[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7755 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7755

   To protect stateless persons in the United States, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 20, 2024

    Mr. Raskin (for himself, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. 
    Grijalva, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Norton, Mrs. 
  Ramirez, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Schiff, and Mr. Trone) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To protect stateless persons in the United States, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Stateless Protection Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The International Covenant on Civil and Political 
        Rights, to which the United States is a party, provides that 
        every child has the right to acquire a nationality, and 
        numerous other treaties and the Universal Declaration of Human 
        Rights recognize the right to a nationality.
            (2) Statelessness is an abhorrent affront to human dignity 
        and may lead to the violation of human rights.
            (3) The Supreme Court of the United States has recognized 
        that denationalization, as a form of punishment, is more 
        primitive than torture.
            (4) Government action and inaction causes statelessness; 
        therefore, governments have the power to resolve and prevent 
        statelessness.
            (5) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees--
                    (A) is a United Nations agency responsible for 
                identifying stateless persons, preventing and reducing 
                statelessness, and protecting stateless persons; and
                    (B) estimates that there are at least 10,000,000 
                stateless persons worldwide.
            (6) A 2020 study conducted by the Center for Migration 
        Studies found that there are approximately 218,000 individuals 
        living in the United States who are stateless or at risk of 
        statelessness.
            (7) Stateless individuals live in all 50 States, and many 
        such individuals have lived in the United States for years or 
        decades without relief.
            (8) Despite the presence of stateless persons in the United 
        States, there is no law relating to the identification of 
        stateless persons in the United States or to provide stateless 
        persons with a path to legal status.
            (9) Stateless persons often--
                    (A) live without the means to work legally or to 
                travel; and
                    (B) face barriers in opening bank accounts, 
                pursuing higher education, accessing justice, and 
                obtaining health care.
            (10) If detained for removal from the United States, a 
        stateless person is often subjected to prolonged detention and, 
        in some instances, cannot be removed because no country 
        recognizes the person as its national.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that to resolve 
statelessness and its related human suffering, lost potential, and 
societal impacts, the United States should--
            (1) provide a legal status to protect stateless persons; 
        and
            (2) urge the international community to take strong action 
        to prevent statelessness globally.

SEC. 3. PROTECTION OF STATELESS PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title II of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 245A the following:

``SEC. 245B. PROTECTION OF STATELESS PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Competent authority.--With respect to a foreign 
        state, the term `competent authority'--
                    ``(A) means the authority responsible for--
                            ``(i) conferring nationality on, or 
                        withdrawing nationality from, individuals; or
                            ``(ii) in the case of nationality having 
                        been acquired or withdrawn automatically, 
                        clarifying the nationality status of an 
                        individual; and
                    ``(B) includes a Federal, local, or regional 
                government entity, a consular official, and a 
                government official at any level, notwithstanding any 
                process by which a decision by such an entity or 
                official may later be overridden.
            ``(2) Noncitizen.--The term `noncitizen' has the meaning 
        given the term `alien' in section 101(a).
            ``(3) Operation of law; operation of its law.--The terms 
        `operation of law' and `operation of its law'--
                    ``(A) refer to the consideration by a competent 
                authority of a state with respect to whether an 
                individual is a national of that state, including under 
                the legislation, ministerial decrees, regulations, 
                orders, judicial case law, and customary practices of 
                the competent authority; and
                    ``(B) include situations in which the position of 
                the competent authority of a state differs from the law 
                of the state as written, if the position of the 
                competent authority of the state that an individual is 
                not a national of the state is determinative.
            ``(4) Relevant association.--The term `relevant 
        association' means an individual's connection to a state 
        through--
                    ``(A) birth on the territory of the state;
                    ``(B) direct descent from 1 or more individuals who 
                are nationals of the state;
                    ``(C) marriage to an individual who is a national 
                of the state;
                    ``(D) adoption by an individual who is a national 
                of the state; or
                    ``(E) habitual residence in the state.
