Undocumented immigrants eligible for ‘dignity program’ under bill – By Caroline Simon (Roll Call) / February 8, 2022
Salazar’s legislation offers path to legal residency, boost in border security efforts
Millions of undocumented immigrants would receive legal protections and, eventually, a possible path to citizenship under broad legislation unveiled Tuesday that also would ramp up efforts to secure the southern U.S. border.
Under the “dignity program” proposed by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years would be allowed to work legally while paying $1,000 annually into a new fund supporting job training for American workers.
After 10 years, the immigrants would become eligible for a five-year “redemption program” requiring civics education and community service, and could be considered eligible for citizenship through existing procedures for naturalization.
“If you have been here in this country for more than five years, you have been working, you have been paying taxes, you have not committed a crime — then you can come out of the shadows and live a dignified life,” Salazar told reporters during a press call Tuesday morning, before officially introducing the draft bill.
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