant of relief from deportation under section 240A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b), voluntary departure pursuant to section 240B of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1229c), removal pursuant to section 238 of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1228), judicial termination of proceedings, termination of proceedings by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, cancellation of the notice to appear, or permission to withdraw application for admission without any removal order being issued.
(2)
Place where the alien was apprehended— The term place where the alien was apprehended refers to the city, county, and State where an alien is apprehended.
(3)
Reason for the alien’s release from detention— The term reason for the alien’s release from detention refers to release on bond, on an alien's own recognizance, on humanitarian grounds, after grant of relief, or due to termination of proceedings or removal.
(4)
Removal proceedings— The term removal proceedings refers to a removal case of any kind, including expedited removal, administrative removal, stipulated removal, reinstatement, and voluntary removal and removals in which an applicant is permitted to withdraw his or her application for admission.
(5)
Stage— The term stage, with respect to a proceeding, refers to whether the alien is in proceedings before an immigration judge, the Board of Immigration Appeals, a United States court of appeals, or on remand from a United States court of appeals.

Sec. 3721 Powers of immigration officers and employees at sensitive locations

Section 287 (8 U.S.C. 1357) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(i)

“(1) In order to ensure individuals’ access to sensitive locations, this subsection applies to enforcement actions by officers and agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“(2)

“(A) An enforcement action may not take place at, or be focused on, a sensitive location, except as follows:

“(i) Under exigent circumstances.

“(ii) If prior approval is obtained.

“(B) If an enforcement action is taking place pursuant to subparagraph (A) and the condition permitting the enforcement action ceases, the enforcement action shall cease.

“(3)

“(A) When proceeding with an enforcement action at or near a sensitive location, officers and agents referred to in paragraph (1) shall conduct themselves as discreetly as possible, consistent with officer and public safety, and make every effort to limit the time at or focused on the sensitive location.

“(B) If, in the course of an enforcement action that is not initiated at or focused on a sensitive location, officers or agents are led to or near a sensitive location, and no exigent circumstance exists, such officers or agents shall conduct themselves in a discreet manner, maintain surveillance, and immediately consult their supervisor before taking any further enforcement action, in order to determine whether such action should be discontinued.

“(C) This section not apply to the transportation of an individual apprehended at or near a land or sea border to a hospital or healthcare provider for the purpose of providing such individual medical care.

“(4)

“(A) Each official specified in subparagraph (B) shall ensure that the employees under the supervision of such official receive annual training on compliance with the requirements of this subsection in enforcement actions at or focused on sensitive locations and enforcement actions that lead officers or agents to or near a sensitive location.

“(B) The officials specified in ths subparagraph are the following:

“(i) The Chief Counsel of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“(ii) The Field Office Directors of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“(iii) Each Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“(iv) Each Chief Patrol Agent of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“(v) The Director of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“(vi) The Director of Air and Marine Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“(vii) The Internal Affairs Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“(5)

“(A) The Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall each submit to the appropriate committees of Congress each year a report on the enforcement actions undertaken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, respectively, during the preceding year that were covered by this subsection.

“(B) Each report on an agency for a year under this paragraph shall set forth the following:

“(i) The number of enforcement actions at or focused on a sensitive location.

“(ii) The number of enforcement actions where officers or agents were subsequently led to or near a sensitive location.

“(iii) The date, site, and State, city, and county in which each enforcement action covered by clause (i) or (ii) occurred.

“(iv) The component of the agency responsible for each such enforcement action.

“(v) A description of the intended target of each such enforcement action.

“(vi) The number of individuals, if any, arrested or taken into custody through each such enforcement action.

“(vii) The number of collateral arrests, if any, from each such enforcement action and the reasons for each such arrest.

“(viii) A certification of whether the location administrator was contacted prior to, during, or after each such enforcement action.

“(C) Each report under this paragraph shall be made available to the public without the need to submit a request under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the “Freedom of Information Act”).

