Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act or as the DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act
This bill addresses immigration-related issues, such as requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume construction of barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border and providing removal deferral for eligible non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law).
For example, the bill
- requires DHS to resume all barrier construction activities along the southern border that were underway or being planned prior to January 20, 2021;
- authorizes DHS to request National Guard support to secure the southern border;
- requires the hiring of additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel;
- provides funding for border infrastructure and equipment;
- provides statutory authority for the Flores settlement, which established policies pertaining to the treatment of minors without lawful immigration status by DHS;
- requires employers to verify the immigration status of individuals using an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system;
- provides a path to permanent resident status to eligible individuals without lawful immigration status who entered the United States as minors (commonly referred to as Dreamers);
- establishes the Dignity Program, which defers the removal of eligible individuals without lawful immigration status who meet various requirements, including paying into a fund to provide training to U.S. workers;
- establishes the Redemption Program, which provides a path to permanent resident status to individuals who complete the Dignity Program and meet various requirements, including making additional payments into the U.S. worker fund; and
- requires the Department of State to implement a strategy to address the key factors contributing to individuals from Central America traveling to the United States.