79–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 110–912 

LANCE CORPORAL JOSE GUTIERREZ ACT OF 2008 

OCTOBER 3, 2008.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. CONYERS, from the Committee on the Judiciary, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 6020] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill 

(H.R. 6020) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to protect the well-being of soldiers and their families, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with 

an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

The Amendment ...................................................................................................... 2 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 5 

Background and Need for the Legislation ............................................................. 5 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 7 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 7 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 7 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 20 

New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures ...................................................... 20 

Committee Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 20 

Performance Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 21 

Constitutional Authority Statement ...................................................................... 21 

Advisory on Earmarks ............................................................................................. 21 

Agency Views ........................................................................................................... 22 

Section-by-Section Analysis .................................................................................... 27 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 27 

Dissenting Views ..................................................................................................... 33 


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THE AMENDMENT

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez Act of 2008’’. 

SEC. 2. FACILITATING NATURALIZATION FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Any person who served honorably as a member of the Armed 

Forces in support of contingency operations (as defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 

10, United States Code) shall be eligible for naturalization pursuant to section 329 

of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440) as if the person had served 

during a period designated by the President under such section 329. 

(b) NATURALIZATION THROUGH SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED

STATES.—Section 328 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439) is 

amended— 

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘six months’’ and inserting ‘‘one year’’; 

(2) by striking subsection (c); 

(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘six months’’ and inserting ‘‘one year’’; and 

(4) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), 

respectively. 

SEC. 3. FACILITATING REMOVAL OF CONDITIONAL STATUS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND 

THEIR FAMILIES. 

(a) PERIOD FOR FILING PETITION.—Section 216(d)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1186a(d)(2)) is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (B),’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (B) and (D),’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(D) FILING OF PETITIONS DURING MILITARY SERVICE.—In the case of an 

alien who is serving as a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve or in an active-duty status in the military, air, or naval forces of the 

United States during the 90-day period described in subparagraph (A), the 

alien may file the petition under subsection (c)(1)(A) during the 6-month period beginning on the date on which the alien is discharged from such service.’’. 

(b) REQUIREMENTS OF TIMELY PETITION AND INTERVIEW FOR REMOVAL OF CONDITION.—Section 216(c)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

1186a(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or serving in the Armed Forces at the time 

of the interview’’ after ‘‘deceased’’. 

SEC. 4. FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN INITIATING REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ACTIVE 

DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL OR VETERANS. 

Section 239 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a) is amended 

by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(f)(1) A notice to appear shall not be issued against an alien who served honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United States, and who, if separated 

from such service, separated under honorable conditions, without prior approval 

from the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or the 

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

‘‘(2) In determining whether to issue a notice to appear against such an alien, the 

Director or the Assistant Secretary shall consider the alien’s eligibility for naturalization under section 328 or 329, as well as the alien’s record of military service, 

grounds of deportability applicable to the alien, and any hardship to the Armed 

Services, the alien, and his or her family if the alien were to be placed in removal 

proceedings. 

‘‘(3) An alien who served honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United 

States, and who, if separated from such service, separated under honorable conditions, shall not be removed from the United States under subparagraph (A)(i) or 

(B)(iii) of section 235(b)(1), section 238, or section 241(a)(5).’’. 

SEC. 5. DISCRETIONARY RELIEF FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL, VETERANS, AND 

FAMILY MEMBERS IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS. 

(a) GROUNDS OF INADMISSIBILITY.—Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following: 

‘‘(c) MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL AND FAMILY MEMBERS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to an alien who served honorably at any time 

in the Armed Forces of the United States, and who, if separated from such servVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:19 Oct 04, 2008 Jkt 079006 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\HR912.XXX HR912

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ice, separated under honorable conditions, or an alien who is the spouse, child, 

son, daughter, parent, or minor sibling of a member serving in the Armed 

Forces of the United States— 

‘‘(A) paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), (7)(A), and (9)(B) of subsection (a) shall 

not apply; 

‘‘(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney General, shall 

not waive— 

‘‘(i) subsection (a)(2)(B), if the alien actually was incarcerated for 5 

years or more for the offenses described in such subsection; 

‘‘(ii) subparagraph (C), (D), (G), or (H) of subsection (a)(2); 

‘‘(iii) subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (E), or (F) of subsection (a)(3); 

‘‘(iv) subsection (a)(6)(E); 

‘‘(v) subparagraph (A) or (C) of subsection (a)(10); or 

‘‘(vi) subsection (a)(10)(D), if the alien has received a conviction, 

award, compromise, settlement, or injunction for an offense described 

in clause (i) of such subsection, and if the court finds that the alien did 

not reasonably believe at the time such violation that the alien was a 

citizen; and 

‘‘(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney General, may 

waive any other provision of subsection (a). 

‘‘(2) WAIVER FACTORS.—In making a determination under paragraph (1)(C), 

the following factors may be considered: 

‘‘(A) The grounds of inadmissibility applicable to the alien. 

‘‘(B) The alien’s service in the United States military, or the degree to 

which the alien’s removal would affect a close family member who is serving or has served in the Armed Forces. 

‘‘(C) The length of time the alien has lived in the United States. 

‘‘(D) The degree to which the alien would be impacted by his or her removal from the United States. 

‘‘(E) The existence of close family ties within the United States. 

‘‘(F) The degree to which the alien’s removal would adversely affect the 

alien’s United States citizen, or lawful permanent resident, parents, 

spouses, children, sons, daughters, or siblings. 

‘‘(G) The alien’s history of employment in the United States, including 

whether the alien has been self-employed or has owned a business. 

