Sponsors (36)
Introduced February 20, 2026 by Judy Chu · Last progress February 20, 2026
The bill offers substantial relief and stability to long‑term Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese residents—restoring immigration relief, work authorization, and legal remedies—at the cost of increased administrative and fiscal burdens, more litigation and court workload, potential enforcement perceptions, workplace verification complexity, and risks of community stigmatization.
Long‑term nationals of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who arrived by Jan 1, 2008 (and identified long‑term residents) would gain protection from detention and removal and be authorized to work permanently (with renewable work endorsements), giving them immediate stability and lawful employment opportunities.
Noncitizens removed between April 24, 1996 and enactment could reopen their removal proceedings, be treated as if never removed, receive government‑funded travel/transportation and travel documents to return for proceedings, and be eligible for admission or parole — restoring access to immigration relief.
The bill expands access to legal remedies: it provides clearer instructions and outreach about how to file motions to reopen or reconsider, allows de novo federal‑district‑court review of certain denials, and creates a private right of action including class litigation to enforce the Act.
Federal agencies and taxpayers would face increased administrative and fiscal costs to implement work authorizations, supervision regimes, reopen cases, provide transportation, conduct outreach, and process returns and admissions.
Expanded private litigation (including class actions) and de novo judicial review could substantially raise legal and defensive costs for covered entities and agencies and increase federal court caseloads and timelines.
Provisions that prohibit tolling of prior removals for physical‑presence rules, combined with short filing windows or notice timing, could create confusion, inconsistent eligibility outcomes, and leave some applicants unable to prepare adequate filings.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Bars removal and grants permanent work authorization to Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese nationals who entered by Jan 1, 2008 and lived continuously in the U.S.; reopens many past removal orders.
Stops detention and deportation of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese nationals who entered the U.S. on or before January 1, 2008 and have lived continuously in the country since that entry, and gives them permanent work authorization with a renewable 5‑year endorsement. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security to notify eligible people and directs the Attorney General to reopen many past removal orders for people ordered removed between April 24, 1996 and the date of enactment, with federal court review available. Individuals and groups can sue for violations.