Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act

To provide benefits for noncitizen members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) military service to the United States is a sacrifice that demonstrates loyalty to our Nation; (2) a noncitizen who takes an oath of enlistment or an oath of office to join the United States Armed Forces, by promising to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, deserves facilitated access to naturalization; (3) each noncitizen described in paragraph (2) and his or her immediate family members deserve consideration for the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in immigration removal proceedings; and (4) a noncitizen veteran who is deported after consideration under this Act should be provided the same veterans’ benefits to which a similarly situated United States citizen veteran would be entitled. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Advisory committee The term Advisory Committee (2) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees (A) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate (C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate (D) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate (E) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives (F) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (G) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives (H) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives (3) Armed forces The term Armed Forces armed forces (4) Advisory committee The term Advisory Committee (5) Covered family member The term covered family member (A) a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty or in a reserve component; or (B) a veteran. (6) Crime of violence The term crime of violence (A) that is not a purely political offense; and (B) for which a noncitizen has served a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years. (7) Eligible veteran (A) In general The term eligible veteran (i) is a noncitizen; and (ii) meets the criteria described in section 12(e). (B) Inclusion The term eligible veteran (i) was removed from the United States; or (ii) is abroad and is inadmissible under section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) (8) Immigration laws The term immigration laws 8 U.S.C. 1101 (9) Noncitizen The term noncitizen 8 U.S.C. 1101(a) (10) Veteran The term veteran 4. Identification of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and covered family members in removal proceedings (a) In general No Federal agency may initiate removal proceedings or reinstatement of a removal order without first asking the individual, and recording the answer in a searchable electronic database, whether such individual is— (1) a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty or in a reserve component; (2) a veteran; or (3) a covered family member. (b) Transfer of case files The Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, as applicable, shall transfer a copy of the complete case file of any individual identified under subsection (a), immediately after such identification, to the Advisory Committee. (c) Limitation on removal Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual described in subsection (a) may not be ordered removed or removed until the Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee has provided recommendations with respect to such individual to the Secretary of Homeland Security and to the Attorney General in accordance with section 8. (d) Prohibition of detention during Advisory Committee review Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no individual described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a) may be detained by the Department of Homeland Security while the Advisory Committee is reviewing his or her case unless such individual poses a danger to public safety or national security. 5. Study and report on noncitizen veterans removed from the United States (a) Study required Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly carry out a study of noncitizen veterans of the Armed Forces who were removed from the United States during the period beginning on January 1, 1990, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, which shall include— (1) the number of noncitizens removed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Immigration and Naturalization Service during the period covered by the report who served on active duty in the Armed Forces or in a reserve component of the Armed Forces; (2) for each noncitizen described in paragraph (1)— (A) the country of origin of the noncitizen; (B) the length of time the noncitizen served as a member of the Armed Forces; (C) the number of covered family members of the noncitizen, as applicable; (D) the grounds for removal under section 212(a) or 237(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) (E) whether the noncitizen appealed the removal order; (F) whether the noncitizen was detained; and (G) whether the noncitizen was represented by a lawyer; (3) the number of noncitizens described in paragraph (1) who— (A) were discharged or released from service under honorable conditions; (B) were deployed overseas; (C) served on active duty in the Armed Forces in an overseas contingency operation; (D) were awarded military decorations, campaign medals, or service medals; (E) applied for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or (F) are receiving benefits described in subparagraph (E); (4) a description of the reasons preventing any of the noncitizens who applied for benefits described in paragraph (3)(E) from receiving such benefits; (5) the number of noncitizens who— (A) currently serve or previously served as a member of the Armed Forces; and (B) are currently in removal proceedings; and (6) for each noncitizen described in paragraph (5), the grounds for inadmissibility or deportability under section 212(a) or 237(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) (b) Report Not later than 90 days after the date of the completion of the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit a report containing the results of such study to the appropriate congressional committees. 