Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2017

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a veterans visa program to permit veterans who have been removed from the United States to return as immigrants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2017 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Crime of violence The term crime of violence (A) that is not a purely political offense; and (B) for which the noncitizen has served a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years. (2) Deported veteran The term deported veteran (A) is a noncitizen; and (B) (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) (3) Noncitizen The term noncitizen 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22) (4) Secretary The term Secretary (5) Service member The term service member (A) a member of a regular or reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty; or (B) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces in an active status. (6) Veteran The term veteran 3. Return of noncitizen veterans removed from the United States; status for noncitizen veterans in the United States (a) In general (1) Duties of Secretary Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (A) establish a program and application procedure to permit— (i) a deported veteran who meets each requirement under subsection (b) to enter the United States as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence; and (ii) a noncitizen veteran in the United States who meets each requirement under subsection (b) to adjust status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence; and (B) cancel the removal of any noncitizen veteran ordered removed who meets each requirement under subsection (b) and allow the noncitizen veteran to adjust status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. (2) 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 paragraph (1). (b) Eligibility (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including sections 212 and 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182 (A) was not ordered removed, or removed, from the United States due to a criminal conviction for— (i) a crime of violence; or (ii) a crime that endangers the national security of the United States for which the noncitizen has served a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years; and (B) is not inadmissible to, or deportable from, the United States due to a criminal conviction 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) due to exceptional service in the United States Armed Forces; or (D) if such waiver otherwise is in the public interest. 4. Protecting veterans and service members from removal Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1227 5. Naturalization through service in the Armed Forces of the United States An alien who has obtained the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence pursuant to section 3(a) shall be eligible for naturalization through service in the Armed Forces of the United States under sections 328 and 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1439 (1) when determining whether the noncitizen is a person of good moral character, disregard the ground on which the noncitizen was— (A) ordered removed, or was removed, from the United States; or (B) rendered inadmissible to, or deportable from, the United States; and (2) any period of absence from the United States due to the noncitizen having been removed, or being inadmissible, shall be disregarded when determining if the noncitizen satisfies any requirement relating to continuous residence or physical presence. 6. Access to military benefits An alien who has obtained the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence pursuant to section 3(a) shall be eligible for all military and veterans benefits for which the noncitizen would have been eligible if, from the United States, the noncitizen had never— (a) been ordered removed; (b) been removed; or (c) voluntarily departed. 7. Implementation (a) Identification The Secretary shall identify cases involving any service member or veteran at risk of removal from the United States by— (1) inquiring of every noncitizen processed prior to initiating a removal proceeding whether the noncitizen is serving, or has served— (A) as a member of a regular or reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty; or (B) as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces in an active status; (2) requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to seek supervisory approval prior to initiating a removal proceeding against a service member or veteran; and (3) keeping records of any service member or veteran who has— (A) had removal proceedings initiated against them; (B) been detained; or (C) been removed. (b) Record annotation (1) In general When the Secretary has identified a case under subsection (a), the Secretary shall annotate all immigration and naturalization records of the Department of Homeland Security relating to the noncitizen involved to— (A) reflect that identification; and (B) afford an opportunity to track the outcomes for the noncitizen. (2) Annotations Each annotation under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) the branch of military service in which each noncitizen served; (B) whether or not the noncitizen is serving, or has served, during a period of military hostilities described in section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1440 (C) the immigration status of each noncitizen at the time of enlistment; (D) whether the noncitizen is serving honorably or was separated under honorable conditions; (E) the basis for which removal was sought; and (F) the crime for which conviction was obtained if the basis for removal was a criminal conviction. 8. Regulations Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement this Act.

Summary: Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) establish a program to permit an eligible deported noncitizen veteran to enter the United States as a lawful permanent resident alien and permit an eligible noncitizen veteran in the United States to adjust to lawful permanent resident status, and (2) cancel an eligible noncitizen veteran's removal and allow the individual to adjust to lawful permanent resident status. A veteran is eligible if the veteran has not been convicted of a crime of violence or a crime that endangers national security for which the veteran has served at least five years in prison. DHS may waive eligibility requirements for humanitarian, family unity, public interest, or exceptional military service reasons. A noncitizen veteran or service member may not be removed from the United States unless such individual has been convicted of a crime of violence. An individual who has obtained lawful permanent resident status pursuant to this bill shall be eligible for: (1) military and veterans benefits, and (2) naturalization through U.S. military service.