California senator Alex Padilla reintroduced his 2025 legislation demanding to make Green Card easier for foreign nationals. Those who have stayed in the US continuously for seven years and have no criminal record should get Green Cards, the bill said. But he was called a 'traitor' as he advocated for foreign nationals amid the present anti-immigration wave. "If you’ve built a life here, contributed to this country, and have no criminal record, you should have the chance to stay. It’s been one year since I introduced a bill to do just that," the Democratic leader said.
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"We’ve all witnessed the devastating consequences of Trump and Stephen Miller’s immigration policies — families separated, babies incarcerated, and so many lives lost. It’s why we need a better path forward instead of scapegoating and abusing hardworking immigrants," he said. Congress must act now to pass this simple update to a historically bipartisan provision in the law, he added.
What does this Green Card bill say?
- The bill proposes to replace a 1972 immigration cutoff with a rolling seven-year residency rule.
- The legislation, titled the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, would amend Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, commonly known as the Registry. Currently, the Registry allows the Homeland Security secretary to grant permanent residency to individuals who have lived in the country since a fixed cutoff date of 1 January 1972.
- Padilla's bill would replace that static date with a rolling seven-year continuous residency requirement, taking effect 60 days after enactment.
- Applicants would need a clean criminal record and must satisfy all existing Green Card eligibility criteria. The bill covers Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, essential workers, and children of long-term visa holders, in addition to skilled workers on employment-based visas.
- Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin is co-leading the bill alongside Senator Padilla, with 14 additional senators as co-sponsors.