            ``(5) Stateless person.--The term `stateless person' means 
        an individual who is not considered as a national by any state 
        under the operation of its law.
            ``(6) Frivolous application.--The term `frivolous 
        application' means an application that--
                    ``(A) contains a fabricated material element;
                    ``(B) is premised upon false or fabricated 
                evidence, unless the application would have been 
                granted without the false or fabricated evidence;
                    ``(C) is filed without regard to the merits of the 
                claim; or
                    ``(D) is clearly foreclosed by applicable law.
    ``(b) Mechanisms for Regularizing the Status of Stateless 
Persons.--
            ``(1) Stateless protected status.--
                    ``(A) Principal applicants.--Notwithstanding any 
                other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland 
                Security shall provide stateless protected status to a 
                noncitizen who--
                            ``(i) is a stateless person present in the 
                        United States;
                            ``(ii) applies for such relief;
                            ``(iii) has not performed a potentially 
                        expatriating act under section 349 after the 
                        date of the enactment of this section, unless 
                        the noncitizen had acquired or had a reasonable 
                        expectation that the noncitizen would acquire a 
                        foreign nationality or citizenship;
                            ``(iv) except as provided in paragraph (2) 
                        of this subsection--
                                    ``(I) is not inadmissible under 
                                section subparagraph (C), (E), (G), or 
                                (H) of section 212(a)(2) or section 
                                212(a)(3) (other than subparagraph 
                                (D)); and
                                    ``(II) is not removable under 
                                section 237(a)(4);
                            ``(v) is not described in section 
                        241(b)(3)(B)(i);
                            ``(vi) is not otherwise ineligible for 
                        stateless protected status under this section; 
                        and
                            ``(vii) is not a stateless person because 
                        the noncitizen has voluntarily relinquished 
                        United States nationality under section 349.
                    ``(B) Treatment of spouse and children.--
                Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
                Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide stateless 
                protected status to a noncitizen who--
                            ``(i) is present in the United States;
                            ``(ii) is the spouse or child of a 
                        noncitizen described in subparagraph (A), if 
                        such spouse or child is not otherwise eligible 
                        for admission under that subparagraph;
                            ``(iii) applies for stateless protected 
                        status under this section;
                            ``(iv) is accompanying, or following to 
                        join, such noncitizen;
                            ``(v) established the qualifying 
                        relationship to such noncitizen before the date 
                        on which such noncitizen applied for stateless 
                        protected status;
                            ``(vi) except as provided in paragraph (2) 
                        of this subsection--
                                    ``(I) is not inadmissible under 
                                section subparagraph (C), (E), (G), or 
                                (H) of section 212(a)(2) or section 
                                212(a)(3) (other than subparagraph 
                                (D)); and
                                    ``(II) is not removable under 
                                section 237(a)(4); and
                            ``(vii) is not described in section 
                        241(b)(3)(B)(i).
                    ``(C) Stateless protected status.--Noncitizens with 
                stateless protected status shall--
                            ``(i) receive relevant protections against 
                        deportation, removal, and detention, as 
                        described in paragraph (3);
                            ``(ii) be authorized for employment 
                        incident to status; and
                            ``(iii) be issued a travel document, as 
                        described in paragraph (5).
                    ``(D) Concurrent grant of lawful permanent 
                residence.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding any 
                        other provision of law, immediately on granting 
                        stateless protected status to a noncitizen, the 
                        Secretary of Homeland Security may adjust the 
                        status of the noncitizen to that of a 
                        noncitizen lawfully admitted for permanent 
                        residence, provided that the noncitizen is 
                        admissible (except as otherwise provided in 
                        clause (ii)) as an immigrant under this 
                        chapter.
                            ``(ii) Admissibility.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The grounds of 
                                inadmissibility under paragraphs (4), 
                                (5), (7)(A), and (9)(B) of section 
                                212(a) shall not be applicable to any 
                                noncitizen seeking adjustment of status 
                                under this section.
