H.R. 4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025


Quick Facts:

Bill Sponsor: Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27)

Congress: 119

Date Introduced: July 15, 2025

Last Action: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (July 15, 2025)

View on Congress.gov

H.R. 4393 "DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025"

Division A: Border Security for America

Title I & II: Border Security and Infrastructure

  • Sec. 1111 - Border Barriers: Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to deploy "physical barriers, tactical infrastructure, and technology" to secure the border. The language focuses on a combination of fencing, technology (drones, sensors, cameras), and infrastructure like roads and lighting. It grants the Secretary authority to waive any legal requirements (such as environmental regulations) to expedite construction. Waivers exist under existing lawful authority, as does the legal authority to build the wall (as funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act). 

  • Sec. 1112 - Air and Marine Operations (AMO): Mandates a significant increase in aerial surveillance, requiring AMO to conduct at least 95,000 annual flight hours and to operate unmanned aircraft systems (drones) on the southern border 24/7.

  • Sec. 1113-1118 & 1121 - Reports, Committees, and Training: Requires DHS to produce threat analyses for both borders; establishes advisory committees of landowners and community stakeholders to provide input; directs that technology be provided to front-line agents; increases mandatory training for new officers; and authorizes a body-worn camera pilot program for five years.

  • Sec. 1119 & 1120 - Border Patrol Staffing and Pay: Authorizes the hiring of "Processing Coordinators" to handle administrative tasks, freeing up armed agents for field duties. It also mandates a pay raise of at least 14% for Border Patrol agents at the GS-12 level to improve recruitment and retention.

  • Sec. 1122 - Protecting Sensitive Locations: This provision limits immigration enforcement actions in, or near, "protected areas," which include any school, hospital, medical or mental health facility, place of worship or religious study, place where children gather, place providing social services, place providing disaster or emergency relief, place where a funeral, wedding, or other ceremony occurs, place where a parade or demonstration is ongoing, and any courthouse. Enforcement actions in these areas would require prior approval from senior leadership or "exigent circumstances" like a national security threat or hot pursuit.

  • Sec. 1201 & 1204 - Infrastructure Funding: Authorizes $10 billion ($2 billion per year for five years) for modernizing ports of entry. It also establishes an "Immigration Infrastructure and Debt Reduction Fund," which would be funded by taxes and fees paid by participants in the amnesty programs created in Division B.

Title III: Criminal Enforcement Provisions

  • Sec. 1301, 1302, 1304, 1305 - Increased Penalties: Substantially increases criminal penalties for human smuggling, hindering border controls, child sex trafficking, and illegal reentry after a prior removal. For example, the maximum penalty for a simple illegal reentry is increased to fines, 10 years in prison, or both (not a mandatory minimum).

  • Sec. 1303 & 1306 - Smuggling and Trafficking: Requires a report on human smuggling tactics and makes the spouses and children of drug traffickers ineligible for visas.

  • Sec. 1307 - DNA Testing: Authorizes consular and immigration officers to require DNA testing to verify claimed family relationships for visa applicants, aimed at combating family-based immigration fraud.

  • Sec. 1308 - Voting by Aliens: Increases the maximum prison sentence for an alien voting in a federal election from one year to five years.

Title IV: Mandatory E-Verify (The "Legal Workforce Act")

  • Sec. 1401-1405 & 1407 - Mandatory Employment Verification: This title, cited as the "Legal Workforce Act," phases in a mandatory national E-Verify system for all employers. All hires would have to be checked through the system to confirm their legal authorization to work. The bill includes a "good faith" defense for employers who make technical errors, increases penalties for document fraud, and repeals the previous E-Verify pilot program.

    • Phase-in Schedule: The mandate begins 6 months after enactment for very large employers (10,000+ employees) and extends over 24 months to include all employers. Agricultural employers are given a 30-month delay.

  • Sec. 1406 - Federal Preemption: The bill establishes a single, national standard for employment verification, preempting all state and local laws related to the hiring of illegal aliens. However, it allows states to enforce the federal law at their own cost, including by revoking business licenses for non-compliance.

  • Sec. 1408-1414 - Penalties and System Integrity: Significantly increases civil fines for hiring illegal workers. For example, the fine for a first offense rises from a maximum of $2,000 to a range of $2,500 to $5,000 per illegal worker. It also allows for repeat violators to be debarred from receiving federal contracts. This part also establishes programs to prevent identity theft by blocking misused Social Security numbers, requires the use of a photo matching tool, and authorizes pilot programs for more advanced identity authentication technology.

Title V: Asylum Reform

  • Sec. 1501 & 1502 - Humanitarian Campuses & Expedited Adjudication: The bill directs DHS to establish at least three "humanitarian campuses" at the border to detain and process asylum seekers. Asylum cases are decided by a two-person panel of asylum officers, only passing the case to an immigration judge if there’s disagreement or a decision to refer the case to a judge. The goal is to complete the entire asylum process within 60 days of arrival at the campus. Aliens who receive a final denial would be subject to expedited removal. “Vulnerable populations” can request additional review.

