HOPE Act

Full Title:
HOPE Act

Summary#

This bill would change U.S. immigration law to let certain noncitizen veterans who are outside the United States be temporarily paroled into the country so they can get health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Secretary of Homeland Security could grant parole on a case-by-case basis, at the Secretary's discretion, and set conditions and time limits. Parole under this provision would not count as an admission to the United States. Eligible people must be veterans (as defined in title 38), must be seeking VA health care under chapter 17 of title 38, and must be outside the United States because they were ordered removed or voluntarily departed under section 240B. The bill also bars parole for people who are inadmissible because of certain criminal convictions: convictions for a crime of violence (18 U.S.C. 16(a), excluding purely political offenses) or a crime that endangers U.S. national security, if the person served at least 5 years in prison for that conviction. If the Secretary determines the parole purpose is served, the person must return or be returned to the custody from which they were paroled.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a veteran who is currently outside the United States after removal or voluntary departure, you could apply for temporary parole to come into the U.S. to receive VA medical care.
  • Parole would be discretionary, temporary, and decided case by case by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
  • Parole would not make you a legal admission to the United States and you must leave or be returned after the health care purpose is finished.
  • People with certain serious criminal convictions who served at least 5 years in prison would be ineligible.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill text was introduced by Senators Tammy Duckworth, Ruben Gallego, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Wyden, Mazie Hirono, Andy Kim, John Fetterman, and Mark Kelly. No publicly available information in the bill text describes proponents' detailed arguments or estimated costs.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describes opponents' views or formal objections.