Short title

This Act may be cited as— (1)the Education Access for Rightful Noncitizens Act; or (2)the EARN Act.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). (2)

Uniformed services

The term uniformed services has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.

Cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain Long-Term residents who entered the United States as children

(a)

Special Rule for Certain Long-Term Residents Who Entered the United States as Children

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Secretary may cancel removal of, and adjust to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, subject to the conditional basis described in section 625, an alien who is inadmissible or deportable from the United States, if the alien demonstrates that— (A)the alien has been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of not less than 5 years immediately preceding the date of enactment of this Act, and had not yet reached the age of 16 years at the time of initial entry; (B)the alien has been a person of good moral character since the time of application; (C)the alien— (i)is not inadmissible under paragraph (2), (3), (6)(B), (6)(C), (6)(E), (6)(F), or (6)(G) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)), or, if inadmissible solely under subparagraph (C) or (F) of paragraph (6) of such subsection, the alien was under the age of 16 years at the time the violation was committed; and (ii)is not deportable under paragraph (1)(E), (1)(G), (2), (3)(B), (3)(C), (3)(D), (4), or (6) of section 237(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)), or, if deportable solely under subparagraphs (C) or (D) of paragraph (3) of such subsection, the alien was under the age of 16 years at the time the violation was committed; (D)the alien, at the time of application, has been admitted to an institution of higher education in the United States, or has earned a high school diploma or obtained a general education development certificate in the United States; and (E)the alien has never been under a final administrative or judicial order of exclusion, deportation, or removal, unless the alien has remained in the United States under color of law or received the order before attaining the age of 16 years. (2)

Waiver

The Secretary may waive the grounds of ineligibility under section 212(a)(6) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and the grounds of deportability under paragraphs (1), (3), and (6) of section 237(a) of that Act for humanitarian purposes or family unity or when it is otherwise in the public interest. (3)

Procedures

The Secretary shall provide a procedure by regulation allowing eligible individuals to apply affirmatively for the relief available under this subsection without being placed in removal proceedings. (b)

Termination of Continuous Period

For purposes of this section, any period of continuous residence or continuous physical presence in the United States of an alien who applies for cancellation of removal under this section shall not terminate when the alien is served a notice to appear under section 239(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229(a)). (c)

Treatment of Certain Breaks in Presence

(1)

In general

An alien shall be considered to have failed to maintain continuous physical presence in the United States under subsection (a) if the alien has departed from the United States for any period in excess of 90 days or for any periods in the aggregate exceeding 180 days. (2)

Extensions for exceptional circumstances

The Secretary may extend the time periods described in paragraph (1) if the alien demonstrates that the failure to timely return to the United States was due to exceptional circumstances. The exceptional circumstances determined sufficient to justify an extension should be no less compelling than serious illness of the alien, or death or serious illness of a parent, grandparent, sibling, or child. (d)

Exemption From Numerical Limitations

Nothing in this section may be construed to apply a numerical limitation on the number of aliens who may be eligible for cancellation of removal or adjustment of status under this section. (e)

Regulations

(1)

Proposed regulations

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish proposed regulations implementing this section. Such regulations 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. (2)

Interim, final regulations

Within a reasonable time after publication of the interim regulations in accordance with paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish final regulations implementing this section. (f)

Removal of Alien

The Secretary may not remove any alien who has a pending application for conditional status under this Act.

Conditional permanent resident status

(a)

In General

(1)

Conditional basis for status

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and except as provided in section 626, an alien whose status has been adjusted under section 624 to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence shall be considered to have obtained such status on a conditional basis subject to the provisions of this section. Such conditional permanent resident status shall be valid for a period of 6 years, subject to termination under subsection (b). (2)

Notice of requirements

(A)

At time of obtaining permanent residence

At the time an alien obtains permanent resident status on a conditional basis under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide for notice to the alien regarding the provisions of this section and the requirements of subsection (c) to have the conditional basis of such status removed. (B)

Effect of failure to provide notice

The failure of the Secretary to provide a notice under this paragraph— (i)shall not affect the enforcement of the provisions of this Act with respect to the alien; and (ii)shall not give rise to any private right of action by the alien. (b)

Termination of Status

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall terminate the conditional permanent resident status of any alien who obtained such status under this Act, if the Secretary determines that the alien— (A)ceases to meet the requirements of subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 624(a)(1); (B)has become a public charge; or (C)has received a dishonorable or other than honorable discharge from the uniformed services. (2)

Return to previous immigration status

Any alien whose conditional permanent resident status is terminated under paragraph (1) shall return to the immigration status the alien had immediately prior to receiving conditional permanent resident status under this Act. (c)

Requirements of Timely Petition for Removal of Condition

(1)

In general

In order for the conditional basis of permanent resident status obtained by an alien under subsection (a) to be removed, the alien must file with the Secretary, in accordance with paragraph (3), a petition which requests the removal of such conditional basis and which provides, under penalty of perjury, the facts and information so that the Secretary may make the determination described in paragraph (2)(A). (2)

Adjudication of petition to remove condition

(A)

In general

If a petition is filed in accordance with paragraph (1) for an alien, the Secretary shall make a determination as to whether the alien meets the requirements set out in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of subsection (d)(1). (B)

Removal of conditional basis if favorable determination

If the Secretary determines that the alien meets such requirements, the Secretary shall notify the alien of such determination and immediately remove the conditional basis of the status of the alien. (C)

Termination if adverse determination

If the Secretary determines that the alien does not meet such requirements, the Secretary shall notify the alien of such determination and terminate the conditional permanent resident status of the alien as of the date of the determination. (3)

