ExecutiveOrdersEO
MemoMemorandumObama · D

Presidential Memorandum

Supporting New American Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families

This memorandum establishes an interagency working group to improve coordination among federal agencies in providing immigration, veterans, and military benefits to foreign-born and naturalized service members, veterans, and their families. The group must convene within 10 days, produce a 3-year strategic plan within 30 days, and a detailed implementation plan within 120 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 81 FR 95849

Impact dates

  1. Detailed implementation plan due

  2. Initial 3-year strategic action plan due

  3. Working Group first meeting

Key directives

  • Establish Working Group with representatives from State, Defense, Justice, Labor, VA, and DHS
  • Convene first Working Group meeting within 10 days of memorandum
  • Develop initial 3-year strategic action plan within 30 days
  • Publish detailed implementation plan within 120 days
  • Coordinate sharing of military records for immigration/veterans benefits
  • Enhance awareness of naturalization and immigration benefits
  • Coordinate and facilitate adjudication of immigration applications
  • Conduct outreach to private, nonprofit, veterans, and government stakeholders
  • Agency heads shall assist and provide information to Working Group
  • Secretary of Homeland Security to publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Working Group first meeting within 10 days
  • Agency representatives designated to Working Group

Near term (90d)

  • Initial 3-year strategic action plan due within 30 days
  • Detailed implementation plan due within 120 days

Long term

  • Working Group periodic reporting on accomplishments
  • 3-year strategic plan implementation
  • Enhanced interagency coordination on immigration benefits for military community

Risks & tensions

  • No enforcement mechanism or consequences for non-compliance by agencies
  • Subject to availability of appropriations may limit implementation if unfunded
  • Explicit disclaimer that memorandum creates no enforceable rights
  • Transition timing: issued December 2016, weeks before new administration took office, creating uncertainty about continuity
Presidential Memorandum: Supporting New American Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families · Executive Orders