[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4393 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4393
To secure the border and reform the immigration laws.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 15, 2025
Ms. Salazar (for herself, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Espaillat, Mr.
Valadao, Ms. Scholten, Mr. Newhouse, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Kelly of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Gray, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Evans of
Colorado, Mr. Levin, Mr. Stutzman, Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Bacon, Ms.
Gillen, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Auchincloss, Mr. Diaz-Balart, and Mrs. Trahan)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security,
Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and
Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Armed Services, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To secure the border and reform the immigration laws.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Dignity for
Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American
Dream Act of 2025'' or as the ``DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
DIVISION A--BORDER SECURITY FOR AMERICA
TITLE I--BORDER SECURITY
Sec. 1111. Strengthening the requirements for barriers along the
southern border.
Sec. 1112. Air and Marine Operations flight hours.
Sec. 1113. Landowner and rancher security enhancement.
Sec. 1114. Southern border threat analysis, Border Patrol strategic
plan, and Northern Border Threat Analysis.
Sec. 1115. Agent and officer technology use.
Sec. 1116. Report on standards and guidelines for managing ports of
entry under the control of the department
of homeland security.
Sec. 1117. Stakeholder and community engagement.
Sec. 1118. Training for officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection.
Sec. 1119. U.S. border patrol processing coordinator positions.
Sec. 1120. Establishment of higher minimum rates of pay for United
States border patrol agents.
Sec. 1121. Body Worn Camera Pilot Program Authorization.
Sec. 1122. Protecting sensitive locations.
TITLE II--BORDER AND PORTS OF ENTRY INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING
Sec. 1201. Ports of entry infrastructure.
Sec. 1202. Sense of Congress on cooperation between agencies.
Sec. 1203. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 1204. Funding matters.
TITLE III--CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS
Sec. 1301. Illicit spotting.
Sec. 1302. Unlawfully hindering immigration, border, and customs
controls.
Sec. 1303. Report on smuggling.
Sec. 1304. Illegal reentry.
Sec. 1305. Mandatory minimum penalty for child sex trafficking.
Sec. 1306. Visa ineligibility for spouses and children of drug
traffickers.
Sec. 1307. DNA testing and collection consistent with Federal law.
Sec. 1308. Increased penalty for voting by aliens.
TITLE IV--MANDATORY E-VERIFY
Sec. 1401. Short title.
Sec. 1402. Employment eligibility verification process.
Sec. 1403. Employment eligibility verification system.
Sec. 1404. Recruitment, referral, and continuation of employment.
Sec. 1405. Good faith defense.
Sec. 1406. Preemption and States' Rights.
Sec. 1407. Repeal.
Sec. 1408. Penalties.
Sec. 1409. Fraud and misuse of documents.
Sec. 1410. Protection of Social Security Administration programs.
Sec. 1411. Fraud prevention.
Sec. 1412. Use of Employment Eligibility Verification Photo Tool.
Sec. 1413. Identity authentication employment eligibility verification
pilot programs.
Sec. 1414. Inspector General audits.
TITLE V--ASYLUM REFORM
Sec. 1501. Humanitarian campuses.
Sec. 1502. Expedited Asylum Determinations.
Sec. 1503. Screening and processing in Western hemisphere.
Sec. 1504. Recording expedited removal and credible fear interviews.
Sec. 1505. Renunciation of asylum status pursuant to return to home
country.
Sec. 1506. Notice concerning frivolous asylum applications.
Sec. 1507. Anti-fraud investigative work product.
Sec. 1508. Penalties for asylum fraud.
Sec. 1509. Statute of limitations for asylum fraud.
Sec. 1510. Standard operating procedures; facilities standards.
Sec. 1511. Criminal background checks for sponsors of unaccompanied
alien children.
Sec. 1512. Fraud in connection with the transfer of custody of
unaccompanied alien children.
Sec. 1513. Hiring authority.
Sec. 1514. Humanitarian status.
Sec. 1515. Two strike policy.
Sec. 1516. Loan forgiveness for legal service providers at humanitarian
campuses.
DIVISION B--DIGNITY AND AMERICAN DREAM
TITLE I--DREAM ACT
Sec. 2101. Short title.
Sec. 2102. Permanent resident status on a conditional basis for certain
long-term residents who entered the United
States as children.
