Proposed Green-Card Change Could Benefit 8 Million Immigrants
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Senator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, introduced a bill he said could make it easier for 8 million immigrants to obtain a green card.
Newsweek reached out to Padilla's office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Immigration reform has stalled in Washington as Democrats and Republicans have struggled to reach consensus on what remains one of the most sharply divisive political issues facing the country.
Immigration remains one of the most critical political issues, particularly amid President Donald Trump's mass deportations and increased immigration enforcement, which has drawn scrutiny from immigration advocates. Trump has said his administration would target criminals, but there have been reports about people without a criminal past being swept up by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids over the past few months.
Padilla's office said his bill, if it becomes law, could provide relief to millions of migrants including Dreamers, people holding Temporary Protected Status (TPS), children of long-term visa holders, essential workers and highly skilled professionals.
California Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat, speaks at a press conference in Washington on May 8, 2024.
California Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat, speaks at a press conference in Washington on May 8, 2024.What To Know
Padilla announced the "Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929" last week. If it becomes law, the bill will amend Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, also known as the Registry statute, which allows immigrants who have resided continuously in the United States since January 1, 1972, to apply for permanent resident status.
The new proposal would update that cutoff, creating a rolling eligibility period enabling those who have lived in the U.S. for at least seven years, without a criminal record and meeting existing requirements, to apply for a green card.
"Americans know there's a better path forward than the Trump Administration's cruel scapegoating of hardworking immigrants and fearmongering of California communities," Padilla wrote in the press release. "We believe that if you've lived here for over seven years, paid taxes for years, contributed to your community for years, and you don't have a criminal record, then you deserve a pathway to legalization."
However, the bill could face an uphill climb in Congress, which has struggled to pass immigration reforms in recent years. Republicans hold a majority in the Senate and the House, and it's not clear that Padilla's bill would have support from many conservatives who have generally supported more restrictive immigration policies.
Unless Democrats win a veto-proof majority in the 2026 midterms, Trump could still block any immigration bill passed by Congress, even under Democratic control.
Congress has adjusted Section 249 four times since it was enacted in 1929 but not since 1986.
Padilla's office wrote that 8 million migrants would be affected by the bill, which would bring $121 billion to the U.S. economy and $35 billion in taxes.
What People Are Saying
Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a statement released by Padilla's office: "Protections for these hard-working individuals are long overdue. It's common sense that immigrants who pose no safety threat and contribute to our country should be able to call America home with certainty; additionally, it's also common sense that the small percentage of undocumented immigrants who do commit violent crimes should be removed. Expanding the registry pathway to citizenship is a practical solution to provide stability to immigrants who have worked and contributed to our country for years."
Elon Musk's America PAC, on X: "Democrat Senator Alex Padilla introduces legislation to grant amnesty to illegals and give them citizenship if they live in the US for over 7 years. They are now trying to codify what has been their plan all along — Importing new Democrat voters."
What Happens Next
Padilla plans to formally introduce his bill to the Senate. Debate and committee hearings are possible, though Republican control in both chambers creates a challenging path forward.
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