American Families United Act
Sponsored By: Representative Escobar
Introduced
Summary
Creates targeted, case-by-case discretionary relief for spouses and children of U.S. citizens. The bill would let the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security waive certain grounds, stop removal, or allow reapplication when hardship from family separation is shown.
Show full summary
- Families: Spouses and children of U.S. citizens would be eligible for case-by-case waivers, permission to reapply, or termination of removal. Decisions would use a hardship-based standard that includes a presumption that family separation causes hardship.
- Widows and surviving children: Surviving spouses and children of deceased U.S. citizens would have a special hardship pathway and a two-year window to seek relief after the citizen’s death. The deadline can be extended for extraordinary circumstances.
- Procedure for prior denials: People whose petitions, applications, or removal orders were denied could file motions to reopen or reconsider if they would have prevailed under this bill. Those motions would generally need to be filed within two years after enactment unless extraordinary circumstances are shown.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Relief for spouses and children of citizens
If enacted, you could ask the government to stop your deportation if you are the spouse or child of a U.S. citizen. Officials could end or decline removal, waive certain grounds, or let you reapply for admission. They could only use these options if they find removal or denial would cause hardship to the citizen spouse, parent, or child. The bill treats family separation as evidence of hardship. For a surviving spouse or child, you would generally need to ask within two years after the citizen's death, unless extraordinary circumstances prevented timely filing. The relief would not apply to people barred or deportable under certain listed criminal or immigration grounds.
Ask to reopen past immigration denials
If enacted, you could ask to reopen or reconsider a past denial or removal order if your case would have won under this bill. You must file the motion within two years after enactment. You can file later only if you show extraordinary circumstances prevented timely filing.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Escobar
TX • D
Cosponsors
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/26/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
CA • R
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Evans (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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