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The “Dignity” Bill under Scrutiny

THE LIBRE INITIATIVE | Daniel Garza. (Photo/El Comercio Colorado)

DANIEL GARZA, PRESIDENT OF THE LIBRE INITIATIVE, SPEAKS ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM.

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The “Dignity” bill has raised hopes for a possible bipartisan immigration reform in the United States. However, Daniel Garza, President of The Libre Initiative, expresses skepticism about the feasibility of a comprehensive reform bill. While he believes that progress can be made on certain elements of immigration reform, Garza does not think it is feasible to pass a comprehensive bill that encompasses all components.

Garza highlights that Republicans focus on strengthening the border, while Democrats prioritize legal pathways for immigrants. “In my opinion, the key to achieving some form of reform lies in finding a middle ground where both parties can agree on a proposal that includes elements from both stances. However, currently, the two political parties are holding onto their fixed positions and have not reached a consensus,” he said.

Regarding the “Dignity” bill, Garza mentions that they are working with Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Florida, who leads the initiative. “Congresswoman Salazar is gathering more co-sponsors for her idea. Veronica Escobar, a Democratic representative from Texas, has joined. The bipartisan effort is commendable. It is no small feat to achieve, as members of both parties are stubborn and unwilling to change their viewpoints,” Garza said.

Consensus on Dreamers

Garza acknowledges that he would like to see immigration reform but also emphasizes the need to be realistic. He points out that Democrats must move from their fixed position, and Republicans must do the same to reach an agreement in the middle. “There are two aspects that could have more viability to be approved. The first is fixing the situation of Dreamers. There are about 2 million young Dreamers in the country,” asserts the President of The Libre Initiative.

The second aspect Garza refers to is border strengthening. “Basic measures to strengthen the border could be approved, such as increasing border patrol and appointing new judges and courts to expedite the asylum process,” he said. Garza mentions that the “Border Solutions Act” proposed by Senators John Cornyn from Texas and Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona contains elements that can be incorporated into a new proposal.

Maximum Difficulty

Garza considers the possibility of addressing the legalization of 20 million undocumented people in the country to be very remote. “This aspect cannot be considered without a solid component to control the situation at the border,” he reiterates. The public should put pressure on their legislators to act now. Congress members need to be made aware that common sense dictates that if the situation at the border can be controlled while expanding legal pathways for migrants, Garza concluded.

About the “Dignity” Bill

The Dignity 2023 plan includes a pathway to legalization for undocumented individuals who have been in the United States for at least 5 years and have no criminal records. Eligible individuals will undergo a seven-year “redemption” process, after which they will be eligible to apply for citizenship through naturalization. María Elvira Salazar (R-Florida) and Verónica Escobar (D-Texas), both Hispanic representatives, introduced the bill.