Prohibits detention or removal of certain pre-2008 entrants from Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam who have final removal orders, and requires reopening and vacating of prior removal orders for qualifying nationals, so less immigration enforcement against these groups.
An alien who is subject to an order of removal may not be detained or removed from the United States on or after the date of enactment of this Act if the alien-- (1) is a national of Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam; (2) entered the United States on or before January 1, 2008; and (3) has continuously resided in the United States since such entry.
Bars detention of qualifying Southeast Asian nationals subject to removal orders and limits in-person supervision check-ins to virtual appearances no more than once every 5 years, so less immigration enforcement via detention and monitoring.
An alien who is subject to an order of removal may not be detained or removed from the United States on or after the date of enactment of this Act if the alien-- (1) is a national of Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam;
Mandates granting motions to reopen or reconsider pre-enactment removal orders for qualifying nationals, vacates those orders, deems them not removed for immigration purposes, provides government-funded return transportation, waives certain deadlines and physical-presence tolling, and allows de novo
shall grant a motion to reconsider or reopen proceedings pursuant to paragraph (6) or (7) of section 240(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)) with respect to any alien who-- (A) on or after April 24, 1996, but before the date of enactment of this Act-- (i) was ordered removed, deported, or excluded; or (ii) departed the United States pursuant to a grant of voluntary departure
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Introduced (completed)
Committee
Passed one chamber
Passed both
President
Law
Stage: Committee · step 2 of 6
Last action
2026-02-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Why the model tagged it this way: The bill limits detention and removal, requires reopening and vacating of prior orders, provides work authorization, reduces supervision requirements, and enables judicial review specifically to protect certain long-term Southeast Asian residents from deportation, directly restricting immigration enforcement in multiple ways. No provisions address firearms, transgender issues, or abortion.