Representative Maria Elvira-Salazar (R-FL) announced she will soon re-introduce her ‘Dignity’ Act to update the US’s legal immigration framework and address the illegal immigration crisis.
Representative Salazar’s ‘Dignity’ Act arrives amid President Donald Trump’s nationwide efforts to deport illegal immigrants.
President Trump has repeatedly pledged to maximize deportations and recently began mass deportations.
Deportation efforts have focused on illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, but general deportations of illegal immigrants have caused some backlash from the deportees’ former employers.
The Trump administration has heard employers’ concerns that mass deportations will raise labor costs and produce labor shortages.
Trump recently recognized, for example, the damage caused by illegal immigrant deportations to Iowa farmers heavily relying on immigrant labor.
Trump administration officials, however, have pledged to continue enforcing immigration law and deportations of illegal immigrants.
Salazar is consequently re-introducing her ‘Dignity’ act to straddle the US’s immigration law responsibilities and to prevent the noxious economic damage of a waning labor force.
The 500-page original act covers border security, asylum claims, illegal immigration, agricultural competitiveness, and the US’s domestic workforce.
Regarding illegal immigration, the act grants amnesty to illegal immigrants who have been in the US for at least five years, provided they pay a $5,000 fine and possess good legal conduct.
“Now that President Trump has finally secured the border, it’s time to fix the rest of the system,” said Salazar.
The program offers two pathways for eligible illegal immigrants to become legal permanent residents: Dignity Status or the Redemption Program.
Those who select Dignity Status would receive work authorization, legal permanent residency, and travel authorization. However, they would be ineligible for citizenship.
The Redemption Program would create a citizenship pathway for eligible illegal immigrants who must pass English and US civics tests, perform community service, or pay an additional $5,000 fine.
To address legal immigration issues, the bill increases per-country quotas, expands visa opportunities for foreign STEM students, and cuts the legal immigration backlog.
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