Sponsor
Norma Judith Torres
Representative · D-CA
Representative · D-CA
The bill provides targeted legal help and clearer pathways to citizenship for noncitizen veterans—improving reintegration, family stability, and access in rural/territorial areas—while relying on modest federal funds and future rulemaking and grant limitations that could delay or constrain who actually receives services.
Noncitizen veterans can receive legal defense in removal proceedings and targeted help applying for naturalization (including military naturalization), reducing deportation risk and improving pathways to citizenship for veterans and their families.
Funds expand access to parole, reentry, and repatriation legal assistance so veterans who have been removed or face removal have support to pursue lawful return or other relief.
The program increases geographic and virtual availability of immigration legal services, improving access for veterans in rural areas, on trust lands, and in U.S. territories who otherwise have limited legal help nearby.
Limiting grant eligibility to public and nonprofit entities could reduce the number of available providers and delay or restrict services if capacity is insufficient.
The program's scope and timing depend on future rulemaking and annual appropriations, so delays in issuing criteria or securing funds could postpone veterans' access to services.
If appropriated, taxpayers could face up to about $20 million in new federal spending across FY2027–FY2030 plus administrative costs tied to program operations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a VA competitive grant program to fund immigration legal services for noncitizen veterans and authorizes $20M for FY2027–2030, subject to appropriation.
Official title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to eligible entities to provide immigration legal services to noncitizen veterans, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 18, 2026 by Norma Judith Torres · Last progress June 18, 2026
Creates a new Department of Veterans Affairs competitive grant program to fund immigration legal services for noncitizen veterans facing removal, seeking naturalization or parole, needing reentry/repatriation help, or pursuing upgraded military discharges. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must publish eligibility and awarding criteria, prioritize geographic access (including virtual services), require biennial reports to Congress, and may only award grants to qualified public or nonprofit providers. Congress authorized $20 million for FY2027–2030, subject to appropriation.