“(6) In this subsection:

“(A) The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

“(i) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;

“(ii) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;

“(iii) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and

“(iv) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

“(B) The term enforcement action means an arrest, interview, search, or surveillance for the purposes of immigration enforcement, and includes an enforcement action at, or focused on, a sensitive location that is part of a joint case led by another law enforcement agency.

“(C) The term exigent circumstances means a situation involving the following:

“(i) The imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person, including a situation implicating terrorism or the national security of the United States in some other manner.

“(ii) The immediate arrest or pursuit of a dangerous felon, terrorist suspect, or other individual presenting an imminent danger or public safety risk.

“(iii) The imminent risk of destruction of evidence that is material to an ongoing criminal case.

“(D) The term prior approval means the following:

“(i) In the case of officers and agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, prior written approval for a specific, targeted operation from one of the following officials:

“(I) The Assistant Director of Operations, Homeland Security Investigations.

“(II) The Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security Investigations.

“(III) The Assistant Director for Field Operations, Enforcement, and Removal Operations.

“(IV) The Executive Associate Director for Field Operations, Enforcement, and Removal Operations.

“(ii) In the case of officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, prior written approval for a specific, targeted operation from one of the following officials:

“(I) A Chief Patrol Agent.

“(II) The Director of Field Operations.

“(III) The Director of Air and Marine Operations.

“(IV) The Internal Affairs Special Agent in Charge.

“(E) The term sensitive location includes the following:

“(i) Hospitals and health clinics.

“(ii) Public and private schools (including pre-schools, primary schools, secondary schools, postsecondary schools (including colleges and universities), and other institutions of learning such as vocational or trade schools).

“(iii) Organizations assisting children, pregnant women, victims of crime or abuse, or individuals with mental or physical disabilities.

“(iv) Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship, such as buildings rented for the purpose of religious services.

“(v) Such other locations as the Secretary of Homeland Security shall specify for purposes of this subsection.”

H Protection of Children Affected by Immigration Enforcement

Sec. 3801 Short title

This subtitle may be cited as the “Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections for Separated Children Act” or the “HELP Separated Children Act”.

Sec. 3802 Definitions

In this subtitle:
(1)
Apprehension— The term apprehension means the detention or arrest by officials of the Department or cooperating entities.
(2)
Child— The term child means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age.
(3)
Child welfare agency— The term child welfare agency means a State or local agency responsible for child welfare services under subtitles B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
(4)
Cooperating entity— The term cooperating entity means a State or local entity acting under agreement with the Secretary.
(5)
Detention facility— The term detention facility means a Federal, State, or local government facility, or a privately owned and operated facility, that is used, in whole or in part, to hold individuals under the authority of the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including facilities that hold such individuals under a contract or agreement with the Director.
(6)
Immigration enforcement action— The term immigration enforcement action means the apprehension of 1 or more individuals whom the Department has reason to believe are removable from the United States by the Secretary or a cooperating entity.
(7)
Parent— The term parent means a biological or adoptive parent of a child, whose parental rights have not been relinquished or terminated under State law or the law of a foreign country, or a legal guardian under State law or the law of a foreign country.

