Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026

Source of recordUS Congress · congress.govLast synced Sep 11, 2026

Chamber

House

Progress

Where this bill stands in the legislative process.

Introduced
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became Law

Overview

The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 aims to prevent the removal of long-term residents of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who arrived in the U.S. as refugees after the wars in Southeast Asia. It establishes a temporary protection against detention and deportation for these individuals who entered the country before 2008 and have continuously resided in the U.S. The bill also allows for the reconsideration and reopening of existing immigration cases, offering potential relief to those who might have been wrongly targeted for deportation. Finally, it mandates notification to affected individuals and provides a mechanism for legal challenges if the Act is violated.

Key provisions

Protects nationals of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who entered the U.S. before 2008 and have continuously resided there from detention and removal.
Authorizes employment authorization for those protected under the Act.
Allows for the reconsideration and reopening of existing immigration cases for eligible individuals.
Provides a pathway for individuals previously subject to voluntary departure orders to have those orders vacated.
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to notify affected individuals of the Act's provisions.
Establishes a process for providing transportation and travel documents to eligible individuals returning to the U.S. for immigration proceedings.
Waives physical presence requirements for certain applications related to relief.
Grants de novo judicial review of denied motions to reopen or reconsider.