Sec. 201. Initial Entry, Adjustment, and Citizenship Assistance Grants
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/bill/113/hr/4949/ih/section-201·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services, in consultation with the Director of the National Office of New Americans, shall award Initial Entry, Adjustment, and Citizenship Assistance grants to eligible entities. An entity eligible to receive a grant under this section is a unit of local government, private organization, community-based organization, or not-for-profit organization— that provides authorized direct legal assistance to immigrants to the United States; and that submits to the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as such Director, in consultation with the Director of the National Office of New Americans, may reasonably require.
Funds awarded under this section may be used to provide to an eligible non-citizen legal assistance relating to the immigration status of such non-citizen, or related services. Such assistance may include— screening to assess the eligibility of a prospective applicant seeking a change in immigration status; completing immigration applications; gathering proof of identification, employment, residence, and tax payment; gathering proof of relationships to eligible family members; applying for any waivers for which an applicant and qualifying family members may be eligible; and advising an applicant on the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship.
A non-citizen is eligible to receive the assistance described in paragraph
(1)if such non-citizen is— seeking to become a permanent resident or naturalized citizen; or seeking relief from removal and authorization to remain in the United States lawfully and permanently. In awarding grants under this section, priority shall be given to— entities that demonstrate intent to use grant funds to serve individuals living in a State with a foreign-born population of not less than 5 percent that has experienced an increase that is higher than the national average in the population of non-citizen residents during the most recent 10-year period, based on data compiled by the Office of Immigration Statistics or the United States Census Bureau, or units of local government located within such State; or entities that demonstrate intent to use grant funds to serve individuals living in any of the 10 States with the highest number of non-citizen residents, based on data compiled by the Office of Immigration Statistics or the United States Census Bureau, or units of local government located within such State. In order to receive a payment under this section, a participating entity shall submit to the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services a certification that the proposed uses of grant funds by the entity are consistent with this section and meet all necessary criteria determined by the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services in consultation with the Director of the National Office of New Americans. Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year for which an entity receives grant funds under this section, the entity shall submit to the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services the following: A report that describes— the activities undertaken by the entity that were funded entirely or partially by the grant funds; the geographic area or areas served by the grant funds; an estimate of the number of non-citizens living in the jurisdiction or service area of the entity, which demonstrates that the entity made a reasonable effort to determine such number; the number of non-citizens receiving assistance that was funded entirely or partially by grant funds received by the entity; and the primary languages spoken in the jurisdiction or service area of the entity. An evaluation of any program of the entity using grant funds under this section, including an assessment of— the effectiveness of such program and recommendations for improving the program; the future needs of immigrants to the United States; and the future needs of States and units of local government related to immigrant integration. In this section, the term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This section shall be in effect for a period of 10 fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2016.