Sec. 3803 Apprehension procedures for immigration enforcement-related activities

(a)
Apprehension procedures— In any immigration enforcement action, the Secretary and cooperating entities shall—
(1)
as soon as possible, but generally not later than 2 hours after an immigration enforcement action, inquire whether an individual is a parent or primary caregiver of a child in the United States and provide any such individuals with—
(A)
the opportunity to make a minimum of 2 telephone calls to arrange for the care of such child in the individual’s absence; and
(B)
contact information for—
(i)
child welfare agencies and family courts in the same jurisdiction as the child; and
(ii)
consulates, attorneys, and legal service providers capable of providing free legal advice or representation regarding child welfare, child custody determinations, and immigration matters;
(2)
notify the child welfare agency with jurisdiction over the child if the child’s parent or primary caregiver is unable to make care arrangements for the child or if the child is in imminent risk of serious harm;
(3)
ensure that personnel of the Department and cooperating entities do not, absent medical necessity or extraordinary circumstances, compel or request children to interpret or translate for interviews of their parents or of other individuals who are encountered as part of an immigration enforcement action; and
(4)
ensure that any parent or primary caregiver of a child in the United States—
(A)
absent medical necessity or extraordinary circumstances, is not transferred from his or her area of apprehension until the individual—
(i)
has made arrangements for the care of such child; or
(ii)
if such arrangements are unavailable or the individual is unable to make such arrangements, is informed of the care arrangements made for the child and of a means to maintain communication with the child;
(B)
absent medical necessity or extraordinary circumstances, and to the extent practicable, is placed in a detention facility either—
(i)
proximate to the location of apprehension; or
(ii)
proximate to the individual’s habitual place of residence; and
(C)
receives due consideration of the best interests of such child in any decision or action relating to his or her detention, release, or transfer between detention facilities.
(b)
Requests to State and local entities— If the Secretary requests a State or local entity to hold in custody an individual whom the Department has reason to believe is removable pending transfer of that individual to the custody of the Secretary or to a detention facility, the Secretary shall also request that the State or local entity provide the individual the protections specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), if that individual is found to be the parent or primary caregiver of a child in the United States.
(c)
Protections against trafficking preserved— The provisions of this section shall not be construed to impede, delay, or in any way limit the obligations of the Secretary, the Attorney General, or the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232) or section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279).

Sec. 3804 Access to children, State and local courts, child welfare agencies, and consular officials

At all detention facilities, the Secretary shall—
(1)
prominently post in a manner accessible to detainees and visitors and include in detainee handbooks information on the protections of this subtitle as well as information on potential eligibility for parole or release;
(2)
absent extraordinary circumstances, ensure that individuals who are detained by the Department and are parents of children in the United States are—
(A)
permitted regular phone calls and contact visits with their children;
(B)
provided with contact information for child welfare agencies and family courts in the relevant jurisdictions;
(C)
able to participate fully and, to the extent possible, in person in all family court proceedings and any other proceedings that may impact their right to custody of their children;
(D)
granted free and confidential telephone calls to relevant child welfare agencies and family courts as often as is necessary to ensure that the best interest of their children, including a preference for family unity whenever appropriate, can be considered in child welfare agency or family court proceedings;
(E)
able to fully comply with all family court or child welfare agency orders impacting custody of their children;
(F)
provided access to United States passport applications or other relevant travel document applications for the purpose of obtaining travel documents for their children;
(G)
afforded timely access to a notary public for the purpose of applying for a passport for their children or executing guardianship or other agreements to ensure the safety of their children; and
(H)
granted adequate time before removal to obtain passports, apostilled birth certificates, travel documents, and other necessary records on behalf of their children if such children will accompany them on their return to their country of origin or join them in their country of origin; and
(3)
where doing so would not impact public safety or national security, facilitate the ability of detained alien parents and primary caregivers to share information regarding travel arrangements with their consulate, children, child welfare agencies, or other caregivers in advance of the detained alien individual’s departure from the United States.

Sec. 3805 Mandatory training

The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and independent child welfare and family law experts, shall develop and provide training on the protections required under sections 3803 and 3804 to all personnel of the Department, cooperating entities, and detention facilities operated by or under agreement with the Department who regularly engage in immigration enforcement actions and in the course of such actions come into contact with individuals who are parents or primary caregivers of children in the United States.

Sec. 3806 Rulemaking

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement sections 3803 and 3804 of this Act.

Sec. 3807 Severability

If any provision of this subtitle or amendment made by this subtitle, or the application of a provision or amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this subtitle and amendments made by this subtitle, and the application of the provisions and amendment to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.

