By Daniela Rosales 

The Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas has 65,000 seats. That’s almost enough space for the 65,765 individuals reported to be held in United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers as of July 2026. Almost, but not enough. 

The numbers keep growing, but Congress hasn’t passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill since 1986. The DIGNITY Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393) could change this. Introduced by United States Representatives Maria Elvira Salaazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX), the bill would provide undocumented immigrants with dignity in the form of long-term legal status, protection from deportation and the ability to work and travel outside the U.S. It must be passed. 

In the 40 years since the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was signed into law, numerous election campaigns have promised the American people a solution. In an interview with PBS news, former President Joe Biden stated: “Within 100 days, I’m going to send to the United States Congress a pathway to citizenship for over 11 million undocumented people.” Likewise, former President Barack Obama said during his tenure that he was “confident” that immigration reform would pass.  

These promises have proved empty, leaving communities torn apart and America’s immigrants living in fear for their future in the country they call home. With bipartisan Congressional support from 19 Republicans and 20 Democrats, the DIGNITY Act offers a chance to ease that fear. It is clear that this is an issue that elected officials are willing to work across the aisle for.

Some say that the bill would be ineffective because it doesn’t tackle citizenship, but that doesn’t mean that the compromise it offers can’t move things in the right direction. The bill would allow undocumented Americans to stop hiding in fear and live their lives. It would pay respect to a group of people who have contributed trillions of dollars in tax revenue to the U.S. economy and have taken far less in welfare. 

Immigrants are the backbone of the United States of America. By passing legislation like the DIGNITY Act, we can actually make America great.