[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3227 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3227
To require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to facilitate
naturalization services for noncitizen veterans who have been removed
from the United States or are inadmissible.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 17, 2021
Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to facilitate
naturalization services for noncitizen veterans who have been removed
from the United States or are inadmissible.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Citizenship Services
for Veterans Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Biometric collection.--The term ``biometric
collection'' means the biometric collection described in
section 103.2(b)(9) of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations,
during which the applicant provides information, including by
providing fingerprints, photographs, or signatures, to confirm
his or her identity and to satisfy any requirement for
background and security checks in connection with an
application to become a naturalized citizen of the United
States.
(2) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran''--
(A) means a veteran who is a noncitizen; and
(B) includes any veteran who--
(i) was removed from the United States; or
(ii) is not in the United States and is
inadmissible under section 212(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1182(a)).
(3) Naturalization examination.--The term ``naturalization
examination'' means the English and civics test that each
noncitizen is required to pass (unless exempted) pursuant to
section 312(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1423(a)) to become a naturalized citizen of the United States.
(4) Noncitizen.--The term ``noncitizen'' means an
individual who is not a citizen of the United States.
(5) Oath of allegiance.--The term ``oath of allegiance''
means the affirmation and ceremony necessary to become a
naturalized citizen of the United States.
(6) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given
such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. NATURALIZATION EXAMINATIONS AND BIOMETRIC COLLECTION FOR
ELIGIBLE VETERANS.
(a) In General.--The Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services shall ensure that the naturalization examination for each
eligible veteran is conducted at--
(1) a United States port of entry that is accessible to the
veteran; or
(2) a United States embassy or consulate in the country in
which the veteran resides.
(b) Biometric Collection.--The Director of U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services shall ensure that biometric collection is made
available for each eligible veteran at--
(1) a United States port of entry that is accessible to the
veteran; or
(2) a United States embassy or consulate in the country in
which the veteran resides.
(c) Oath of Allegiance.--The Director of U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services shall ensure that the oath of allegiance for each
eligible veteran is conducted at--
(1) a United States port of entry that is accessible to the
veteran; or
(2) a United States embassy or consulate in the country in
which the veteran resides.
SEC. 4. JOINT GUIDANCE FROM THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE
SECRETARY OF STATE.
The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall
jointly issue guidance regarding--
(1) the methods used by the Department of Homeland Security
to conduct biometric collections, naturalization examinations,
and oath ceremonies for eligible veterans at a United States
port of entry, embassy, or consulate;
(2) the methods used by the Department of State to
facilitate available space for the activities described in
paragraph (1); and
(3) quality assurance mechanisms to ensure eligible
veterans are able to complete the naturalization process at a
port of entry, embassy, or consulate.
SEC. 5. REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the
Secretary of State shall jointly submit a report to Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the
Senate, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives that contains an analysis of--
(1) the implementation of this Act; and
(2) the effectiveness of the guidance issued pursuant to
section 4.
(b) Updated Guidance.--Not later than the last day of the 90-day
period beginning on the date on which the report is submitted pursuant
to subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary
of State shall jointly update the guidance required under section 4 to
the extent any shortcomings are identified in the report.
SEC. 6. RULEMAKING.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall promulgate regulations to
implement this Act.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY.
(a) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect on the date that is
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Applicability.--The requirements under this Act shall apply to
all naturalization examinations involving eligible veterans with a
pending naturalization application as of the date of the enactment of
this Act or who submit a naturalization application after such date of
enactment, regardless of the date on which the veterans were discharged
from the military or exited the United States.
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