I Providing tools To exchange visitors and exchange visitor sponsors To protect exchange visitor program participants and prevent trafficking

Sec. 3901 Definitions

(a)
In general— Except as otherwise provided by this subtitle, the terms used in this subtitle shall have the same meanings, respectively, as are given those terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203), except that the term employer shall also include a prospective employer seeking to hire exchange visitors with which the sponsor has a contractual relationship.
(b)
Other definitions—
(1)
Exchange visitor— The term exchange visitor means a foreign national who is inquiring about or applying to participate in the exchange visitor program or who has successfully applied and has completed or is completing an exchange visitor programs not funded by the United States Government as governed by sections 2.22, 62.24, 62.30, 62.31, and 62.32 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations.
(2)
Exchange visitor program— The term exchange visitor program means the international exchange program administered by the Department of State to implement the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.), by means of educational and cultural programs.
(3)
Exchange visitor program recruitment activities— The term exchange visitor program recruitment activities means activities related to recruiting, soliciting, transferring, providing, obtaining, or facilitating participation of individuals who reside outside the United States in an exchange visitor program including when such activity occurs wholly outside the United States.
(4)
Exchange visitor program sponsor; sponsor— The term exchange visitor program sponsor or sponsor means a legal entity designated by the Secretary of State, in the Secretary's discretion, to conduct an exchange visitor program governed by sections 62.22, 62.24, 62.30, 62.31, and 62.32 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations).
(5)
Foreign entity— The term foreign entity means a person contracted by a sponsor to engage in exchange visitor program recruitment activities on the sponsor’s behalf and any subcontractors thereof.
(6)
Host entity— The term host entity means host organization, primary or secondary accredited educational institution, camp facility, host family, or employer/host employer as used in sections 62.22, 62.24, 62.30, 62.31, and 62.32 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, respectively.
(7)
Regulations— Any reference to any provision of regulations shall include any successor provision addressing the same subject matter.

Sec. 3902 Disclosure

(a)
Requirement for disclosure at time of exchange visitor program recruitment activity— Any person who engages in exchange visitor program recruitment activity shall develop certain information, previously approved by and on file with the exchange visitor program sponsor, to be disclosed in writing in English to the exchange visitor before the exchange visitor pays fees described in section 3904, other than refundable fees and a reasonable non-refundable deposit, or otherwise detrimentally relies on information provided by an exchange program sponsor or foreign entity. This information shall be made available to the Secretary of State, or an exchange visitor requesting his or her own file, within 5 business days of request, consistent with program regulations in part 62 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations. Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, amend such regulations to reflect the information to be disclosed, including the following:
(1)
The identity and address of the exchange visitor program sponsor, host entity, and any foreign entity with authority to charge fees and costs under section 3904.
(2)
All assurances and terms and conditions of employment, from the prospective host entity of the exchange visitor, including place and period of employment, job duties, number of work hours, wages and compensation, and any deductions from wages and benefits, including deductions for housing and transportation. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to permit any charge, deduction, or expense prohibited by this or any other law.
(3)
A copy of the prospective agreement between the exchange visitor program sponsor, exchange visitor, and the host entity.
(4)
Information regarding the terms and conditions of the nonimmigrant status under which the exchange visitor is to be admitted, and the period of stay in the United States allowed for such nonimmigrant status.
(5)
A copy of the fee disclosure form as described in section 3904(d) listing the mandatory and optional costs or expenses to be charged to the exchange visitor.
(6)
The existence of any labor organizing effort, collective bargaining agreement, labor contract, strike, lockout, or other labor dispute at the host entity.
(7)
Whether and the extent to which exchange visitors will be compensated through workers’ compensation, private insurance, or otherwise for injuries or death, including work-related injuries and death, during the period of employment.
(8)
A description of the sanctions the exchange visitor program sponsor is currently subject to, if any, as imposed by the Department of State.
(9)
A statement in a form specified by the Secretary of State—
(A)
stating that in accordance with guidelines and regulations promulgated by the Secretary —
(i)
the costs and fees charged by the exchange program sponsor, foreign entity, and host entity do not exceed those permitted by section 3904 and are legal under the laws of the United States and the home country of the exchange visitor; and
(ii)
the exchange visitor program sponsor, foreign entity, or host entity may bear costs or fees not provided for in section 3904, but that fees under that section cannot be passed along to the exchange visitor.
(10)
Any education or training to be provided or required, other than education or training provided in accordance with section 62.10 (b) and (c) of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, as “pre-arrival information” or “orientation” and additional orientation and training requirements as described in each relevant category under sections 62.22, 62.24, 62.30, 62.31, and 62.32 of that title.
(11)
A clear statement explaining that—
(A)
except as provided in subparagraph (B), no additional significant requirements or significant changes may be made to the original contract signed with a handwritten, electronic, or digital pin code signature by the exchange visitor without at least 24 hours to consider such changes and the specific consent of the exchange visitor, obtained voluntarily and without threat of penalty; and
(B)
changes may be made to the conditions of employment contained in the original contract even if the exchange visitor has not had 24 hours to consider such changes, provided the exchange visitor has specifically consented to the changes, voluntarily and without threat of penalty, and such changes must be implemented without giving the exchange visitor 24 hours to consider them in order to protect the health or welfare of the exchange visitor.
(b)
Requirement for rules— The Secretary of State shall define by rule or guidance what constitutes “refundable fees” and a “reasonable non-refundable deposit” for the purpose subsection (a).
(c)
Relationship to labor and employment laws— Nothing in the disclosure required by subsection (a) shall constitute a legal conclusion as to the exchange visitor’s status or rights under the labor and employment laws.
(d)
Prohibition on false and misleading information and certain fees— No exchange visitor program sponsor, foreign entity, or host entity who engages in any exchange visitor program activity shall knowingly provide materially false or misleading information to any exchange visitor concerning any matter required to be disclosed under subsection (a). Charging fees for services not provided or assessing fees that exceed the amounts established by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 3904 is a violation of this section. The disclosure required by this section is a document concerning the proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of a department or agency of the United States for the purposes of section 1519 of title 18, United States Code, and other provisions of such title.
(e)
Public availability of information— The Secretary of State shall amend its regulations at part 62 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, to require sponsors to make publicly available, including on their websites and in recruiting materials, information regarding fees, costs, and services associated with their exchange visitor programs, including foreign entity names and contact points, and other factors relevant to exchange visitors’ choice of sponsor or foreign entity.

