GOP Rep Teams Up with Democrat to Offer Legal Status to Illegal Aliens [WATCH]

Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) is under fire from conservatives after promoting her immigration reform legislation during a Fox News appearance, where she argued for providing legal status to millions of illegal immigrants who have lived in the United States for years.

Salazar, who represents a South Florida district with a significant Hispanic population, appeared on Fox to discuss what she called the need for a “national conversation” on immigration.

During the interview, she stated, “I believe that after the border has been sealed… the moment now is to have that national conversation and determine who are we going to be targeting.”

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She went on to say, “Now there is another mass of people—who most of them are Hispanics—who have been here for more than five years. They have been contributing to the economy, who do not have a criminal record… and for that reason, I’m introducing today… immigration reform.”

The bill in question is the Dignity Act of 2025, which Salazar is co-sponsoring with Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX).

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The legislation would establish a pathway to legal status—not citizenship—for illegal immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since before 2021.

To qualify, individuals must pass background checks, pay $7,000 in restitution, maintain a clean criminal record, and remain employed or otherwise in good legal standing.

Participants in the program would receive renewable work permits valid for up to seven years.

The bill also includes a 10-year “Dignity Program” that requires continued legal compliance and restitution payments.

Salazar has insisted that her bill does not constitute amnesty.

However, critics argue that the framework mirrors previous legislation widely viewed as amnesty, such as the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act signed by President Ronald Reagan—a measure that many Republicans now cite as a failed policy that encouraged future illegal immigration.

Conservatives have also expressed concern over Salazar’s collaboration with a Democrat co-sponsor and her departure from the hardline immigration enforcement policies promoted by President Donald Trump.

Trump made border security a central issue during his presidency, with an emphasis on reducing illegal crossings, building physical barriers, and increasing enforcement through ICE and Border Patrol operations.

Salazar, who has described herself as a “compassionate conservative,” has framed the Dignity Act as both a practical and humane solution for long-term undocumented immigrants who have lived and worked in the country without committing crimes.

Despite the inclusion of $150 billion in funding for border enforcement and technology upgrades within the bill, her proposal has drawn criticism from within her own party.

Many conservatives argue that any plan offering legal status to those who entered the country illegally undermines the legal immigration process and risks incentivizing future border violations.

In a previous statement, Salazar acknowledged concerns surrounding immigration enforcement but argued that the U.S. system must still provide due process.

“Arrests in immigration courts, including people with I-220A and pending asylum cases, the termination of the CHNV (Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan) program, which has left thousands exposed to deportation, and other similar measures, all jeopardize our duty to due process that every democracy must guarantee,” Salazar said.

Despite growing opposition from conservatives, the bill remains active and is expected to receive further debate in the House.

Salazar has not indicated any intention to withdraw or revise the legislation and continues to advocate for its passage as part of a broader immigration discussion.

The Dignity Act of 2025 will likely face additional scrutiny in committee and on the House floor as lawmakers weigh its potential impact on immigration policy, enforcement, and long-standing Republican priorities.