Hong Konger Promise of Refuge Act
Creates a path to permanent residence for certain Hong Kong residents with Deferred Enforced Departure and eligible family members.
In the House Judiciary Committee since Oct. 1, 2026, 7 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROOCT 1, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Some Hong Kong residents in the United States have received Deferred Enforced Departure. The bill would let certain of them apply for permanent resident status if they meet specified conditions, and would extend eligibility to some family members. It would also protect applicants from detention and removal while their cases are pending and allow them to work.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Create a path to permanent residence
The bill would require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to grant lawful permanent resident status to qualifying Hong Kong residents who received Deferred Enforced Departure and meet its residence, travel, criminal-history, extradition, and application requirements.
- Protect applicants while cases are pending
While an eligible person’s application is pending, the bill would bar immigration detention, removal, and removal proceedings and authorize the person to work in the United States.
- Extend eligibility to close family
A qualifying applicant’s spouse, children, and unmarried adult sons and daughters could also seek lawful permanent resident status, subject to immigration eligibility rules and specified exceptions.
- Cancel prior removal orders
For someone granted permanent resident status under the bill, any prior removal order would be canceled, and the effective date of that status would be the person’s arrival date in the United States.
The bill would change the immigration status available to qualifying Hong Kong residents and certain family members, offering a route to permanent residence rather than leaving them with only the status described in the bill. It would also affect their ability to work and their exposure to detention or removal while an application is pending.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedOCT 1, 2026HOUSEOCT 1, 2026By Rep. McGovernReferred to Judiciary
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeOCT 1, 2026JUDICIARY NOWOCT 1, 2026In committee for 7 daysNo hearing yet
- 7 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 7, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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