H.R. 6078: Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-11-23 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-11-23 · 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 2021

Plain summary

Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2021 This bill provides protections for certain aliens who are victims of crimes or abuse and addresses related issues. The bill removes various annual numerical limits on (1) U visas, generally for victims of a serious crime and helpful to law enforcement in prosecuting the crime; and (2) Special Immigrant Juvenile visas, generally for minors who have been abused or neglected by a parent. Applicants for certain immigration benefits, including U visas and T visas (generally for victims of severe human trafficking) shall receive work authorization on the date the application is approved or earlier. Removal shall be stayed for an alien with certain pending applications, such as an application for a T, U, or Special Juvenile Immigrant visa or for relief under the Violence Against Women Act. There shall be a presumption against detaining such an alien, which the Department of Homeland Security may rebut by establishing that (1) the alien's appearance at removal proceedings is not reasonably assured, or (2) the alien is a threat to another person or the community. The bill also prohibits making an adverse determination regarding an alien's admissibility or deportability based on information furnished by certain individuals, such as a spouse or parent who has battered the alien. Current law prohibits making an adverse determination using information furnished solely by such an individual. The bill also limits the use and publication of information provided in certain applications, including T, U, and Special Juvenile Immigrant visa applications.

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 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)

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 (3)

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).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

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-117hr6078.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr6078 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117