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Representatives Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), along with 18 of their colleagues, announced the reintroduction of their historic, bipartisan immigration reform bill; now, the Dignity Act of 2025. After more than two years of negotiation, there is an updated compromise that addresses legal status and protections for undocumented immigrants, border security, asylum reform, and visa reform.

“I have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of our broken immigration system, and as a member of Congress, I take seriously my obligation to propose a solution. Realistic, common-sense compromise is achievable, and is especially important given the urgency of this moment. I consider the Dignity Act of 2025 a critical first step to overhauling this broken system,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “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, despite how maligned they have been by the administration, most Americans recognize that it is in our country’s best interest to find a solution. We can enact legislation that incorporates both humanity and security, and the Dignity Act of 2025 offers a bipartisan, balanced approach that restores dignity to people who have tried to navigate a broken system for far too long. The reintroduction of this legislation includes changes that reflect the challenges in today’s political environment. I’m proud of my bipartisan work with Representative Salazar, who has been a strong partner on this issue since December 2022. It is our hope that Congress seizes the opportunity to take an important step forward on this issue.”

“The most effective border security we could implement is a comprehensive immigration reform package like the one outlined it the Dignity Act. Southern Nevada — our community, our neighborhoods, our economy — was built with the talent of immigrant labor,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03). “Both Democrats and Republicans want to fix our broken immigration systems. The Dignity Act is a widely supported bipartisan bill that will secure our borders and create an immigration system that is fast, fair, and final for anyone seeking a better life to abide by our laws and contribute to our economy.”

“Our country needs to reform our broken immigration system,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24). "Immigrants have long been key to the American economy's success, and I believe it's in our country's best interests to ensure the world's talent can continue to come here. I’m proud to co-sponsor the bipartisan Dignity Act to provide a commonsense solution that will create improved pathways for legal immigration while bolstering our border security.”

“As an attorney who has worked on immigration issues, both at the nation’s top law enforcement agency and at a community legal aid organization, helping migrants in West Michigan, I know this system. I’ve seen firsthand what patchwork and reactionary immigration policies do to families and communities, and I remain committed to creating a system that is both fair and humane, balancing humanitarian concerns with law enforcement. Our broken immigration system is a national security threat, an economic and workforce emergency, and a humanitarian crisis. This is Congress’s issue to solve, and we’re here to solve it,” said Representative Hilary Scholten. “Congress must act now to reform our immigration system. It's time to allow hardworking families to move out of the shadows and into the full light of the American dream. This bipartisan bill will make our communities and our country safer, bring our workforce into the 21st century, and bring dignity to millions of hardworking families already living in the United States to make our country a better place.”

“Right now, Congress must be focused on passing immigration reform that can strengthen our communities and restore dignity to those who come to the United States seeking a better life,” said Congresswoman Niki Budzinski (IL-13). “After decades of gridlock, the bipartisan Dignity Act offers pragmatic reforms to address bureaucratic backlogs and expand legal protections. It’s a comprehensive solution that I’m proud to get behind.”

“The Central Valley cannot function without our immigrant community," said Representative Adam Gray (CA-13). For generations, people from all over the world have come to the Valley to work hard, pay taxes, and provide for their families. Without them, our economy would crumble. The bipartisan Dignity Act reflects this reality and addresses our broken immigration system, strengthens our southern border, fixes our visa backlog, and grants legal status to hardworking, law-abiding immigrants already living in the United States.”

"The bipartisan Dignity Act is a much-needed step forward. We thank Congresswomen Salazar and Escobar, along with the bill’s other co-sponsors, for reintroducing this important bipartisan legislation today. If enacted, 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 Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us. "For policymakers who do not support separating millions of families and mass deportations, fighting to pass legislation that allows people to work and live without fear of deportation is the answer. We will continue to fight for a more fair and just immigration system, including a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants building their lives in the United States. We hope today’s reintroduction will be met by more steps towards commonsense immigration reform.”

This comprehensive bill makes meaningful reforms to several aspects of our immigration system:

• It grants legal status and protections to undocumented immigrants already living in the United States;
• It reforms the asylum screening process to provide opportunity for review and access to council;
• It creates new regional processing centers, so migrants do not have to make the perilous journey to the U.S./ Mexico border to seek asylum;
• It invests in border security and modernizes our land ports of entry;
• It mandates accountability for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE);
• It provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.

The last time Congress passed immigration reform was in 1996, and that was driven by Republicans and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. That bill eliminated several legal immigration pathways, essentially making fewer people eligible for legal status while making more people deportable. As we are witnessing historic executive overreach and redirection of resources to our border, it is clear Congress needs to update our immigration laws. And it’s not like Congress hasn’t had the opportunity; over the last 10 years, 8 major pushes for immigration reform have failed:

• In 2013, the Senate on a bipartisan basis passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, but House Republicans refused to take up the bill.

• In 2018, a bipartisan group of Senators advanced the Uniting and Securing America Act to protect Dreamers and provide pathway to citizenship, but Senate Republicans blocked it.
• Again in 2018, the Senate tried to advance the United and Securing America Act “Common Sense” Proposal Amendment, but Senate Republicans blocked it.
• Yet again in 2018, the Uniting and Securing America Act made it to the Senate floor but was blocked.
• In 2019, the House passed the American Dream and Promise Act, but Senate Republicans blocked it.
• In 2021, the House again passed the American Dream and Promise Act, but Senate Republicans again blocked it.
• In 2021 and 2022, the President proposed record funding for more border agents, more asylum officers, more immigration judges, more border technology, and more detention capacity. Republicans in Congress failed to fund these both requests.
• In 2024, Republican Senator Lankford led a bipartisan group of senators trying to fund a border security and foreign aid package that failed due to significant pushback from Republicans such as Donald Trump.

The Dignity Act of 2025 is Co-sponsored by Democratic Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Susie Lee (NV-03), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Mike Levin (CA -49), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Hilary Scholten (MI-03), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Adam Gray (CA-13), and Laura Gillen (NY - 04) and Republican Representatives Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Mike Lawler (NY-17), David Valadao (CA-22), Mike Kelly (PA-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), Gabe Evans (CO-08), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03), Don Bacon (NE-02), Mario Rafael Díaz-Balart (FL-26), and Young Kim (CA-40).

A summary of the bill can be found here and full text can be found here.