This bill creates a new visa program specifically for noncitizen veterans and active-duty service members who have been removed from the United States or are currently facing removal. The core idea is to give these military veterans a path back to permanent residency, recognizing their service to the country.

Here's what the bill does: First, it requires the Department of Homeland Security to set up an application process within 180 days that allows eligible veterans outside the U.S. to return as permanent residents, and allows those already here facing removal to stay and adjust their status. Second, for veterans who were already deported, the government must reopen their removal cases and determine if they qualify under the new program. If they do, their deportation orders get cancelled and they can become permanent residents. The bill also protects current service members and veterans from being removed unless they've been convicted of a violent crime.

To be eligible, a veteran generally cannot have been removed or ordered removed based on a conviction for a violent crime or a national security offense where they served at least 5 years in prison. However, the Secretary of Homeland Security can waive these restrictions for humanitarian reasons, to keep families together, based on exceptional military service, or if it's in the public interest. Once veterans regain permanent resident status through this program, they can pursue citizenship through military service and access all military and veterans benefits they would have received if they hadn't been deported. The bill also requires immigration officials to identify service members and veterans early in removal proceedings and get supervisory approval before taking action against them.