Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2025

Key Points

• The bill creates a new visa program allowing noncitizen veterans who were deported to return to the U.S. as lawful permanent residents. Veterans already in the country could also adjust their status to permanent residency. There is no cap on how many veterans can use this program.
• Veterans are only disqualified if they were deported for a violent crime or a national security offense that led to at least 5 years in prison. Even those exclusions can be waived for humanitarian reasons, family unity, exceptional military service, or the public interest.
• The bill broadly prohibits deporting any noncitizen who is a current service member or veteran unless they have been convicted of a violent crime, creating a strong new protection against removal for those who served.
• Veterans who return or adjust status through this program would regain access to all military and veterans benefits they earned. The bill also eases naturalization requirements by disregarding absences caused by deportation.
• Immigration officials would be required to ask about military service before starting removal proceedings, get supervisory approval before trying to deport a veteran or service member, and keep detailed records of all cases involving veterans.