Two members of the Florida delegation on Capitol Hill–U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., and Darren Soto, D-Fla.–are championing a proposal that “would render military spouses eligible for adjustment to permanent resident status by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to remove the inadmissibility standard because of an unlawful entry into the United States by the migrant spouse” and “would also allow eligible veteran spouses who have already been removed or voluntarily departed the United States to apply for an immigrant visa from abroad and then become authorized to return to the country while their application is pending.”
Soto introduced the “Protect Patriot Spouses Act” with Salazar and U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., as co-sponsors. The Central Florida congressman pointed to a case from Polk County as to why the bill was needed.
“In August of 2018, Alejandra Juarez, a Polk County resident of over 20 years, was deported from the United States to Mexico. Alejandra’s husband, Sgt. Temo Juarez, is an Iraq combat veteran who served in the Marines and the Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard. Together, they raised their two U.S.-born daughters, Pamela and Estela, in Davenport, Florida. Since then, Alejandra Juarez has been granted humanitarian parole by the Biden administration and is currently permitted to remain in the country until 2024,” Soto’s office noted.
“In 2018, I joined the Juarez family at the airport on the day of Alejandra’s deportation. In that moment, I promised Alejandra and her daughters that we would never stop fighting for them to be reunited. Under the Biden administration, we were thrilled to see Alejandra receive humanitarian parole and return to Central Florida to be with her family,” said Soto. “However, this is only a temporary fix and has left the Juarez family in a state of limbo. With the Protect Patriot Spouses Act, we will create a permanent solution for Alejandra and other military families in similar situations.”
“The brave men and women who serve our country deserve our complete support and protection,” said Salazar. “The spouses and families of those who put their lives on the line to protect us should be honored by a grateful nation, not harmed by our broken immigration system. I am proud to join my colleagues, Representatives Soto and Carbajal, in introducing this critical legislation to protect the families of our veterans.”
The proposal passed the U.S. House at the end of last year as part of the “Veteran Service Recognition Act,” but it did not clear the U.S. Senate.
Soto’s bill was sent to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
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