POWER Act Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation Act
Official Titles
Official Titles - House of Representatives
Official Title as Introduced
To protect victims of crime or serious labor violations from removal during Department of Homeland Security enforcement actions, and for other purposes.
Actions Overview (1)
Date
Actions Overview
05/22/2018
Introduced in House
05/22/2018 Introduced in House
All Actions (3)
Date
All Actions
07/24/2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. Action By: Committee on the Judiciary
05/22/2018
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Action By: House of Representatives
05/22/2018
Introduced in House Action By: House of Representatives
07/24/2018 Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
05/22/2018 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Committees, subcommittees and links to reports associated with this bill are listed here, as well as the nature and date of committee activity and Congressional report number.
Committee / Subcommittee
Date
Activity
Related Documents
House Judiciary
05/22/2018
Referred to
House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security
Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation Act or the POWER Act
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the nonimmigrant U-visa category (crime victims and their immediate family members) to include an alien who:
has suffered substantial abuse or harm resulting from a workplace violation claim;
is a victim of specified criminal activity or a workplace violation and would suffer extreme hardship upon removal;
has been helpful in a workplace violation investigation; or
has filed, is a material witness in, or is likely to be helpful in the investigation of, a workplace claim and reasonably fears, or has been the victim of, employer retaliation.
An alien who is a material witness in a workplace claim and who has been helpful in a related law enforcement action may remain and work temporarily in the United States.
In a Department of Homeland Security workplace enforcement action a detained alien: (1) who is necessary as a witness shall not be removed until the appropriate law enforcement agency is notified and has an opportunity to interview such individual, and (2) who is entitled to a stay or abeyance of removal shall not be removed.
An alien in removal proceedings who is a witness in a workplace claim or who has filed for U-visa status shall be entitled to a stay or abeyance of removal and permitted to work until the claim's disposition unless the alien has been convicted of a felony or filed a bad faith claim.
All Summaries (1)
Shown Here: Introduced in House (05/22/2018)
Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation Act or the POWER Act
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the nonimmigrant U-visa category (crime victims and their immediate family members) to include an alien who:
has suffered substantial abuse or harm resulting from a workplace violation claim;
is a victim of specified criminal activity or a workplace violation and would suffer extreme hardship upon removal;
has been helpful in a workplace violation investigation; or
has filed, is a material witness in, or is likely to be helpful in the investigation of, a workplace claim and reasonably fears, or has been the victim of, employer retaliation.
An alien who is a material witness in a workplace claim and who has been helpful in a related law enforcement action may remain and work temporarily in the United States.
In a Department of Homeland Security workplace enforcement action a detained alien: (1) who is necessary as a witness shall not be removed until the appropriate law enforcement agency is notified and has an opportunity to interview such individual, and (2) who is entitled to a stay or abeyance of removal shall not be removed.
An alien in removal proceedings who is a witness in a workplace claim or who has filed for U-visa status shall be entitled to a stay or abeyance of removal and permitted to work until the claim's disposition unless the alien has been convicted of a felony or filed a bad faith claim.
