S. 3212: Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-11-15 · Immigration · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8084)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-11-15 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8084) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act

Plain summary

Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act This bill limits the deportation of noncitizen veterans and addresses related issues. No federal agency may initiate removal proceedings without asking the individual facing removal whether the individual is a member of the Armed Forces, a veteran, or a spouse, parent, or minor child of such an individual. If an individual responds in the affirmative, that individual may not be removed until (1) the relevant Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agency has transferred that individual's case files to an advisory committee created under this bill, and (2) that committee has provided recommendations as to the outcome of the case. DHS must create a system to share information across various agencies about noncitizen veterans who may be subject to removal to ensure that such a veteran's military service is taken into consideration in immigration-related cases. DHS shall also create a system for (1) identifying noncitizens who are or may be veterans, and (2) collecting data relating to such noncitizens who are in removal proceedings or may have been removed. DHS and the Department of Defense must jointly carry out a program to naturalize a noncitizen (and certain family members) if the noncitizen serves on active duty in the Armed Forces and is not otherwise ineligible for citizenship if that noncitizen submits an application. DHS must also establish a program for eligible noncitizen veterans (generally those not convicted for certain serious crimes) to obtain permanent resident status. Similarly, the Department of Justice must provide permanent resident status to such eligible veterans in removal proceedings.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] · 8 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] reported raising $1.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117s3212.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/s>

Record fed-us-cong117-s3212 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117