Bill Overview
Title: Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2022
Description: This bill limits the authority of the Department of Homeland Security to grant immigration parole (i.e., give official permission for an individual to enter and temporarily remain in the United States). For example, this bill (1) limits what qualifies as an urgent humanitarian reason or a significant public benefit that would justify granting parole, and (2) prohibits granting parole based on an individual's membership in a defined class of individuals.
Sponsors: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals seeking immigration parole to temporarily enter the United States
Estimated Size: 50000
- The bill limits the Department of Homeland Security's authority to grant immigration parole, which affects individuals seeking to enter the United States temporarily.
- The limitations imposed by the bill mainly affect immigrants outside the permanent immigration system and those trying to enter the U.S. for non-immigrant purposes such as emergencies, humanitarian reasons, or public interest.
- The change will particularly impact people who might not meet the more stringent criteria established by the legislation.
- Globally, there are millions of individuals who seek entry into the U.S. temporarily each year, though not all would seek or be eligible for parole.
Reasoning
- The policy will primarily affect non-citizens, especially those from countries with which the U.S. has complex immigration oversight, or ongoing humanitarian crises.
- Given the policy's stringent criteria, many may find it harder to qualify for immigration parole without substantial changes to their circumstance, impacting family unification, and leading to disruption in cultural or humanitarian exchanges.
- The financial limit suggests limited operational expansion or enhancement of resources to handle parole cases, likely affecting the timeliness for processing applications.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that if my husband's family faces an emergency in India, he might not be able to visit them quickly through parole.
- The policy feels restrictive and could strain our ability to respond to urgent family matters.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Owner of a Construction Company (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy complicates bringing skilled temporary workers from Mexico for specific projects.
- It might result in project delays or increased costs due to more rigid entry rules.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Graduate Student (Brooklyn, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry that the policy limits will reduce the number of exchange students I can host, impacting both their and my learning experiences.
- It feels like it's closing the door on cultural exchange opportunities to save money.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 10 |
Lawyer specializing in immigration law (Miami, FL)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The proposed legislation would narrow options for my clients under immigration parole, potentially leading to unfavorable outcomes.
- It seems these changes are driven more by a restrictive stance than a practical response to immigration complexities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
University Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 21 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy could hinder how we engage with international scholars, affecting educational richness.
- Facilitating easier interaction should be the focus, not the opposite.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill may limit our organization's ability to assist those in dire circumstances seeking temporary refuge.
- Such restrictions could dampen support from the community passionate about humanitarian aid.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Human Resources Manager for a tech company (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill might make it hard to temporarily bring in specialized talent from abroad, which affects our project timelines.
- We need flexibility in our workforce, which might be hindered.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Academic researcher in public policy (Boston, MA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While it might streamline processes internally, it risks closing routes for necessary and compassionate entry.
- The balance should be towards practical solutions underlined by empathy and rational policy design.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Freelancer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fear that this restricts options for those most in need of temporary help through the U.S. legal system.
- Stricter criteria do not account for the unpredictably urgent instances NGOs often face.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Non-profit coordinator (Denver, CO)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Potentially limiting the entry of volunteers from overseas ruins our program efficacy.
- We depend on quick and temporary access for volunteers, which might be affected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 3: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 5: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 10: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 100: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Key Considerations
- This policy may face judicial reviews that could impact cost and implementation timelines.
- The bill's impact on international relations, particularly with countries whose citizens are frequently granted parole.
- Effect on U.S. communities that rely on temporary parolees for labor or enrichment.