‘‘(H) The degree to which the alien’s removal would adversely affect the 

alien’s United States employer or business. 

‘‘(I) The degree to which the alien has ties to the alien’s community in 

the United States or has contributed to the Nation through community, volunteer, or other activities.’’. 

(b) GROUNDS OF DEPORTABILITY.—Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality 

Act (8 U.S.C. 1227) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(d) MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL AND FAMILY MEMBERS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to an alien who served honorably at any time 

in the Armed Forces of the United States, and who, if separated from such service, separated under honorable conditions, or an alien who is the spouse, child, 

son, daughter, parent, or minor sibling of a member serving in the Armed 

Forces of the United States— 

‘‘(A) paragraphs (1)(D), (3)(A), and (5) of subsection (a) shall not apply; 

‘‘(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney General, shall 

not waive— 

‘‘(i) subsection (a)(1)(E); 

‘‘(ii) subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii), if the alien actually was incarcerated for 

5 years or more for the offenses described in such subsection; 

‘‘(iii) subsection (a)(2)(A)(iii), if the aggravated felony involved was an 

offense described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E)(i), (H), (I), 

(K)(i), (K)(ii), (K)(iii), (L)(i), (L)(ii), (L)(iii), (M)(ii), (R), (S), or (U) of section 101(a)(43); 

‘‘(iv) clause (iv) or (v) of subsection (a)(2)(A); 

‘‘(v) clause (i) or (ii) of subsection (a)(2)(D); 

‘‘(vi) subsection (a)(2)(D)(iii), if the offense is a violation of the Trading With the Enemy Act; 

‘‘(vii) subsection (a)(2)(D)(iv), if the offense is a violation of section 

278; 

‘‘(viii) subparagraph (A), (B), (C)(i), (D), or (E) of subsection (a)(4); or 

‘‘(ix) subsection (a)(6)(A), if the alien has received a conviction, 

award, compromise, settlement, or injunction for an offense described 

in such subsection, and if the court finds that the alien did not reasonably believe at the time such violation that the alien was a citizen; and 


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‘‘(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney General, may 

waive any other provision of subsection (a). 

‘‘(2) WAIVER FACTORS.—In making a determination under paragraph (1)(C), 

the following factors may be considered: 

‘‘(A) The grounds of deportability applicable to the alien. 

‘‘(B) The alien’s service in the United States military, or the degree to 

which the alien’s removal would affect a close family member who is serving or has served in the Armed Forces. 

‘‘(C) The length of time the alien has lived in the United States. 

‘‘(D) The degree to which the alien would be impacted by his or her removal from the United States. 

‘‘(E) The existence of close family ties within the United States. 

‘‘(F) The degree to which the alien’s removal would adversely affect the 

alien’s United States citizen, or lawful permanent resident, parents, 

spouses, children, sons, daughters, or siblings. 

‘‘(G) The alien’s history of employment in the United States, including 

whether the alien has been self-employed or has owned a business. 

‘‘(H) The degree to which the alien’s removal would adversely affect the 

aliens United States employer or business. 

‘‘(I) The degree to which the alien has ties to the alien’s community in 

the United States or has contributed to the Nation through community, volunteer, or other activities.’’. 

SEC. 6. TIMELY REUNIFICATION OF MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR NUCLEAR FAMILIES. 

Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)) is 

amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(F) Aliens who are eligible for an immigrant visa under paragraph (2)(A) of 

section 203(a) and are either the spouse or child of an alien who is serving in 

the Armed Forces of the United States.’’. 

SEC. 7. RELIEF FOR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OF ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall adjust the status of 

an alien described in subsection (b) to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if the alien— 

(1) applies for such adjustment, and is physically present in the United States 

on the date the application is filed; 

(2) is admissible to the United States as an immigrant, except as provided 

in subsection (d); and 

(3) pays a fee, as determined by the Secretary, for the processing of such application. 

(b) ELIGIBLE ALIENS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The benefits provided in subsection (a) shall apply only to 

an alien who is a parent, spouse, child, son or daughter, or minor sibling of an 

eligible member of the Armed Forces, as defined in subsection (c). 

(2) POSTHUMOUS BENEFITS.—An alien described in paragraph (1) shall continue to be eligible for adjustment under this section for 2 years after the death 

of an eligible member of the Armed Forces whose death was the result of injury 

or disease incurred in or aggravated by his or her service in the Armed Forces. 

(c) ELIGIBLE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.—In this section, ‘‘eligible member 

of the Armed Forces’’ means any person who— 

(1) is serving or has served honorably as a member of the Selected Reserve 

of the Ready Reserve or in an active-duty status in the military, air, or naval 

forces of the United States during a period beginning February 28, 1961, and 

ending on a date designated by the President by Executive order as of the date 

of termination of the Vietnam hostilities, or thereafter during any other period 

which the President by Executive order shall designate as a period in which 

Armed Forces of the United States are or were engaged in military operations 

involving armed conflict with a hostile foreign force; and 

(2) if separated from the service described in paragraph (1), was separated 

under honorable conditions. 

(d) WAIVER OF CERTAIN GROUNDS OF INADMISSIBILITY.—For the purpose of adjustment of status under this section: 

(1) Paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), (7)(A), and (9)(B) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)) shall not apply. 

(2) The Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney General, shall not 

waive the following provisions of section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality 

Act (8 U.S.C. 1182): 

(A) Subsection (a)(2)(B), if the alien actually was incarcerated for 5 years 

or more for the offenses described in such subsection. 

(B) Subparagraph (C), (D), (G), or (H) of subsection (a)(2). 


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(C) Subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (E), or (F) of subsection (a)(3). 

