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Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act
(LIFE
Act)
SUMMARY
(Based on drafts from Congressional offices)
REAUTHORIZES SECTION 245(i) UNTIL
APRIL 30, 2001
CREATES A NEW TEMPORARY VISA FOR
SPOUSES AND MINOR CHILDREN OF LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS AWAITING AN IMMIGRANT
VISA
GRANTS PROTECTION FROM DEPORTATION AND WORK
AUTHORIZATION TO THE SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF LATE LEGALIZATION
APPLICANTS
Consistent with laws passed in
1990 to protect the family of legalization applicants who were already in the
United States, the LIFE Act prevents the deportation of the spouses and minor
children of a person who is applying for late legalization under the new law.
Also consistent with prior laws, these family members are eligible for work
authorization
Who Is Eligible for Relief:
To be eligible for benefits a person must prove that he or she is:
·
The spouse or unmarried child of a person who is eligible for
adjustment of status as a result of the late legalization provisions of the LIFE
Act.
·
Entered the United States before December 1, 1998 and resided in
the United States on that date.
·
Has not been convicted of a felony or three or more misdemeanors
in the United States, has not assisted in the persecution of any person (on
account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a
particular social group), or is otherwise not a danger to the community of the
United States.
Relief Granted Under the
Law:
·
Eligible people will be protected from deportation for violations
of status in the United States but will continue to be deportable for other
grounds of deportation, including criminal activity.
·
Eligible people will be entitled to work authorization in the
United States
·
If the applicant for benefits under the late legalization
provisions of the LIFE Act is applying from outside of the United States, the
Attorney General is required to establish a process by which eligible spouses
and children may be paroled into the United States in order to obtain the
benefits under the new law.
PROVIDES CERTAIN WAIVERS AND
PROTECTIONS AGAINST DEPORTATION FOR APPLICANTS UNDER NACARA AND
HRIFA
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