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INA 209 -ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS OF REFUGEES

Sec. 209. [8 U.S.C. 1159]

(a) (1) Any alien who has been admitted to the United States under section 207 -

(A) whose admission has not been terminated by the 2/ Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General pursuant to such regulations as the 2/ Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General may prescribe,

(C) who has not acquired permanent resident status, shall, at the end of such year period, return or be returned to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security 2/ for inspection and examination for admission to the United States as an immigrant in accordance with the provisions of sections 235 , 240 , and 241 .

(2) Any alien who is found upon inspection and examination by an immigration officer pursuant to paragraph (1) or after a hearing before an immigration judge to be admissible (except as otherwise provided under subsection (c)) as an immigrant under this Act at the time of the alien's inspection and examination shall, notwithstanding any numerical limitation specified in this Act, be regarded as lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence as of the date of such alien's arrival into the United States.

(b) 1/ 3/ The Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General, in the Secretary's or the Attorney General's discretion and under such regulations as the Secretary or the Attorney General may prescribe, may adjust to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence the status of any alien granted asylum who—

(2) has been physically present in the United States for at least one year after being granted asylum,

(3) continues to be a refugee within the meaning of section 101(a)(42)(A) or a spouse or child of such a refugee,

(4) is not firmly resettled in any foreign country, and

(5) is admissible (except as otherwise provided under subsection (c)) as an immigrant under this Act at the time of examination for adjustment of such alien. Upon approval of an application under this subsection, the 3/ Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General shall establish a record of the alien's admission for lawful permanent residence as of the date one year before the date of the approval of the application.

(c) The provisions of paragraphs (4), (5), and (7)(A) of section 212(a) shall not be applicable to any alien seeking adjustment of status under this section, and the 4/ Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General may waive any other provision of such section (other than paragraph (2)(C) or subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (E) of paragraph (3)) with respect to such an alien for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest.

FOOTNOTES FOR SECTION 209

INA 209 FN 1

FN 1 Section 128 of Pub. L. 105-277 provides as follows:

(a) The numerical limitation set forth in section 209(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1159(b)) shall not apply to any alien described in subsection (b).

(b) An alien described in subsection (a) is an alien who was a United States Government employee, employee of a nongovernmental organization based in the United States, or other Iraqi national who was moved to Guam by the United States Government in 1996 or 1997 pursuant to an arrangement made by the United States Government, and who was granted asylum in the United States under section 208(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(a)).

INA 209 FN 2

FN 2 Section 101(g)(1)(A) of Public Law 109-13 amended section 209(a)(1).

INA 209 FN 3

FN 3 Section 101(g)(1)(B) of Public Law 109-13 revised section 209(b) introductory text and amended section 209(b)(5).

INA 209 FN 4

FN 4 Section 101(g)(1)(C) of Public Law 109-13 amended section 209(b)

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