Diversity Visa Protection and Modernization Act

This bill would bar the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security from suspending, pausing, or stopping the issuance of Diversity Immigrant Visas program-wide, with limited exceptions. The agencies could still limit visas for specific countries or regions after notifying Congress, delay or deny individual cases based on security, criminal, or eligibility reviews, or suspend issuance for up to 60 days, after which issuance would automatically resume. Before a country-specific or regional limit, the agencies would have to notify certain congressional committees at least 7 days in advance, explaining the scope, threat, rationale, legal authority, and steps to resume issuance, and publish the notice in the Federal Register. The bill also states that selectees would not lose visa eligibility because of a temporary suspension of up to 60 days.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Yvette D. Clarke Democrat sponsor
• 29 cosponsors