Sponsors (24)
The bill creates a time-limited path to lawful permanent residence and work authorization for eligible Venezuelan nationals, delivering stability and labor-market benefits while concentrating decision authority in the executive branch and raising fiscal, family-separation, and public-safety concerns.
Venezuelan nationals who were physically present in the U.S. by Dec 31, 2021 (and meet other eligibility) can apply to become lawful permanent residents, giving them a stable immigration status.
Applicants may remain in the U.S. and receive work authorization while their adjustment applications are pending (required after 180 days), allowing them to work legally and support themselves and employers to retain workers.
The law removes or reduces certain legal obstacles: prior removal or exclusion orders will not bar filing and will be cancelled if adjustment is granted, and specified INA inadmissibility grounds are waived for eligible applicants.
The Secretary can make adjustment determinations final and not subject to ordinary court review (limited to narrow legal/constitutional claims), reducing judicial oversight of denials and appeals.
Individuals with certain ineligible convictions (e.g., aggravated felonies, multiple crimes involving moral turpitude, participation in persecution) remain barred, which could lead to family separations where some members qualify and others do not.
Granting lawful permanent resident status to a group of people could increase demand for public services and benefits, imposing additional fiscal costs that may be borne by taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a 3-year window for qualifying Venezuelan nationals (and certain family members) to apply for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status, with protections and possible work authorization while pending.
Introduced February 13, 2025 by Darren Michael Soto · Last progress February 13, 2025
Creates a temporary immigration pathway allowing many Venezuelan nationals (and certain qualifying family members) who were in the United States by December 31, 2021 and who meet residency and admissibility conditions to apply for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status within three years of enactment. Applicants can remain in the U.S. while their applications are pending, may be granted work authorization, and prior removal or exclusion orders do not bar filing and are canceled if adjustment is approved.