6. Information regarding veterans subject to removal proceedings (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall create a system to maintain information, that is shared across the Department of Homeland Security (including Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, and Homeland Security Investigations), regarding potentially removable noncitizen veterans (including the names and last known addresses of such individuals) and removal proceedings with respect to any such individual, for the purpose of ensuring that service in the Armed Forces of any such individual is taken into consideration during any adjudication under the immigration laws with respect to such individual, including— (1) information collected pursuant to the protocol established under section 7(a); (2) information regarding the covered family members of the noncitizens described in section 7(a)(1); and (3) information provided by the Secretary of Defense pursuant subsection (b). (b) Provision of information by Department of Defense Not later than 30 days after a noncitizen veteran is honorably discharged from the Armed Forces, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Secretary of Homeland Security a copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty form, or other discharge documents from a Reserve Component, for inclusion in the system established pursuant to subsection (a). (c) Confidentiality Information collected under this section or under section 7 may not be disclosed for purposes of immigration enforcement. 7. Protocol for identifying noncitizen veterans (a) In general Not later than the last day of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish— (1) a protocol, which shall be known as the Immigrant Veterans Eligibility Tracking System I–VETS (A) identifying noncitizens who are or may be veterans and the covered family members of such veterans; and (B) collecting and maintaining data, for use by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with respect to such veterans and covered family members who are— (i) are in removal proceedings; or (ii) have been removed; (2) best practices with respect to addressing issues related to the removal of any noncitizen or covered family member described in paragraph (1); and (3) an annual training program with respect to the protocol and best practices established under paragraphs (1) and (2). (b) Training Beginning in the first fiscal year that begins after the Secretary of Homeland Security completes the requirements under subsection (a), personnel of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall annually participate in the training program on the protocol and best practices developed pursuant to subsection (a). 8. Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee (a) Establishment The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and in cooperation with the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall establish the Military Family Immigration Advisory Committee to provide recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General regarding the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in cases involving removal proceedings of individuals described in section 4(a). (b) Membership The Advisory Committee shall be composed of the following officers of the Armed Forces: (1) The Deputy Commanding General of Army Human Resources Command, or designee. (2) The Judge Advocate of the Army, or designee. (3) The Deputy Commander of Navy Personnel Command, or designee. (4) The Judge Advocate of the Navy, or designee. (5) The Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. (6) The Judge Advocate of the Air Force, or designee. (7) The Deputy Commandant for Mission Support of the Coast Guard. (8) The Judge Advocate of the Coast Guard, or designee. (9) The Deputy Commandant of Manpower and Reserve Affairs of the Marine Corps, or designee. (10) The Chief of Space Operations. (c) Case reviews (1) In general Not later than 30 days after the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement notifies the Advisory Committee of an individual described in section 4(a), the Advisory Committee shall meet to review the case and to provide a written recommendation to the Secretary of Homeland Security and to such individual regarding whether the individual— (A) notwithstanding the grounds for removal asserted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, should be granted— (i) a dismissal or termination of removal procedures; (ii) a stay of removal or cancellation of removal and allowed to apply for asylum; (iii) an adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence; (iv) deferred action; (v) parole; or (vi) other applicable immigration relief; or (B) should be removed from the United States. (2) Submission of information An individual who is the subject of a case review under paragraph (1) may submit information to the Advisory Committee, which shall be considered by the Advisory Committee before making a recommendation pursuant to paragraph (1). (3) Procedures In conducting each case review under paragraph (1), the Advisory Committee shall consider, as factors weighing in favor of a recommendation under paragraph (1)(A)— (A) with respect to a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty or in a reserve component, whether the individual— (i) took an oath of enlistment or an oath of office; (ii) received military decorations, campaign medals, or service medals, was deployed, or was otherwise evaluated for merit in service during his or her service in the Armed Forces; (iii) is a national of a country that prohibits repatriation of an individual after any service in the Armed Forces; (iv) contributed to his or her local community during his or her service in the Armed Forces; and (v) is a national of a country that— (I) persecutes members or veterans of the United States military; (II) is home to criminal organizations that target and recruit veterans of the United States military; or (III) has hostile relations with the United States; or (B) with respect to a veteran, whether the individual— (i) took an oath of enlistment or an oath of office; (ii) completed a term of service in the Armed Forces and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; (iii) received military decorations, campaign medals, or service medals, was deployed, or was otherwise evaluated for merit in service during his or her service in the Armed Forces; (iv) is a national of a country that prohibits repatriation of an individual after any service in the Armed