Nine Republican House lawmakers on Tuesday signed on to the reintroduction of an immigration-related bill called the Dignity Act that legislative sponsors say provides an “updated compromise” addressing legal status and protections for undocumented immigrants, border security, asylum reform, and visa reform.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump’s promise to lead the most aggressive administration in deterring illegal immigration has led to massive downturns in U.S.-Mexico border crossings and a major uptick in arrests of immigrants, most purported to be in the country illegally.
However, other policy aspects, including the mechanisms employed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), changes for green card holders, and nefarious effects on workplaces due to a labor shortage, have compounded an issue integral to the president’s 2024 campaign.
Meanwhile, a new Gallup poll released July 11 showed a steep drop among Republicans wanting immigration levels into the U.S. decreased—falling from 88 percent in 2024, down to 48 percent in June. The same survey showed an increase in Republicans who view immigration’s positive effects on the U.S.
What To Know
U.S. House Representatives Democrat Veronica Escobar of Texas and Republican Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, on Tuesday, touted the Dignity Act of 2025, which provides a broader legislative framework as opposed to the bipartisan bill of the same name initially introduced in 2023.
Salazar, in a post on X, called it “the most impactful immigration reform in a generation.”
The 22-page bill summary presents myriad options for immigration reform, including the following major revisions:
- Granting legal status and protections to undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S.
- Reforming the asylum screening process to provide an opportunity for review and access to counsel.
- Creating new regional processing centers so migrants do not have to make the “perilous journey” to the U.S.-Mexico border to seek asylum.
- Investing in border security and modernizing land ports of entry.
- Mandating accountability for ICE.
- Providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.
The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) charges a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee starting next year, for example, while a new Trump policy directive reported Tuesday by The Washington Post would eliminate bond hearings for undocumented immigrants facing deportation—potentially leading to prolonged detention for millions.
