[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6118 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6118
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to protect the well-being
of soldiers and their families, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 18, 2025
Mr. Thompson of California introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to protect the well-being
of soldiers and their families, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Support and Defend Our Military
Personnel and Their Families Act''.
SEC. 2. FACILITATING NATURALIZATION FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL.
(a) In General.--Any person who has served honorably as a member of
the Armed Forces of the United States in support of a contingency
operation (as defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 10, United States
Code), and who, if separated from the Armed Forces, was separated under
honorable conditions, may be naturalized as provided in section 329 of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440) as though the
person had served during a period designated by the President under
such section.
(b) Naturalization Through Service in the Armed Forces of the
United States.--Section 328 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1439) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``six months'' and
inserting ``one year''; and
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ``six months'' and
inserting ``one year''.
SEC. 3. TIMELY REUNIFICATION OF MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR NUCLEAR
FAMILIES.
Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1151(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(F) Aliens who are eligible for an immigrant visa under
paragraph (2) of section 203(a) and are the spouse, child, son,
or daughter of an alien who is serving in the Armed Forces of
the United States.''.
SEC. 4. RELIEF FOR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OF ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL.
Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(o) Relief for Immediate Family Members of Active Duty
Personnel.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may
adjust the status of an alien described in paragraph (2) to
that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if--
``(A) the alien makes an application for such
adjustment, and is physically present in the United
States on the date the application is filed;
``(B) the alien is eligible to receive an immigrant
visa and is admissible under section 212(a) (except
that paragraphs (4), (6)(A), (7)(A), and (9)(B) of such
section shall not apply for purposes of this
subsection);
``(C) an immigrant visa is immediately available to
the alien at the time the application is filed; and
``(D) the alien pays a fee, as determined by the
Secretary, for the processing of such application.
``(2) Eligible aliens.--
``(A) In general.--The benefits provided in
paragraph (1) shall apply only to an alien who is a
parent, spouse, child, son, daughter, or minor sibling
of an eligible member of the Armed Forces.
``(B) Posthumous benefits.--An alien described in
subparagraph (A) shall continue to be eligible for
adjustment under this subsection for 2 years after the
death of an eligible member of the Armed Forces whose
death was the result of injury or disease incurred in
or aggravated by his or her service in the Armed Forces
or, if such death occurred prior to the date of
enactment of this paragraph, for 2 years after such
date of enactment.
``(3) Eligible members of the armed forces.--In this
subsection, `eligible member of the Armed Forces' means any
person who--
``(A) has served honorably in an active duty status
in the Armed Forces of the United States; and
``(B) if separated from the service described in
subparagraph (A), was separated under honorable
conditions.''.
SEC. 5. FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN INITIATING REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS.
Section 239 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Considerations for Active Duty Military Personnel and
Veterans.--
``(1) In general.--A notice to appear shall not be issued
against an alien who has served honorably at any time in the
Armed Forces of the United States, and who, if separated from
the Armed Forces, separated under honorable conditions, without
prior approval from the Secretary of Homeland Security.
``(2) Factors.--In determining whether to issue a notice to
appear against such an alien, the Secretary shall consider the
alien's eligibility for naturalization under section 328 or
329, as well as the alien's record of military service, grounds
of deportability applicable to the alien, and any hardship to
the Armed Forces, the alien, and his or her family if the alien
were to be placed in removal proceedings.
``(3) Prohibition.--An alien who has served honorably in
the Armed Forces of the United States, and who, if separated
from the Armed Forces, separated under honorable conditions,
shall not be removed from the United States under subparagraph
(A)(i) or (B)(iii) of section 235(b)(1), section 238, or
section 241(a)(5).''.
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