Time to file petition

An alien may petition to remove the conditional basis to lawful resident status during the period beginning 180 days before and ending 2 years after either the date that is 6 years after the date of the granting of conditional permanent resident status or any other expiration date of the conditional permanent resident status as extended by the Secretary in accordance with this Act. The alien shall be deemed in conditional permanent resident status in the United States during the period in which the petition is pending. (d)

Details of Petition

(1)

Contents of petition

Each petition for an alien under subsection (c)(1) shall contain information to permit the Secretary to determine whether each of the following requirements is met: (A)The alien has demonstrated good moral character during the entire period the alien has been a conditional permanent resident. (B)The alien is in compliance with section 3(a)(1)(C). (C)The alien has not abandoned the alien’s residence in the United States. The Secretary shall presume that the alien has abandoned such residence if the alien is absent from the United States for more than 365 days, in the aggregate, during the period of conditional residence, unless the alien demonstrates that alien has not abandoned the alien’s residence. An alien who is absent from the United States due to active service in the uniformed services has not abandoned the alien’s residence in the United States during the period of such service. (D)The alien has completed at least 1 of the following: (i)The alien has acquired a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States or has completed at least 2 years, in good standing, in a program for a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in the United States. (ii)The alien has served in the uniformed services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, has received an honorable discharge. (E)The alien has provided a list of all of the secondary educational institutions that the alien attended in the United States. (2)

Hardship exception

(A)

In general

The Secretary may, in the Secretary’s discretion, remove the conditional status of an alien if the alien— (i)satisfies the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1); (ii)demonstrates compelling circumstances for the inability to complete the requirements described in paragraph (1)(D); and (iii)demonstrates that the alien’s removal from the United States would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to the alien or the alien’s spouse, parent, or child who is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States. (B)

Extension

Upon a showing of good cause, the Secretary may extend the period of the conditional resident status for the purpose of completing the requirements described in paragraph (1)(D). (e)

Treatment of Period for Purposes of Naturalization

For purposes of title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), in the case of an alien who is in the United States as a lawful permanent resident on a conditional basis under this section, the alien shall be considered to have been admitted as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence and to be in the United States as an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. However, the conditional basis must be removed before the alien may apply for naturalization.

Retroactive benefits

If, on the date of enactment of this Act, an alien has satisfied all the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section 3(a)(1) and section 4(d)(1)(D), the Secretary may adjust the status of the alien to that of a conditional resident in accordance with section 3. The alien may petition for removal of such condition at the end of the conditional residence period in accordance with section 4(c) if the alien has met the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 4(d)(1) during the entire period of conditional residence.

Exclusive jurisdiction

(a)

In General

The Secretary shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine eligibility for relief under this Act, except where the alien has been placed into deportation, exclusion, or removal proceedings either prior to or after filing an application for relief under this Act, in which case the Attorney General shall have exclusive jurisdiction and shall assume all the powers and duties of the Secretary until proceedings are terminated, or if a final order of deportation, exclusion, or removal is entered the Secretary shall resume all powers and duties delegated to the Secretary under this Act. (b)

Stay of Removal of Certain Aliens Enrolled in Primary or Secondary School

The Attorney General shall stay the removal proceedings of any alien who— (1)meets all the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (E) of section 3(a)(1); (2)is at least 12 years of age; and (3)is enrolled full time in a primary or secondary school. (c)

Employment

An alien whose removal is stayed pursuant to subsection (b) may be engaged in employment in the United States, consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), and State and local laws governing minimum age for employment. (d)

Lift of Stay

The Attorney General shall lift the stay granted pursuant to subsection (b) if the alien— (1)is no longer enrolled in a primary or secondary school; or (2)ceases to meet the requirements of subsection (b)(1).

Penalties for false statements in application

Whoever files an application for relief under this Act and willfully and knowingly falsifies, misrepresents, or conceals a material fact or makes any false or fraudulent statement or representation, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined in accordance with title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

Confidentiality of information

(a)

Prohibition

No officer or employee of the United States may— (1)use the information furnished by the applicant pursuant to an application filed under this Act to initiate removal proceedings against any persons identified in the application; (2)make any publication whereby the information furnished by any particular individual pursuant to an application under this Act can be identified; or (3)permit anyone other than an officer or employee of the United States Government or, in the case of applications filed under this Act with a designated entity, that designated entity, to examine applications filed under this Act. (b)

Required Disclosure

The Attorney General or the Secretary shall provide the information furnished under this section, and any other information derived from such furnished information, to— (1)a duly recognized law enforcement entity in connection with an investigation or prosecution of an offense described in paragraph (2) or (3) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)), when such information is requested in writing by such entity; or (2)an official coroner for purposes of affirmatively identifying a deceased individual (whether or not such individual is deceased as a result of a crime). (c)

Penalty

Whoever knowingly uses, publishes, or permits information to be examined in violation of this section shall be fined not more than $10,000.

Expedited processing of applications; prohibition on fees

Regulations promulgated under this Act shall provide that applications under this Act will be considered on an expedited basis and without a requirement for the payment by the applicant of any additional fee for such expedited processing.

10.

Gao report

Seven years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, which sets forth— (1)the number of aliens who were eligible for cancellation of removal and adjustment of status under section 3(a); (2)the number of aliens who applied for adjustment of status under section 3(a); (3)the number of aliens who were granted adjustment of status under section 3(a); and (4)the number of aliens whose conditional permanent resident status was removed under section 4.