Bipartisan Lawmakers Reintroduce DIGNITY Act Offering Legal Status to Long-Term Undocumented Immigrants

A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Florida, and Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, reintroduced the Dignity Act of 2025 aimed at reforming immigration by creating a pathway to legal status for long-term undocumented immigrants without offering citizenship or federal benefits. The bill would grant up to seven years of legal status, including work and travel authorization, to undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since before 2021, provided they pass background checks, pay taxes, and submit $7,000 in restitution over the program's duration. The legislation also requires regular check-ins with the Department of Homeland Security, mandates E-Verify for employers, and includes investments in border security while protecting sensitive locations from enforcement without prior approval. The Dignity Act is presented as a commonsense solution to address the presence of millions of undocumented immigrants working in key industries such as agriculture and hospitality, aiming to stabilize the economy without granting amnesty or a path to citizenship. This effort responds to concerns about President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policies and their impact on migrant workers and the U.S. food supply. Lawmakers hope the bill's compromise approach will open the door for bipartisan support after decades without comprehensive immigration reform.