(D) Subsection (a)(6)(E). 

(E) Subparagraph (A) or (C) of subsection (a)(10). 

(F) Subsection (a)(10)(D), if the alien has received a conviction, award, 

compromise, settlement, or injunction for an offense described in clause (i) 

of such subsection, and if the court finds that the alien did not reasonably 

believe at the time such violation that the alien was a citizen. 

(3) The Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney General, may waive 

any other provision of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

U.S.C. 1182(a)) for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it 

is otherwise in the public interest. 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

To ensure U.S. military readiness, H.R. 6020 addresses immigration problems that distract active-duty soldiers in battle, as well as 

veterans, and their immediate families. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

According to retired Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, the 

former military commander for ground forces in the Iraq War, 

‘‘[w]e should not continue to allow our citizenship laws and immigration bureaucracy to put our war-fighting readiness at risk.’’ In 

addition, Lt. Gen. Sanchez stated, ‘‘[w]hen soldiers have to worry 

about their families, individual readiness falters—which can lead 

to degradation in unit effectiveness and the risk of mission failure.’’ 

The Congressional Research Service reports that more than 

45,000 non-citizens were serving in the United States Armed 

Forces (Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, National Guard, Reserves) 

as of March 2007. In addition, many U.S. citizens serving in the 

military have close non-citizen family members. Such individuals 

represent a significant portion of U.S. Armed Forces, and they 

often face daunting and complex immigration law and procedure. 

The following identifies some of the more common immigration 

problems experienced by our fighting men and women, as well as 

their families. These and other problems are addressed by H.R. 

6020. 

CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS

Under current law, an individual who receives permanent residence based on his or her marriage to a U.S. citizen has a condition 

placed on his or her ‘‘green card’’ if the couple has been married 

for less than 2 years at the time that the non-citizen spouse becomes a permanent resident. The conditional permanent resident 

and the U.S. citizen spouse must then file a joint petition within 

90 days of the 2-year anniversary of the date on which the spouse 

obtained residency, and they must attend an in-person interview to 

remove the condition. 

To meet these legal requirements, active duty personnel are often 

required to take time off from their military mission. In addition, 

due to constant movement required by the U.S. military, they often 

fail to receive timely notice of further action from the agency handling the immigration matters, thereby exposing them to further 

stress of failing to meet legal requirements that could place them 

or their families in deportation proceedings. 

For example, Airman Karla Rivera, a conditional permanent resident who is currently serving in the Navy, was in training when 


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she was supposed to file the petition to remove the condition on her 

permanent residence. When she consulted the Naval Legal Service 

Office after she completed boot camp, she was told that she should 

apply for U.S. citizenship based on her military service rather than 

file for removal of condition. In the meantime, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) terminated her conditional permanent residence and placed Airman Rivera in removal 

proceedings. 

Despite the fact that she had to move from California to Virginia 

as a result of being posted to a ship docked in Norfolk, she had to 

appear at an Immigration Court in California, rather than in Virginia. Furthermore, although she was eligible for U.S. citizenship 

based on her military service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) refused to terminate her removal proceedings and let USCIS adjudicate her naturalization application 

until she was scheduled to testify before the Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, 

and International Law. Airman Rivera finally became a U.S. citizen on May 27, 2008, a week after she testified before the Subcommittee about her immigration problems. 

U.S. CITIZEN SOLDIERS WITH UNDOCUMENTED FAMILY MEMBERS

Under current law, undocumented spouses, children, parents, or 

young siblings of U.S. citizen soldiers have no way to gain legal 

status in the United States. Even if an immigrant visa is available 

for such a family member, they must first leave the country to 

apply for and receive an extreme hardship waiver, which may or 

may not be granted. Furthermore, even if such a waiver is granted, 

the family member must wait outside the United States while the 

waiver is being processed, which can take a year or longer. If the 

waiver is denied, the family member will normally be barred from 

coming to the United States, in any status, for 10 years. The family 

member may be permanently barred if they are also subject to 

other grounds of inadmissibility that arise from their undocumented status. 

Army Specialist Angel Rodriguez describes the problems he faced 

in serving our nation as a soldier while his undocumented wife was 

facing potential deportation: ‘‘I joined the Army and I take pride 

in what I do, . . . [b]ut it’s hard being away and defending a country that doesn’t want your family.’’ Another soldier married to a 

woman who entered the country illegally when she was just 5 years 

old said, ‘‘If I’m willing to die for the United States, why can’t I 

just be allowed to be with my family?′′ 

Most U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident soldiers with 

close family members who are inadmissible or deportable lack the 

opportunity to demonstrate how they would be impacted were their 

families deported or unable to join them in the United States. For 

example, Christine Navarro, a U.S. citizen aircraft commander 

pilot with the U.S. Air Force, has been permanently separated from 

her husband, Jose Navarro, since November 2006, because the 

American Consulate in Ciudad Juarez denied his application for an 

immigrant visa based on an oral claim to U.S. citizenship that he 

made years ago. She told the Committee that she was having a 

hard time choosing between her duty to her nation and her duty 

to her family. 


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1P.L. 104–132, 110 Stat. 1214 (Apr. 24, 1996); P.L. 104–193, 110 Stat. 2105 (Aug. 22 1996) 

She is now a de facto single parent, taking care of their 3-yearold son with cerebral palsy and flying missions to the Persian Gulf 

without the help of her husband, who is now living in Mexico. 

There is no waiver available for Captain Navarro and her family, 

despite the personal and professional impact it is having on her 

and on her U.S. citizen child. 

LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT SOLDIERS AND VETERANS

As a result of the restrictions enacted in 1996, many non-citizens 

who become deportable can no longer apply for relief from deportation based on the individual equities in their cases, even for soldiers and their families who are distracted from their military mission when faced with potential deportation.1 This is the case even 

for long-term lawful permanent residents who are serving or have 

served in the U.S. military. 

For example, Joe Desire ́, a lawful permanent resident for more 

than 40 years, served in the military and was deployed to Vietnam 

in the 1970’s. While in the military, he developed a drug problem 

that led to drug-related convictions. Mr. Desire ́, however, overcame 

his addiction and has been clean of drugs for more than 10 years. 

He now has four U.S. citizen sons, two of whom are serving in the 

military. Despite his rehabilitation and his service to this country, 

as well as the service of his sons, he faces mandatory deportation 

to Haiti without an opportunity to go before an Immigration Judge 

to appeal for discretionary relief. 

HEARINGS

The Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, 

Refugees, Border Security, and International Law held 1 day of 

hearings on the ‘‘Immigration Needs of America’s Fighting Men 

and Women’’ on May 20, 2008. The Subcommittee received testimony from Lt. Col. Margaret Stock (Military Police Corps, U.S. 

Army Reserve); Airman Karla Rivera (U.S. Navy); Capt. Christine 

Navarro (U.S. Air Force); Lt. Gen. (retired) Edward Baca, on behalf 

of the American GI Forum; and Mark Seavey, Assistant Director 

of the National Legislative Commission, American Legion. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On July 31, 2008, the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law met in 

open session and ordered the bill H.R. 6020 favorably reported, 

with an amendment, by a vote of 6 to 3, a quorum being present. 

On September 10 and 17, 2008, the Committee met in open session 

to consider H.R. 6020, and on September 17 ordered the bill favorably reported with an amendment, by a rollcall vote of 16 to 12, 

a quorum being present. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the following 

rollcall votes occurred during the Committee’s consideration of H.R. 

6020: 


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1. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to strike section 5 of the 

bill, which permits eligible soldiers, honorably discharged veterans, 

and close family members to apply for discretionary waivers of certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. Failed by a vote of 

13–17. 

ROLLCALL NO. 1 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ...........................................................................................................

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................

Mr. Delahunt ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Wexler ......................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner .........................................................................................................

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ........................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon .......................................................................................................

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 13 17 

2. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to strike Subsection 3(a) 

of the bill, which prior to an amendment offered by Ms. Lofgren 

and accepted by voice vote, would have exempted soldiers with conditional permanent residence from having to remove the condition 

on their permanent residence. Failed by a vote of 13–15. 

ROLLCALL NO. 2 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................


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ROLLCALL NO. 2—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ...........................................................................................................

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler ......................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman ..................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Baldwin ......................................................................................................

Mr. Weiner .........................................................................................................

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ........................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz ....................................................................................

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon .......................................................................................................

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 13 15 

3. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to bar soldiers, veterans, 

and their immediate family members from applying for individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is deportable for 

a domestic violence conviction or violation of a protection order. 

Failed by a vote of 8–15. 

ROLLCALL NO. 3 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman .......................................................................................................

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Delahunt ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Wexler ......................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 


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ROLLCALL NO. 3—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Johnson .......................................................................................................

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman ..................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Davis ........................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz ....................................................................................

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ...........................................................................................................

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren .......................................................................................................

Mr. Cannon ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Keller ...........................................................................................................

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes .........................................................................................................

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan .........................................................................................................

Total ................................................................................................ 8 15 

4. An amendment offered by Mr. King to bar soldiers, veterans, 

and their immediate family members from applying for individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is inadmissible for 

a crime involving moral turpitude or a controlled substance violation, or deportable for more than one criminal conviction. Failed 8– 

15. 

ROLLCALL NO. 4 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman .......................................................................................................

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................

Mr. Delahunt ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson .......................................................................................................

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 


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ROLLCALL NO. 4—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren .......................................................................................................

Mr. Cannon ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Keller ...........................................................................................................

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes .........................................................................................................

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan .........................................................................................................

Total ................................................................................................ 8 15 

5. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to bar soldiers, veterans, 

and their immediate family members from applying for individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is deportable for 

an offense that involves fraud or deceit in which the loss exceeds 

$10,000. Failed by a vote of 7–10. 

ROLLCALL NO. 5 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman .......................................................................................................

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Johnson .......................................................................................................

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz ....................................................................................

Mr. Ellison .........................................................................................................

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren .......................................................................................................

Mr. Cannon .......................................................................................................

Mr. Keller ...........................................................................................................


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ROLLCALL NO. 5—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes .........................................................................................................

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan .........................................................................................................

Total ................................................................................................ 7 10 

6. An amendment offered by Mr. Issa to require active-duty Reserve members to petition for removal of condition on their permanent residence if they are in training at the time that they must 

file the petition to remove the condition. Failed by a vote of 8–15. 

ROLLCALL NO. 6 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman .......................................................................................................

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson .......................................................................................................

Ms. Sutton ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison .........................................................................................................

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren .......................................................................................................

Mr. Cannon ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Keller ...........................................................................................................

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes .........................................................................................................

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan .........................................................................................................

Total ................................................................................................ 8 15 


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7. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to bar soldiers, veterans, 

and their immediate family members from applying for individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is deportable for 

an offense relating to a failure to appear by a defendant for service 

of sentence where the underlying offense is punishable by imprisonment of five or more years. Failed by a vote of 10–12. 

ROLLCALL NO. 7 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler .........................................................................................................

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez .....................................................................................................

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly .......................................................................................................

Mr. Goodlatte ....................................................................................................

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon .......................................................................................................

