S.744 Immigration bill - Sec. 2106: GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Posted Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 4:56 pm

    (a) Establishment- The Secretary may establish, within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible public or private nonprofit organizations that will use the funding to assist eligible applicants under section 245B, 245C, or 245D of the Immigration and Nationality Act by providing them with the services described in subsection (c).

    (b) Eligible Public or Private Non-profit Organization- The term `eligible public or private nonprofit' means a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, including a community, faith-based or other immigrant-serving organization, whose staff has demonstrated qualifications, experience, and expertise in providing quality services to immigrants, refugees, persons granted asylum, or persons applying for such statuses.

    (c) Use of Funds- Grant funds awarded under this section may be used for the design and implementation of programs that provide--

      (1) information to the public regarding the eligibility and benefits of registered provisional immigrant status authorized under section 245B of the Immigration and Nationality Act, particularly individuals potentially eligible for such status;

      (2) assistance, within the scope of authorized practice of immigration law, to individuals submitting applications for registered provisional immigrant status, including--

        (A) screening prospective applicants to assess their eligibility for such status;

        (B) completing applications and petitions, including providing assistance in obtaining the requisite documents and supporting evidence;

        (C) applying for any waivers for which applicants and qualifying family members may be eligible; and

        (D) providing any other assistance that the Secretary or grantees consider useful or necessary to apply for registered provisional immigrant status;

      (3) assistance, within the scope of authorized practice of immigration law, to individuals seeking to adjust their status to that of an alien admitted for permanent residence under section 245C of the Immigration and Nationality Act; and

      (4) assistance, within the scope of authorized practice of immigration law, and instruction, to individuals--

        (A) on the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship;

        (B) in civics and civics-based English as a second language; and

        (C) in applying for United States citizenship.

    (d) Source of Grant Funds-

      (1) APPLICATION FEES- The Secretary may use up to $50,000,000 from the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund established under section 6(a)(1) to carry out this section.

      (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS-

        (A) AMOUNTS AUTHORIZED- In addition to the amounts made available under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2018 to carry out this section.

        (B) AVAILABILITY- Any amounts appropriated pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall remain available until expended.

2106
GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS