Republican New York Rep. Mike Lawler is attempting to resurrect an amnesty plan that was shut down before it could even take off.
Lawler pushed for a mass amnesty plan for illegal immigrants through The Dignity Act in an interview Sunday on Fox New’s One Nation with Brian Kilmeade.
Sponsored by Republican Florida Rep. Maria Salazar and reintroduced in July 2025, the bill is marketed as a comprehensive immigration plan that seeks to end illegal immigration, reform the asylum system, provide a dignified solution for long-term undocumented residents, protect American workers, support key industries, and keep the U.S. prosperous and competitive. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: ‘Do Not Come Back’ — Rep. Brad Knott’s Bill Sends Stark Warning To Criminal Illegals)
During the interview, Lawler claimed the bill has “broad bipartisan support. In fact, this Congress we have added significantly more co-sponsors than last, because I think folks do recognize that we have a problem.” He argued that the U.S. immigration system has been outdated for decades and needs a major overhaul.
“President Trump was right to focus on securing the border, and he has effectively done that,” Lawler added, citing nine straight months of net border crossings and emphasizing that Trump was right to prioritize the deportation of criminal aliens.
“The next step is to actually fix the broken system,” he said, calling the bill “common sense.”
“If you’ve been here more than five years — so not the people who came under Joe Biden’s disastrous administration, but the people who have been in this country 5, 10, 15, 20 years, whose children and grandchildren may in fact be American citizens — they would qualify if they haven’t committed a crime, they paid back taxes, they pay a fine, they have a job, and they do not collect government benefits,” he continued. “They would qualify for legal status, not citizenship; they would be precluded from citizenship.”
MAGA Amnesty Incoming?
AIPAC-funded GOP Rep. Mike Lawler is pushing for a mass amnesty plan for illegal immigrants through his bill, “The Dignity Act.”
He says it has “broad bipartisan support.”
“If you’ve been here more than 5 years—so not the people who came under Joe… pic.twitter.com/RQhj2urCLs
— Chris Menahan 🇺🇸 (@infolibnews) April 6, 2026
Lawler went on to say it would “get people out of the shadows.”
The White House did not directly address the Dignity Act, but reiterated that President Donald Trump “will not support amnesty,” according to a Washington Examiner report in July.
Lawler further noted he wants to end sanctuary city policies, adding that having a “comprehensive approach is the best way to do that.” He said such an approach would force Democrats’ hand in ending sanctuary cities, deporting criminal illegal aliens, securing the southern border, and further fixing the system.
The bill, which has received bipartisan support from Democrats and 18 U.S. representatives, has drawn criticism from the right, including TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, who posted a warning about the legislation on X before his death in September.
🚨WARNING — There are a handful of Republicans in Congress pushing the so-called “Dignity Act of 2025” which would shield illegals from deportation if they’ve been in the US since before 2021.
Here’s the trick: We do NOT know when many, or perhaps most, illegals entered the US.… pic.twitter.com/runS7OjYMw
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 17, 2025
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was noncommittal when asked in July 2025 whether Trump would veto the bill. (RELATED: Leavitt Suggests Trump Would Veto GOP-Led Amnesty Bill)
“From my understanding, the White House nor the president has actually read through this legislation,” Leavitt said, adding that Trump was busy with other bills such as the GENIUS Act and the rescissions legislation. “But the president has made it very clear he will not support amnesty for illegal aliens in any way.”
🚨 Daily Caller White House correspondent @reaganreese_: “Rep. Maria Salazar introduced legislation that would give some illegal immigrants in the country a path to citizenship. What is the White House’s position on this legislation?”
LEAVITT: “The president has made it very… pic.twitter.com/o9EnE8G4KN
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 17, 2025
Leavitt reiterated the point when asked about the bill a second time, a few minutes later.
The Daily Caller reached out to all 18 U.S. representatives who have co-sponsored the bill, including Republicans Don Bacon of Nebraska and Monica De La Cruz of Texas.
The Caller was referred by Bacon’s office to a July 2025 press release, which he wrote, “fortifies border protections, ends all catch and release and solves illegal immigration once and for all. It also provides smart reforms to our asylum and broken immigration system, and provides the American workforce with stability.”
He added that individuals who entered the country illegally but have been contributing positively — working and abiding by the law — would be allowed to remain and continue supporting the economy, though they would pay a fine and remain ineligible for citizenship. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Immigration Chief Reveals How Amnesty Program For Kids Has Been Exploited By Criminal Adults For Years)
The Caller was referred to a March X post by De La Cruz, which included a photo of the congresswoman speaking at a “Dignity Coalition” press conference outside the Capitol.
“We have a secure border and a unique opportunity to deliver real, common-sense solutions,” she wrote. “The Dignity Act is a bipartisan effort to fix our laws, strengthen our workforce, and restore the American Dream with dignity. This is our moment to come together and finally get it done.”
The other 16 representatives, including Lawler, did not respond for comment prior to publication.
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