Overview

• Sen. Alex Padilla and Sen. Rand Paul reintroduced the America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025 with House partners Rep. Deborah Ross and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in a bipartisan, bicameral push.
• The bill would let eligible applicants keep their place in the green card queue after turning 21 and would offer a pathway to permanent residency.
• Eligibility outlined by sponsors includes at least eight years of lawful presence before age 21, at least ten years of lawful presence at filing, and graduation from a U.S. college or university.
• Backers say the proposal could protect more than 250,000 people, with Indians disproportionately affected due to per-country caps and long employment-based backlogs.
• Advocacy groups including Improve The Dream, Americans for Prosperity, and the National Immigration Forum endorsed the legislation, with Improve The Dream’s Dip Patel urging swift passage.