[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3536 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3536
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide certain
nationals of Russia with special immigrant status, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 21, 2025
Mr. Foster (for himself and Mr. Obernolte) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide certain
nationals of Russia with special immigrant status, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Countering Russian Innovation and
Safeguarding Individual Scientists Act of 2025'' or the ``CRISIS Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT STATUS FOR CERTAIN RUSSIAN NATIONALS.
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (e), the Secretary of
Homeland Security, or, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary of State in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland
Security, may provide an alien described in subsection (b) with the
status of a special immigrant under section 101(a)(27) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)) if the alien--
(1) submits a classification petition under section
204(a)(1)(G)(i) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(G)(i));
(2) is otherwise eligible to receive and immigrant visa;
(3) is otherwise admissible to the United States for
permanent residence; and
(4) clears a background check and appropriate screening, as
determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security and in
accordance with subsection (d).
(b) Aliens Described.--
(1) Principal alien.--An alien is described in this
subsection if the alien--
(A) is a national of Russia;
(B) has earned a doctoral degree in the United
States or an equivalent foreign degree in a field
involving science, technology, engineering, or
mathematics; and
(C) is seeking admission to engage in work in the
United States in such a field.
(2) Spouse or child.--An alien is described in this
subparagraph if the alien--
(A) is the spouse or child of the a principal alien
described in paragraph (1); and
(B) is accompanying or following to join the
principal alien in the United States.
(c) Processing and Numerical Limitations.--
(1) In general.--The total number of aliens described under
subsection (b) who may be provided special immigrant status
under this section may not exceed 3,000 per year for each of
the fiscal years 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029.
(2) Processing.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, to the extent
practicable, process petitions described in subsection (a) not
later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of
Homeland Security receives all required documentation and
information to render a decision on such petition.
(3) Numerical limitations.--Aliens admitted to the United
States pursuant to subsection (a) shall be exempt from the
numerical limitations described in sections 201, 202, and 203
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151, 1152,
and 1153).
(d) Interview and Vetting Requirements.--
(1) Vetting requirements.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall establish vetting requirements for applicants
seeking special immigrant status under this section that are
equivalent to the vetting requirements for refugees admitted to
the United States through the United States Refugee Admissions
Program, including an interview.
(2) Record requirements.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall
maintain records that contain, for each applicant under this
section for the duration of the pendency of their application
for special immigrant status--
(A) personal biographic information, including name
and date of birth;
(B) biometric information;
(C) any criminal conviction occurring after the
date on which the applicant entered the United States;
and
(D) the history of the United States Government
vetting to which the applicant has submitted, including
whether the individual has undergone in-person vetting.
(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may
be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of
Homeland Security to maintain records in accordance with any
other provision of law.
(e) Termination.--The authority of the Secretary of Homeland
Security to admit aliens to the United States pursuant to subsection
(a) shall terminate on the date that is the last day of the fourth full
fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act, except that
petitions under subsection (a) that are approved on or before such date
continue to form the basis for an application for an immigrant visa
under section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1201) or an application for adjustment of status under section 245 of
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1255) after such date.
(f) Definition.--The term ``field involving science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics'' includes advanced computing, advanced
engineering materials, advanced gas turbine engine technologies,
advanced manufacturing, advanced and networked sensing and signature
management, advanced nuclear energy technologies, advanced particle
accelerator and detector technologies, artificial intelligence,
autonomous systems and robotics, biotechnologies, communication and
networking technologies, cybersecurity, directed energy, financial
technologies, human-machine interfaces, hypersonics, advanced missile
propulsion technologies, networked sensors and sensing, quantum
information technologies, renewable energy generation and storage,
semiconductors and microelectronics, and space technologies and
systems.
(g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed
to require an alien described in subsection (b) to have an offer of
employment from a United States employer to be eligible to be admitted
as a special immigrant pursuant to subsection (a).
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