Bill would grant green cards to eligible Hong Kong residents

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would grant lawful permanent residence, commonly called a green card, to each person who meets all listed requirements. It covers people who qualify as Hong Kong permanent residents, regardless of birthplace, and received Deferred Enforced Departure under presidential actions issued on August 5, 2021, January 26, 2023, or January 15, 2025. Applicants must have lived continuously in the United States since January 15, 2025, except for authorized absences totaling no more than 180 days. They must not have returned to Hong Kong or the People's Republic of China since that date, face extradition, or have a U.S. felony conviction. The misdemeanor disqualification is unclear because the bill's wording is incomplete. Applicants must provide information that USCIS reasonably requests. Green cards issued under this section would not count against immigration-law numerical limits. Applications would have to reach USCIS no later than one year after enactment.

Eligible family members could receive lawful permanent residence. It covers a qualifying person's spouse, children, and unmarried adult sons and daughters. Family members must not be inadmissible or deportable, except that the bill would waive several listed grounds for all applicants under this section.

Applicants would receive protections while their cases are pending, followed by additional consequences if USCIS approves permanent residence. Pending-case rules would cover anyone who submits an application under this section. Cancellation and backdating would apply only to people granted permanent residence. Pending applicants could not face immigration detention, removal, or removal proceedings and would receive permission to work. After approval, any earlier removal order against the person would be canceled. Work permission and protection would last while an application is pending. After approval, permanent-resident status would date back to the person's U.S. arrival date.