U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) co-led the introduction of Representative Gil Cisneros’s (D-CA-31) PROTECT Military Families Act, a bicameral bill that aims to protect military families from deportation and forced separation. The U.S. Senate version of the bill is led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and co-sponsored by Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The bill is endorsed by the Veterans for American Ideals.
The PROTECT Military Families Act would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to parole family members of qualifying current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces. It creates a mandatory pathway to Parole in Place (PIP) benefitting spouses, widows or widowers, parents, or children of qualifying current or former U.S. Armed Forces members. Parole can be denied only if the Secretary jointly issues a detailed written justification for the denial with the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
“It’s unacceptable that military families are even vulnerable to deportation,”said Rep. Carbajal.“Service members already have a lot on their shoulders — they shouldn't also be worrying about whether their loved ones will be deported. I'm proud to co-lead the PROTECT Military Families Act to introduce long overdue stability for our country's service members and their loved ones.”
“Our servicemembers and veterans served our nation and dedicated their lives to protect American values and our freedoms—it is only fitting that we provide a pathway to protect their families,” said Rep. Cisneros.“Our Armed Forces deserve to keep their families together and feel safe in their communities. I am proud to introduce legislation with Senator Duckworth and our colleagues that will protect these families by providing a stable pathway to Parole in Place.”
“There is no higher betrayal to our heroes than to have one of their family members deported by the same nation they sacrificed to defend,”said Senator Duckworth.“In his ICE raids, Donald Trump is targeting servicemembers, Veterans and their loved ones—separating families who have made tremendous sacrifices for our country. Our legislation would help support our men and women who served by protecting their families from deportation. They fought for this country, and it’s past time Congress joins us to fight for them too.”
Carbajal has long fought to protect military families from deportation. In June 2025, Carbajal introduced his bipartisan Protect Patriot Parents Act, which would make parents of U.S. military servicemembers eligible for Lawful Permanent Resident status, preventing potential deportations or separations of military families.
