S. 1885 – Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 8:39 AM UTC

The Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act would remove numerical caps on employment‑based immigrant visas for children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected and who qualify for humanitarian status. By changing the immigration law to treat these children like other priority groups, the bill aims to give them easier access to work‑based green cards. It affects foreign minors in vulnerable situations and the agencies that process employment‑based visas.

Key Provisions

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to add a new subparagraph (J) to the list of aliens not subject to direct numerical limitations, so abused, abandoned, or neglected children with humanitarian status are exempt from visa caps.
Amends the preference allocation rules for employment‑based immigrants to include subparagraph (J), allowing these vulnerable children to be counted in the employment‑based preference category without being limited by caps.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 8, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 8, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 8, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 8, 2023

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1885

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 8, 2023

Ms. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 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).