Accreditation of academic institutions

The Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended— (1) in section 101(a) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))— (A) in paragraph (15)(F)(i)— (i) by striking section 214(l) and inserting section 214(m); (ii) by inserting language training program, after elementary school,; (iii) by striking or in an accredited language training program; and (iv) by striking Attorney General each place such term appears and inserting Secretary of Homeland Security; and (B) by striking paragraph (52); and (2) in section 214(m) (8 U.S.C. 1184(m)), by adding at the end the following: (3) (A) The Secretary of Homeland Security or Secretary of State, as appropriate, shall require accreditation of an academic institution (except for a public elementary or secondary school), language training program, or any program of study for which approval under subparagraph (F) or (M) of section 101(a)(15), or designation under section 101(a)(15)(J), is sought or has been granted. (B) In this paragraph, the term accreditation means accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. (4) (A) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary’s discretion, may waive the accreditation requirement under paragraph (3) if— (i) the academic institution concerned is otherwise in compliance with subparagraph (F), (J), or (M) of section 101(a)(15), as applicable, and section 641 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372); (ii) an appropriate accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education is able to provide such accreditation; and (iii) on the date of enactment of this paragraph, the academic institution concerned has been a candidate for accreditation for not less than 1 year and continues to make appropriate progress toward accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. (B) A waiver granted under this paragraph may not be valid for a period longer than 1 year. Such waiver may be extended in 1-year increments, provided the academic institution concerned continues to satisfy the requirements of subparagraph (A), up to the maximum length of time an academic institution may remain a candidate for accreditation with the recognized accrediting agency. (C) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall maintain and publish a current list of all academic institutions that have been granted a waiver under this paragraph..