SECURE Act

The SECURE Act (Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency Act) would create a new pathway, under a new section 245B of the Immigration and Nationality Act, for certain foreign nationals to adjust to permanent resident (green card) status. The eligibility group centers on foreigners who come from countries designated under TPS (Temporary Protected Status) or that have been designated or previously designated under related authorities (such as temporary protections under section 244(b)) or those who departed/removal orders ending after September 28, 2016. To qualify, applicants must meet a 3-year continuous presence in the United States, pass criminal and national security checks, and otherwise be admissible. The bill also allows some applicants who were removed or departed to apply from outside the United States, subject to conditions, and would remove numerical caps for those adjustments. In addition, the bill provides for work authorization and advance parole during the application period, and extends similar adjustment benefits to spouses and certain children of qualifying aliens. It imposes confidentiality protections on information collected under 245B, with limited circumstances where information may be shared, and creates reporting requirements on TPS-designated countries that are discontinued in the future. Overall, it expands a pathway to lawful permanent residence for a defined group of TPS-aligned foreign nationals, with several safeguards and new oversight provisions.