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H.R. 4285House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act

Sponsored by Jimmy GomezRep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)
Introduced June 22, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 9:25 AM UTC

The Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act removes numerical limits on employment‑based visas for children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected and who qualify for humanitarian status. It changes immigration law so these vulnerable youth can obtain work visas without being subject to the overall visa caps, affecting eligible immigrant children and the agencies that process their visas.

Key Provisions

  • Amends INA §201(b)(1)(A) to add subparagraph (J), allowing the specified children to be exempt from direct numerical limitations on employment‑based visas.
  • Amends INA §203(b)(4) to add subparagraph (J), ensuring the visa preference allocation includes these children and they are not counted against the annual visa caps.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 22, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 22, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 22, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 22, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4285

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 22, 2023

Mr. Gomez (for himself, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. Sánchez, Mr. García of Illinois, Ms. Leger Fernandez, Mr. Levin, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr. Raskin, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cárdenas, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Norton, Ms. Tokuda, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Bowman, Ms. Omar, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Jacobs, Ms. Chu, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Castro of Texas, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Jackson Lee, and Mr. Trone) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To eliminate employment-based visa caps on abused, abandoned, and neglected children eligible for humanitarian status, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act.

2.

Eliminating certain employment-based visa caps

(a)

Aliens Not Subject to Direct Numerical Limitations

Section 201(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) or (B) and inserting subparagraph (A), (B), or (J).

(b)

Preference Allocation for Employment-Based Immigrants

Section 203(b)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(4)) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) or (B) and inserting subparagraph (A), (B), or (J).