PROTECT Military Families Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6958
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T08:05:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 6958 (119th Congress)
Purpose
This legislation aims to provide a pathway for certain immediate family members of current and former U.S. military personnel to enter the United States through parole, a temporary permission to remain in the country for humanitarian or public interest reasons.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility for Parole: The Secretary of Homeland Security must grant parole to the spouse, widow or widower, parent, or child of:
- Active-duty members of the Armed Forces.
- Members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.
- Former members (living or deceased) who served in active duty or the Selected Reserve and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Duration and Process: Parole is granted in one-year increments.
- Denial Process: An application may be denied only through a joint written justification issued by the Secretaries of Homeland Security, Defense, and Veterans Affairs. This responsibility cannot be delegated to others.
- Transparency Requirement: In cases of denial, the Department of Homeland Security must publish a detailed justification on a public website, excluding any personally identifiable information.
- Administrative Updates: References to the "Attorney General" in the relevant section are changed to the "Secretary of Homeland Security."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill adds a new mandatory parole category under Section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, shifting from discretionary to required parole for qualifying military family members.
- It introduces interagency oversight for denials, limiting unilateral decisions by the Department of Homeland Security.
- It establishes a public reporting mechanism for denied applications, which is not present in the current law.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases coordination requirements among the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, and Veterans Affairs; may expand administrative workload for processing parole applications and handling public disclosures.
- On Citizens: Provides immigration relief to eligible military family members, potentially allowing them to live in the United States with their service member relatives on a temporary basis.
- On International Relations: No direct provisions address international relations, though it could indirectly affect U.S. immigration policies involving foreign nationals connected to military service.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their immediate family members (spouses, parents, and children).
- The Department of Homeland Security (primary implementation role).
- The Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs (involvement in denial decisions).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Expands the use of parole authority under existing immigration statutes in a targeted manner for military families, without altering broader constitutional immigration powers.
- Requires multi-agency consensus for denials, which could limit individual agency discretion and promote accountability.
- Introduces a public transparency element that may influence how similar parole decisions are handled in other contexts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-01-07: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Parole Relief Offering Troops Expedited Compassionate Treatment of Military Families Act — issued 2026-01-07 — PDF (3 pages)