Sec. 201. Legal services and immigration assistance grants
673 words·~3 min read·
/bill/116/hr/4928/ih/section-201·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, in consultation with the Director of the National Office of New Americans, shall award Legal Services and Immigration 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 and refugees in the United States; in the case of any applicant who has previously received a grant under this section, that uses matching funds from non-Federal sources, which may include in-kind contributions, equal to 25 percent of amount received under this section; that provides immigration education, outreach and quality paralegal services to immigrants and refugees, in coordination with immigration attorneys or representatives accredited by the Recognition and Accreditation Program of the Department of Justice Executive Office of Immigration Review; and that submits to the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as such Director may reasonably require.
Funds awarded under this section may be used to provide to an eligible individual legal assistance relating to the immigration status of such individual, or related services. Such assistance may include— outreach and education to identify and support those in need of legal services; liaison services to connect individuals with trusted legal service providers, social service organizations and government representatives; screening to assess the eligibility of any individual regarding any status under the immigration laws; completing immigration applications; translation services; gathering of documents such as proof of identification, employment, residence, family relationships and tax payment; applying for any waivers for which an applicant and qualifying family members may be eligible; and assisting an applicant for United States citizenship with application preparation and the citizenship application process, including support for the English and civics exams.
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 order to receive a payment under this section, a participating entity shall submit to the Attorney General 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 Attorney General 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; a breakdown of the costs of each of the services provided and the average per capita cost of providing such assistance; 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; and whether or not the legal services needs of the geographic area served have been met and if not, what further assistance is required to meet such need. 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. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 through 2022.