Forces; (v) contributed to his or her local community during or after his or her service in the Armed Forces; or (vi) is a national of a country that— (I) persecutes members or veterans of the United States military; (II) is home to criminal organizations that target and recruit veterans of the Unites States military; or (III) has hostile relations with the United States; and (C) with respect to a covered family member, whether the individual— (i) supported a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty or a veteran, including through financial support, emotional support, or caregiving; or (ii) contributed to his or her local community during or after the military service of the member or of the veteran. (4) Presumption in favor of following advisory committee recommendation The Secretary of Homeland Security shall follow the recommendations received from the Advisory Committee pursuant to paragraph (1) with respect to individuals in removal proceedings unless the Secretary, on a case-by-case basis— (A) issues a written determination that a recommendation regarding an individual described in section 4(a) is unjustified; and (B) provides such written determination to such individual. (d) Consultation with Principal Legal Advisor of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement The Principal Legal Advisor of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or designee, shall consult with the Advisory Committee at the request of members of the Advisory Committee. (e) Briefings on unsuitability of noncitizen members of the Armed Forces The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall provide detailed briefings to the Advisory Committee regarding the reasons for determining the unsuitability of noncitizen members of the Armed Forces whose cases are being considered by the Advisory Committee. (f) Briefings on actions in response to recommendations Not less frequently than quarterly, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide detailed briefings to the Advisory Committee regarding actions taken in response to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee, including detailed explanations for any cases in which a recommendation of the Advisory Committee was not followed. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 9. List of countries unwilling to repatriate United States veterans The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall compile, and annually update, a list of countries that refuse to repatriate nationals of such country who have enlisted or been appointed in the United States Armed Forces. 10. Program of citizenship through military service (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly carry out a program under which any individual noncitizen who serves in the Armed Forces, and the covered family members of such noncitizen, shall be naturalized as a United States citizen if such individual, and such covered family members, submit an application for naturalization and are not otherwise ineligible for citizenship under the immigration laws. (b) J AG The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that appropriate members of the Judge Advocate General Corps of the Armed Forces shall receive training to function as liaisons with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with respect to applications for citizenship of noncitizen members of the Armed Forces assigned to units in such areas. (c) Training for recruiters The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that all recruiters in the Armed Forces receive training regarding— (1) the steps required for a noncitizen member of the Armed Forces to become a naturalized United States citizen; (2) limitations on the path to citizenship for family members of such noncitizens; and (3) points of contact at the Department of Homeland Security to resolve emergency immigration-related situations with respect to such noncitizens and family members. (d) Application for naturalization (1) Biometrics (A) Submission of biometric information The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, at the time of accession into the Armed Forces, biometric information of an individual who has applied, or who plans to apply, for naturalization is submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for the purposes of such application. (B) Acceptance of biometric information The Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall accept any biometric information submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A). (2) Filing of application The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall ensure that each noncitizen individual who accesses into the Armed Forces is permitted to file an application for naturalization as part of the accessions process. (3) Adjudication of application The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall ensure that the application for naturalization of any individual who applies for naturalization during the accessions process into the Armed Forces is adjudicated not later than the last day of active service of such individual in the Armed Forces. (e) Annual reports The Secretary of each military department shall submit an annual report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding— (1) the number of all noncitizens who enlisted or were appointed in their department; (2) the number of members of the Armed Forces in their department who have become naturalized United States citizens; and (3) the number of members of the Armed Forces in their department who were discharged or released without United States citizenship under the jurisdiction of such Secretary during the preceding year. 11. Information for military recruits regarding naturalization through service in the Armed Forces The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall ensure that at each Military Entrance Processing Station there is stationed or employed— (1) an employee of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; or (2) in the case that the Secretary determines that it is impracticable station or employ a person described in paragraph (1) at a Military Entrance Processing Station, a member of the Armed Forces or employee of the Department of Defense— (A) whom the Secretary determines is trained in the immigration laws; and (B) who shall inform each military recruit who is not a citizen of the United States processed at such Military Entrance Processing Station regarding naturalization through service in the Armed Forces under sections 328 and 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1439 and 1440). 