Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2021
Summary
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.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jun 24, 2021
Last action Nov 1, 2022
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
3
Nov 1, 2022
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
lower
Sep 7, 2021
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
lower
Jun 24, 2021
Committee
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
Jun 24, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 38 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Raúl M. Grijalva
DDemocratic
Co
Adriano Espaillat
DDemocratic
Co
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
DDemocratic
Co
André Carson
DDemocratic
Co
Ann Kirkpatrick
DDemocratic
Co
Barbara Lee
DDemocratic
Co
Bill Foster
DDemocratic
Co
Bobby L. Rush
DDemocratic
Co
Carolyn B. Maloney
DDemocratic
Co
Darren Soto
DDemocratic
Co
Dina Titus
DDemocratic
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