Safe Return Act

The Safe Return Act would amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to create a repatriation grant program. The key shift is replacing the current repatriation loan framework with a grant-based approach, with the goal of helping private U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and third-country nationals who are destitute abroad to return to the United States (to the maximum extent practicable). The bill expands eligibility to include destitute LPRs and explicitly adds LPRs to the list of eligible groups. It also changes all loan terms to grant terms (no loan repayment) and requires updating the Foreign Affairs Manual to reflect these changes. In short, the bill aims to make repatriation assistance more broadly available as grants rather than loans, with administrative updates to implement the shift.