  • Sec. 1503 - Processing in Foreign Countries: Authorizes the establishment of up to three processing facilities in other Western Hemisphere countries to conduct asylum pre-screening. In addition, these facilities will process “family reunification cases,” allowing aliens under 21 to come to the United States to join a parent with legal status. It also specifically mandates the creation of a Dominican Republic Family Reunification Parole Program, which would allow certain Dominicans with already-approved family-based petitions to be paroled into the U.S. to wait for their green card instead of waiting abroad. Further, it counts Cuban illegal aliens who were released from detention on their own recognizance prior to January 31, 2023, as “paroled” for the purposes of the Cuban Adjustment Act.

  • Sec. 1504, 1506, 1507 - Asylum Process Integrity: Requires recording of credible fear interviews, adds penalties for frivolous asylum applications, and allows investigative reports to be used in credibility determinations.

  • Sec. 1505 - Renunciation of Asylum: An individual granted asylum who returns to the country from which they fled persecution within five years of being granted status would have their asylum status terminated, absent compelling reasons (waivable).

  • Sec. 1508 & 1509 - Penalties for Asylum Fraud: Establishes criminal penalties for asylum fraud, with a 10-year statute of limitations.

  • Sec. 1510 - Facility Standards and Oversight: Requires DHS to update standards for preventing sexual abuse in detention facilities, guarantees Members of Congress access for oversight, and requires ICE to update its online detainee locator every 24 hours and provide family notification upon transfer.

  • Sec. 1511 & 1512 - UAC Protections: Mandates biometric and criminal history background checks for all potential sponsors of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and all adult members of the sponsor's household. It also creates new criminal penalties for fraud in connection with obtaining custody of a UAC. The bill expressly locks in the Flores Settlement Agreement.

  • Sec. 1513, 1514, 1516 - Asylum Resources and New Status: Authorizes the hiring of 300 new asylum officers and creates a loan forgiveness program for attorneys who provide legal services at the humanitarian campuses. It also creates a new "humanitarian status" for certain aliens who are deemed prima facie eligible for asylum during pre-screening abroad, capped at the annual refugee level.

  • Sec. 1515 - Two-Strike Policy: An alien who crosses the border between official ports of entry will be biometrically logged and warned that asylum applications must be made at a port of entry. If the same alien is caught crossing illegally a second time, they become ineligible for asylum and are subject to expedited removal.

Division B: Dignity and American Dream

Mass Amnesty

Title I: Dream Act

  • Sec. 2102-2104 - Legalization for "Dreamers": This title creates a direct path to a green card (lawful permanent residence) and eventual citizenship for certain aliens who entered the U.S. as minors (including those who came in illegally, DACA recipients, those with TPS or DED, and children of E-1s, E-2s, H-1Bs, and L-1s). The status is initially "conditional" for 10 years and can be revoked. To remove the conditions, an alien must obtain a college degree, serve in the military for at least 3 years, or demonstrate consistent work history. Further, full permanent residence may be granted as a “hardship waiver” for aliens who do not meet the education or work requirements if they are disabled, are a caregiver, or their removal from the U.S. would cause hardship to their spouse, parent, or child who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

    • Eligibility: Applicants must have been continuously present in the U.S. since January 1, 2021, have entered before age 19, and meet certain educational (high school diploma or equivalent) or military service requirements. The bill provides broad waiver authority for grounds of inadmissibility. Any alien found prima facie eligible is effectively amnestied, as they cannot be removed until they have the chance to apply and are denied. All aliens who have a stay of removal, who otherwise can’t be removed, or have a pending application, get work authorization.

  • Waived by Omission: Because the bill only requires applicants to not be inadmissible under a few specific grounds, it effectively waives several major grounds of inadmissibility that are not mentioned, including:

    • Unlawful presence (the 3/10 year bars)

    • Public charge

    • Unlawful entry or presence without admission

    • Most forms of misrepresentation or document fraud

  • Discretionary Waivers: The Secretary of Homeland Security is also given the explicit authority to waive the following grounds for humanitarian purposes, for family unity, or if otherwise in the public interest:

    • Health-related grounds

    • Certain criminal grounds, including inadmissibility for crimes involving moral turpitude, controlled substance violations, controlled substance trafficking, prostitution, and commercialized vice.

    • Alien smuggling

    • Student visa abuse

    • Unlawful voting

    • Misdemeanors: An applicant is generally barred for two or more misdemeanors arising from separate incidents. However, the Secretary may waive one misdemeanor if the applicant has been conviction-free for 5 years, or up to two misdemeanors if the applicant has been conviction-free for 10 years.

  • Numerical Impact: This provision would grant amnesty and a path to citizenship to a significant population. According to the National Immigration Forum, approximately 2.5 million individuals would be eligible for permanent residence under this title.

