; an order of probation without entry of judgment; or any similar disposition under State or Federal law shall not be considered a conviction for purposes of the immigration laws. (B) A pardon entered by a State or Federal authority shall render the underlying conviction null and void for purposes of the immigration laws. (C) Any reference to a term of imprisonment or sentence with respect to an offense is deemed to include only the actual period of incarceration or confinement ordered by a court of law. The suspension of the imposition or execution of a term of imprisonment or sentence in whole or in part shall not be included as a part of the sentence for purposes of the immigration laws. . (2) Effective date and application The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to convictions and sentences entered before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 5. Discretionary authority with respect to removal, deportation, ineligibility or inadmissibility of citizen family members (a) Applications for relief from removal Section 240(c)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(4) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (D) Judicial discretion (i) In general In the case of an alien subject to removal, deportation, or exclusion proceedings, the Attorney General may, for reasons described in clause (ii)— (I) decline to order such alien removed, deported, or excluded from the United States; (II) terminate such removal, deportation, or exclusion proceedings; and (III) grant such alien permission to reapply for admission to the United States or any other application for relief from removal. (ii) Limitation on discretion The Attorney General may exercise the discretion described in clause (i)— (I) for humanitarian purposes; or (II) to preserve family unity in the United States if the alien is— (aa) the spouse of a United States citizen