Sec. 3903 Prohibition on discrimination

(a)
In general— It shall be unlawful for an exchange visitor program sponsor, foreign entity, or host entity to fail or refuse to select, hire, discharge, intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, or blacklist any individual or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, creed, sex, national origin, religion, age, or disability.
(b)
Determinations of discrimination— For the purposes of determining the existence of unlawful discrimination under subsection (a)—
(1)
in the case of a claim of discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, or religion, the same legal standards shall apply as are applicable under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.);
(2)
in the case of a claim of discrimination based on age, the same legal standards shall apply as are applicable under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 621 et seq.); and
(3)
in the case of a claim of discrimination based on disability, the same legal standards shall apply as are applicable under title I of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended (42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq.).

Sec. 3904 Fees

(a)
In general— Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall promulgate regulations to set limits on the mandatory fees charged by exchange visitor program sponsors, host entities, and their foreign entities to the exchange visitor. In promulgating such regulations, the Secretary of State shall conduct public meetings with exchange visitor program sponsors, organizations representing exchange visitors, and members of the public with expertise in public diplomacy, educational and cultural exchange, labor markets, labor relations, migration, civil rights, human rights, and prohibiting human trafficking. The Secretary of State may, in the Secretary's discretion, consider factors including what costs are within the control of sponsors, differences among programs and countries, level and amount of educational and cultural activities included, and services rendered.
(b)
Maximum fees— It shall be unlawful for any person to charge a fee higher than the maximum allowable fee as established by regulations promulgated under subsection (a), and any person who charges a higher fee shall be liable under this subtitle. If a fee higher than the maximum is charged by a sponsor or foreign entity, the sponsor shall be liable. If a fee higher than the maximum allowable is charged by the host entity or a host entity’s agent, the host entity shall be liable.
(c)
Update of maximum fees— The Secretary of State shall update the maximum allowable fees described in subsection (a) in response to changing economic conditions and other factors as needed.
(d)
Fee transparency— The Secretary of State shall amend its regulations at part 62 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, to require exchange visitor program sponsors to—
(1)
provide the Department of State annually with an itemized list of fees charged to exchange visitor program participants including by their foreign entities, subcontractors, or foreign entity’s agents; and
(2)
require a 3-party document signed by the exchange visitor, foreign entity, and sponsor that outlines a basic level fee structure and itemizes mandatory and optional fees.

