I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 717 
To prohibit the removal from the United States of certain veterans, to 
expedite their naturalization, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 1, 2023 
Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas (for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. 
CORREA, Mr. CUELLAR, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. GARCIA of 
Texas, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. FOSTER, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. 
LEVIN, Mr. NEGUSE, Ms. NORTON, and Mr. BLUMENAUER) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To prohibit the removal from the United States of certain 
veterans, to expedite their naturalization, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Repatriate Our Patri-
ots Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITION. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘special veteran’’ means an in-
dividual who is an alien and is described in section 101(2) 
of title 38, United States Code, except the term— 
(1) only includes individuals who were dis-
charged or released from the Armed Forces under 
honorable conditions; 
(2) does not include individuals who have been 
convicted of voluntary manslaughter, murder, rape, 
sexual abuse of a minor, or any offense under chap-
ter 113B of title 18, United States Code (relating to 
terrorism); and 
(3) does not include individuals who have been 
determined to be a child abuser or a pedophile. 
SEC. 3. PROTECTING SPECIAL VETERANS FROM REMOVAL. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including 
section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1227), a special veteran shall not be removed from 
the United States. 
SEC. 4. NATURALIZATION FOR SPECIAL VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, a special veteran shall be naturalized as a cit-
izen of the United States upon the filing of the appro-
priate application, paying the appropriate fees, and, except 
as provided in subsection (b), taking and subscribing be-
fore an officer of the Department of Homeland Security 
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within the United States to the oath of allegiance required 
by section 337 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1448). The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall take steps to ensure that the period in which an ap-
plication for naturalization under this section is pending 
does not exceed 90 days. The Secretary shall furnish each 
special veteran naturalized under this section with a cer-
tificate of citizenship. 
(b) SPECIAL VETERANS ABROAD.—In the case of a 
special veteran residing abroad, the application for natu-
ralization may be filed from abroad, and the oath of alle-
giance described in subsection (a) may be subscribed to 
abroad at United States embassies and consulates. 
(c) WAIVER.—Consistent with section 337(a) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(a)), the 
Secretary of Homeland Security may waive the taking of 
the oath of allegiance described in subsection (a) by a spe-
cial veteran if, in the opinion of the Secretary, the special 
veteran is unable to understand, or to communicate an 
understanding of, its meaning because of a physical or de-
velopmental disability or mental impairment. 
SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF SPECIAL VETERANS IN REMOVAL 
PROCEEDINGS OR ORDERED REMOVED. 
In the case of a special veteran in removal pro-
ceedings on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
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retary of Homeland Security shall cancel the removal of 
the special veteran. In the case of a special veteran who 
was ordered removed before the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Attorney General shall rescind any out-
standing order of removal, and any finding that the special 
veteran is subject to removal or is inadmissible. In the case 
of a special veteran physically present in the United States 
whose status as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
residence was rescinded before the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall allow 
the veteran to adjust status to that of an alien lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence without regard to any 
numerical limitation in the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 
SEC. 6. RETURN OF SPECIAL VETERANS REMOVED FROM 
THE UNITED STATES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program 
and application procedure to permit special veterans re-
moved from the United States before the date of the en-
actment of this Act to enter the United States as an alien 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence without regard 
to any numerical limitation in the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.). 
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SEC. 7. IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIAL VETERANS. 
(a) IDENTIFICATION.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall identify immigration cases involving special 
veterans by— 
(1) inquiring of every alien processed prior to 
initiating removal proceedings whether the alien is a 
special veteran; and 
(2) keeping records of special veterans who 
have been detained under the immigration laws, had 
removal proceedings against them initiated before 
the date of the enactment of this Act, or been re-
moved before such date. 
(b) RECORD ANNOTATION.—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 special 
veteran involved so as to reflect that identification and af-
ford an opportunity to track the outcomes for the veteran. 
Such annotation shall include— 
(1) the veteran’s branch of military service; 
(2) whether or not the veteran served during a 
period of military hostilities described in section 329 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1440); and 
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(3) the veteran’s immigration status at the time 
of enlistment. 
Æ 
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