Sec. 2103. Terms of permanent resident status on a conditional basis.
Sec. 2104. Removal of conditional basis of permanent resident status.
TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 2201. Definitions.
Sec. 2202. Submission of biometric and biographic data; background
checks.
Sec. 2203. Limitation on removal and other conditions on eligible
individuals.
Sec. 2204. Determination of continuous presence and residence.
Sec. 2205. Exemption from numerical limitations.
Sec. 2206. Availability of administrative and judicial review.
Sec. 2207. Documentation requirements.
Sec. 2208. Confidentiality of information.
Sec. 2209. Provisions affecting eligibility for adjustment of status.
TITLE III--DIGNITY PROGRAM
Sec. 2301. Establishment.
Sec. 2302. Eligibility.
Sec. 2303. Registration; departure.
Sec. 2304. Program participation.
Sec. 2305. Completion.
TITLE IV--CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICAN WORKERS
Sec. 2401. Purpose.
Sec. 2402. Availability of funds.
Sec. 2403. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 2404. Definitions.
Sec. 2405. Allotments to States.
Sec. 2406. Grants to partnerships.
Sec. 2407. Use of funds.
Sec. 2408. Performance and accountability.
Sec. 2409. Grants for access to high-demand careers.
DIVISION C--AMERICAN PROSPERITY AND COMPETITIVENESS
Sec. 3101. Short title.
TITLE I--AMERICAN FAMILIES UNITED
Sec. 3111. Rule of construction.
Sec. 3112. Discretionary authority with respect to family members of
United States citizens.
Sec. 3113. Motions to reopen or reconsider.
Sec. 3114. Temporary family visitation.
Sec. 3115. Military Naturalization Modernization.
TITLE II--FAIRNESS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Sec. 3201. Reduction of backlogs.
Sec. 3202. Per-country caps raised.
Sec. 3203. Protecting the status of children affected by delays in visa
availability.
TITLE III--EMPLOYMENT AND STUDENT VISAS
Sec. 3301. Spouses and minor children of workers.
Sec. 3302. Wages received by nonresident alien individuals during
optional practical training subject to
social security taxes.
Sec. 3303. Individuals with doctoral degrees in STEM fields recognized
as individuals having extraordinary
ability.
Sec. 3304. Modernizing Visas for Students.
Sec. 3305. Resources for Visa Processing.
DIVISION A--BORDER SECURITY FOR AMERICA
TITLE I--BORDER SECURITY
SEC. 1111. STRENGTHENING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BARRIERS ALONG THE
SOUTHERN BORDER.
Section 102 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 (Division C of Public Law 104-208; 8 U.S.C.
1103 note) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take
such actions as may be necessary (including the removal of obstacles to
detection of illegal entrants) to design, test, construct, install,
deploy, integrate, and operate physical barriers, tactical
infrastructure, and technology in the vicinity of the United States
border to achieve situational awareness and operational advantage of
the border and deter, impede, and detect illegal activity in high
traffic areas.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Fencing and Road Improvements'' and inserting
``Physical Barriers'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``subsection (a)''
and inserting ``this section'';
(II) by striking ``roads, lighting,
cameras, and sensors'' and inserting
``tactical infrastructure, and
technology''; and
(III) by striking ``gain'' and
inserting ``achieve situational
awareness and'';
(ii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read
as follows:
``(B) Physical barriers and tactical
infrastructure.--The Secretary, in carrying out this
section, shall deploy along the United States border
the most practical and effective physical barriers and
tactical infrastructure available for achieving
situational awareness and operational advantage of the
border.'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) by amending clause (i) to read
as follows:
``(i) In general.--In carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall consult with
appropriate Federal agency partners,
appropriate representatives of Federal, State,
Tribal, and local governments, and appropriate
private property owners in the United States to
minimize the impact on the environment,
culture, commerce, and quality of life for the
communities and residents located near the
sites at which such physical barriers are to be
constructed.''; and
(II) in clause (ii)--
(aa) in subclause (I), by
striking ``or'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(bb) by amending subclause
(II) to read as follows:
``(II) delay the transfer to the
United States of the possession of
property or affect the validity of any
property acquisition by the United
States by purchase or eminent domain,
or to otherwise affect the eminent
domain laws of the United States or of
any State; or''; and
(cc) by adding at the end
the following new subclause:
``(III) create any right or
liability for any party.''; and
(iv) by striking subparagraph (D);
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``Attorney General'' and
inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security'';
(ii) by striking ``this subsection'' and
inserting ``this section''; and
