A New Push for Immigration Reform: What the Dignity Act of 2025 Proposes

On July 15, 2025, U.S. Representatives Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) reintroduced the Dignity Act of 2025, a bipartisan immigration reform bill aimed at overhauling many components of the U.S. immigration system. The proposal arrives at a time of rising public support for immigration, even as the Trump administration continues to escalate enforcement efforts. The bill is co-sponsored by 18 other members of Congress and represents a scaled-back version of the original 2023 proposal, which stalled in the House.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) responded to the bill with cautious optimism. AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson acknowledged that while the organization does not endorse every provision, the Dignity Act marks a serious effort at bipartisan dialogue. Johnson emphasized the urgent need for a “functional, fair, and efficient immigration system” and urged Congress to act—not posture.

The Dignity Act’s introduction comes amid a backdrop of shifting public sentiment. A recent Gallup poll found that 73% of Americans believe immigration benefits the country, with support growing among both Democrats and Republicans. Notably, 62% of respondents disapprove of President Trump’s handling of immigration. These trends could indicate increased political will to pass meaningful reform—if momentum is sustained.

Key Components of the Dignity Act of 2025

The updated bill tackles a wide range of immigration challenges, from the status of undocumented immigrants and Dreamers to border enforcement, visa backlogs, and asylum processing. Below is a breakdown of the most significant provisions:

1. Legalization and Temporary Status

• Dignity Program: Provides a 7-year renewable temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants continuously present in the U.S. since January 1, 2021. Applicants must pay a $7,000 restitution fee, pass background checks, obtain health insurance, and are barred from federal benefits. Notably, this version excludes a path to permanent residency.

• TPS Holders: Individuals with Temporary Protected Status may apply and are exempt from the restitution fee.

• Dreamers: Offers conditional permanent residency for undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children, including DACA recipients, with a pathway to green cards and eventually citizenship.

• Additional Funding: Imposes a 1% income tax on Dignity Program participants (exempt from FICA), with funds directed to immigration infrastructure and debt reduction. Restitution fees also fund workforce training and apprenticeship programs for U.S. workers.

2. Border Security and Enforcement

• Expanded Border Infrastructure: Funds new physical barriers, inspection technologies, and expanded capacity at ports of entry.

• Increased Criminal Penalties: Toughens penalties for unlawful reentry, smuggling, and asylum fraud, with some offenses carrying up to 30 years in prison.

• E-Verify Modernization: Mandates nationwide use of E-Verify, increases employer penalties for hiring undocumented workers, and transitions the I-9 process to an electronic format.

• New DHS Office: Authorizes a mechanism for state and local governments to report labor violations.

3. Asylum and Humanitarian Processing

• Fast-Tracked Asylum Cases: Imposes a 60-day deadline for most asylum claims, with limited access to judicial review and no guaranteed government-funded counsel.

• Humanitarian Campuses: Asylum seekers would be detained during this period at CBP-run centers providing medical, legal, and social services. Law school loan forgiveness is offered to attorneys who provide legal services at these facilities.

• Regional Processing Centers: Establishes screening centers in Latin America to pre-process asylum claims and support family reunification.

• Protections for Minors: Codifies child custody standards based on the Flores Settlement.

4. Visa and Legal Immigration Reform

• Backlog Reduction: Doubles per-country visa caps from 7% to 15%, with a $20,000 “premium processing” option for petitions pending 10+ years.

• Visa Cap Reform: Stops counting spouses and children of employment-based visa applicants against annual limits.

• STEM Talent Pathways: Clarifies eligibility for O-1 visas for Ph.D. holders in STEM fields.

• Dual Intent for F-1 Students: Removes the requirement for international students to prove non-immigrant intent.

• Child Age-Out Protections: Ensures children do not lose eligibility due to USCIS delays.

• Family Unity Protections: Incorporates provisions from the American Families United Act, giving DHS discretion to waive inadmissibility for spouses and children of U.S. citizens.

• New Family Visitor Visa: Introduces a visa category for family purposes (e.g., funerals, weddings), requiring sponsorship and proof of support.

The Political Landscape Ahead

Rep. Escobar has acknowledged the uphill battle in passing the Dignity Act, citing past failures of at least eight reform proposals since 2013. But with bipartisan backing and public sentiment shifting, lawmakers may face increased pressure from businesses, farmers, and families to move forward.

"This would be a very important first step," said Escobar. "We need business owners, farmers, and community members to apply pressure to their members of Congress—and frankly, to the President as well—saying we want reform now."

Whether the Dignity Act succeeds or stalls remains to be seen. But in a year when immigration has returned to the forefront of the national conversation, the bill represents a substantive blueprint for what comprehensive, bipartisan reform could look like.

For more insights or legal support related to immigration policy or individual eligibility under proposed changes, contact us at Kirchner Immigration.