Bipartisan immigration bill revives reform push amid rising enforcement

A new immigration proposal in Congress would give certain migrants in the country illegally a chance to live and work legally in the U.S., but without a pathway to permanent citizenship. Following more than two years of negotiations, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has agreed on a new proposal that addresses key areas of immigration reform. The legislation offers legal protections for such immigrants, while also tightening border security, overhauling the asylum process, and making changes to how visas are issued.

Bipartisan bill reintroduces immigration reforms

The bill, called the Dignity Act of 2025, was reintroduced by Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla. and Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, with the support of 18 other lawmakers. It would allow individuals who have been living in the country without legal status since before 2021 to apply for work authorization and legal protection for up to seven years.

“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,” Escobar said. “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.”

​​To qualify, applicants would need to pay restitution, check in with the Department of Homeland Security regularly and agree not to receive federal benefits. The bill does not include a route to permanent residency or citizenship.

Border security, employer requirements and oversight

The proposal includes several changes to how the U.S. handles immigration. Included in the legislation is a provision for Dreamers, known as individuals brought to the U.S. as children, to pursue permanent citizenship status through a quicker process. It also aims to reform the asylum process by expanding access to legal counsel and establishing regional processing centers, thereby reducing the need for migrants to undertake perilous journeys to the southern border.

The plan calls for investments in border security, updates to land ports of entry and added oversight for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Alongside increased border security, the bill would require all employers nationwide to use E-Verify, a federal system that checks government records to confirm whether workers are legally authorized to work in the U.S. However, the program, which has been in place for decades, has revealed gaps in accuracy. ICE has conducted raids on companies that say they used E-Verify and believed their workers were properly cleared.

In one recent case on June 11 in Omaha, Nebraska, 76 employees were detained at Glenn Valley Foods. According to the DHS, many were found to be using stolen identities and Social Security numbers. The owner said he relied on E-Verify for their hiring and screening process.

The bill has support from both parties, but its path forward remains uncertain, especially as immigration enforcement policies continue to shift and, in some cases, ramp up. Just this month, a new directive from ICE eliminated bond hearings for immigrants who entered the U.S. without legal status. According to a July 8 memo obtained by The Washington Post, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons instructed officers to hold these individuals in custody for the entire length of their removal proceedings.

Support from advocacy groups and shifting public opinion

World Relief, a Christian nonprofit focused on humanitarian work, voiced support for the legislation, saying it reflects a commitment to dignity and the inherent value of every person. The group pointed to recent polling that shows most Americans view immigration as a positive force for the country, and believe immigrants in the country illegally should have a chance to earn permanent legal status.

New Gallup data shows a sharp shift in public opinion on immigration. The percentage of Americans who say immigration should be reduced has dropped from 55% in 2024 to 30% this year. Meanwhile, 79% now say immigration is a good thing for the country.

The findings mark a reversal from a four-year trend of growing concern over immigration that began in 2021. Support for strict border enforcement has declined, while more Americans now favor creating legal pathways for immigrants already living in the U.S.

Immigration reform has a long history of failure in Congress

The bill’s authors say immigration remains a deeply divisive issue in Washington and point out that Congress hasn’t passed major immigration reform since 1996, with a bill signed by President Bill Clinton that narrowed legal immigration options and expanded grounds for deportation. Since then, lawmakers have made at least eight serious attempts at reform in the last decade, all of which failed.