The Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2023 establishes a new visa program allowing noncitizen veterans and active service members who have been deported or are inadmissible to the United States to return as permanent residents. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to create an application process within 180 days and directs the Attorney General to reopen removal cases for eligible veterans and adjust their status to lawfully admitted permanent residents, with no cap on the number of veterans who can benefit. Veterans are deemed eligible unless they were removed for crimes of violence or crimes endangering national security, though the Secretary can waive these restrictions for humanitarian reasons, family unity, exceptional military service, or the public interest. The legislation also protects current noncitizen service members from removal except in cases of violent crime convictions and grants veterans who gain permanent resident status access to military benefits and expedited naturalization. Implementation requires the Department of Homeland Security to identify at-risk service members and veterans before initiating removal proceedings and maintain detailed records, with regulations to be issued within 90 days of enactment.
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