H.R. 481 – Asylum Protection Act of 2019

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:23 AM UTC

The Asylum Protection Act of 2019 changes the rules for how quickly a person must apply for asylum in the United States. It shortens the filing deadline from one year after arrival to just 30 days, and it requires anyone who arrives at a designated port of entry to begin their asylum application right away. The bill affects all non‑citizens seeking asylum under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Key Provisions

Amends the immigration law to replace the current one‑year deadline for filing an asylum application with a 30‑day deadline.
Adds a requirement that any alien who arrives at a designated port of arrival must start their asylum application at the time of arrival.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

March 4, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 10, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 10, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

March 4, 2019

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 481 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18 · May 21, 2019

Madam Speaker, I rise to express my strong opposition to the so-called ``fetal heartbeat'' laws recently enacted in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Texas, and other states.

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 10, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 481

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 10, 2019

Mr. Rooney of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to alter the deadlines by which an application for asylum must be made, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Asylum Protection Act of 2019.

2.

Dates of applications for asylum

Section 208(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)) is amended—

(1)

by striking 1 year and inserting 30 days; and

(2)

by adding before the period at the end the following: , except that, in the case of an alien who arrives at a designated port of arrival, that alien shall be required to commence an application at the time of arrival.