H.R. 4319: Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-09-12 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2019-09-12 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2019

Plain summary

Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2019 This bill provides protections for certain aliens who are victims of crimes and violence. The bill removes the annual cap on the number of visas issued to aliens who are victims of certain serious crimes and are likely to be helpful to law enforcement in prosecuting such crimes (U visas). Work authorization shall be granted to an alien with a pending application for (1) a U visa, (2) a T visa (for victims of severe human trafficking), or (3) cancellation of removal on the basis of the alien being subjected to extreme cruelty by a spouse, parent, or fiancé. Removal shall be stayed and detention shall be prohibited for an alien with a pending application for (1) a T or U visa; (2) employment authorization for a battered spouse of certain types of nonimmigrants; (3) cancellation of removal or adjustment of status on the basis of the alien being subjected to extreme cruelty by a spouse, parent, or fiancé; (4) temporary protected status; or (5) relief under the Violence Against Women Act.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20] · 40 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Smith (D-WA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Mike Quigley (D-IL)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20] reported raising $3.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr4319.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr4319 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116