(AURN News) — Sen. Alex Padilla is stepping into the immigration fight with a bold, if unlikely, proposal: update a century-old law to give longtime documented immigrants a real shot at a green card.
Padilla’s bill, expected Monday, would amend the 1929 Immigration Act and allow anyone who has lived in the U.S. continuously for at least seven years to apply for lawful permanent resident status.
Right now, the registry cutoff is stuck at Jan. 1, 1972, meaning applicants must prove they’ve been in the country for more than 50 years to qualify.
This shift could open a pathway for millions, including DACA recipients and those with temporary protected status — many of whom are now being swept up in Trump-era immigration raids and placed into removal proceedings.
With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the proposal faces steep odds. The Dignity Act, a bipartisan bill already introduced in the House, has stalled, and Trump’s Justice Department is letting TPS agreements expire while ICE ramps up aggressive tactics.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