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 10 12 

8. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to bar soldiers, veterans, 

and their immediate family members from applying for individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is deportable for 

a gambling offense. Failed by a vote of 11–13. 

ROLLCALL NO. 8 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................


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14 

ROLLCALL NO. 8—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Nadler .........................................................................................................

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez .....................................................................................................

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte ....................................................................................................

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon .......................................................................................................

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa .............................................................................................................

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 11 13 

9. An amendment offered by Mr. King to bar soldiers, veterans, 

and their immediate family members from applying for individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is deportable for 

a theft or burglary offense for which the term of imprisonment is 

at least 1 year. Failed by a vote of 11–15. 

ROLLCALL NO. 9 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler .........................................................................................................

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................

Mr. Delahunt ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 


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ROLLCALL NO. 9—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte ....................................................................................................

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon .......................................................................................................

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa .............................................................................................................

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 11 15 

10. An amendment offered by Mr. King to bar soldiers, veterans, 

and their immediate family members from applying for individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is deportable for 

a crime of violence for which the term of imprisonment is at least 

1 year. Failed by a vote of 11–15. 

ROLLCALL NO. 10 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman .......................................................................................................

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler .........................................................................................................

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Delahunt ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison .........................................................................................................


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16 

ROLLCALL NO. 10—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte ....................................................................................................

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa .............................................................................................................

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 11 15 

11. An amendment offered by Mr. Lungren to deny benefits 

under this bill to veterans who were discharged ‘‘under honorable 

conditions’’ by replacing the term with ‘‘with an honorable discharge.’’ Failed by a vote of 12–15. 

ROLLCALL NO. 11 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Keller ...........................................................................................................

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 


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17 

ROLLCALL NO. 11—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gohmert ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 12 15 

12. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to allow soldiers and 

veterans to be deported from the United States without first being 

able to appear before an Immigration Judge. Failed by a vote of 

11–17. 

ROLLCALL NO. 12 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gohmert ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 11 17 

13. The Committee considered an amendment offered by Mr. 

Issa to deny benefits under this bill to parents, children over 21, 


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18 

and minor siblings of U.S. soldiers and veterans. Failed by a vote 

of 10–16. 

ROLLCALL NO. 13 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler .........................................................................................................

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler ......................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan .........................................................................................................

Total ................................................................................................ 10 16 

14. An amendment offered by Mr. King to bar soldiers, veterans, 

and their immediate family members from applying for individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is inadmissible for 

not having relevant documentation at the time of admission to the 

United States or having accrued unlawful presence in the United 

States. Failed by a vote of 11–16. 

ROLLCALL NO. 14 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 


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19 

ROLLCALL NO. 14—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ......................................................................................................

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren .......................................................................................................

Mr. Cannon ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gohmert ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 11 16 

15. The Committee reported the bill favorably to the House by 

a vote of 16–12. 

ROLLCALL NO. 15 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Delahunt .....................................................................................................

Mr. Wexler .........................................................................................................

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ......................................................................................................

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 


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20 

ROLLCALL NO. 15—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Davis ...........................................................................................................

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Smith, Ranking Member ............................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte .................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gohmert ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 16 12 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the findings 

and recommendations of the Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the descriptive portions of this report. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES

Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does not provide new 

budgetary authority or increased tax expenditures. 

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate of the costs of implementing H.R. 6020 as reported by the Committee on the Judiciary was not available as of the time of filing this report. Nor was 

any useful agency estimate of these costs available. 

In compliance with clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee estimates the costs as follows: 

Cost to the Federal Government 

The Committee does not anticipate that the bill will have any 

significant effect on the Federal budget in terms of the immigration 

cases themselves. The bill would simply make additional persons 

eligible to apply for individualized consideration of their immigration cases. The Committee expects that the cases of those who do 

so apply can be handled with existing resources. 

Data as to the number of beneficiaries who would be eligible to, 

and who would elect to, apply for the immigration benefits provided 

under the bill is not available. However, the Committee believes 


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that the bill may increase certain costs to the Federal Government 

relating to programs in which legal immigrants and citizens may 

become eligible to participate. These costs would recur annually 

and indefinitely, and could be expected to vary from year to year, 

and to be offset, partially or fully, by increased income tax revenue 

as the persons involved become legally entitled to work in the 

United States. It is not practicable, at this time, to estimate the net 

costs to the Federal Government. 

PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The Committee states that pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H.R. 6020 will alleviate some of the most common and recurring immigration problems 

that are affecting military readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces. It 

would do so by ensuring that active-duty soldiers serving honorably, veterans who have been honorably discharged, and their close 

family members do not face problems with applying for naturalization, that they have an opportunity to bring and keep their families 

together, and they do not face unnecessary and insurmountable obstacles in deportation proceedings. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for this legislation in article 1, section 8, clause 4 of the Constitution. 

ADVISORY ON EARMARKS

In accordance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, H.R. 6020 does not contain any congressional 

earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 

in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI. 


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SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

The following discussion describes the bill as reported by the 

Committee. 

Sec. 1. Short title. Section 1 sets forth the short title of the bill 

as the ‘‘Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez Act of 2008.’’ 

Sec. 2. Facilitating Naturalization for Military Personnel. Section 

2 of the bill amends section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality 

Act (INA) to allow soldiers who have served honorably in dangerous operations not covered by a Presidential Executive Order to 

naturalize under the wartime naturalization provision of the INA. 

Section 2 also amends section 328 of the INA to give soldiers 1 year 

(rather than 6 months under current law) after their honorable discharge to apply for citizenship under the peacetime naturalization 

provision. 

