U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, announced a transformative bill on Friday to provide a pathway to lawful permanent residency for over 8 million long-term U.S. residents.
The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 seeks to update the outdated Registry statute.
Offering a practical solution to counter the Trump administration’s aggressive mass deportation agenda, which has sparked widespread fear in communities across California and beyond.
The proposed legislation updates Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, known as the Registry, which allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant lawful permanent resident status to individuals who have resided in the U.S. since a specified date and meet specific criteria.
Currently, the eligibility cutoff is January 1, 1972—a date unchanged since 1986 under President Ronald Reagan.
Padilla’s bill advances this cutoff, enabling immigrants who have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least seven years, have no criminal record, and meet other eligibility requirements to apply for a green card.
By implementing a rolling eligibility date, the bill eliminates the need for future congressional updates, ensuring a sustainable solution.
“This bill is a commonsense fix to our broken immigration system,” said Senator Padilla during a Los Angeles press conference alongside immigration advocates and affected families.
“If you’ve lived here for over seven years, paid taxes, and contributed to your community, you deserve a chance at the American Dream.”
The legislation could benefit Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, children of long-term visa holders, essential workers, and H-1B visa holders stuck in visa backlogs.
According to FWD.us, these individuals could contribute $121 billion annually to the U.S. economy and $35 billion in taxes if granted citizenship.
Responding to Trump’s Deportation Raids
The bill comes amid escalating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids under President Trump’s administration, which Padilla and other Democratic leaders, including Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), have criticized as indiscriminate and cruel.
Despite Trump’s campaign promise to target violent criminals, reports indicate that less than 10% of detained immigrants have serious criminal convictions, with a 500% surge in arrests of non-criminals.
Padilla highlighted cases like that of Alejandro Barranco, a veteran whose father, Narciso, was violently detained by masked Customs and Border Protection agents in Orange County, underscoring the human toll of these policies.
“Trump’s raids are tearing families apart and targeting hardworking people who pose no threat,” said Representative Lofgren, who is leading companion legislation in the House.
“This bill updates a historically bipartisan provision to provide stability for our communities and workforces.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
It builds on a precedent set by four prior updates to the Registry statute since 1929, including Reagan’s 1986 reform, which Padilla cited as a model of “basic fairness.”
Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), joined Padilla at the announcement, emphasizing the need for a pathway to citizenship.
“Immigrants are integral to America’s fabric.
This bill ensures they can live free from fear,” she said.
Economic and Social Impacts
Padilla’s legislation addresses both humanitarian and economic concerns.
Undocumented immigrants contribute significantly to sectors like agriculture (42% of the workforce) and construction (14%), and their deportation could reduce U.S. GDP by up to 6.8%.
The bill aims to stabilize communities and boost economic growth by allowing long-term residents to fully integrate.
Padilla also criticized the Trump administration’s militarization of immigration enforcement, including deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles and using sensitive taxpayer data to target immigrants.
He recently introduced the VISIBLE Act to mandate visible identification for immigration officers and led Senate Democrats in demanding the withdrawal of military forces from U.S. cities.
While Padilla acknowledged the challenge of securing Republican support in a polarized Congress, he remains optimistic.
“The time is now to modernize our immigration system,” he said, noting public opinion polls showing 79% of Americans view immigration positively.
The bill requires no new bureaucracies, leveraging existing legal frameworks to provide relief.
As the son of Mexican immigrants, Padilla’s advocacy is personal.
His leadership on immigration reform, including prior bills like the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act and efforts to protect Documented Dreamers, underscores his commitment to a fairer system.
Also Read: Powell Says Trump’s Immigration Roundups Will Now Slow The Economy
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