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Easier Citizenship for Essential Workers and Their Families.

This act aims to simplify the process for essential workers who worked in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic to obtain permanent resident status. This also extends to their immediate families. The changes include new rules regarding criminal history and appeal procedures, potentially impacting many immigrants' lives.
Key points
Essential workers in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, transportation, or retail, who worked in the U.S. during a specific pandemic period, may apply for permanent residency.
Parents, spouses, sons, and daughters of eligible essential workers can also obtain permanent resident status.
New rules for criminal history are introduced, potentially allowing status despite some past offenses, with waivers possible in justified cases.
Protections are provided for applicants, including prohibition of employer retaliation and the ability to obtain work authorization while the application is pending.
The act allows for appeals of negative decisions and ensures the privacy of applicant information from immigration enforcement use.
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Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_747
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Process start date: 2021-03-15
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Citizenship for Essential Workers Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_747.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-03-15.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Essential workers in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, transportation, or retail, who worked in the U.S. during a specific pandemic period, may apply for permanent residency.
  • Parents, spouses, sons, and daughters of eligible essential workers can also obtain permanent resident status.
  • New rules for criminal history are introduced, potentially allowing status despite some past offenses, with waivers possible in justified cases.
  • Protections are provided for applicants, including prohibition of employer retaliation and the ability to obtain work authorization while the application is pending.
  • The act allows for appeals of negative decisions and ensures the privacy of applicant information from immigration enforcement use.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

CATEGORIES

Migration Labor Courts and Law