Sec. 3. Facilitating Removal of Conditional Status for Military 

Personnel and Their Families. Section 3 amends INA section 216 

to allow conditional permanent resident soldiers to wait until they 

are honorably discharged before having to remove the condition on 

their permanent residence. For U.S. citizen soldiers who are married to conditional permanent residents, section 3 also amends INA 

section 216 to exempt these soldiers from having to appear at an 

in-person interview for their spouses’ removal of condition. 

Sec. 4. Factors to Consider in Initiating Removal Proceedings 

Against Active Duty Military Personnel or Veterans. Section 4 codifies a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement memorandum on procedures for placing soldiers or veterans in removal 

proceedings. If they are placed in removal proceedings, they must 

be given the opportunity to appear before an Immigration Judge 

before being ordered deported. 

Sec. 5. Discretionary Relief for Active Duty Military Personnel, 

Veterans, and Family Members in Removal Proceedings. Section 5 

amends INA sections 212 and 237 to permit soldiers, honorably discharged veterans, and their close family members to apply for a 

discretionary waiver of certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. They would have to demonstrate their eligibility for such 

relief based on a multi-factor test. 

Sec. 6. Timely Unification of Military Personnel and Their Nuclear Families. Section 6 facilitates the reunification of lawful permanent resident soldiers with their spouses and/or minor children 

by making immigrant visas immediately available for these family 

members. 

Sec. 7. Relief for Immediate Family Members of Active Duty Personnel. Section 7 allows an undocumented parent, spouse, child, or 

minor sibling of U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident soldiers 

and certain veterans to apply for permanent residence. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 


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IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE II—IMMIGRATION 

CHAPTER 1—SELECTION SYSTEM

WORLDWIDE LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION

SEC. 201. (a) * * * 

(b) ALIENS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECT NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS.— 

Aliens described in this subsection, who are not subject to the 

worldwide levels or numerical limitations of subsection (a), are as 

follows: 

(1)(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(F) Aliens who are eligible for an immigrant visa under paragraph (2)(A) of section 203(a) and are either the spouse or child 

of an alien who is serving in the Armed Forces of the United 

States. 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 2—QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION OF ALIENS; TRAVEL

CONTROL OF CITIZENS AND ALIENS

* * * * * * * 

GENERAL CLASSES OF ALIENS INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE VISAS AND

INELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION; WAIVERS OF INADMISSIBILITY

SEC. 212. (a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL AND FAMILY MEMBERS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to an alien who served honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United States, and 

who, if separated from such service, separated under honorable 

conditions, or an alien who is the spouse, child, son, daughter, 

parent, or minor sibling of a member serving in the Armed 

Forces of the United States— 

(A) paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), (7)(A), and (9)(B) of subsection (a) shall not apply; 

(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney 

General, shall not waive— 

(i) subsection (a)(2)(B), if the alien actually was incarcerated for 5 years or more for the offenses described 

in such subsection; 

(ii) subparagraph (C), (D), (G), or (H) of subsection 

(a)(2); 

(iii) subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (E), or (F) of subsection (a)(3); 

(iv) subsection (a)(6)(E); 

(v) subparagraph (A) or (C) of subsection (a)(10); or 

(vi) subsection (a)(10)(D), if the alien has received a 

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tion for an offense described in clause (i) of such subsection, and if the court finds that the alien did not 

reasonably believe at the time such violation that the 

alien was a citizen; and 

(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney 

General, may waive any other provision of subsection (a). 

(2) WAIVER FACTORS.—In making a determination under 

paragraph (1)(C), the following factors may be considered: 

(A) The grounds of inadmissibility applicable to the 

alien. 

(B) The alien’s service in the United States military, or 

the degree to which the alien’s removal would affect a close 

family member who is serving or has served in the Armed 

Forces. 

(C) The length of time the alien has lived in the United 

States. 

(D) The degree to which the alien would be impacted by 

his or her removal from the United States. 

(E) The existence of close family ties within the United 

States. 

(F) The degree to which the alien’s removal would adversely affect the alien’s United States citizen, or lawful 

permanent resident, parents, spouses, children, sons, 

daughters, or siblings. 

(G) The alien’s history of employment in the United 

States, including whether the alien has been self-employed 

or has owned a business. 

(H) The degree to which the alien’s removal would adversely affect the alien’s United States employer or business. 

(I) The degree to which the alien has ties to the alien’s 

community in the United States or has contributed to the 

Nation through community, volunteer, or other activities. 

* * * * * * * 

CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR CERTAIN ALIEN

SPOUSES AND SONS AND DAUGHTERS

SEC. 216. (a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) REQUIREMENTS OF TIMELY PETITION AND INTERVIEW FOR REMOVAL OF CONDITION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—In order for the conditional basis established under subsection (a) for an alien spouse or an alien son 

or daughter to be removed— 

(A) * * * 

(B) in accordance with subsection (d)(3), the alien spouse 

and the petitioning spouse (if not deceased or serving in 

the Armed Forces at the time of the interview) must appear 

for a personal interview before an officer or employee of 

the Service respecting the facts and information described 

in subsection (d)(1). 

* * * * * * * 

(d) DETAILS OF PETITION AND INTERVIEW.— 


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(1) * * * 

(2) PERIOD FOR FILING PETITION.— (A) 90-DAY PERIOD BEFORE SECOND ANNIVERSARY.—Except as provided in øsubparagraph (B),¿ subparagraphs (B) 

and (D), the petition under subsection (c)(1)(A) must be 

filed during the 90-day period before the second anniversary of the alien’s obtaining the status of lawful admission 

for permanent residence. 