                                    ``(II) Waiver available.--A 
                                noncitizen seeking adjustment of status 
                                under this section may request a waiver 
                                of inadmissibility under paragraph (2).
                            ``(iii) Exception.--The Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security may not adjust the status of 
                        a noncitizen with stateless protected status 
                        who is described in section 241(b)(3)(B)(i).
                            ``(iv) Treatment of spouse and children.--
                        The Secretary of Homeland Security may adjust 
                        the status of a spouse or child granted 
                        stateless protected status under subparagraph 
                        (B) to that of a noncitizen lawfully admitted 
                        for permanent residence even if the principal 
                        applicant concerned is ineligible for 
                        adjustment of status.
            ``(2) Waivers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of law, with respect to a noncitizen applying 
                for stateless protected status or adjustment of status 
                under this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
                may waive any applicable provision of section 212(a) 
                (other than subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (E) or (F) of 
                paragraph (3) of that section) and section 
                237(a)(4)(F)--
                            ``(i) for humanitarian purposes;
                            ``(ii) to ensure family unity; or
                            ``(iii) if such a waiver is otherwise in 
                        the public interest.
                    ``(B) Factors.--In making a determination under 
                subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Homeland Security 
                shall consider all relevant factors, including--
                            ``(i) mitigating and aggravating factors of 
                        the basis for inadmissibility;
                            ``(ii) the duration of the noncitizen's 
                        residence in the United States; and
                            ``(iii) the degree to which the 
                        noncitizen's removal, or the denial of the 
                        noncitizen's application, would result in 
                        hardship to the noncitizen or the noncitizen's 
                        parent, spouse, child, or adult son or 
                        daughter.
            ``(3) Release from post-order detention.--A grant of 
        stateless protected status to a principal applicant under 
        subsection (b)(1)(A) shall--
                    ``(A) in the case of such an applicant who is 
                detained pursuant to an order of removal, trigger 
                immediate release from the custody of the Secretary of 
                Homeland Security;
                    ``(B) be considered to establish that there is no 
                significant likelihood of the individual's removal in 
                the reasonably foreseeable future; and
                    ``(C) establish a presumption that travel documents 
                are not available for the individual.
            ``(4) Employment authorization while application pending.--
                    ``(A) In general.--During the 150-day period after 
                the date on which an application for status under this 
                section is submitted, the Secretary of Homeland 
                Security may authorize the applicant to engage in 
                employment in the United States.
                    ``(B) Mandatory employment authorization.--If the 
                Secretary of Homeland Security has not issued a 
                decision within the 150-day period beginning on the 
                date on which an application for status under this 
                section is submitted, the Secretary of Homeland 
                Security shall authorize the applicant to engage in 
                employment in the United States until the date on which 
                a decision is issued on the application for stateless 
                protected status.
            ``(5) Travel documents.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland 
                Security shall provide to any noncitizen granted relief 
                under this section, a travel document that facilitates 
                the noncitizen's ability to travel abroad and to be 
                admitted to the United States upon return.
                    ``(B) Validity.--The minimum period of validity for 
                a document issued under subparagraph (A) shall be--
                            ``(i) in the case of such a noncitizen who 
                        is 16 years of age or older, 10 years; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of such a noncitizen who 
                        is under 16 years of age, 5 years.
            ``(6) Frivolous applications.--
                    ``(A) In general.--At the time of filing an 
                application for stateless protected status or 
                adjustment of status under this section, the Secretary 
                of Homeland Security shall advise the noncitizen of the 
                privilege of being represented by counsel and of the 
                consequences, under subparagraph (D), of knowingly 
                filing a frivolous application under this section.
                    ``(B) Effect of withdrawal of application.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A noncitizen may request 
                        that the noncitizen's application for status 
                        under this section be withdrawn, prior to the 
                        adjudication of the application.
