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Committee rejects amendment to extend military-parole protection to parents of service members
Summary
An amendment to add parents of veterans and reservists to the bill's military-parole protections was debated at length and failed on a recorded vote (14–16). Sponsors said the change would codify existing practice; opponents argued the bill already preserves paths via LPR procedures.
An amendment that would have expanded a military parole category to include the parents of active-duty, reserve and veteran service members failed in committee during the markup of H.R. 9773. The amendment’s proponent described specific cases of family members (Narciso Barranco and others) he said were harmed when the government removed or sought to remove relatives of service members. “This amendment simply adds parents of active duty service members, reservists, and veterans,” the sponsor said, arguing it aligns the statute with current administrative practice.
Opponents, including the bill sponsor, said the legislation already leaves pathways in place for service members who seek lawful permanent resident status and that codifying a separate statutory category risked unintended consequences. Rep. Raskin pressed for clarification and emphasized that military parole has historically covered immediate relatives and parents in some contexts. The committee recorded a roll call on the amendment; the clerk reported 14 ayes and 16 nos and the amendment was not adopted.
The debate highlighted a recurring committee theme: disputes over whether the bill codifies existing policy or moves policy further right. Proponents emphasized case-level humanitarian concerns; opponents emphasized the statute’s role in defining narrow categories and preserving Congress’s ability to set eligibility.
