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2h ago

House Proposes Bipartisan Dignity Act to Offer Seven-Year Work Permits to Undocumented Immigrants

The bill, endorsed by 20 lawmakers, would require restitution fees to fund deferred work permits alongside strengthened border enforcement

Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) speaks during a roundtable discussion on the "Take It Down Act" in the Mike Mansfield Room at the U.S. Capitol on March 03, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., and Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas.
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Overview

  • The Dignity Act of 2025, reintroduced July 15 by Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Veronica Escobar, would grant up to seven years of legal status and work authorization to immigrants present before 2021.
  • Applicants must pay restitution fees, pass background checks and complete regular Department of Homeland Security check-ins, with no eligibility for federal benefits or a path to citizenship.
  • Program costs are covered entirely by participant fees and payroll charges, aiming to alleviate severe labor shortages in agriculture, construction and service industries.
  • The proposal mandates nationwide E-Verify use and augments border security measures to ensure accountability alongside temporary status.
  • Having secured 20 bipartisan cosponsors, the Dignity Act now awaits House committee review even as ICE continues workplace raids and the administration considers limited temporary passes for essential workers.