Sponsors (22)
The bill creates a fast, largely administrative path to lawful permanent residence and work authorization for many Venezuelan entrants—providing stability and economic access—while limiting judicial review and loosening some screening rules, which raises public-safety, exclusion, and immigration-system planning concerns.
Venezuelan nationals who entered the U.S. by Dec 31, 2021 (and their qualifying immediate relatives) can apply to become lawful permanent residents within 3 years, giving those families long-term immigration stability, access to LPR benefits, and a clearer path to citizenship.
Applicants with pending adjustment requests for more than 180 days must be authorized to work, enabling eligible immigrants to legally earn income and support households while awaiting adjudication.
Immigrants who have prior removal orders can file for adjustment without a separate motion to reopen, and approved applicants will have prior orders canceled, reducing procedural barriers to relief.
Applicants face very limited judicial review of decisions, meaning denied applicants will have restricted access to federal courts to challenge adverse determinations.
The bill carves out or relaxes certain INA inadmissibility grounds for these applicants, which reduces screening criteria that some stakeholders view as weakening public-safety and immigration-intent safeguards.
Individuals convicted of aggravated felonies, multiple crimes involving moral turpitude, or who participated in persecution are permanently barred from relief, excluding some people who might otherwise seek protection.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced February 13, 2025 by Darren Michael Soto · Last progress February 13, 2025
Creates a special adjustment-of-status pathway allowing certain Venezuelan nationals who entered the United States on or before December 31, 2021 — and their spouse, children, and unmarried sons/daughters — to apply for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. Applicants must file within three years of enactment, meet ordinary immigrant-visa eligibility and admissibility rules except for several specified inadmissibility grounds that are waived, and meet a one-year continuous physical-presence requirement (with limited permitted absences). Successful applicants receive LPR status retroactive to their arrival date, and the bill provides filing, stay-of-removal, and employment-authorization protections while applications are pending.