Sec. 3905 Annual notification

(a)
Annual exchange visitor program sponsor notification—
(1)
In general— Subject to paragraph (2), prior to engaging in any exchange visitor program activity, any person who seeks to be an exchange visitor program sponsor shall be designated by the Secretary of State pursuant to regulations that the Secretary of State has prescribed or shall prescribe after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2)
Notification— Each exchange visitor program sponsor shall notify the Secretary of State, not less frequently than once every year, of the identity of any third party, agent, or exchange visitor program sponsor employee involved in any exchange visitor program recruitment activity for, or on behalf of, the exchange visitor program sponsor.
(3)
Personal jurisdiction over foreign entities— As a condition of initial and continued registration, each program sponsor shall obtain a written and signed agreement from any foreign entity. In that agreement, the foreign entity shall stipulate and agree, as a condition for receiving any payment or compensation for performing any work or service for the program sponsor, that the laws of the United States shall govern any and all disputes among and between the parties or the United States, including any enforcement actions, and that any dispute or enforcement action shall be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The agreement shall be in such form and contain such other information as the Secretary of State shall prescribe.
(4)
Noncompliance notification— An host entity shall notify the Secretary of State upon gaining knowledge of noncompliance with this subtitle by an exchange visitor program sponsor. An exchange visitor program sponsor shall notify the Secretary of State upon gaining knowledge of noncompliance with this subtitle by a host entity or foreign entity.
(b)
Regulations— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall amend its regulations at part 62 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, regarding the annual exchange visitor program sponsor notification.
(c)
Refusal To issue and revocation of designation— The Secretary of State shall amend its regulations at part 62 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, to include the following bases for refusing to issue or renew, or for revoking a sponsor’s designation for a period of not greater than 5 years:
(1)
The applicant for, or holder of, the designation has knowingly made a material misrepresentation in the application for such designation.
(2)
The applicant for, or holder of, the designation has committed any felony under State or Federal law or any crime involving fraud, robbery, bribery, extortion, embezzlement, grand larceny, burglary, arson, violation of narcotics laws, murder, rape, trafficking in persons, assault with intent to kill, assault which inflicts grievous bodily injury, prostitution, peonage, or smuggling or harboring individuals who have entered the United States illegally.
(3)
The applicant for, or holder of, the designation has committed any crime relating to gambling, or to the sale, distribution, or possession of alcoholic beverages, in connection with or incident to any exchange visitor recruitment activities.
(4)
Such other criteria as the Secretary of State may, in the Secretary's discretion, establish.

Sec. 3906 Bonding requirement

(a)
In general— The Secretary of State may assess a bond amount sufficient to ensure the ability of a sponsor to discharge its responsibilities and to ensure protection of exchange visitors, including wages or stipends. In requiring a sponsor to post the bond, the Secretary of State shall take into account the degree to which the sponsor’s assets can be reached by United States courts.
(b)
Regulations— The Secretary of State, by regulation, shall establish the conditions under which the bond amount is determined, paid, and forfeited, which shall include the sponsor’s history of compliance.
(c)
Relationship to other remedies— The bond requirements and forfeiture of the bond under this section shall be in addition to or, pursuant to court order, in conjunction with, other remedies under 3910 or any other provision of law.

Sec. 3907 Maintenance of lists

(a)
In general— The Secretary of State shall work with the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that the information described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b) is included on the foreign entity list kept and updated pursuant to section 3607 and shall share that list with the Department of Labor.
(b)
Information— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, each sponsor shall compile and share with the Secretary of State on a regular basis a list that includes the following information:
(1)
The countries from which the sponsor recruits.
(2)
The host entities for whom the sponsor recruits.
(3)
The occupations for which the sponsor recruits.
(4)
The States where recruited exchange visitors are employed.
(c)
Limitation on public availability— Neither the Secretary of State nor the Secretary of Homeland Security shall make the information described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b) public as part of the list described in section 3607.

