[106th Congress Public Law 139]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


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[DOCID: f:publ139.106]

Public Law 106-139
106th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that an adopted 
 alien who is less than 18 years of age may be considered a child under 
 such Act if adopted with or after a sibling who is a child under such 
               Act. <<NOTE: Dec. 7, 1999 -  [H.R. 2886]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PROVIDING THAT AN ADOPTED ALIEN WHO IS LESS THAN 18 YEARS OF 
            AGE MAY BE CONSIDERED A CHILD UNDER THE IMMIGRATION AND 
            NATIONALITY ACT IF ADOPTED WITH OR AFTER A SIBLING WHO IS A 
            CHILD UNDER SUCH ACT.

    (a) In General.--Section 101(b)(1) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E)--
                    (A) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``(E)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(ii) subject to the same proviso as in clause (i), a child 
        who: (I) is a natural sibling of a child described in clause (i) 
        or subparagraph (F)(i); (II) was adopted by the adoptive parent 
        or parents of the sibling described in such clause or 
        subparagraph; and (III) is otherwise described in clause (i), 
        except that the child was adopted while under the age of 18 
        years; or''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (F)--
                    (A) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``(F)'';
                    (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
                ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(ii) subject to the same provisos as in clause (i), a 
        child who: (I) is a natural sibling of a child described in 
        clause (i) or subparagraph (E)(i); (II) has been adopted abroad, 
        or is coming to the United States for adoption, by the adoptive 
        parent (or prospective adoptive parent) or parents of the 
        sibling described in such clause or subparagraph; and (III) is 
        otherwise described in clause (i), except that the child is 
        under the age of 18 at the time a petition is filed in his or 
        her behalf to accord a classification as an immediate relative 
        under section 201(b).''.

    (b) Conforming Amendments Relating to Naturalization.--
            (1) Definition of child.--Section 101(c)(1) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(c)) is amended by 
        striking ``sixteen years,'' and inserting ``16 years (except to 
        the extent that the child is described in subparagraph (E)(ii) 
        or (F)(ii) of subsection (b)(1)),''.
            (2) Certificate of citizenship.--Section 322(a)(4) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1433(a)(4)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``16 years'' and inserting ``16 
                years (except to the extent that the child is described 
                in clause (ii) of subparagraph (E) or (F) of section 
                101(b)(1))''; and
                    (B) by striking ``subparagraph (E) or (F) of section 
                101(b)(1).'' and inserting ``either of such 
                subparagraphs.''.

    Approved December 7, 1999.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2886 (S. 1743):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-383 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999):
            Oct. 18, considered and passed House.
            Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.

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