(iii) by striking ``construction of
fences'' and inserting ``the construction of
physical barriers'';
(D) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Agent safety.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, when designing, constructing,
and deploying physical barriers, tactical infrastructure, or
technology, shall incorporate such safety features into such
design, construction, or deployment of such physical barriers,
tactical infrastructure, or technology, as the case may be,
that the Secretary determines are necessary to maximize the
safety and effectiveness of officers or agents of the
Department of Homeland Security or of any other Federal agency
deployed in the vicinity of such physical barriers, tactical
infrastructure, or technology.''; and
(E) in paragraph (4), by striking ``this
subsection'' and inserting ``this section'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the
authority to waive all legal requirements the Secretary
determines necessary to ensure the expeditious design, testing,
construction, installation, deployment, and integration of the
physical barriers, tactical infrastructure, and technology
under this section. Such waiver authority shall also apply with
respect to any maintenance carried out on such physical
barriers, tactical infrastructure, or technology. Any such
decision by the Secretary shall be effective upon publication
in the Federal Register.'';
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph
(3); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following
new paragraph:
``(2) Notification.--Not later than 7 days after the date
on which the Secretary of Homeland Security exercises the
waiver authority under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
notify the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate of such waiver.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(e) Technology.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in carrying
out this section, shall deploy along the United States border the most
practical and effective technology available for achieving situational
awareness and operational advantage of the border.
``(f) Prioritization.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
carrying out this section, should prioritize deploying technology along
the United States border.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Advanced unattended surveillance sensors.--The term
`advanced unattended surveillance sensors' means sensors that
utilize an onboard computer to analyze detections in an effort
to discern between vehicles, humans, and animals, and
ultimately filter false positives prior to transmission.
``(2) High traffic areas.--The term `high traffic areas'
means areas in the vicinity of the United States border that--
``(A) are within the responsibility of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection; and
``(B) have significant unlawful cross-border
activity, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland
Security.
``(3) Operational advantage.--The term `operational
advantage' has the meaning given such term in the 2022-2026
U.S. Border Patrol Strategy (CBP Publication No. 1678-0222).
``(4) Physical barriers.--The term `physical barriers'
includes reinforced fencing, border barrier system, and levees.
``(5) Situational awareness.--The term `situational
awareness' has the meaning given such term in section
1092(a)(7) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328; 6 U.S.C. 223(a)(7)).
``(6) Tactical infrastructure.--The term `tactical
infrastructure' includes boat ramps, access gates, checkpoints,
lighting, and roads.
``(7) Technology.--The term `technology' includes border
surveillance and detection technology, including the following:
``(A) Tower-based surveillance technology,
including autonomous technologies.
``(B) Deployable, lighter-than-air ground
surveillance equipment.
``(C) Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radars
(VADER).
``(D) 3-dimensional, seismic acoustic detection and
ranging border tunneling detection technology.
``(E) Advanced unattended surveillance sensors.
``(F) Mobile vehicle-mounted and man-portable
surveillance capabilities.
``(G) Unmanned aircraft systems.
``(H) Other border detection, communication, and
surveillance technology.
``(8) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term `unmanned
aircraft system' has the meaning given such term in section
44801 of title 49, United States Code.''.
SEC. 1112. AIR AND MARINE OPERATIONS FLIGHT HOURS.
(a) Air and Marine Operations Flight Hours.--The Secretary shall
ensure that not fewer than 95,000 annual flight hours are carried out
by Air and Marine Operations of CBP.
(b) Unmanned Aircraft Systems.--The Secretary, after coordination
with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall
ensure that Air and Marine Operations operate unmanned aircraft systems
on the southern border of the United States for not less than 24 hours
per day for 7 days per week.
(c) Primary Missions.--The Commissioner shall ensure that--
(1) the primary missions for Air and Marine Operations are
to directly support--
(A) U.S. Border Patrol activities along the borders
of the United States; and
(B) Joint Interagency Task Force South operations