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119-s-2923119th Congress

PAAF Act

Sponsored By: Senator Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

Introduced

Summary

Automatic U.S. citizenship for many internationally adopted children. The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act would expand Section 320(b) to let children adopted by U.S. citizens get citizenship automatically and set separate rules for children already in the United States versus those still abroad.

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  • Families and adopted children: Children adopted by a U.S. citizen before age 18 who were physically present in the United States in the legal custody of the citizen after lawful admission and who never had U.S. citizenship would automatically become citizens if they were residing in the United States when the law takes effect.
  • Children living abroad: Children who meet the same adoption criteria but are living outside the United States would automatically become citizens when they enter the United States with lawful admission. Those seeking admission would not be subject to the usual inadmissibility rules in section 212(a) but must clear a criminal background check before a visa is issued.
  • Federal agencies and law enforcement: The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State would coordinate criminal background checks and work with relevant law enforcement agencies to resolve any unresolved criminal issues before visa issuance or admission.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Automatic U.S. citizenship for adoptees

If enacted, the bill would make many internationally adopted people automatic U.S. citizens. You would qualify if you were born abroad and adopted by a U.S. citizen parent before age 18 and meet the adopted-child rules in section 101(b)(1)(E), (F), or (G). If you were living in the U.S. on the day the bill is enacted, you would become a citizen if you entered lawfully and were in the parent's legal custody before age 18 and had not already become a citizen. If you were living abroad, you would become a citizen on the day you are lawfully admitted to the United States when you meet the same adoption and custody rules. The bill would waive usual inadmissibility grounds for those admissions, but a visa could not be issued until a criminal background check is done and any unresolved criminal activity is addressed by DHS and the State Department.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

HI • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]

    ME • R

    Sponsored 9/19/2025

  • Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 10/6/2025

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 10/6/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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