EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A Texas Democrat and a Florida Republican are making another try at getting comprehensive immigration reform passed in Congress.
The new version of The Dignity Act sponsored by U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, and Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Florida, includes tweaks they hope will persuade colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.
“For 40 years, every president and Congress has looked the other way while millions have lived here illegally, many working in key industries that keep our economy running. It’s the Achilles’ heel no one wants to fix,” Salazar said in a statement to NBC. “The Dignity Act offers a commonsense solution: certain undocumented immigrants can earn legal status — not citizenship — by working, paying taxes, and contributing to our country.
“No handouts. No shortcuts. Just accountability and a path to stability for our economy and our future.”
Earlier on Tuesday, she went on Fox News to explain how the bill does not go against President Trump’s immigration policies.
“I do believe the president promised that the illegals who were criminals were going to be kicked out of the country. Now there is another mass of people – most of them are Hispanics – that have been here for more than five years, that have been contributing to the economy, who do not have a criminal record, and those people are the ones who deserve some type of dignity,” Salazar said on Fox & Friends on Tuesday.
The Dignity Act proposes enhanced border security, and the gradual, compulsive use of an employee immigration status checks system called E-Verify. It also calls for more work visas, a transitional seven-year “dignity” status for undocumented immigrants who would pay a $5,000 fine for coming into the country illegally but could continue to work.
“Immigrants – especially those who have been in the United States for decades – make up a critical component of our communities and also of the American workforce and economy. The vast majority of immigrants are hard-working, law-abiding residents; and, most Americans recognize that it is in our country’s best interest to find bipartisan reforms,” said cosponsor Escobar.
The bill was introduced in 2023 but failed to get a vote in the House floor. The bill last sat in the House Subcommittee on Ways and Means. The current iteration has 18 Democratic and Republican cosponsors, according to Salazar’s office.
Advocates are banking on shifting perceptions among independent voters on immigration to get The Dignity Act across the finish line.
“The Dignity Act would offer opportunities to strengthen our legal immigration system, protect immigrant families, secure the border, and provide stability for individuals who have contributed to this country for decades,” said FWD.us President Todd Schutte. “It presents a stark contrast to the harmful actions we’re seeing every day, with the ramp-up in deportations and efforts to strip away status and work authorization from millions.”
A coalition of evangelical leaders on Monday sent a letter to members of Congress supporting the bill.
“As Christians committed to the rule of law … we believe the Dignity Act offers necessary reforms to help achieve a permanent immigration policy that remedies wrongdoings, protects our communities, and aligns with the priorities of evangelical Christians,” the groups under the umbrella of the Evangelical Immigration Table wrote.
Individual organizations said the fines would generate billions of dollars that can be used to maintain border security in the long run. They also said this is the right time for reform — given the record low number of illegal border crossings.
“Congressional funding has provided for unprecedented border security. Now we have the opportunity and responsibility to secure a just and humane resolution to the status of immigrants who are valued members of our churches and communities,” said Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.
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