,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #def ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #ab1 #bjai,mr4 ,reed 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 and ,ms4 ,duckworth7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the adjustment of status of certain nationals of ,liberia to that of lawful permanent residents1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,liberian ,refugee ,immigration ,fairness ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,in general ,except as otherwise specifically provided1 any term used in this ,act that is used in the immigration laws shall have the meaning given the term in the immigration laws4 7#b7 ,immigration laws ,the term immigration laws has the meaning given the term in section #aja7;a77#ag7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#ag774 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security4 #c4 ,adjustment of status 7a7 ,adjustment of status 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#c71 the ,secretary shall adjust the status of an alien described in subsection 7b7 to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if the alien-- 7,a7 applies for adjustment not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act2 7,b7 is otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa2 and 7,c7 subject to paragraph 7#b71 is admissible to the ,united ,states for permanent residence4 7#b7 ,applicability of grounds of inadmissibility ,in determining the admissibility of an alien under paragraph 7#a77;,c71 the grounds of inadmissibility specified in paragraphs 7#d71 7#e71 7#f77;,a71 and 7#g77;,a7 of section #bab7;a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77 shall not apply4 7#c7 ,exceptions ,an alien shall not be eligible for adjustment of status under this subsection if the ,secretary determines that the alien-- 7,a7 has been convicted of any aggravated felony2 7,b7 has been convicted of #b or more crimes involving moral turpitude2 or 7,c7 has ordered1 incited1 assisted1 or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race1 religion1 nationality1 membership in a particular social group1 or political opinion4 7#d7 ,relationship of application to certain orders 7,a7 ,in general ,an alien present in the ,united ,states who has been subject to an order of exclusion1 deportation1 removal1 or voluntary departure under any provision of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq47 may1 notwithstanding such order1 submit an application for adjustment of status under this subsection if the alien is otherwise eligible for adjustment of status under paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,separate motion not required ,an alien described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall not be required1 as a condition of submitting or granting an application under this subsection1 to file a separate motion to reopen1 reconsider1 or vacate an order described in subparagraph 7,a74 7,c7 ,effect of decision by ,secretary 7i7 ,grant ,if the ,secretary adjusts the status of an alien pursuant to an application under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall cancel any order described in subparagraph 7,a7 to which the alien has been subject4 7ii7 ,denial ,if the ,secretary makes a final decision to deny such application1 any such order shall be effective and enforceable to the same extent that such order would be effective and enforceable if the application had not been made4 7b7 ,aliens eligible for adjustment of status 7#a7 ,in general ,the benefits provided under subsection 7a7 shall apply to any alien who-- 7,a7 7i7 is a national of ,liberia2 and 7ii7 has been continuously present in the ,united ,states during the period beginning on ,november #bj1 #bjad1 and ending on the date on which the alien submits an application under subsection 7a72 or 7,b7 is the spouse1 child1 or unmarried son or daughter of an alien described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#b7 ,determination of continuous physical presence ,for purposes of establishing the period of continuous physical presence referred to in paragraph 7#a77;,a77ii71 an alien shall not be considered to have failed to maintain continuous physical presence based on #a or more absences from the ,united ,states for #a or more periods amounting1 in the aggregate1 to not more than #ahj days4 7c7 ,stay of removal 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations establishing procedures by which an alien who is subject to a final order of deportation1 removal1 or exclusion1 may seek a stay of such order based on the filing of an application under subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,during certain proceedings 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 notwithstanding any provision of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq471 the ,secretary may not order an alien to be removed from the ,united ,states if the alien-- 7i7 is in exclusion1 deportation1 or removal proceedings under any provision of such ,act2 and 7ii7 has submitted an application for adjustment of status under subsection 7a74 7,b7 ,exception ,the ,secretary may order an alien described in subparagraph 7,a7 to be removed from the ,united ,states if the ,secretary has made a final determination to deny the application for adjustment of status under subsection 7a7 of the alien4 7#c7 ,work authorization 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may-- 7i7 authorize an alien who has applied for adjustment of status under subsection 7a7 to engage in employment in the ,united ,states during the period in which a determination on such application is pending2 and 7ii7 provide such alien with an employment authorized endorsement or other appropriate document signifying authorization of employment4 7,b7 ,pending applications ,if an application for adjustment of status under subsection 7a7 is pending for a period exceeding #ahj days and has not been denied1 the ,secretary shall authorize employment for the applicable alien4 7d7 ,record of permanent residence ,on the approval of an application for adjustment of status under subsection 7a7 of an alien1 the ,secretary shall establish a record of admission for permanent residence for the alien as of the date of the arrival of the alien in the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,availability of administrative review ,the ,secretary shall provide applicants for adjustment of status under subsection 7a7 with the same right to1 and procedures for1 administrative review as are provided to-- 7#a7 applicants for adjustment of status under section #bde of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abee72 and 7#b7 aliens subject to removal proceedings under section #bdj of such ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abbi;a74 7f7 ,limitation on judicial review ,a determination by the ,secretary with respect to the adjustment of status of any alien under this section is final and shall not be subject to review by any court4 7g7 ,no offset in number of visas available ,the ,secretary of ,state shall not be required to reduce the number of immigrant visas authorized to be issued under any provision of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq47 to offset the adjustment of status of an alien who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence pursuant to this section4 7h7 ,application of ,immigration and ,nationality ,act provisions 7#a7 ,savings provision ,nothing in this ,act may be construed to repeal1 amend1 alter1 modify1 effect1 or restrict the powers1 duties1 function1 or authority of the ,secretary in the administration and enforcement of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq47 or any other law relating to immigration1 nationality1 or naturalization4 7#b7 ,effect of eligibility for adjustment of status ,the eligibility of an alien to be lawfully admitted for permanent residence under this section shall not preclude the alien from seeking any status under any other provision of law for which the alien may otherwise be eligible4