Title III: Dignity Program

  • Sec. 2301-2305 - Legalization for Illegal Aliens: This title creates a new legal status, called "Dignity Status," for the broader illegal alien population.

    • Eligibility: Applicants must have been continuously present in the U.S. since December 31, 2020, pass a criminal background check, and pay an initial restitution fee of $1,000. The bill provides waiver authority for certain grounds of inadmissibility. An applicant is generally ineligible if they have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors arising from separate incidents (excluding minor traffic offenses, simple cannabis possession, and non-violent civil disobedience). A misdemeanor domestic violence conviction is also a bar, unless the applicant was a victim of domestic violence or trafficking. Any alien found prima facie eligible is effectively amnestied for 24 months, as they cannot be removed until they have the chance to apply and are denied. 

  • Waived Outright: The bill explicitly waives inadmissibility based on previous removals and unlawful presence (the 3/10 year bars).

  • Discretionary Waivers: The Secretary may waive certain criminal grounds of inadmissibility for humanitarian purposes, family unity, or if in the public interest, including inadmissibility for crimes involving moral turpitude and controlled substance trafficking. The bill also allows for time-based waivers for misdemeanors: one misdemeanor can be waived after 5 conviction-free years, and up to two misdemeanors can be waived after 10 conviction-free years.

  • Status Granted: Participants receive a 7-year legal status that provides work and travel authorization and protection from deportation. During this period, they must report to DHS every two years, pay an additional $6,000 in restitution fees ($7,000 total), and pay a 1% payroll tax. They are ineligible for federal means-tested benefits.

  • Numerical Impact: This is a broad amnesty program. Based on estimates from the National Immigration Forum, a total illegal population of around 10.5 million could benefit.

  • Pathway to Green Card: The bill as written grants a renewable 7-year legal status but does not provide a direct, automatic path to a green card or citizenship for this group. It creates a new legal, nonimmigrant class. However, as they are considered inspected and admitted for purposes of adjustment of status, they may use existing pathways to receive green cards.

Title II & IV: General Provisions and Contribution to American Workers

  • Sec. 2201-2209 - General Provisions: This title establishes the rules governing the amnesty programs, including documentation requirements, background check procedures, and confidentiality provisions that prevent information from applications from being used for immigration enforcement.

  • Sec. 2401-2409 - American Worker Training: Directs the restitution fees paid by participants in the Dignity Program to a fund for American worker retraining, focusing on apprenticeships and work-based learning programs for small and medium-sized businesses.

Division C: American Prosperity and Competitiveness

Title I: American Families United

  • Sec. 3111-3115 - Family-Based Provisions: Gives the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General discretion to waive certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability for the spouses and children of U.S. citizens if their removal would cause the citizen relative hardship. It also creates a new temporary, 90-day visitor visa specifically for family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, allows certain individuals to file motions to reopen their cases based on the new waiver authority, and streamlines the naturalization process for members of the military.

Title II: Fairness for Legal Immigrants

  • Sec. 3201 - Backlog Reduction: Allows immigrants with approved petitions who have been waiting in the green card backlog for more than 10 years to bypass the annual numerical caps and adjust their status immediately by paying a $20,000 fee.

  • Sec. 3202 - Per-Country Caps: More than doubles the per-country cap on family-sponsored and employment-based green cards, raising it from 7% to 15% of the total annual visas available.

  • Sec. 3203 - Age-Out Protections: "Locks in" the age of a child on the date their parent's immigrant petition is first filed. This prevents children from "aging out" of eligibility for a green card at age 21 due to extensive backlogs.

Title III: Employment and Student Visas

  • Sec. 3301 - Spouses and Children: Exempts the spouses and minor children of employment-based green card applicants from the annual numerical green card caps.

    • Numerical Impact: This would substantially increase the total number of green cards issued each year. Historically, for every principal worker who receives an employment-based green card, one or more additional green cards are issued to their dependent spouses and children. Under this provision, those dependents would be admitted outside of the annual cap. This would effectively allow for more than double the number of new permanent residents to enter through the employment-based system each year compared to the statutory cap of 140,000.

  • Sec. 3302 - OPT Taxes: Subjects foreign students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) to Social Security taxes, while also codifying the program.

  • Sec. 3303 - STEM Ph.D.s or Medical Degrees: Automatically classifies foreign nationals who earn a doctoral degree in a STEM field from a U.S. university as "aliens of extraordinary ability," allowing them to self-petition for a green card without a job offer and bypass the labor certification process.

  • Sec. 3304 - Student Visas (F-1): Eliminates the requirement that foreign students prove they have no intention of abandoning their foreign residence. This allows students to have "dual intent"—the intent to study temporarily and also to immigrate permanently—which is a fundamental shift in the nature of the student visa program.

  • Sec. 3305 - Visa Processing Resources: Authorizes over $3.6 billion in appropriations to USCIS, the State Department, and the Department of Labor to reduce visa processing backlogs.

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