HR1747-119

What This Bill Does

The Break the Chain Act substantially narrows family-based immigration categories. It removes parents of adult U.S. citizens from immediate-relative immigrant status, leaving children and spouses of U.S. citizens in that category. It replaces the family-sponsored immigrant category with qualified immigrants who are spouses or children of lawful permanent residents and sets the worldwide family-sponsored level at 87,934 minus a count of certain parolees who remained in the United States or adjusted through exempt routes. It changes age-out rules so covered children are measured at petition filing but lose eligibility if they marry or turn 25 before a visa becomes available. The bill creates a new W nonimmigrant status for parents of U.S. citizens age 21 or older: admission is initially 5 years and extendable in 5-year increments while the citizen child resides in the United States, but the parent cannot work, cannot receive federal, state, or local public benefits, and must have health insurance arranged by the citizen son or daughter at no cost to the parent.

Who Benefits and How

Immigration restriction advocates benefit because the bill reduces chain-migration pathways and caps family-sponsored visa levels more tightly. Lawful permanent residents sponsoring spouses or children benefit because the remaining family-sponsored category is focused on their immediate nuclear family. U.S. citizen adult children benefit from a nonimmigrant path for parents who can meet health-insurance and support rules. Public benefit programs benefit because W nonimmigrant parents are barred from federal, state, and local public benefits.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Parents of U.S. citizens lose immediate-relative immigrant status and permanent residence access through that route. Family immigration applicants outside spouse and child categories lose visa eligibility. U.S. citizen sponsors of parents must arrange health insurance at no cost to the parent and cannot rely on public benefits. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must administer revised petitions, W nonimmigrant status, age-out rules, and family visa calculations.

Key Provisions

• Limits immediate-relative immigrant status to children and spouses of U.S. citizens.
• Restricts family-sponsored immigrants to spouses and children of lawful permanent residents.
• Creates W nonimmigrant status for parents of adult U.S. citizens.
• Bars W nonimmigrant parents from employment and public benefits.
• Requires citizen children to arrange health insurance for W nonimmigrant parents.
• Reduces family-sponsored visa levels based on certain long-term parolees and exempt adjustments.