Bipartisan Dignity Act Promises Border Security Without Sacrificing Compassion

Earlier this week in Washington, D.C., Representatives Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) reintroduced a bipartisan bill that supporters say takes a uniquely holistic and humane approach to immigration reform.

Originally proposed in 2022, the Dignity Act aims to improve several aspects of the immigration system, including protecting undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., strengthening border security, and mandating accountability for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Although the act does not provide a direct pathway to citizenship, it does propose a seven-year renewable legal status for long-term undocumented residents that requires them to work, pay restitution and pass background checks.

Rep. Escobar said it is important for Congress to recognize the vital role immigrants play in American communities and economies, especially amid ongoing crackdowns from President Donald Trump’s administration.

“The vast majority of immigrants are hard-working, law-abiding residents,” Rep. Escobar said. “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."

Despite the fact that the bill has gained support from both parties, some Republican members like Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) say it's aim to expand work visas will only drive down American wages.

"Use all the euphemistic generalizations you want, but it's still an amnesty bill," Rep. Gill said.

But Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX), one of the bill’s several Texas co-sponsors, argues that the administration's “artificial crackdown” on immigration is what is hurting our country’s economy.

“We have sectors of our economy that rely on this kind of labor, and that have really suffered because of this artificial crackdown,” Rep. Johnson told Texas Politics.

According to Rep. Johnson, efforts like this bill reveal that the nation’s current immigration system and processes are not working as they should be.

“We need to have a fair, fast and final immigration system where it fairly addresses the needs of our security, but also our business culture, environment and compassion for people,” Rep. Johnson told Texas Politics.

The bill’s holistic approach to strengthening border security while supporting legal immigrants is what makes it so promising, Rep. Johnson said.

“We can walk and chew gum at the same time,” Rep. Johnson added. “We can have border security and an effective immigration policy, which we don't have.”

Most importantly, Rep. Johnson argues that the U.S. can have an immigration system that is unbiased and democratically sound.

“We can have due process. We can have a system that works appropriately, that's not rogue and random, that doesn't racially profile people,” she said. “That's not who we are."