GRACE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6870
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-28T09:05:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement Act" (GRACE Act), H.R. 6870, aims to establish a mandatory minimum annual cap for refugee admissions into the United States, ensuring a consistent humanitarian response to global refugee needs while maintaining national security vetting processes. It promotes transparency through regular reporting and encourages community involvement in resettlement.
Key Provisions
- Minimum Refugee Admissions Goal: The President must set an annual refugee admission number based on humanitarian concerns or national interest, but it cannot be lower than 125,000 per fiscal year. If no determination is made by the start of the fiscal year, the default is 125,000.
- Community and Private Sponsorship: Allows additional refugees to be admitted through sponsorship by community groups or private individuals, who provide initial reception and placement services (similar to those from government-funded agencies) instead of relying solely on official resettlement programs.
- Consideration of Global Needs: Presidential determinations must account for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) projections of global resettlement needs. Regional allocations for admissions must reflect these projections or include justifications for priorities, with an unallocated reserve for emerging needs (notified to congressional committees).
- Numerical Goals for Agencies: Federal officers handling refugee admissions must treat the President's determination (or the 125,000 default) as binding numerical goals.
- Quarterly Public Reports on Admissions: The President must submit and publish reports every quarter detailing:
- Number of refugees admitted in the quarter and cumulatively.
- Admissions as a percentage of the annual goal.
- Projections for remaining admissions to meet the goal.
- Regional breakdowns as percentages of allocations.
- Quarterly Reports on Processing: Detailed reports to Congress on:
- Enhanced security checks (e.g., vetting for national security risks like terrorism or espionage, including interagency reviews and social media screening) by nationality, including clearance and admission rates.
- "Circuit rides" (mobile interview teams deployed abroad by Refugee Corps officers), covering deployment numbers, interview counts, durations, locations, and use of video teleconferencing.
- Processing timelines (e.g., average days from identification to interview and from interview to admission) and approval/denial rates by nationality.
- If quarterly admissions fall below 25% of the annual goal, additional assessments of contributing factors (e.g., country conditions), a corrective action plan with monthly projections, and other pace-related information.
- Definitions and Safeguards: Defines "enhanced security check" as processes to address national security concerns. Includes a rule of construction stating the law does not slow down refugee or asylum processing or limit the Secretary of Homeland Security's authority under other laws.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- From Discretionary to Mandated Minimum: Under current Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the President has full discretion to set (or suspend) annual refugee ceilings, which have varied widely (e.g., as low as 15,000 in recent years). This bill introduces a firm 125,000 floor and automatic default, removing the ability to set lower numbers without justification tied to UNHCR data.
- Added Reporting and Accountability: No prior requirement for quarterly public reports on admissions or detailed processing metrics; this enforces transparency and mandates corrective plans if goals are unmet.
- Sponsorship Expansion: Introduces community/private sponsorship as a supplement to traditional resettlement, shifting some service provision from federal agencies to non-governmental entities.
- UNHCR Integration: Explicitly requires basing decisions on UNHCR's annual global needs report, formalizing international input into U.S. policy.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Department of State (regional allocations and notifications), Department of Homeland Security (DHS, including USCIS for vetting and interviews), and Refugee Corps (more circuit rides and processing). Could strain resources but includes planning for efficiency; low admissions trigger mandatory improvements.
- On Citizens: May expand community involvement through sponsorship programs, potentially fostering local support networks but requiring volunteers or groups to handle initial refugee services (e.g., housing, job placement). Could indirectly affect public services if resettlement volumes rise.
- On Refugees and International Relations: Likely boosts admissions for vulnerable populations (e.g., from high-need regions like Africa or the Middle East), signaling stronger U.S. humanitarian leadership and enhancing ties with UNHCR and allies. However, it maintains rigorous security checks to address domestic concerns.
- Broader Effects: Promotes faster processing to meet goals, potentially reducing backlogs, but could face implementation challenges if global crises surge demand.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Refugees and Displaced Persons: Primary beneficiaries, with guaranteed minimum access to U.S. resettlement, especially those in UNHCR pipelines.
- U.S. Government Agencies: State Department (allocations and reports), DHS/USCIS (processing and security), and Congress (Judiciary Committees receive reports and oversee reserves).
- Resettlement Organizations: Domestic agencies and local affiliates may see reduced roles if private sponsorship grows; UNHCR gains influence through data requirements.
- Community and Private Sponsors: New participants providing services, potentially including nonprofits, faith groups, or individuals.
- U.S. Citizens and Taxpayers: Indirectly impacted via federal funding for processing and potential local integration costs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the INA's refugee framework without altering constitutional separation of powers, as it guides (but does not override) presidential discretion. The rule of construction protects against conflicts with asylum laws or emergency admissions (e.g., under parole authority). Enhanced reporting could invite judicial review if goals are unmet without justification.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's plenary power over immigration (Article I), checking executive flexibility while upholding due process in security vetting (Fifth Amendment implications for fair processing).
- Political: Could spark debate on immigration levels, with supporters viewing it as a humanitarian commitment and critics concerned about security or costs. Bipartisan sponsorship (e.g., by Reps. Lofgren and Moulton) suggests potential for compromise, but enforcement of the 125,000 floor might challenge future administrations preferring lower caps, increasing congressional oversight.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement Act — issued 2025-12-18 — PDF (11 pages)