Sec. 3908 Amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act

Section 214 (8 U.S.C. 1184), as amended by title IV, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(bb) A visa shall not be issued under section 101(a)(15) until the consular officer—

“(1) has confirmed that the applicant has received, read, and understood the information and resources pamphlet required by section 202 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1375b); and

“(2) has reviewed and made a part of the visa file the exchange visitor program sponsor disclosures required by section 3902 of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, including whether the exchange visitor program sponsor is designated pursuant to that section.”

Sec. 3909 Responsibilities of Secretary of State

(a)
In general— The Secretary of State shall ensure that each United States diplomatic mission has a person who is responsible for receiving information from any exchange visitor who has been subject to violations of this subtitle.
(b)
Provision of information— The responsible person referred to in subsection (a) shall ensure that the information received is provided to the Department of State. The Department of State may share that information as necessary with the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and any other relevant Federal agency.
(c)
Mechanisms— The Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall ensure that there is a mechanism for any actions that need to be taken in response to information received under subsection (a).
(d)
Assistance from foreign government— The person designated for receiving information pursuant to subsection (a) is strongly encouraged to coordinate with governments and civil society organizations in the countries of origin to ensure the exchange visitor receives additional support.
(e)
Maintenance and availability of information— The Secretary of State shall ensure that consulates coordinate with the Department of State to have access to information regarding the identities of sponsors and the foreign entities with whom sponsors contract for exchange visitor program recruitment activities. The Secretary of State shall ensure information on the identity of sponsors is publicly available in written form on the Department of State website, and information on the identity of foreign entities in each individual country is publicly available on the websites of United States embassies in each of those countries.