12. Return of eligible veterans removed from the United States; adjustment of status (a) Program for admission and adjustment of status Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a program and an application procedure that allows— (1) eligible veterans residing outside of the United States and their covered family members to be admitted to the United States as noncitizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) (2) eligible veterans in the United States and their covered family members to adjust their status to that of noncitizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence. (b) Veterans ordered removed (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, in the case of noncitizen veterans and their covered family members who are the subjects of final orders of removal, including noncitizen veterans and covered family members who are outside the United States, the Attorney General shall— (A) reopen the removal proceedings of each such noncitizen veteran and covered family member; and (B) make a determination with respect to whether each such noncitizen veteran is an eligible veteran. (2) Rescission of removal order In the case of a determination under paragraph (1)(B) that a noncitizen veteran is an eligible veteran, the Attorney General shall— (A) rescind the order of removal with respect to such noncitizen and his or her covered family members; (B) adjust the status of the eligible veteran and his or her covered family members to that of noncitizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence; and (C) terminate removal proceedings with respect to such noncitizen and covered family members. (c) Veterans in removal proceedings (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, in the case of noncitizen veterans, the removal proceedings of whom are pending as of the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall make a determination with respect to whether each such noncitizen veteran is an eligible veteran. (2) Termination of proceedings In the case of a determination under paragraph (1) that a noncitizen veteran is an eligible veteran, the Attorney General shall— (A) adjust the status of such eligible veteran and his or her covered family members to reinstate that of noncitizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence; and (B) terminate removal proceedings with respect to such eligible veteran and covered family members. (d) No numerical limitations Nothing in this section or in any other law may be construed to apply a numerical limitation on the number of veterans who may be eligible to receive a benefit under this section. (e) Eligibility (1) In general Notwithstanding sections 212 and 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182 and 1227) or any other provision of law, a noncitizen veteran and his or her covered family members shall be eligible to participate in the program established under subsection (a) or for adjustment of status under subsections (b) or (c), as applicable, if the Secretary or the Attorney General, as applicable, determines that the noncitizen veteran or covered family members— (A) were not removed or ordered removed from the United States based on a conviction for— (i) a crime of violence; or (ii) a crime that endangers the national security of the United States for which the noncitizen veteran has served a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years; and (B) are not inadmissible to, or deportable from, the United States based on a conviction for a crime described in subparagraph (A). (2) Waiver The Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1)— (A) for humanitarian purposes; (B) to ensure family unity; (C) based on exceptional service in the Armed Forces; or (D) if a waiver otherwise is in the public interest. 13. Establishing good moral character of applicants for citizenship who served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States Section 328(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1439(e) Notwithstanding section 101(f), a finding that an applicant under this section or under section 329 is described in any of paragraphs (1) through (8) of section 101(f) (except in the case of an applicant who is described in any such paragraph because of having been convicted of an aggravated felony described in subparagraph (A), (I), (K), or (L) of section 101(a)(43)) shall not preclude a finding that the applicant is of good moral character.

Summary: Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act This bill limits the deportation of noncitizen veterans and addresses related issues. No federal agency may initiate removal proceedings without asking the individual facing removal whether the individual is a member of the Armed Forces, a veteran, or a spouse, parent, or minor child of such an individual. If an individual responds in the affirmative, that individual may not be removed until (1) the relevant Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agency has transferred that individual's case files to an advisory committee created under this bill, and (2) that committee has provided recommendations as to the outcome of the case. DHS must create a system to share information across various agencies about noncitizen veterans who may be subject to removal to ensure that such a veteran's military service is taken into consideration in immigration-related cases. DHS shall also create a system for (1) identifying noncitizens who are or may be veterans, and (2) collecting data relating to such noncitizens who are in removal proceedings or may have been removed. DHS and the Department of Defense must jointly carry out a program to naturalize a noncitizen (and certain family members) if the noncitizen serves on active duty in the Armed Forces and is not otherwise ineligible for citizenship if that noncitizen submits an application. DHS must also establish a program for eligible noncitizen veterans (generally those not convicted for certain serious crimes) to obtain permanent resident status. Similarly, the Department of Justice must provide permanent resident status to such eligible veterans in removal proceedings.