Iranian Temporary Immigration Relief Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8740

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-10: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4063)

Last Updated

2026-06-26T08:07:16Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose This legislation aims to grant temporary protected status (TPS) and employment authorization to specific Iranian nationals in the United States whose immigration applications were delayed by a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudication pause starting in December 2025. It addresses harms from armed conflict between the United States and Iran, domestic repression in Iran, and the resulting inability of affected individuals to maintain lawful status or work authorization.

Key Provisions

• TPS Designation: Iran is treated as designated for TPS under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) solely for "eligible individuals," defined as Iranian nationals lawfully present who filed benefit applications (such as changes of status, extensions, or employment authorization renewals) that remain unadjudicated due to the pause. The initial designation lasts 18 months from enactment, with possible 6-month extensions if the pause continues or related conditions persist.
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be physically present in the United States since December 2, 2025, meet continuous presence rules, not be inadmissible under INA section 212(a), have no felony convictions or multiple misdemeanors, and not fall under certain security or persecution-related bars. Exclusions apply to individuals with ties to the Iranian government, Revolutionary Guard, or sanctioned entities involved in corruption, human rights abuses, or material support.
• Employment Authorization: The Secretary of Homeland Security must issue interim employment authorization documents within 30 days of application (valid for 180 days) and final documents upon TPS approval. Automatic extensions for existing employment documents are lengthened, and no gaps in work authorization are recognized for legal or employer liability purposes.
• Protections for Pending Cases: TPS applications or grants do not negatively affect other pending immigration benefits, do not count as unlawful presence, and allow for advance parole travel without abandoning applications.
• Implementation and Oversight: USCIS must begin adjudicating TPS applications within 30 days and complete them within 90 days. The Secretary issues an interim final rule within 30 days and a final rule within 180 days. Quarterly reports to congressional Judiciary Committees detail application volumes, processing times, approvals, and denials.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a congressionally mandated, targeted TPS designation limited to individuals impacted by the specific adjudication pause, bypassing the standard executive designation process under INA section 244.
• Establishes mandatory timelines for adjudication and interim work authorization not typically required in standard TPS cases.
• Provides explicit protections against unlawful presence accrual during the pause period, even for those not ultimately granted TPS.
• Requires automatic extensions of employment authorization and deems continuous employment authorization for gap periods, altering how INA section 274A employer sanctions apply in this context.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload for USCIS through new application processing, interim document issuance, and required reporting; may require additional resources for background checks and adjudications.
• Citizens: Enables continued employment and presence for affected professionals in fields like healthcare, technology, and research, potentially supporting economic output and innovation.
• International Relations: Reinforces a distinction between the Iranian government and its people by providing relief tied to conflict-related risks, without extending protections to all Iranian nationals.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Eligible Iranian nationals with pending applications affected by the pause.
• U.S. employers relying on these individuals' skills.
• DHS and USCIS, responsible for implementation and reporting.
• Congressional committees overseeing immigration policy through required reports.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Exercises congressional authority over immigration by directly designating a country for TPS-like relief in response to specific executive actions and foreign policy conditions.
• Raises questions about separation of powers, as it limits TPS to a narrow group rather than applying broadly and includes detailed eligibility exclusions based on national security concerns.
• Politically frames relief as a response to U.S.-Iran hostilities and Iranian regime actions, while protecting individuals who complied with U.S. immigration processes.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-10: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4063)
• 2026-05-12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-05-12: Introduced in House
• 2026-05-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Iranian Temporary Immigration Relief Act — issued 2026-05-12 — PDF (19 pages)