Hong Konger Promise of Refuge Act
Creates a path to permanent residence for certain Hong Kong residents granted Deferred Enforced Departure and eligible family members.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee since Sept. 30, 2026, 8 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 30, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Deferred Enforced Departure allows some people to remain in the United States without granting them permanent resident status. The bill would create a path to permanent residence for certain Hong Kong residents who received that protection and meet specific conditions. It would also cover eligible family members and protect applicants while their cases are pending.
- 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 permanent residents, regardless of country of birth. They must have received Deferred Enforced Departure under one of the listed presidential actions, meet the bill’s residence and other eligibility conditions, and apply within one year after enactment.
- Allow eligible family members to adjust
A qualifying person’s spouse, children, and unmarried adult sons and daughters could also apply for lawful permanent resident status. The bill would exempt applicants from specified grounds of inadmissibility and deportability.
- Protect applicants while applications are pending
After applying, a person could not be detained, removed, or placed in removal proceedings while the application is pending. Applicants would also be authorized to work in the United States.
- Cancel prior removal orders
For someone granted permanent resident status under the bill, prior removal orders would be cancelled and the status would take effect as of the date that person arrived in the United States. The bill would also exempt these adjustments from the specified numerical limitations.
Deferred Enforced Departure does not itself grant permanent resident status. The bill would give a defined group of Hong Kong residents and eligible family members a way to seek that status, with protections while applications are pending.
The bill would also make permanent status effective from the applicant’s arrival date and cancel prior removal orders for people who receive it. Those changes affect both applicants’ immigration status and how their prior removal orders are treated.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 30, 2026SENATESEP 30, 2026By Sen. MerkleyReferred to Judiciary
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 30, 2026JUDICIARY NOWSEP 30, 2026In committee for 8 daysNo hearing yet
- 8 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE 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
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 8, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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