* * * * * * * 

(D) FILING OF PETITIONS DURING MILITARY SERVICE.—In 

the case of an alien who is serving as a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve or in an active-duty 

status in the military, air, or naval forces of the United 

States during the 90-day period described in subparagraph 

(A), the alien may file the petition under subsection (c)(1)(A) 

during the 6-month period beginning on the date on which 

the alien is discharged from such service. 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 4—INSPECTION, APPREHENSION, EXAMINATION, 

EXCLUSION, AND REMOVAL

* * * * * * * 

GENERAL CLASSES OF DEPORTABLE ALIENS

SEC. 237. (a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(d) MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL AND FAMILY MEMBERS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to an alien who served honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United States, and 

who, if separated from such service, separated under honorable 

conditions, or an alien who is the spouse, child, son, daughter, 

parent, or minor sibling of a member serving in the Armed 

Forces of the United States— 

(A) paragraphs (1)(D), (3)(A), and (5) of subsection (a) 

shall not apply; 

(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney 

General, shall not waive— 

(i) subsection (a)(1)(E); 

(ii) subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii), if the alien actually was 

incarcerated for 5 years or more for the offenses described in such subsection; 

(iii) subsection (a)(2)(A)(iii), if the aggravated felony 

involved was an offense described in subparagraph (A), 

(B), (C), (D), (E)(i), (H), (I), (K)(i), (K)(ii), (K)(iii), (L)(i), 

(L)(ii), (L)(iii), (M)(ii), (R), (S), or (U) of section 

101(a)(43); 

(iv) clause (iv) or (v) of subsection (a)(2)(A); 

(v) clause (i) or (ii) of subsection (a)(2)(D); 

(vi) subsection (a)(2)(D)(iii), if the offense is a violation of the Trading With the Enemy Act; 

(vii) subsection (a)(2)(D)(iv), if the offense is a violation of section 278; 


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(viii) subparagraph (A), (B), (C)(i), (D), or (E) of subsection (a)(4); or 

(ix) subsection (a)(6)(A), if the alien has received a 

conviction, award, compromise, settlement, or injunction for an offense described in such subsection, and if 

the court finds that the alien did not reasonably believe 

at the time such violation that the alien was a citizen; 

and 

(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney 

General, may waive any other provision of subsection (a). 

(2) WAIVER FACTORS.—In making a determination under 

paragraph (1)(C), the following factors may be considered: 

(A) The grounds of deportability applicable to the alien. 

(B) The alien’s service in the United States military, or 

the degree to which the alien’s removal would affect a close 

family member who is serving or has served in the Armed 

Forces. 

(C) The length of time the alien has lived in the United 

States. 

(D) The degree to which the alien would be impacted by 

his or her removal from the United States. 

(E) The existence of close family ties within the United 

States. 

(F) The degree to which the alien’s removal would adversely affect the alien’s United States citizen, or lawful 

permanent resident, parents, spouses, children, sons, 

daughters, or siblings. 

(G) The alien’s history of employment in the United 

States, including whether the alien has been self-employed 

or has owned a business. 

(H) The degree to which the alien’s removal would adversely affect the aliens United States employer or business. 

(I) The degree to which the alien has ties to the alien’s 

community in the United States or has contributed to the 

Nation through community, volunteer, or other activities. 

* * * * * * * 

INITIATION OF REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS

SEC. 239. (a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(f)(1) A notice to appear shall not be issued against an alien who 

served honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United 

States, and who, if separated from such service, separated under 

honorable conditions, without prior approval from the Director of 

the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and 

Customs Enforcement. 

(2) In determining whether to issue a notice to appear against 

such an alien, the Director or the Assistant Secretary shall consider 

the alien’s eligibility for naturalization under section 328 or 329, as 

well as the alien’s record of military service, grounds of deportability applicable to the alien, and any hardship to the Armed Services, the alien, and his or her family if the alien were to be placed 

in removal proceedings. 


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(3) An alien who served honorably at any time in the Armed 

Forces of the United States, and who, if separated from such service, 

separated under honorable conditions, shall not be removed from 

the United States under subparagraph (A)(i) or (B)(iii) of section 

235(b)(1), section 238, or section 241(a)(5). 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE III—NATIONALITY AND NATURALIZATION 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 2—NATIONALITY THROUGH NATURALIZATION

* * * * * * * 

NATURALIZATION THROUGH SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE

UNITED STATES

SEC. 328. (a) A person who has served honorably at any time in 

the Armed Forces of the United States for a period or periods aggregating one year, and who, if separated from such service, was 

never separated except under honorable conditions, may be naturalized without having resided, continuously immediately preceding 

the date of filing such person’s application, in the United States for 

at least five years, and in the State or district of the Service in the 

United States in which the application for naturalization is filed for 

at least three months, and without having been physically present 

in the United States for any specified period, if such application is 

filed while the applicant is still in the service or within øsix 

months¿ one year after the termination of such service. 

* * * * * * * 

ø(c) In the case such applicant’s service was not continuous, the 

applicant’s residence in the United States and State or district of 

the Service in the United States, good moral character, attachment 

to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and favorable disposition toward the good order and happiness of the 

United States, during any period within five years immediately 

preceding the date of filing such application between the periods of 

applicant’s service in the Armed Forces, shall be alleged in the application filed under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 

and proved at any hearing thereon. Such allegation and proof shall 

also be made as to any period between the termination of applicant’s service and the filing of the application for naturalization.¿ 

ø(d)¿ (c) The applicant shall comply with the requirements of section 316(a) of this title, if the termination of such service has been 

more than øsix months¿ one year preceding the date of filing the 

application for naturalization, except that such service within five 

years immediately preceding the date of filing such application 

shall be considered as residence and physical presence within the 

United States. 

