A deportation flight conducted at Fort Bliss on Feb. 10, 2025 (Photo: U.S. Army Sgt. Griffin Payne)

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has reintroduced legislation aimed at protecting noncitizen military Service Members and Veterans from deportation while creating clearer paths to U.S. citizenship.

The Veteran Service Recognition Act, led in the House by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, was reintroduced on Sept. 24 alongside Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.). In the Senate, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) has introduced companion legislation.

The bill would allow noncitizen Service Members to apply for naturalization during basic training, establish a review process for those in immigration removal proceedings, and provide opportunities for Veterans who have been deported or face removal orders, provided they have not been convicted of serious crimes, to apply for lawful permanent residence.

Takano said the measure reflects a promise that service to the country should be rewarded with a clear path to citizenship. “The Veteran Service Recognition Act makes good on that promise, and it gives us a way to bring home Veterans who served honorably but were deported,” he said in a statement.

More than 100,000 U.S. Veterans are estimated to be living without citizenship, according to figures from the Congressional Research Service. While military recruiters often describe service as a fast track to naturalization, the process has been inconsistent, leaving some Veterans vulnerable to deportation after service ends.

Supporters of the bill argue that noncitizen Veterans deserve the same rights and recognition as their peers. Rep. Nadler said those who put their lives on the line for the nation should not return home only to face questions about immigration status. Rep. Lofgren added that immigrants have served in the U.S. Military since the country’s founding and should not face deportation after fulfilling their duties.

Republican cosponsors echoed that view. Rep. Radewagen called it “common sense and good policy” for Veterans who strengthened the military to remain in the country after service, while Rep. Salazar said noncitizen Veterans make the same sacrifices as any other Service Member and deserve due process and respect.

This is the third time Takano has introduced the bill. It previously passed the House in 2022 but failed to advance in the Senate before the end of that congressional session. The legislation has now been referred to both the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.

The measure comes after years of concerns about Veterans being deported despite honorable service. Under the Trump administration, stricter naturalization rules were enacted, including mandatory waiting periods and the closure of immigration offices at military bases and overseas. Although some of those policies were struck down in court, Veterans’ advocates say the risks remain.

The bill has earned endorsements from The American Legion, VoteVets, the AFL-CIO, UnidosUS, LULAC, and the ACLU.

If passed, the Veteran Service Recognition Act would help ensure that noncitizen Service Members and Veterans have access to a streamlined citizenship process and provide deported individuals with a chance to return to the country they defended.

Author: Rikki Almanza

Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.