July 23, 2025
Mr. Espaillat (for himself, Ms. Velázquez, and Mr. Nadler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish a repatriation grant program.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Safe Return Act
.
Sec. 2. Repatriation grant program
(a) In general
Section 4 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2671) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)(2)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by amending clause (ii) to read as follows:
(ii)
private United States citizens, lawful permanent residents of the United States, or third-country nationals, on a grant basis, to the maximum extent practicable;;
(B)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
by striking loans
and inserting grants
;
(ii)
by inserting and destitute lawful permanent residents of the United States
after destitute citizens of the United States
; and
(iii)
by adding at the end before the semicolon the following: and lawful permanent residents
; and
(2)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking loan
and inserting grant
;
(B)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
by striking borrower
and inserting grantee
; and
(ii)
by adding and
at the end;
(C)
in paragraph (2), by striking a written loan agreement
and all that follows and inserting a written grant agreement.
; and
(D)
by striking paragraphs (3) through (11).
(b) Update to Foreign Affairs Manual
The Secretary of State shall update the Repatriation Loans
section of the Foreign Affairs Manual to reflect the amendments made by subsection (a).