Overview
- Members of the House Freedom Caucus said they will oppose any bill they view as amnesty, explicitly naming Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar’s DIGNIDAD Act.
- Critics point to sections described as granting conditional green cards to people who entered before age 18 and have lived in the U.S. since January 1, 2021, with an accelerated path for some DACA recipients.
- Opponents also cite a proposed seven‑year renewable “Dignity status” with work and travel authorization for long‑term undocumented residents here before 2021, contingent on fees, biometrics, and background checks.
- Sponsors Rep. Salazar and Rep. Mike Lawler dispute the amnesty label and say the bill is enforcement‑first and offers legal status short of citizenship to bring eligible people into a regulated system.
- The Republican split leaves the bill’s path uncertain, with more than two dozen co‑sponsors facing organized Freedom Caucus resistance and sharply critical coverage in right‑leaning outlets.