What is Dignity Act 2023?

The Dignity Act of 2023 is a proposed bill to reform immigration laws in the United States.

The “Bipartisan Immigration Bill 2023” refers to the Dignity Act of 2023 and a separate bill introduced in 2024. Here’s what you need to know about each:

Border Security

  • Increased funding for technology, personnel, and infrastructure at the borders.
  • Shifts the focus from complete prevention of entries to strategic control of high-priority areas.
  • Requires assessments of threats along both northern and southern borders.

Legal Status for Undocumented Immigrants

  • Creates a “Dignity Program” offering a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants who meet certain requirements.
  • Establishes a separate program for undocumented agricultural workers.

Pathways to Citizenship

  • Provides a path to citizenship for Dreamers (brought to the US illegally as children).
  • Creates pathways for families to reunite and for military service members to become citizens.

Asylum Reform

  • Establishes regional processing centers in Latin America to screen asylum seekers.
  • Sets timelines for processing asylum claims within the US.
  • Offers opportunities for review of negative asylum decisions.

Workforce

  • Implements mandatory E-Verify (electronic verification of employment eligibility) alongside granting work authorization to undocumented immigrants.
  • Reduces visa backlogs and raises caps on the number of visas issued.
  • Creates new visa categories for temporary stays and for spouses of certain visa holders.
  • Reforms guest worker programs to better serve businesses and workers.

Overall, the Dignity Act of 2023 addresses various aspects of immigration, aiming for increased border security, a fairer approach to undocumented immigrants, and a more efficient legal immigration system.

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