Senator Alex Padilla proposes to reopen lawful path to legalization

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (CA) announced on Friday legislation to expand a pathway to lawful permanent residency for millions of undocumented immigrants through an existing law.

He proposes to amend the existing Registry statute of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1929, which would move the eligibility cutoff date. This means an immigrant may qualify for lawful permanent resident status if they have been in the U.S. for at least seven years and meet certain requirements.

Padilla said this is an existing bill that is simple and common sense without new bureaucracy or agency, just a date change to existing law to better reflect the current reality. 

“It can help fix our broken immigration system and the same kind of way that Republican President Ronald Reagan did many years ago, and the way he described it: ‘It was a matter of basic fairness,’” said Padilla during a press conference in Los Angeles. 

The current Registry gives the Secretary of Homeland Security the discretion to register certain individuals for lawful permanent resident status if they have been in the country for more than five decades and meet certain requirements.

Padilla proposes to update Section 249, which was first codified in 1929, and Congress has modified it four times. The last time was during the Reagan Administration in 1986. However, the current cutoff date for eligibility remains January 1, 1972.

“We are united in the belief that if you’ve lived here for seven years or more, contributed to the community for years, and you don’t have a criminal record, then yes, you deserve a pathway to legalization,” said Padilla. 

Millions benefited 

Angelica Salas, CHIRLA’s executive director, said if the bill passes it will immediately benefit eight million people .

She said the bill would also allow for a regular update where people will never have to wait another four decades. She said it is better to update the law so the nearly 13 million undocumented immigrants can come out of the shadows instead of seeing them pummeled to the ground and treated less than human by immigration enforecment. 

Padilla said he is very aware that President Donald Trump is in office and the Republican majority is in both chambers in Congress, but he also believes this is the time, after what the whole country has seen happening against immigrants.

“The polls have shown us what we believed all along. The American people disagree with what's happening. The American people believe in better treatment, respect and opportunities for legalization for immigrants,” said Padilla. “To the point where even Republicans in Congress have started to speak publicly and change their tune.” 

Hopeful for the future

Dozens of supporters and community members arrived to provide support Padilla. They said despite the current immigration raids and fear that Trump is causing in the immigrant community they continue fighting. 

Community activist Yajaira Valdovinos said she has never lost hope and she hopes this time they become more united and with the representation of Padilla they can make their voices heard and pass this legislation. 

“I live in a mixed family where some can vote, others can’t. Unfortunately I can’t vote but I’m fighting to help benefit those who can. We have to fight for those before us and those coming after us,” she said.

Another Los Angeles resident, Patricia Salazar, said it is great news to hear eight million people could benefit.

“They have been talking about this Registry change for more than two years, but now the administration has changed it for people to self-deport and we don’t want that,” she said. “It would help a lot of people who have been here for decades and would help newer immigrants to behave so they can make their time for when their time comes.”

Padilla said he will present the bill formally on Monday. He will need 60 votes to get it to the floor, then have approval of both chambers, plus the signature of President Trump. 

Padilla said it doesn’t matter if it’s a Republican president who signs this bill, as long as there is relief for millions of immigrants who contribute positively to the country.