ø(e)¿ (d) Any such period or periods of service under honorable 

conditions, and good moral character, attachment to the principles 

of the Constitution of the United States, and favorable disposition 

toward the good order and happiness of the United States, during 

such service, shall be proved by duly authenticated copies of the 

records of the executive departments having custody of the records 


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1See sections 328, 329 & 329A of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 2See sections 1701–05 of Pub. L. No. 108–136. 

of such service, and such authenticated copies of records shall be 

accepted in lieu of compliance with the provisions of section 316(a). 

ø(f)¿ (e) Citizenship granted pursuant to this section may be revoked in accordance with section 340 if the person is separated 

from the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions before the person has served honorably for a period or periods aggregating five years. Such ground for revocation shall be in addition 

to any other provided by law, including the grounds described in 

section 340. The fact that the naturalized person was separated 

from the service under other than honorable conditions shall be 

proved by a duly authenticated certification from the executive department under which the person was serving at the time of separation. Any period or periods of service shall be proved by duly authenticated copies of the records of the executive departments having custody of the records of such service. 

* * * * * * * 

DISSENTING VIEWS

Congress has long sought to facilitate the naturalization of noncitizens serving in the Armed Forces. In fact, our immigration laws 

have long contained three special naturalization provisions just for 

service members.1 Then, after Congress learned that some of the 

members of the military who died in combat during ‘‘Operation 

Iraqi Freedom’’ were not United States citizens, Congress acted to 

provide enhanced benefits to permanent resident service members 

and their families.2

However, this bill is about a much different proposition. It is not 

about easing the naturalization of U.S. service members and providing substantive immigration benefits to the family members of 

service members killed in action. Rather, this bill is about granting 

amnesty and relief from the consequences of committing many serious crimes to most aliens who have ever served in the United 

States military—no matter how briefly or long ago they served. 

These immigration benefits also go to alien family members 

(spouses, minor children, adult sons and daughters, parents and 

even minor siblings) of persons now serving in the military or who 

have served in the military during times of conflict. 

The American people are opposed to amnesty for lawbreakers. 

The American people want criminal aliens deported and our communities made safe. Unfortunately, this bill is on the wrong side 

of the American people. 

When we look at an American soldier or veteran we almost always see someone who has made a sacrifice to uphold the American Constitution and the rule of law. This bill cheapens that 

image, and does a disservice to the vast majority of our non-citizen 

soldiers and their family members who have abided by the law. 

This bill is opposed by the American Legion. The National Commander of the American Legion stated that: 

On behalf of 2.7 million members of the American Legion, I am 

writing in opposition to H.R. 6020 . . . [T]he center point for 

disagreement with this measure is our unequivocal opposition 


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3Letter from Martin Conatser, National Commander, the American Legion, to Steve King, 

Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and 

International Law, House Judiciary Committee (July 30, 2008). 4 H.R. Rep. No. 106–1048 at 256–57 (2001). 

to granting amnesty to those residing illegally in the United 

States. Fundamental to our position is the distinction that 

must be made between . . . [legal] and . . . [illegal] immigrants. H.R. 6020 would reward non-citizen law breakers and 

undocumented immigrants with a short cut to citizenship that 

is nothing less than an official pardon for illegal acts: an amnesty. . . . Non-citizen service members’ relatives who have 

entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed a visa or who may be 

fugitives from justice deserve no special adjustment. . . . No 

special pardon, no reprieve from lawlessness, no exoneration 

for bad behavior is given to the citizen soldier or their family 

because one wore the uniform of the United States military. . . . The American Legion remains adamantly opposed to 

the granting of pardons to illegal aliens.3

The bill grants immigration judges the ability to waive the 

grounds of inadmissibility and deportability for serious crimes, 

overturning a key policy change Congress made in 1996 to enhance 

public safety. The benefits of this bill extend to aliens who have 

committed serious crimes decades after separating from the service 

and to alien family members of persons serving or who have served 

in the military. The bill provides waivers for: 

• crimes of moral turpitude, 

• crimes of domestic violence, stalking and child abuse, 

• crimes of violence for which term of imprisonment was at 

least one year, 

• crime of theft for which term of imprisonment was at least 

one year, 

• fraud offenses in which the loss to the victim was over 

$10,000, 

• controlled substance crimes, 

• returning to the U.S. after having previously departed the 

U.S. under immunity for having committed a serious criminal offense, 

• gambling offenses and investing racketeering profits in businesses which are engaged in interstate commerce, 

• passport and visa counterfeiting for which the term of imprisonment was at least one year, 

• failure to appear for service of a criminal sentence, and 

• failure to appear before a court to answer for a felony. 

We must remember that information this Committee received 

from the Justice Department under subpoena revealed that 37% of 

criminal aliens whom the former Immigration and Naturalization 

Service released were subsequently convicted of another crime in 

the U.S.4

This bill creates a perverse incentive for persons to intentionally 

enter the military for the express purpose of procuring amnesty or 

relief from the immigration consequences of serious crimes for 


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themselves or for their extended family members. This is not what 

service to our country is all about. 

Finally, providing immigration benefits to extended-family members of immigrants, such as adult children and siblings, simply encourages rampant chain migration. With chain migration, one anchor immigrant eventually facilitates the immigration of many relatives increasingly distantly related to them. As the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform chaired by Barbara Jordan found, 

there is no compelling national interest in the immigration of extended-family members. 

LAMAR SMITH. 

ELTON GALLEGLY. 

RIC KELLER. 

DARRELL ISSA. 

STEVE KING. 

Æ 


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