Kerrie Orozco First Responders Family Support Act

This bill helps families of fallen first responders become U.S. citizens faster. If a U.S. citizen who works as a public safety officer dies because of injuries or illness from the job, their immediate family can apply for naturalization without meeting the usual time-living-in-the-U.S. rules. They still have to meet the other standard requirements to become a citizen. Spouses must have been living with the officer at the time of death. Public safety officer has the same meaning used in federal law for police, firefighters, and similar roles.

Key points:

• Who is affected: The surviving spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen public safety officer who died from job-related causes.
• What changes: They can be naturalized without meeting prior residence or physical presence requirements, but must meet other citizenship requirements.
• When it applies: After the death is tied to injuries or disease from the officer’s employment, and if a spouse, the couple was living together when the officer died.