A bipartisan group of United States lawmakers are reintroducing a bill that would speed up the visa process to reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families.
The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2025, reintroduced by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA), seeks to expedite the visa process for these long-separated families.
“Despite the service and sacrifices of Filipino soldiers who bravely fought on behalf of our country during World War II, many of these veterans still haven’t been able to reunite permanently with their loved ones in the U.S.,” said Hirono in a statement. “The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act would help expedite this process so these veterans can finally be reunited with their families. These soldiers served our country with honor and courage and this bill is an important step towards helping them receive the benefits they deserve.”
The legislation aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act by exempting the children of naturalized Filipino World War II veterans from existing visa quotas, removing the decades-long backlog that has kept them apart.
Nevada, home to one of the largest Filipino American communities in the country, stands to benefit significantly from this legislation.
“Filipino veterans served our country admirably during World War II, but outdated laws have prevented them from reuniting with their loved ones in the United States,” said Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), who helped introduce the legislation. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to expedite visa processing for the children of these heroes to ensure they can reunite. I’ll always push to honor our veterans for their service to our nation.”
More than 260,000 Filipino soldiers fought under the American flag during World War II, answering the U.S. call to defend the Philippines and the Allied cause. However, despite their bravery and sacrifices, these veterans were denied U.S. citizenship and military benefits due to the Rescission Acts of 1946, which stripped them of the same rights granted to other Allied soldiers.
It was not until 1990 that President George H.W. Bush granted citizenship to approximately 26,000 Filipino veterans, but the law failed to extend citizenship or residency rights to their children. As a result, many families remained separated, with visa applicants often waiting decades due to immigration caps.
To address this, in 2016, Senator Hirono successfully advocated for the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole (FWVP) program, allowing veterans to temporarily reunite with their adult children and other close relatives. However, FWVP did not provide permanent residency solutions, and the backlog continued.
The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2025 provides a long-term fix by ensuring these children can obtain green cards without being subjected to global visa limits.
The bill enjoys bipartisan and bicameral backing, with co-sponsors in both the Senate and the House, including Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
In the House, Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Jill Tokuda (D-HI) have also signed on in support.
“The Filipino veterans who fought for their homeland and for the Allied cause in World War II are seeing their numbers dwindling and have been patiently waiting for the time when they can finally reunite with their loved ones,” said Representative Ed Case. “As these veterans near the end of their lives, they deserve the certainty of a non-revocable permanent solution.”
The bill has been supported by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, Church World Service, Filipino Young Leaders Program, Human Rights First, Immigration Hub, Interfaith Welcome Coalition – San Antonio, Japanese American Citizens League, Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), National Immigration Forum, Pilipino Workers Center, PWC, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, UndocuBlack Network, Veterans for American Ideals, Wind of the Spirt Immigrant Resource Center.
If passed, this legislation would mark a historic step in recognizing the sacrifices of Filipino WWII veterans by ensuring their families are finally given the chance to reunite in the United States. As the number of surviving veterans dwindles, lawmakers and advocates stress that time is running out to grant these families long-overdue justice.
