The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 provides relief from detention and removal, grants work authorization, and establishes a process for reopening cases for certain long-term residents from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
Judy Chu
Representative
CA-28
The Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026 provides significant relief for long-term residents from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam facing deportation. It prohibits the detention and removal of eligible individuals who entered the U.S. before 2008 and grants them permanent work authorization. Furthermore, the Act establishes a streamlined process for those previously ordered removed to reopen and terminate their immigration cases, effectively vacating past removal orders.
Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act Halts Removals and Grants Work Permits to Pre-2008 Residents
This bill creates a significant legal shield for nationals of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who have built lives in the U.S. over the last several decades. Specifically, the legislation prohibits the detention or deportation of any individual from these three countries who entered the U.S. on or before January 1, 2008, and has lived here continuously since then (Section 3). Beyond just stopping removals, the bill mandates that the Department of Homeland Security provide these individuals with permanent work authorization through five-year renewable permits. For those currently under 'orders of supervision'—which often require frequent, stressful check-ins at government offices—the bill allows for a shift to virtual check-ins occurring only once every five years.
A Path Back Home
For many who were already deported or left under voluntary departure orders as far back as April 1996, this bill offers a rare 'undo' button. Section 4 allows eligible individuals to file a motion to reopen their cases, and if they meet the criteria, the Attorney General must vacate their prior removal orders. Essentially, the law would treat them as if they had never been deported in the first place. This isn't just a paperwork change; the bill requires the U.S. government to coordinate and pay for the transportation and travel documents needed to fly these individuals back to the United States so they can resume their immigration proceedings.
Correcting the Record
The legislation also tackles the long-term legal hurdles that usually block people from returning. When someone applies for 'cancellation of removal' or other legal status, they usually have to prove they’ve been physically present in the U.S. for a set number of years. This bill ensures that any time a person spent outside the country because they were deported won't count against them (Section 4). To make sure people actually know these new rules exist, the government is required to send out notices within 60 days to those affected, providing clear instructions on how to reopen their cases and claim their right to stay.