3.0.0 2265 2022-12-31T05:26:01Z 2022-12-31T05:26:01Z Senate S 2021-06-24 117 ssju00 Judiciary Committee Senate Standing Referred to 2021-06-24T18:40:57Z Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021 117 4137 HR 2022-11-01 Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. Related bill CRS 2021-06-24 ssju00 Judiciary Committee Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. IntroReferral 2021-06-24 Introduced in Senate IntroReferral 10000 9 Library of Congress D000622 Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] Tammy Duckworth D IL N D000563 Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] Richard Durbin D IL J. 2021-06-24 True B001277 Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] Richard Blumenthal D CT 2021-06-24 True W000779 Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] Ron Wyden D OR 2021-06-24 True H001042 Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] Mazie Hirono D HI K. 2021-06-24 True B001288 Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] Cory Booker D NJ 2021-06-24 True M001176 Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] Jeff Merkley D OR 2021-07-29 False Immigration Border security and unlawful immigration Citizenship and naturalization Government information and archives Immigration status and procedures Military personnel and dependents Veterans' organizations and recognition Veterans' pensions and compensation Immigration 00 2021-06-24 Introduced in Senate 2021-12-08T16:02:08Z Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021

This bill provides permanent resident status and citizenship eligibility to certain noncitizen veterans and addresses related issues.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must establish a program that allows (1) eligible noncitizen veterans outside of the United States to be admitted as permanent residents, and (2) eligible noncitizen veterans in the United States to obtain permanent resident status. 

Generally, an eligible noncitizen veteran under this bill is one who was not removed from the United States for certain crimes related to violence or national security. DHS may waive these eligibility requirements for humanitarian, family unity, public interest, or exceptional military service reasons.

A noncitizen veteran who obtains permanent resident status under this bill shall be eligible for (1) naturalization through service in the Armed Forces, and (2) military and veterans benefits as if they had not been removed (or ordered removed) from the United States.

For a noncitizen veteran in removal proceedings or subject to a final removal order, the Department of Justice (DOJ) must determine whether the veteran is eligible for permanent resident status under this bill. If the veteran is eligible, DOJ must adjust the veteran's status.

The bill also protects noncitizen veterans or service members from being removed from the United States unless the veteran has been convicted of a crime of violence.

]]> Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021 Official Title as Introduced A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a veterans visa program to permit veterans who have been removed from the United States to return as immigrants, and for other purposes. Introduced in Senate IS Display Title Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021 Short Title(s) as Introduced Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021 Introduced in Senate IS Introduced in Senate 2021-06-24T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117s2265is/xml/BILLS-117s2265is.xml 2021-06-24 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.