119th Congress · House bill · Last action Jul 29, 2025
H.R. 4817In CommitteeImmigration
Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy (D-CA)2 cosponsorsIntroduced Jul 29, 2025
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In plain English
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced legislation that removes annual caps on U visas (for crime victims who assist law enforcement) and special immigrant visas for trafficking victims, allowing unlimited petitions instead. The bill grants work authorization to immigrants with pending visa applications or petitions, prevents removal of certain victims with pending cases, and bars detention of these individuals while their cases are pending. It also imposes penalties for unauthorized disclosure of information about these immigrants.
What’s in the bill (7 sections)
- Sec. 2. Purpose; findings; sense of congress
- Sec. 3. Elimination of annual numerical limitation on u visas
- Sec. 4. Elimination of annual numerical limitation on special immigrant
- Sec. 5. Work authorization while applications and petitions are
- Sec. 6. Stay of removal
- Sec. 7. Prohibition on detention of certain victims with pending or
- Sec. 8. Penalties for disclosure of information
Generated by ThePolitibase from the bill text and CRS summary. Read the official text →
Where it is in the process
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Introduced
Jul 29
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House committee
Jul 29
3
House floor
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4
Senate
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5
Signed
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What happens next: Sits in committee. Needs a markup or favorable report to advance to the House floor.
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Sponsor
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Cosponsors (2)
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AR
All Democratic.
Activity timeline
Jul 29
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 29
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 29
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
Introduced in House
Read the bill text
Official text via Congress.gov. Opens in a new tab.
Full action log
All 3 recorded actions since introduction · Source: Congress.gov
Jul 29
HOUSEReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 29
Introduced in House
Jul 29
Introduced in House
All 2 cosponsors
2 Democrats · 0 Republicans
Democrats (2)
Moore, GwenWI-04
Salinas, AndreaOR-06
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