Sec. 3910 Enforcement provisions

(a)
Investigations— The Secretary of State shall undertake compliance actions and sanctions against exchange visitor program sponsors in accordance with part 62 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations.
(b)
Representation— Except as provided in section 518(a) of title 28, United States Code, the Attorney General may appear for and represent the Secretary in any civil litigation brought under this paragraph. All such litigation shall be subject to the direction and control of the Attorney General. Exchange visitor sponsors shall be allowed a reasonable period of inquiry and response before civil litigation is initiated.
(c)
Enforcement— The Secretary of State or an exchange visitor who is subject to any violation of this subtitle may bring a civil action against an exchange visitor program sponsor, foreign entity, or host entity in a court of competent jurisdiction and recover appropriate relief, including injunctive relief, damages, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, and any other remedy that would effectuate the purposes of this subtitle. Any action must be filed within 3 years after the date on which the exchange visitor became aware of the violation, but under no circumstances more than 5 years after the date on which the violation occurred.
(d)
Actions by the secretary of state or an exchange visitor— If the court finds in a civil action filed under this section that the defendant has violated any provision of this subtitle (or any regulation issued pursuant to this subtitle), the court may award damages, up to and including an amount equal to the amount of actual damages, and statutory damages of up to $1,000 per plaintiff per violation, or other equitable relief, except that with respect to statutory damages—
(1)
multiple infractions of a single provision of this subtitle (or of a regulation under this subtitle) shall constitute only 1 violation for purposes of section 3902(a) to determine the amount of statutory damages due a plaintiff; and
(2)
if such complaint is certified as a class action the court may award—
(A)
damages up to an amount equal to the amount of actual damages; and
(B)
statutory damages of not more than the lesser of up to $1,000 per class member per violation, or up to $500,000;
(C)
other equitable relief;
(D)
reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs; and
(E)
such other and further relief, including declaratory and injunctive relief, as necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subtitle.
(e)
Bond— To satisfy the damages, fees, and costs found owing under this section, as much of the bond held pursuant to section 3906 shall be released as necessary.
(f)
Appeal— Any civil action brought under this section shall be subject to appeal as provided in chapter 83 of title 28, United States Code.
(g)
Safe harbor— A host entity shall not have any liability under this section for the actions or omissions of an exchange visitor program sponsor that has a valid designation with the State Department pursuant to section 3905, unless and to the extent that the host entity has engaged in conduct that violates this subtitle.
(h)
Liability for foreign entities— Exchange visitor program sponsors shall be liable for violations of this subtitle by any foreign employees, agents, foreign entities, or subcontractees of any level in relation to the exchange visitor program recruitment activities of the foreign employees, agents, foreign entities, or subcontractees to the same extent as if the exchange visitor program sponsor had committed the violation, unless the exchange visitor program sponsor—
(1)
uses reasonable procedures to protect against violations of this subtitle by foreign employees, agents, foreign entities, or subcontractees (including contractually forbidding in writing any foreign employees, agents, foreign entities, or subcontractees from seeking or receiving prohibited fees from workers);
(2)
does not act with reckless disregard of the fact that foreign employees, agents, foreign entities, or subcontractees have violated any provision of this subtitle; and
(3)
timely reports any potential violations to the Secretary of State.
(i)
Waiver of rights— Agreements between exchange visitors with sponsors, foreign entities, or host entities purporting to waive or to modify their rights under this subtitle shall be void as contrary to public policy.
(j)
Retaliation— No person shall intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, discharge, or in any other manner discriminate or retaliate against any exchange visitor or his or her family members (including a former exchange visitor or an applicant for employment) because such exchange visitor disclosed information to any person that the exchange visitor reasonably believes evidences a violation of this section (or any rule or regulation pertaining to this section), including speaking with a worker organization, seeking legal assistance of counsel, or cooperating with an investigation or other proceeding concerning compliance with this section (or any regulation pertaining to this section).
(k)
Prohibition on retaliation— It shall be unlawful for an exchange visitor program sponsor or foreign entity to terminate or remove from the exchange visitor program, ban from the program, adversely annotate an exchange visitor’s SEVIS (as defined in section 4902) record, fire, demote, take other adverse employment action, or evict, or to threaten to take any of such actions against an exchange visitor in retaliation for the act of complaining about program conditions, including housing and job placements, wages, hours, and general treatment, or for disclosing retaliation by an exchange visitor sponsor, exchange visitor foreign entity, or host entity against any exchange visitor.
(l)
Presence during pendency of actions— If other immigration relief is not available to the exchange visitor, the Secretary of Homeland Security may permit, only on the basis of proof, the exchange visitor to remain lawfully in the United States for the time sufficient to allow the exchange visitor to fully and effectively participate in all legal proceedings related to any action taken pursuant to this section.
(m)
Access to legal services corporation— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Legal Services Corporation and recipients of its funding may provide legal assistance on behalf of any alien with respect to any provision of this subtitle.
(n)
Host entity violations— The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall maintain a list of host entities against whom there has been a complaint substantiated by the Department of State for significant program violations. Information from that list shall be made available to sponsors upon request.

Sec. 3911 Audits and transparency

(a)
Compliance audits—
(1)
In general— The Secretary of State shall by regulation require audit reports to be filed by exchange visitor program sponsors operating under the following specific program categories, as described under subpart B of part 62 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, and any successor regulations:
(A)
Summer work travel.
(B)
Trainees and interns.
(C)
Camp counselors.
(D)
Au pairs.
(E)
Teachers.
(2)
Audit reports— Audit reports shall be filed with the Department of State and be conducted by a certified public accountant, qualified auditor, or licensed attorney pursuant to a format designated by the Secretary of State, attesting to the sponsor's compliance with the regulatory and reporting requirements set forth in part 62 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations. The report shall be conducted at the expense of the sponsor and no more frequently than on a biannual basis.
(b)
Annual report— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a report on the exchange visitor program, which shall detail for each specific program category—
(1)
summary data on the number of exchange visitors and countries participating in that category;
(2)
public diplomacy outcomes; and
(3)
recent sanctions imposed by the Department of State.