Bill Overview
Title: ALIEN Act of 2022
Description: This bill makes various changes to immigration laws, including by (1) eliminating the diversity visa program; (2) establishing additional penalties for non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who overstay a visa, such as criminal penalties for an overstay and permanent bans for repeat overstays; and (3) eliminating the authority of the Department of Homeland Security to waive certain grounds of inadmissibility, such as for grounds related to the simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana.
Sponsors: Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by the ALIEN Act of 2022
Estimated Size: 50000
- The diversity visa program issues up to 50,000 visas annually to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
- Individuals who overstay their visas include tourists, students, and workers from numerous countries. In fiscal year 2019, the Department of Homeland Security estimated about 676,422 instances of visa overstays.
- Individuals currently within the US who could have potentially benefited from waivers of inadmissibility will also be affected, particularly those charged with minor infractions or small quantity drug possession.
Reasoning
- The population most directly affected by the ALIEN Act of 2022 includes individuals looking to immigrate via the diversity visa, those who may overstay visas, and those within the US who might benefit from waivers for minor offenses. The diversity visa program centrally impacts a maximum population of around 50,000 annually, with visa overstays having a broader potential reach. However, overlap occurs as family members and residents connected to applicants might also be indirectly affected. Many individuals who might overstay visas are from various demographics including students and temporary workers which adds complexity to direct financial analysis. Economic and cultural considerations, like the impact on familial ties and economic impacts delivered by immigrant communities, form indirect impacts felt by US citizens related to the target population. The constrained budget limits the scope of enforcement and support, as distribution challenges arise from broad targeting and enforcement goals.
- Given budget limitations, prioritization likely involves extending enforcement but with limits - focusing on significant visa overstays and prioritizing initial actions over waivers impact long-term well-being measures, particularly for those who could linger in immigration processes. Given the costs involved with establishing visa overstay penalties and eliminating waivers, the immediate financial resources go toward adjustment, education on changes, and legal enforcement, reducing initial broad geographical or societal economic impacts such as those from extended visa-stays. These constraints require pinpoint policies leading possibly to uneven impacts stemming from differing state, federal, and policy impact recognition - potentially contributing to societal and personal challenges building over policy phases.
- This is a critical measure as immigration policy affects socio-economic dynamics. The enforcement focus may raise security costs and require targeted communication strategies favoring communities most immediately implicated by exclusion or visa adjustments - with cost-optimizing seen only after adaptation measures and steady governmental regulation equilibrium.
Simulated Interviews
software engineer (Texas)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change really worries me because I have been hoping to bring my brother over on a diversity visa. I understand the need for security, but it feels like these changes remove opportunities for deserving individuals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
university lecturer (California)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's going to be harder to plan for family visits, given the harsh penalties for overstays. I might need a legal counsel even for short vacations because these penalties could ruin lives unnecessarily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
pharmacy technician (New Jersey)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Without the possibility of waivers, my mistake years ago could mean no future here if anything happens. It's stressful and demotivating thinking my home isn't permanent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
construction worker (Florida)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support policy for stronger borders, though not if it's too harsh on regular folks who are trying to better themselves. Penalties need a human side with a focus on reform than punishment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
graphic designer (Arizona)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Discontinuing the diversity visa limits what my home country could give for diversity here, further narrowing the paths for folks like me aiming to grow and share experiences in the US.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
small business owner (New York)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If my valuable employees leave due to visa issues, my business suffers, and so will many families who depend on us. It feels like small businesses are overlooked when policies like these target the workforce.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
retired teacher (Illinois)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I love the cultural richness visitors contribute. Policies that strangle visa opportunities risk diminishing this diversity, limiting interactions that enrich our communities and our schools.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 8 |
policy analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stricter policies might not deliver intended results unless tied to broader reforms. As it stands, enforcement could be inconsistent and deepen inequalities felt by those unfairly penalized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
college student (Alabama)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Without the diversity visa path, students like me see fewer options post-graduation. Immigration changes without support structures mean potential talent drains rather than contributions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
legal consultant (Massachusetts)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Clients I work with fear the disproportionate impact of penalties - especially affecting those who missed visa adjustments through no fault of their own. Tighter waivers make my work protecting families harder.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $400000000)
Year 2: $310000000 (Low: $260000000, High: $410000000)
Year 3: $320000000 (Low: $270000000, High: $420000000)
Year 5: $350000000 (Low: $290000000, High: $450000000)
Year 10: $400000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $500000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Key Considerations
- The effect on long-term U.S. demographic trends and cultural diversity due to eliminating the diversity visa program.
- Potential legal challenges against heightened penalties for visa overstays and the impact on U.S. relations with countries of affected immigrants.
- Operational needs for DHS to manage increased enforcement and the potential need for congressional allocations.
- Potential changes in workforce availability, particularly in industries relying on lower-skilled or seasonal migrant labor.