January 7, 2026
Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Booker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to parole into the United States certain relatives of current and former members of the Armed Forces, 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 Parole Relief Offering Troops Expedited Compassionate Treatment of Military Families Act
or PROTECT Military Families Act
.
Sec. 2. Parole for certain relatives of current and former members of the Armed Forces
Section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A), by striking subparagraph (B) or
and inserting subparagraphs (B) and (C) and
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(C)
(i)
Except as provided in clause (iii), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall parole into the United States an alien who is the spouse, widow or widower, parent, or child of—
(I)
a member of the Armed Forces on active duty;
(II)
a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve; or
(III)
an individual, whether living or deceased, who—
(aa)
previously served as—
(AA)
a member of the Armed Forces on active duty; or
(BB)
a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve; and
(bb)
was discharged or released from such service under a condition other than dishonorable.
(ii)
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall parole an alien into the United States under clause (i) in 1-year increments.
(iii)
(I)
An application for parole under this subparagraph may be denied only if the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly issue a written justification for the denial.
(II)
The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not delegate the responsibility described in subclause (I).
(III)
(aa)
In the case of a denial under subclause (I), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish on a publicly available internet website of the Department of Homeland Security information about the denial, including a detailed justification for the denial.
(bb)
Information published under item (aa) shall not include personally identifiable information.