Amid Aggressive Immigration Raids, House Reps Reintroduce Straightforward Reform Solution

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Norma Torres (CA-35), Lou Correa (CA-46), Grace Meng (NY-06), and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), reintroduced the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, H.R. 4696, a bill that makes a simple update to an existing status adjustment process in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), better known as the registry.

The registry provision, first enacted on March 2, 1929, permits certain immigrants who have been continuously present in the United States to apply for permanent residency if they have a clean record. In the 20^th Century, the cutoff date for eligibility for the registry was modified several times on a bipartisan basis. The last update was part of the Ronald Reagen-era 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act when the cutoff date was set to January 1, 1972. Nearly 40 years have passed since this important immigration provision was updated.

H.R. 4696 updates the INA registry provision and unlocks a legal path to lawful permanent residence for millions of long-term hardworking community members, including immigrant youth raised in America, workers with Temporary Protected Status, and professionals stuck in visa backlogs.

“Updating our registry law would provide permanent protections to thousands of people in Illinois and millions around the country who have lived, raised families, and paid taxes in the United States for years. While the Trump administration carries on with its brutal persecution of immigrants, we are presenting a real solution to allow hard-working immigrants an opportunity to obtain permanent residency so they can continue contributing to our country,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García. “Detentions and deportations do not make our country great. Giving people an opportunity to achieve the American Dream does.”

"When Donald Trump ran for president, he pledged to deport violent criminals. Instead, masked, heavily-armed agents, often refusing to identify themselves, are aggressively, sometimes violently, targeting day laborers, busboys, farmworkers, and some of the hardest-working people in this country. It's outrageous and deserves the condemnation of every Member of Congress. We need to control our borders, but we also need a straightforward reform solution for those who have resided peacefully for a long time in America," said Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and a former immigration lawyer. "My colleagues and I are reintroducing our registry legislation to simply update a historically-bipartisan provision that provides lawful permanent resident status to vetted immigrants who have been a part of our communities for years. Providing stability to our communities and our workforces – versus terrorizing them – will make our country stronger."

“America’s strength lies in the people who build it—many of whom are immigrants who have lived, worked, and raised families in our communities for decades. From our hospitals to our classrooms to our construction sites, they are essential to our economy and our future. Yet our outdated immigration laws continue to trap these individuals in legal limbo, denying them the stability and dignity they’ve earned,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 is a commonsense, compassionate update that reflects the reality of modern America. It creates a fair, rigorous, and long-overdue process for long-term residents to adjust their status and fully participate in the country they already call home. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation to ensure our immigration system lives up to our values of fairness, justice, and opportunity for all.”

"Today, our immigration system is overwhelmed. We are seeing the extreme consequences of this under the new Administration. It is harder than ever for new Americans—many of whom have contributed significantly to our country—to become citizens,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. "The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 would allow millions of immigrants who have been U.S. residents for at least seven years a chance to obtain lawful permanent status. This policy has long been included in the Immigration and Nationality Act, but the provision itself has not been updated since 1986. This bill makes a simple update to the law to expand the number of immigrants who may qualify to file an application for a green card and make permanent legal status an attainable reality for millions. We must give those who have abided by the law, contributed to our economy, and built their lives here a pathway to citizenship."

 “Across the country, millions of our law-abiding hard-working immigrant neighbors have lived among us for decades. They've raised families, worked essential jobs, and contributed to our local economies, but now they live in fear,” CongressmanCorrea said. “At a time when this Administration is ramping up raids, ending humanitarian protections, and rounding up workers who haven’t committed a crime, Congress must act. This legislation provides the opportunity to earn lawful permanent residency for hard-working law-abiding immigrants." 

"Recent decades have been no different, no matter how restrictive our laws or how brutal our enforcement. The Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, aggressive ICE enforcement, and targeting of immigrant families and individuals, including those with no criminal record whatsoever, paralyze communities with fear and at a greater cost to the overall society,” said Congressman Espaillat. “Immigrants are a central part of this country's history, and providing registration and legal residence to hardworking, law-abiding individuals and families who have put down roots here is the only way to prevent exploitation, family separation, and the many other dangers immigrants face today. After months of the Trump administration's ineffective campaign of terror and failed policies, our bill puts forth common sense solutions that will help bolster our nation’s economic stability and provide opportunities for individuals and communities that help our nation thrive."

Click here for the full text of H.R. 4696, the registry bill.

Click here for a one-pager about H.R. 4696, the registry bill.

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