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HR 6870

GRACE Act

119th Congress Introduced by Yassamin Ansari and 13 co-sponsors

The GRACE Act establishes a guaranteed minimum annual refugee admissions baseline (not fewer than 125,000) with private sponsorship, regional allocations, and enhanced quarterly re

Introduced in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 6870

Overview

  • Bill: HR 6870, the GRACE Act (Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement Act)
  • Session: 119th Congress, 1st Session
  • Purpose: Amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a minimum annual refugee admissions goal and surge transparency and planning around refugee admissions.

Main purpose and intent

  • The bill mandates a minimum annual refugee admission baseline and sets structural requirements for how refugee admissions are determined, reported, and administered.
  • It aims to ensure a predictable, minimum level of refugee admissions each fiscal year, with additional room for private-community sponsorship and regional allocation considerations.
  • It also adds annual and quarterly reporting, enabling greater transparency into processing, security checks, and progress toward goals.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 207 amendments (refugee admissions):
    • The annual number of refugees admitted shall be the sum of:
    • A baseline minimum “not fewer than 125,000” refugees justified by humanitarian concerns or national interest; plus
    • An additional number admitted through community or private sponsorship (with services provided by community groups/ sponsors in lieu of traditional resettlement agency services).
    • If the President has not issued a determination by the start of a fiscal year, the default annual cap is 125,000.
    • Numerical goals become guiding targets for federal refugee admission and resettlement officials, to be aligned with determinations under subsection (a) and (b).
    • Regional allocations: The President must allocate admissions regionally based on UNHCR-identified global needs (from the most recent projected global resettlement needs report) and may include a Secretary of State-justified regional prioritization. An unallocated reserve is allowed for additional regional needs, with Senate/House Judiciary notification requirements.
  • Quarterly public reports on admissions (new subsection (g)):
    • Not later than 15 days after the end of each quarter, the President must publish a public report and send to Congressional committees detailing:
    • Refugees admitted in the preceding quarter.
    • Admissions as a percentage of the annual allocation.
    • Cumulative year-to-date admissions.
    • The plan for remaining admissions to hit the annual numerical goals.
    • Regional admission breakdowns and any unallocated regional reserves.
  • Quarterly reports on processing (new subsection (h)):
    • Not later than 15 days after the end of each quarter, reports on:
    • Enhanced security checks: number and nationality, clearance status, and admissions for those with enhanced checks.
    • Circuit rides: staffing, interviews conducted, locations, durations, video interviews, and security-check distinctions.
    • Processing timelines: average days from refugee identification to interview, and from interview to admission; approval/denial/hold rates by nationality after interview.
  • Processing and security definitions:
    • Expanded definitions and procedures for “enhanced security checks,” including interagency vetting, security review for certain nationalities, and screening against public social media for national security purposes.
  • Plan and response if admissions lag:
    • If quarterly admissions fall below 25% of the annual allocation, the President must provide:
    • An assessment of contributing country conditions and humanitarian circumstances.
    • A plan for procedural/personnel changes to meet the annual goal, including monthly projections.
    • Any additional information related to the pace of admissions.

Who would be affected

  • Federal refugee admissions and resettlement officials across relevant agencies (e.g., DHS, DOS, USCIS) who would implement determinations, regional allocations, and processing timelines.
  • Refugee applicants and their immediate family members (beneficiaries) who would be affected by the inclusion of private/community sponsorships and the standardized processing timelines.
  • Community groups and private sponsors engaged in refugee reception and placement services, who would take on services typically provided by domestic resettlement agencies under the new model.
  • The public and Congress, which would receive quarterly and processing reports detailing admissions, processing timelines, security checks, and regional allocations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Short title: GRACE Act (Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement Act).
  • The bill proposes an immediate baseline of 125,000 refugees per year in the absence of a President-issued determination; otherwise, the President determines the annual number within the framework (minimum 125,000 plus community sponsorship volumes).
  • Regional allocations would be determined annually, based on UNHCR-projected needs or Secretary of State-driven regional prioritization, with an unallocated reserve.
  • Quarterly reports are due within 15 days after each quarter end, both for admissions and for processing, including detailed security and interview metrics.
  • If performance falls short (less than 25% of annual goal in a quarter), the President must provide an assessment, a corrective plan, and monthly projections to reach the goal.

Notes on scope and potential impact

  • By codifying a minimum refugee ceiling (125,000) and introducing private sponsorship alongside traditional resettlement, the GRACE Act would significantly shape annual intake levels and operational models for refugee resettlement.
  • The emphasis on quarterly public reporting and detailed processing metrics would increase transparency and accountability in the refugee admissions system.
  • The bill emphasizes national security screening breadth (enhanced checks) and could affect processing times and interview workflows, particularly for nationalities subject to heightened screening.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law (Immigration and Nationality Act provisions on refugee admissions) or a denser section-by-section digest of the amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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