DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023

1/4/2025, 11:17 AM

Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act of 2023 or as the DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023

This bill addresses immigration-related issues, such as increasing hiring for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel and providing removal deferral for eligible non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law).

For example, the bill

  • requires the hiring of additional CBP personnel and authorizes recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses for CBP personnel;
  • provides funding for border infrastructure and equipment;
  • makes it a crime to transmit the location of law enforcement with the intent to violate immigration laws or certain other federal laws;
  • requires employers to verify the immigration status of individuals using an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system;
  • requires unaccompanied alien children to be processed and reunited with U.S.-based sponsors in accordance with the Flores settlement, which established policies pertaining to the treatment of minors without lawful immigration status;
  • 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;
  • 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; and
  • 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.
The DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023, also known as Bill 118 hr 3599, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to address issues related to the treatment of immigrants in detention facilities.

One key provision of the DIGNIDAD Act is the establishment of minimum standards for the treatment of individuals in immigration detention. This includes requirements for access to medical care, adequate nutrition, and humane living conditions. The bill also aims to improve oversight of detention facilities to ensure that these standards are being met.

Additionally, the DIGNIDAD Act seeks to address the issue of family separation at the border. The bill includes provisions to reunite families that have been separated and to prevent future separations from occurring. It also calls for increased resources to support the mental health and well-being of individuals who have experienced family separation. Another important aspect of the DIGNIDAD Act is its focus on improving access to legal representation for individuals in immigration proceedings. The bill includes funding for legal services for immigrants who are detained or facing deportation, as well as measures to ensure that individuals are informed of their rights and have access to legal counsel. Overall, the DIGNIDAD Act of 2023 aims to promote dignity and humane treatment for immigrants in detention, address the issue of family separation, and improve access to legal representation. It is currently being debated in Congress, with supporters arguing that it is necessary to protect the rights and well-being of immigrants, while opponents raise concerns about the potential costs and logistical challenges of implementing the bill.
Congress
118

Number
HR - 3599

Introduced on
2023-05-23

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

5/23/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act of 2023 or as the DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023

This bill addresses immigration-related issues, such as increasing hiring for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel and providing removal deferral for eligible non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law).

For example, the bill

  • requires the hiring of additional CBP personnel and authorizes recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses for CBP personnel;
  • provides funding for border infrastructure and equipment;
  • makes it a crime to transmit the location of law enforcement with the intent to violate immigration laws or certain other federal laws;
  • requires employers to verify the immigration status of individuals using an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system;
  • requires unaccompanied alien children to be processed and reunited with U.S.-based sponsors in accordance with the Flores settlement, which established policies pertaining to the treatment of minors without lawful immigration status;
  • 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;
  • 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; and
  • 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.
The DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023, also known as Bill 118 hr 3599, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to address issues related to the treatment of immigrants in detention facilities.

One key provision of the DIGNIDAD Act is the establishment of minimum standards for the treatment of individuals in immigration detention. This includes requirements for access to medical care, adequate nutrition, and humane living conditions. The bill also aims to improve oversight of detention facilities to ensure that these standards are being met.

Additionally, the DIGNIDAD Act seeks to address the issue of family separation at the border. The bill includes provisions to reunite families that have been separated and to prevent future separations from occurring. It also calls for increased resources to support the mental health and well-being of individuals who have experienced family separation. Another important aspect of the DIGNIDAD Act is its focus on improving access to legal representation for individuals in immigration proceedings. The bill includes funding for legal services for immigrants who are detained or facing deportation, as well as measures to ensure that individuals are informed of their rights and have access to legal counsel. Overall, the DIGNIDAD Act of 2023 aims to promote dignity and humane treatment for immigrants in detention, address the issue of family separation, and improve access to legal representation. It is currently being debated in Congress, with supporters arguing that it is necessary to protect the rights and well-being of immigrants, while opponents raise concerns about the potential costs and logistical challenges of implementing the bill.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo reform the immigration laws.

Policy Areas
Immigration

Potential Impact
Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Adoption and foster care
Advisory bodies
Agricultural trade
Appropriations
Assault and harassment offenses
Aviation and airports
Border security and unlawful immigration
Canada
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Census and government statistics
Child safety and welfare
Citizenship and naturalization
Civics education
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Justice
Detention of persons
Disability and paralysis
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
El Salvador
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Family relationships
Federal preemption
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign labor
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Forests, forestry, trees
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Genetics
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Guatemala
Health information and medical records
Higher education
Honduras
Horticulture and plants
Housing industry and standards
Human rights
Human trafficking
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Infrastructure development
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Intergovernmental relations
Internet, web applications, social media
Judicial procedure and administration
Judicial review and appeals
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Labor standards
Lakes and rivers
Land use and conservation
Latin America
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Lawyers and legal services
Licensing and registrations
Mammals
Marine and inland water transportation
Mexico
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Military personnel and dependents
Motor vehicles
Multilateral development programs
National Guard and reserves
News media and reporting
Organized crime
Performance measurement
Personnel records
Photography and imaging
Political parties and affiliation
Protest and dissent
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Radio spectrum allocation
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Right of privacy
Roads and highways
Rule of law and government transparency
Separation, divorce, custody, support
Service animals
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Small business
Smuggling and trafficking
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Student records
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Telephone and wireless communication
Temporary and part-time employment
Terrorism
Transportation costs
Travel and tourism
User charges and fees
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Violent crime
Visas and passports
Vocational and technical education
Wages and earnings

Comments

APPROVED
CD
Crue Denton
@celery_kiwi_fruit_chili_powder95685
So, what's the deal with this DIGNIDAD Act? Will it really help us out or just make things worse? #confused #needmoreinfo

APPROVED
MR
Manuel Richmond
@powderdouce_wasabi_hardtack52252
I don't like this bill, it's gonna mess things up for me and my family. #notcool

Recent Activity

Latest Summary10/16/2023

Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act of 2023 or as the DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023

This bill addresses immigration-related issues, such as increasing hirin...


Latest Action12/17/2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.