Asylum Accountability Act

This proposal would make a tough new rule for people who miss their immigration court hearing. If someone is ordered removed because they failed to show up, they would be permanently blocked from getting certain immigration benefits later, unless they had exceptional circumstances for missing court. Today, that block lasts 10 years; this plan would make it permanent. It targets benefits like canceling removal and getting a green card, choosing to leave the country on your own, or switching from one temporary visa type to another. The bill changes the part of the Immigration and Nationality Act that deals with failures to appear at removal proceedings.

Key points

• Who is affected: Non‑U.S. nationals who are ordered removed after failing to appear at a removal hearing, unless they had exceptional circumstances.
• What changes: The current 10‑year bar on certain immigration relief becomes a lifetime bar; it covers things like cancellation of removal/adjustment to permanent resident, voluntary departure, and changes of nonimmigrant status.
• When: Would take effect by amending the existing law that governs failures to appear in removal cases.