For the relief of Roberto Carlos Lopez.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7639
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-23T16:38:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, H.R. 7639, aims to grant special immigration relief to an individual named Roberto Carlos Lopez by making him eligible for lawful permanent resident status in the United States, overriding certain standard immigration restrictions under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It is a private bill designed to address his specific circumstances, likely related to prior immigration issues.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility for Permanent Residency: Roberto Carlos Lopez is eligible for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident (often called a "green card"), regardless of typical INA restrictions in sections 201(a) and (b).
- Lawful Entry Provision: If he enters the U.S. before a specified filing deadline, his entry and stay are considered lawful, allowing eligibility for status adjustment under INA section 245 starting from the bill's enactment date.
- Waivers and Protections: He cannot be removed from the U.S., denied entry, or deemed ineligible for permanent residency based on any grounds for removal or inadmissibility (as defined in INA sections 212(a) and 237(a)) recorded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the State Department's Visa Office at the time of enactment.
- Rescission of Prior Orders: DHS must cancel any existing removal, deportation, or inadmissibility orders against him related to those grounds.
- Application Deadline: He must file the application (with required fees) within 2 years of the bill's enactment for the provisions to apply.
- Visa Quota Adjustment: Granting him a visa or status will reduce by one the total immigrant visas available to natives of his birth country in the current or next fiscal year, under INA sections 203(a) or 202(e).
- No Benefits for Relatives: His natural parents, brothers, and sisters receive no immigration rights, privileges, or status based on their relationship to him.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill creates a narrow exception to the INA specifically for Roberto Carlos Lopez, bypassing standard requirements for admissibility, removability, and visa issuance. It does not alter the broader INA framework but introduces personalized waivers and protections not available through regular immigration processes, such as family-based or employment petitions. Private relief bills like this are uncommon and serve as a legislative workaround for individual cases that might otherwise be ineligible.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: DHS and the State Department will need to process his application, rescind any prior orders, and adjust visa quotas accordingly, involving minimal administrative effort for one person.
- On Citizens and Individuals: Primarily benefits Roberto Carlos Lopez by providing a path to permanent residency; no direct impact on U.S. citizens. His relatives gain nothing, avoiding any chain migration effects.
- On International Relations: Negligible, as it affects only one individual and slightly reduces visa availability for his birth country's nationals, which could have a tiny effect on bilateral immigration dynamics but is unlikely to be noticeable.
Main Stakeholders
- Primary Beneficiary: Roberto Carlos Lopez, who gains eligibility for permanent U.S. residency.
- Government Entities: Department of Homeland Security (handles removal orders and status adjustments) and Department of State (manages visas and quotas).
- Indirectly Affected: Natives of Lopez's birth country, due to the one-visa reduction, though the impact is insignificant.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: This private bill exemplifies Congress's authority to enact targeted immigration relief, effectively nullifying administrative decisions by DHS without challenging the executive branch's role. It ensures due process for Lopez by waiving recorded grounds for exclusion, but limits benefits to him alone to prevent broader precedent.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's plenary power over immigration under Article I, with no apparent conflicts to equal protection or due process clauses, as it provides affirmative relief rather than imposing penalties.
- Political: Highlights the use of private bills for humanitarian or equitable cases, which are rare in modern Congress (fewer than a handful per session) and often reflect advocacy by a single member (here, introduced by Rep. Davis of Illinois). It avoids controversy by not expanding immigration policy generally.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-02-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- For the relief of Roberto Carlos Lopez. — issued 2026-02-20 — PDF (3 pages)