Bill Details
S.696 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-24 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S1314)
Introduced Date
2025-02-24
Policy Area
Immigration
Committees
View committees (1)
Sponsors
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (15)
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-Nevada]
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-Illinois]
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-Maryland]
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-Connecticut]
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-Minnesota]
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-Vermont]
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-California]
- Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-Alaska]
- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-Colorado]
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-Rhode Island]
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-New York]
- Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-Michigan]
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-New Hampshire]
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-California]
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-Arizona]
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would give temporary “Ukrainian guest status” to certain people who were allowed into the United States under the Uniting for Ukraine program. It would treat them as formally admitted into the country starting from the date they first entered on parole, and it would let them work legally while they keep that status. The status would last until after the U.S. government decides that the fighting in Ukraine has ended and that civilians can safely and reasonably return, plus 120 more days. The status could also be taken away in some cases if Homeland Security decides a person falls into a serious disqualifying category under immigration law.
- Applies only to people who came to the U.S. through the Uniting for Ukraine parole process announced on April 21, 2022.
- Counts those people as admitted into the United States in this special guest status from the date they first arrived.
- Allows people with this status to work in the United States for as long as the status lasts.
- Ends the status 120 days after the Secretary of State decides that hostilities in Ukraine have stopped and that it is safe for civilians to return.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 696 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 696
To provide temporary Ukrainian guest status for eligible aliens, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 24, 2025
Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr.
Blumenthal, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Welch) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide temporary Ukrainian guest status for eligible aliens, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Our Guests During
Hostilities in Ukraine Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) In general.--Any term used in this Act that is used in
the immigration laws shall have the meaning given such term in
the immigration laws.
(2) Eligible alien.--The term ``eligible alien'' means an
alien who was paroled under the Uniting for Ukraine parole
process announced on April 21, 2022.
(3) Immigration laws.--The term ``immigration laws'' has
the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(17) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)).
SEC. 3. TEMPORARY UKRAINIAN GUEST STATUS.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an
eligible alien shall be considered to be admitted to the United States
in Ukrainian guest status as of the date on which the eligible alien
was first paroled into the United States.
(b) Employment Authorization.--An alien in Ukrainian guest status
under this section is authorized to be employed in the United States
incident to and for the duration of such status.
(c) Expiration.--Ukrainian guest status under this section shall
expire on the date that is 120 days after the date on which the
Secretary of State determines that--
(1) hostilities in Ukraine have ceased; and
(2) conditions in Ukraine allow for the safe and reasonable
return of civilians to Ukraine.
(d) Revocation.--The Ukrainian guest status of an alien may be
revoked if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that the alien
is described in section 241(b)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3)(B)).
<all>