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A pair of lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle introduced a new immigration reform bill Monday that would provide limited legal status to certain undocumented immigrants, in a rare moment of bipartisanship amid the Trump administration’s stepped-up deportation campaign.
The bill, titled the Dignity Act of 2025, was unveiled by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas). It would allow undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States since before 2021 to apply for up to seven years of legal status with work authorization — without a pathway to citizenship or access to federal benefits.
Participants would be required to pay restitution fees, pass background checks, and regularly check in with the Department of Homeland Security. The status would not allow access to Medicaid, food stamps, or other federal assistance programs.
“This is not amnesty. This is not citizenship,” said Salazar in a statement. “This is accountability. No handouts. No shortcuts. Just a fair way to address the reality we’ve ignored for 40 years.”
What the Dignity Act of 2025 Proposes
The proposed legislation includes several major components aimed at balancing enforcement with economic and humanitarian needs:
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Legal status (not citizenship) for undocumented immigrants who entered before 2021
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Restitution payments and payroll fees to help fund the program
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Work permits and tax compliance, with no federal benefits
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Mandatory E-Verify use for all employers nationwide
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Increased border security and infrastructure investments
Escobar, whose district includes parts of El Paso, said the legislation reflects a “compromise that responds to the real-world needs of workers, employers, and families.”
“It’s not perfect, but it’s a step forward that gives structure to what is currently a chaotic system,” she added.
Context: Trump’s Deportation Surge and Migrant Labor Tensions
The bill arrives as President Donald Trump ramps up immigration enforcement, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting workplaces in industries like agriculture and food service — sectors that depend heavily on undocumented labor.
While Trump has previously endorsed mass deportations, he has more recently acknowledged the economic necessity of migrant workers.
“What we’re going to do is something for farmers,” Trump told Fox News in June. “Let the farmer sort of be in charge.”
Despite that, federal raids continue. A recent ICE operation in Southern California led to over 200 arrests, sparking violent protests and growing tension in immigrant communities.
The Department of Labor has also restructured its immigration office to streamline temporary work visa access, and Trump has teased a “temporary pass” program for laborers who agree to tax compliance and employer sponsorship.
Prospects and Pushback
While immigration reform has long been politically fraught, Salazar said she hopes the Dignity Act’s exclusion of citizenship and strict accountability will draw broader support.
“It’s the Achilles’ heel of the U.S. economy, and nobody wants to fix it,” she said. “This gives the undocumented a path to stability — not a reward, not a green card.”
Democratic support will likely hinge on whether the bill can be amended to include a more humane, long-term resolution. Progressive groups have already expressed concerns over the lack of a pathway to citizenship and the bill’s embrace of mandatory E-Verify, which has faced criticism for being error-prone.
Meanwhile, conservative hardliners may still oppose any legal recognition of undocumented immigrants, regardless of the conditions.
Bottom Line: The Dignity Act of 2025 seeks to break decades of immigration gridlock with a middle-ground approach: protect essential workers, enforce accountability, and enhance security. Whether that’s enough to bridge the divide in Washington remains to be seen.
