Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
Introduced
Summary
A pathway to lawful permanent residence for eligible noncitizen veterans who were removed or are overseas. This bill would create a program to let those veterans apply for lawful permanent resident status and let eligible veterans in the United States adjust their status.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Green cards for noncitizen veterans
If enacted, this bill would create a DHS program to admit or let eligible noncitizen veterans adjust to lawful permanent resident status. DHS must set up the program within 180 days and issue rules within 90 days. The Attorney General would have to reopen final removal orders and decide pending cases within 180 days. Veterans removed for a crime of violence or certain national-security crimes with five or more years' prison would be barred, but the Secretary could waive that for humanitarian, family unity, exceptional service, or public-interest reasons. Veterans who get LPR under this bill would be able to naturalize through military service, have past removal ignored for moral-character and residence tests, and get the veterans benefits they would have had but for removal. No numerical limit applies to the number of veterans who may receive these benefits.
Protections for service members and veterans
If enacted, this bill would define who counts as a service member and what a "crime of violence" means for these rules (an 18 U.S.C. 16(a) offense with at least five years' prison and not political). DHS would have to ask about military service before starting removal proceedings. ICE would need supervisory approval before removing a service member or veteran. DHS must add service details to immigration and naturalization records and keep outcome tracking. A veteran or service member could not be removed unless convicted of a crime of violence under the bill's definition.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov