Return of eligible veterans removed from the United States; adjustment of status

(a) Program for admission and adjustment of status Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program and an application procedure that allow— (1) eligible veterans outside the United States to be admitted to the United States as aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))); and (2) eligible veterans in the United States to adjust status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence. (b) Veterans ordered removed (1) In general With respect to noncitizen veterans who are the subjects of final orders of removal, including noncitizen veterans who are outside the United States, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall— (A) reopen the removal proceedings of each such noncitizen veteran; and (B) make a determination with respect to whether each such noncitizen veteran is an eligible veteran. (2) Rescission of removal order In the case of a determination under paragraph (1)(B) that a noncitizen veteran is an eligible veteran, the Attorney General shall— (A) rescind the order of removal; (B) adjust the status of the eligible veteran to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence; and (C) terminate removal proceedings. (c) Veterans in removal proceedings (1) In general With respect to noncitizen veterans, the removal proceedings of whom are pending as of the date of the enactment of this Act, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall make a determination with respect to whether each such noncitizen veteran is an eligible veteran. (2) Termination of proceedings In the case of a determination under paragraph (1), that a noncitizen veteran is an eligible veteran, the Attorney General shall— (A) adjust the status of the eligible veteran to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence; and (B) terminate removal proceedings. (d) No numerical limitations Nothing in this section or in any other provision of law may be construed to apply a numerical limitation to the number of veterans who may be eligible to receive a benefit under this section. (e) Eligibility (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including sections 212 and 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182 and 1227), a noncitizen veteran shall be eligible to participate in the program established under subsection (a) or for adjustment of status under subsection (b) or (c), as applicable, if the Secretary or the Attorney General, as applicable, determines that the noncitizen veteran— (A) was not removed or ordered removed from the United States based on a conviction for— (i) a crime of violence; or (ii) a crime that endangers the national security of the United States for which the noncitizen veteran has served a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years; and (B) is not inadmissible to, or deportable from, the United States based on a conviction for a crime described in subparagraph (A). (2) Waiver The Secretary may waive the application of subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1)— (A) for humanitarian purposes; (B) to ensure family unity; (C) based on exceptional service in the Armed Forces; or (D) if a waiver is otherwise in the public interest.