                            ``(ii) Effect of consent to withdrawal.--If 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security consents to 
                        the withdrawal of the noncitizen's application, 
                        the application shall be considered denied 
                        without prejudice to any future application.
                            ``(iii) Effect of decline to consent to 
                        withdrawal.--If the Secretary of Homeland 
                        Security declines to consent to the withdrawal 
                        of the noncitizen's application, the 
                        application shall be adjudicated on its merits.
                            ``(iv) Prohibition on negative inference.--
                        In determining whether an application under 
                        this section is frivolous, the Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security may not draw a negative 
                        inference from a noncitizen's request to 
                        withdraw the application.
                    ``(C) Denial.--The denial of an application for 
                stateless protected status or adjustment of status 
                under this section shall not be construed to establish 
                that the application was frivolous.
                    ``(D) Consequence of filing a frivolous 
                application.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security 
                determines that a noncitizen has knowingly made a 
                frivolous application for status under this section and 
                the noncitizen has received notice under subparagraph 
                (A), the noncitizen shall be permanently ineligible for 
                stateless protected status or adjustment of status 
                under this section, effective as of the date on which a 
                final determination on such application is made.
    ``(c) Evidentiary Matters.--
            ``(1) In general.--In determining if an individual is a 
        stateless person under this section, the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security may consider and obtain any credible evidence relevant 
        to the application, including information from--
                    ``(A) the Department of State, including the Bureau 
                of Population, Refugees, and Migration and the Bureau 
                of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; and
                    ``(B) relevant international and foreign bodies, 
                the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the 
                Law Library of Congress, nongovernmental organizations, 
                and the competent authorities of other countries.
            ``(2) Designation of specific groups of stateless 
        persons.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland 
                Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, 
                may designate 1 or more groups the members of which 
                shall be presumed to be stateless persons for purposes 
                of this section.
                    ``(B) Presumption.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A noncitizen shall be 
                        presumed to be a stateless person if the 
                        noncitizen--
                                    ``(I) belongs to a group designated 
                                under subparagraph (A); and
                                    ``(II) applies for stateless 
                                protected status under this section.
                            ``(ii) Rebuttal.--The presumption under 
                        clause (i) may be rebutted if the Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security finds, by clear and 
                        convincing evidence, that the individual 
                        concerned is considered as a national of any 
                        state under the operation of its law.
                    ``(C) Revocation.--The Secretary of Homeland 
                Security may revoke the designation of a group under 
                subparagraph (A) as of any date on which the Secretary 
                determines that members of the group are no longer 
                stateless persons.
            ``(3) Standard of proof.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An applicant shall have the 
                burden of establishing, by the preponderance of the 
                evidence, that the applicant is eligible for a grant of 
                stateless protected status, adjustment of status, or a 
                waiver of inadmissibility under this section.
                    ``(B) Assessment of nationality.--The nationality 
                of an individual shall be assessed as of the date of 
                adjudication of an application under this section, 
                without regard to future possible acquisitions of 
                nationality.
            ``(4) Submission of documentary evidence.--
                    ``(A) Supporting documents from applicant.--An 
                applicant for relief under this section shall submit, 
                as part of the application for such relief--
                            ``(i) a full and truthful account, to the 
                        best of the noncitizen's knowledge, of such 
                        noncitizen's legal status with regard to any 
                        state in which the applicant was born or 
                        resided before entering the United States or 
                        with which the applicant has a relevant 
                        association; and
                            ``(ii) all evidence reasonably available, 
                        including any valid or expired travel document.
                    ``(B) Evidence available to secretary of homeland 
                security.--
                            ``(i) In general.--If the Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security determines that an applicant 
                        is not a stateless person, the Secretary shall 
                        submit to the applicant and, if relevant, to 
                        the applicant's counsel, any information or 
                        evidence available to the Secretary (other than 
                        information or evidence initially provided by 
                        the applicant) regarding the legal status of 
                        the applicant in the applicant's country of 
                        birth or prior residence or any country with 
                        which the applicant has a relevant association, 
                        including information on the relevant laws and 
                        practices of the countries concerned.
                            ``(ii) Inapplicability to certain 
                        information.--Clause (i) shall not apply to 
                        information that is classified or otherwise 
                        protected from disclosure by law.
                    ``(C) Consideration of response.--The Secretary of 
                Homeland Security may consider as substantial evidence 
                that an individual is not considered by a state to be 
                national of the state the following:
                            ``(i) In a case in which the Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security requests, from a state with 
                        which a noncitizen has a relevant association, 
                        information with respect to the noncitizen's 
                        nationality status, a lack of response from the 
                        competent authority of such state during the 
                        120-day period beginning on the date of such 
                        request.
                            ``(ii) A pro forma response from the state 
                        that lacks an application of the law or facts 
                        to the particular individual.
                            ``(iii) For non-recalcitrant states, the 
                        refusal of the state to accept the noncitizen 
                        for deportation or removal.
    ``(d) Fees.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may not charge a 
noncitizen any fee in connection with an application for, or issuance 
of, stateless protected status under this section, employment 
authorization, or travel documents.
    ``(e) Jurisdiction and Review.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of U.S. Citizenship and 
        Immigration Services shall have jurisdiction over an 
        application for stateless protected status and adjustment of 
        status filed by a noncitizen under this section.
            ``(2) Review.--An initial denial of an application for 
        relief under this section shall be subject to review by the 
        Administrative Appeals Office of U.S. Citizenship and 
        Immigration Services.
    ``(f) Effect on Removal Proceedings.--With respect to a noncitizen 
in removal proceedings who files a nonfrivolous application for relief 
under this section, the Attorney General shall administratively close 
the removal proceedings pending the adjudication of the application.
    ``(g) Applicants With Final Orders of Removal.--
            ``(1) Stay of removal.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An applicant for stateless 
                protected status or adjustment of status under this 
                section who has been issued a final order of removal, 
                deportation, or exclusion may request a stay of 
                removal, deportation, or exclusion.
                    ``(B) Consideration of request.--With respect to an 
                individual who requests a stay under subparagraph (A), 
                if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that 
                the application for relief is nonfrivolous, the 
                Secretary shall automatically stay the execution of the 
                final order of deportation, exclusion, or removal, and 
                the stay will remain in effect until a final decision 
                is made on the applications.
                    ``(C) Effect of denial.--If such an application is 
                denied, the stay of such a final order shall be deemed 
                lifted as of the date on which such denial becomes 
                final upon--
                            ``(i) dismissal of an appeal;
                            ``(ii) waiver of appeal by the noncitizen; 
                        or
                            ``(iii) expiration of the time allotted for 
                        an appeal if the noncitizen does not file an 
                        appeal within that time.
            ``(2) Termination.--On the approval of an application for 
        stateless protected status or adjustment of status under this 
        section to a noncitizen in removal proceedings or with an order 
        of removal, deportation, or exclusion, the proceedings or order 
        of removal, deportation, or exclusion shall be deemed canceled 
        by operation of law as of the date of the approval.
    ``(h) Exclusion From Numerical Limitations.--Individuals provided 
status under this section shall not be counted against any numerical 
limitation under section 201, 202, or 203.
    ``(i) Rule of Construction.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
(b)(1)(B), nothing in this section may be construed to authorize or 
require the admission or parole of any noncitizen into the United 
States.
    ``(j) Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 240 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this section, and every 90 days thereafter, 
        the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide to the 
        Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign 
        Relations of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary and 
        the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a briefing on--
                    ``(A) the number and outcome of applications 
                submitted under each of paragraphs (1), (4), and (5) of 
                subsection (b) since such date of enactment, 
                disaggregated by--
                            ``(i) the country of birth of the 
                        applicants; and
                            ``(ii) the fiscal year in which the 
                        applications were received; and
                    ``(B) with respect to applications adjudicated 
                during the 180-day period immediately preceding the 
                date of the briefing, the median processing time, by 
                application type.
