A Bill for One: Congress Proposes Granting Permanent Residency to Maria Merida de Macario

This legislation is a private relief bill, which is essentially a bespoke piece of law designed for one person. Specifically, it establishes eligibility for Maria Merida de Macario to receive lawful permanent resident status, overriding several standard requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

The Ultimate Fast Pass for Green Card Status

What this bill does is grant Maria Merida de Macario a direct path to a Green Card. It explicitly overrides sections of the INA that govern visa eligibility (Section 201). Think of this as the government saying, “We are making an exception for this one specific person.” If she files the necessary application and pays the required fees within two years of the bill becoming law, she gets the status. Crucially, if she is already in the U.S., she will be considered to have entered and remained lawfully for the purpose of adjusting her status.

Clearing the Slate: Waiver of Past Issues

Perhaps the biggest benefit here is the legal clean slate. The bill waives any existing grounds for removal or denial of admission that appear in the records of the Department of Homeland Security or the State Department as of the date of enactment (overriding INA Sections 212(a) and 237(a)). If Maria Merida de Macario had a prior deportation order or a finding of inadmissibility on her record—whether for overstaying a visa, a minor violation, or something else—this bill mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security must cancel that order or finding. This is a comprehensive legal shield against past issues that would typically bar someone from obtaining permanent residency.

The Administrative Cost: One Visa Slot

While this is great news for the individual, there is a small administrative consequence that impacts others. When Maria Merida de Macario receives her Green Card, the total number of immigrant visas available to natives of her country of birth must be reduced by one. For context, most countries have tens of thousands of available visa slots annually, so reducing the quota by one visa is a minimal impact, but it technically means one less visa is available for someone else from that country in the current or next fiscal year.

No Benefits for Family Members

It’s important to note what this bill does not do. Since this is a private bill, the relief is strictly limited to Maria Merida de Macario herself. The bill explicitly states that her natural parents, brothers, and sisters will not receive any right, privilege, or status under the Immigration and Nationality Act just because they are related to her. They would still need to follow the standard immigration procedures.