By: Alyssa Rodriguez and Gladys Gervacio
On July 15, Congresswomen Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX), along with eighteen other members of the House, introduced a revised version of the Dignity Act- a bipartisan bill aimed at reforming border security, asylum and humanitarian protection, the legal status undocumented individuals, backlogs in processing, and creating legal pathways for individuals to enter the United States.
The Dignity Act of 2025 outlines a broad set of reforms divided into three main sections:
- Division A: Border Security for America
- Division B: Dignity and American Dream
- Division C: American Prosperity and Competitiveness
Division A - Border Security for America
This section of the Dignity Act emphasizes strengthening border control and enhancing immigration management at the southern border.
- Border security is addressed through increased funding for the construction of new infrastructure and physical barriers (p. 4). According to The Dignity Act of 2025: Section by Section Analysis, the legislation also calls for expanded surveillance and improved situational awareness along the southern border (p. 4, Sec. 1111).
- Funding for these initiatives will be sourced from the creation of an “Immigration Debt Reduction Fund” (p.6, Sec. 1204). This fund will be financed through a 1.5% payroll levy applied to individuals authorized to work under the Dignity Program (p.6).
- The Act proposes nationwide use of the E-Verify system, with increased penalties for individuals who submit fraudulent documentation and for employers who knowingly participate in such practices(AILA, 2025).
- Employers will be required to sign off verifying that a prospective employee has provided proper documentation and that it has been processed through the E-Verify system (Escobar, 2025).
- The legislation introduces the concept of Humanitarian Campuses near the southern U.S. border, as well as in Latin America. Thes facilities would allow individuals to be pre-screened or processed abroad, thereby discouraging unauthorized border crossings (p.9). The act also introduces a new Humanitarian Visa for those who choose to undergo pre-screening for asylum in Latin America (Sec.1503).
Division B - Dignity and American Dream
The Dignity Program seeks to offer undocumented immigrants an opportunity to gain legal status through a structured process.
- Participants in the program are required $7,000 in restitution fees, will be directed toward tax revenue and support the U.S. economy. The Secretary of Labor is responsible for depositing these fees into the H-1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner Account, from which funds will be distributed to states via grants (Section 2403).
- The H-1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner Fee Account funds educational and training programs (p. 18). This account traditionally receives money from H-1B visa application fees. As noted in the National Immigration Forum, the American Workers Fund will be used to support “apprenticeships, work-based earn-and-learn programs, and educational opportunities for high-demand careers” (Paul, 2025).
Division C - American Prosperity and Competitiveness
This section introduces new visa categories and proposes updates to existing visa policies to enhance the U.S. workforce and family reunification.
- A new Family Purpose Nonimmigrant Visa category would permit relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to travel to the U.S. “Relatives” include spouses, children, sons, daughters, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts, nieces, and nephews (Paul, 2025).
- The Act proposes changes to work visa quotas, clarifying that dependents (spouses and children) will no longer count toward annual visa caps (Sec. 3301). Only the principal applicant will be included in the visa total for the year.
- Under the current law, international students must prove their intent to leave the U.S. upon completing their studies and provide evidence of ties to their home country (Sec. 3304). The Act proposes that F-1 student visas become dual intent, allowing students to pursue opportunities in the U.S. after graduation without having to demonstrate intent to depart.
- To further improve processing efficiency, the bill proposes the establishment of an Immigration Agency Coordinator to oversee immigration operations across USCIS, the Department of State, and the Department of Labor (p. 22). Approximately $3.6 billion is allocated for reducing processing delays and improving visa and work authorization systems (Paul, 2025).
Conclusion
The Dignity Act of 2025 aims to reconstruct U.S. immigration policy by addressing critical areas such as border security, asylum reform, legal pathways for undocumented individuals, and backlog reduction. Through a combination of new visa categories, expanded infrastructure, and bipartisan collaboration, the Act offers a framework for handling immigration with both efficiency and humanity.
Recognizing that immigration is not a one-size-fits-all issue but a humanitarian matter, the bill emphasizes the need for targeted solutions that consider the complex realities faced by individuals and families. If enacted, this legislation would represent a significant step toward creating a more just and functional immigration system.
References