            ``(2) Public availability.--The Secretary of Homeland 
        Security shall publish on the internet website of the 
        Department of Homeland Security the information described in 
        each report submitted under paragraph (1).
    ``(k) Publication of Guidance.--Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall issue on the internet website of the Department of Homeland 
Security public guidance and application instructions relating to the 
requirements of this section.
    ``(l) Regulations.--Notwithstanding chapter 5 of title 5, United 
States Code (commonly known as the `Administrative Procedures Act'), 
the Secretary of Homeland Security may issue such regulations as the 
Secretary considers appropriate to carry out this section.
    ``(m) Exemption From Paperwork Reduction Act.--During the 1-year 
period beginning on the date that is 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the requirements under chapter 35 of title 
44, United States Code, shall not apply to any collection of 
information required under this section or any rule promulgated by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security to implement this section.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of contents.--The table of contents for the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 245A 
        the following:

``Sec. 245B. Protection of stateless persons in the United States.''.
            (2) Naturalization.--Section 316 of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1427) is amended by adding at the end 
        the following:
    ``(g) The requirements of subsection (a) shall apply to an 
individual who adjusts status to that of a lawful permanent resident 
under section 245B of this Act, except that such an individual shall be 
eligible for naturalization if--
            ``(1) during the 3-year period immediately preceding the 
        date on which the individual files his or her application for 
        naturalization, the individual has resided continuously within 
        the United States after having been lawfully admitted for 
        permanent residence;
            ``(2) during such 3-year period, the individual has been 
        physically present in the United States for 1 or more periods 
        totaling not less than 18 months; and
            ``(3) the individual who has resided within the State or 
        within the district of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
        Services in which the individual filed the application for not 
        less than 90 days.''.
            (3) Qualified noncitizen.--Section 431(b) of the Personal 
        Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 
        (8 U.S.C. 1641(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (7), by striking ``, or'' and 
                inserting a comma;
                    (B) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``, or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) a noncitizen in stateless protected status under 
        section 245B of the Immigration and Nationality Act.''.

SEC. 4. PROGRAMS TO PREVENT STATELESSNESS.

    Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall jointly engage in 
and support activities and efforts aimed at preventing and reducing 
statelessness, which may include--
            (1) conducting an assessment of United States citizenship 
        law to determine and propose amendments to any provision of law 
        that results in statelessness or a delayed acquisition of 
        nationality that increases the risk of statelessness;
            (2) conducting studies on the profiles and number of 
        stateless people living in the United States;
            (3) implementing programs--
                    (A) to promote inclusive and nondiscriminatory 
                nationality laws and practices in other countries, with 
                particular attention to the prevention of human rights 
                violations and atrocity crimes; and
                    (B) to encourage other countries to establish 
                stateless status determination and protection 
                legislation; and
            (4) awarding grants to universities, international 
        organizations, and nongovernmental organizations to accelerate 
        research, education, curricula, and knowledge on nationality 
        law and practice and statelessness.

SEC. 5. UPDATING CITIZENSHIP RELINQUISHMENT PROVISIONS.

    (a) Loss of Nationality by Native-Born or Naturalized Citizens.--
            (1) In general.--Section 349(a) of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1481(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (6); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph 
                (6).
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 351(a) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1483(a)), is amended 
        by striking ``paragraphs (6) and (7)'' and inserting 
        ``paragraph (6)''.
    (b) Effective Date; Applicability.--The amendments made by this 
section--
            (1) shall be effective on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act; and
            (2) shall apply to any pending renunciation request under 
        section 349(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1481(a)) with respect to which a final decision has not been 
        made.
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