WASHINGTON — The Dignity Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Maria Salazar, aims to replace what its proponents call existing "de facto amnesty" in the United States immigration system. Salazar and other supporters contend that millions live in the shadows, employers ignore current rules and law enforcement efforts often misfire.

The bill would secure the border, mandate verification of work authorization and hold employers accountable for hiring practices.

A key provision offers an earned pathway to legal status — not citizenship — for long-term, nonviolent undocumented immigrants. To qualify, individuals must pay $7,000 in fees, contribute 1 percent of their income to the Treasury, pass background checks and acknowledge their illegal entry.

Proponents argue the current enforcement system punishes the wrong people. Salazar and her allies say enforcement should target cartels, criminals trafficking fentanyl and human smugglers — not churches, families, construction workers or nannies.

The debate carries weight for religious communities. Roughly one in 12 Christians in the United States is an undocumented immigrant or lives in a mixed-status family, representing about 10 million people at risk of deportation. Pastors nationwide report attendance drops of 30 percent or more, driven by fear.

Supporters link the bill's name to a core American principle — that all people are created equal — and to religious traditions that call on believers to welcome the stranger.

The Dignity Act faces strong opposition from groups including Act for America, which calls the proposal "stealth amnesty." These groups argue that voters demanded secure borders and mass deportations of recent arrivals and criminals, not legal status for millions who violated existing law.

Critics say any pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants undermines the rule of law and advocate for a policy focused solely on enforcement and removal.

Proponents frame the Dignity Act as combining accountability with compassion; opponents say it compromises border security and legal principle.