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S. 2954: Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act

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S. 2954: Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-10-07 · Immigration · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7001)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-10-07 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] · 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. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7001) 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

Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act

Plain summary

Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act This bill narrows the scope of certain crime-based grounds for barring or removing an alien from the United States. (Generally, a conviction for certain crimes, such as a crime that carries a term of incarceration of a certain length, may constitute grounds for denying an individual certain immigration benefits.) The bill redefines the term conviction to exclude convictions that have been dismissed, expunged, deferred, annulled, invalidated, withheld, vacated, or pardoned. The term must also exclude adjudications where a court issued a recommendation against removal, an order of probation without entry of judgment, or a similar disposition. In addition, any reference to a term of imprisonment or sentence must, unless otherwise provided (1) only consider the period of incarceration ordered by a court, and (2) exclude any suspended portion of a sentence. Currently, for immigration purposes, a term of incarceration includes any part of the sentence that was suspended. These provisions pertaining to the definition of conviction and terms of imprisonment shall apply to convictions and judgments entered either before or after this bill's enactment. Furthermore, certain crime-based grounds for barring or removing an alien shall not apply if the sentencing court issues a recommendation that the alien not be removed on the basis of the conviction.

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

Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] reported raising $1.6 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-s2954 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117