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S. 1638: Fairness for Immigrant Families Act

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S. 1638: Fairness for Immigrant Families Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-05-13 · Immigration · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-05-13 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Fairness for Immigrant Families Act

Plain summary

Fairness for Immigrant Families Act This bill modifies provisions barring certain aliens from admission and addresses other immigration-related issues. The bill repeals various admissions bars against aliens who were unlawfully present in the United States for certain amounts of time. The bill also modifies a provision that generally makes inadmissible aliens who had been ordered removed and who attempt to reenter the United States without being admitted. Specifically, the bill exempts from that provision minors, asylum seekers, aliens who received a stay of removal under a family unity program, victims of severe trafficking, and certain aliens who entered the United States as children. An alien who entered the United States without inspection may apply for lawful permanent residence during the five-year period starting from this bill's enactment if the alien is the beneficiary of a family-based petition or labor certification. The bill also prohibits removing an alien with certain pending immigration-related applications, such as an application for a family-based immigrant visa, if the application is not obviously deficient. Before removing a parent or legal guardian of an individual who is less than 21 years old and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must review and approve the removal. Furthermore, the bill makes it a crime to fraudulently provide immigration services. The Department of Justice must make grants to support enforcement of such laws and to assist victims. The bill establishes the National Office of New Americans to support the integration of immigrants and refugees.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), 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

Fairness for Immigrant Families Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] reported raising $2.6 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 (1)
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

Record fed-us-cong117-s1638 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117