# Summary
The Stateless Protection Act of 2024 creates a new legal status for stateless persons living in the United States, addressing a population estimated at around 218,000 individuals who lack nationality with any country. The bill establishes a "stateless protected status" that grants eligible stateless persons work authorization, protection from deportation, and travel documents valid for 5 to 10 years, with the possibility of adjusting to permanent resident status. To qualify, applicants must be present in the United States, have no foreign nationality, and meet security and criminal background requirements, though the Secretary of Homeland Security can waive certain grounds of inadmissibility for humanitarian reasons or family unity. The legislation also requires the Department of Homeland Security to issue public guidance within 120 days of enactment, process applications with employment authorization within 150 days, and submit quarterly reports to Congress on application numbers and processing times. Additionally, the bill directs the Departments of Homeland Security and State to jointly support international efforts to prevent statelessness globally through assessments, studies, and grants to organizations researching nationality law.