8 Million Immigrants Could Soon Qualify for Green Cards Under New US Bill

US Senator Alex Padilla from California has introduced a bill aiming to overhaul a key aspect of US immigration law, potentially providing a pathway to permanent residency for over eight million undocumented immigrants.

The proposal, known as the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, seeks to update the "Registry" statute, which has remained largely unchanged since 1986. The current law stipulates that immigrants must have continuously resided in the United States since before 1 January 1972, to be eligible for lawful permanent resident status through the Registry.

Senator Padilla’s bill proposes a rolling eligibility cutoff, permitting individuals who have lived in the country for at least seven years, maintain a clean criminal record, and meet other existing criteria to apply for a green card. This reform intends to obviate the need for future legislative updates and reflect the contemporary realities of long-term undocumented residents.

Co-sponsored by Senator Dick Durbin, with support in the House from Representative Zoe Lofgren, the bill is scheduled to be tabled in the Senate next week. The proposal arrives amidst increased immigration enforcement policies, which have drawn criticism.

Padilla’s office frames the bill as a “commonsense fix” to an outdated system, reminiscent of the bipartisan spirit of President Reagan’s 1986 immigration reform.
If enacted, the legislation is projected to benefit a broad range of immigrants, including Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, children of long-term visa holders, essential workers, and highly skilled professionals such as H-1B visa holders.

For foreign nationals who encounter extended wait times due to per-country caps on employment-based green cards, the bill could provide substantial relief. The bill faces significant challenges in a divided Congress, particularly with Republican control of both chambers.