Government Affairs: Dignity Act Is Back and So Are Our Marching Orders!

Words: Stephen Borg

The Dignity Act is back! Congresswoman Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX) have re-introduced the Dignity Act, their comprehensive border security and immigration law reform legislation and we need to hit the ground running to once again show our support to Members of Congress across the political spectrum. Our Legislative Committee Co-Chairs, Mackie Bounds (Texas) and Lanc Schmitt (Oklahoma), are hitting up every Member of Congress from Texas and Oklahoma, every MCAA Board Member is touching base with their Members of Congress and we need you to start reaching out to your Members of Congress as well!

The Dignity Act was officially introduced on July 15, 2025 as H.R. 4393 with 22 bipartisan sponsors, 11 Republican and 11 Democrat. The full list of original sponsors is below:

Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL)
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX)
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY)
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA)
Rep Hillary Scholten (D-MI)
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV)
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)
Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA)
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO)
Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA)
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY)
Rep. Young Kim (R-CA)
Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA)
Rep. Marion Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA)

To keep the momentum going and ensure we shut down our border while at the same time ensuring you have a reliable, steady flow of legal workforce, while at the same time drying up pipelines for contractors illegally hiring and paying “employees” we need you reaching out to as many Members of Congress as possible asking them to add their name as a cosponsor of H.R. 4393, the Dignity Act. I have included a summary of the bill below for your review but please join your voice to the dozens of other MCAA members pushing this bill forward and let’s get it to the President’s desk!

What is in the Dignity Act of 2025?
Topline: The Dignity Act secures the border, implements enforcement measures, fixes our asylum system, provides Dignity to long-term immigrants, supports American Workers, and improves our legal immigration system.

Border Security:

Maintains complete operational control of the Southern Border.
Mandates construction of enhanced physical barriers.
Deploys improved technology at the border.

Interior Enforcement:

Implements nationwide mandatory E-Verify.
Increases penalties for illegal border crossers.
Enacts strongest penalties possible for child sex traffickers.
Requires DNA testing for family verification.

Asylum:

Ends catch-and-release.
Builds humanitarian campuses near the southern border to process asylum seekers in federal custody.
Expedites asylum processing - determinations within 60 days.
Increases penalties for asylum fraud.

Dignity Program:

Creates Dignity Program offering a 7-year temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants that have been here 5 years or more (since before 2021).
Must pass a criminal background check.
Must pay $7,000 in restitution over 7 years.
No federal benefits or entitlements.
No path to citizenship.
Once completed, can continue to stay and work in the United States.

American Workers and the Economy:

Creates a new $70 billion fund for training and upskilling American Workers.
Offers grants for apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and higher education.
Uses funds paid by Immigrants in the Dignity Program.
Supports American industries by addressing labor shortages.
Ensures we have the agricultural workforce to keep grocery stores stocked and food affordable.

Economic Growth and Prosperity:

Fixes our legal immigration system to ensure a competitive workforce for the future.
Reduces backlogs for high-skilled Employment Based (EB) worker visas.
Funds improvements for Ports of Entry to increase legal commerce and expedite cross-border trade.
Pays down U.S. debt by at least $50 billion.

*This bill uses no taxpayer funding, is fully paid for with fees and restitution payments from illegal immigrants, and pays down the national debt.

Government Affairs: Dignity Act Is Back and So Are Our Marching Orders!

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