African Communities Together (ACT) opposes the recently reintroduced Dignity Act (H.R. 4393) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite recent revisions, the bill remains deeply flawed and poses serious risks to immigrant communities across the country.
The Dignity Act undermines protections and opportunities for immigrants in several critical ways:
- It implements a truncated asylum process at the southern border, limiting vulnerable populations' ability to seek protection in the U.S. and abandoning them in perilous situations.
- It expands criminal penalties for civil immigration violations, further criminalizing our immigration system by shifting away from civil procedures to punitive measures.
- It places the burden of paying $7,000 in restitution fees on immigrants seeking legal status, creating significant financial barriers for so many.
We believe that a more humane and comprehensive approach to immigration reform is not only possible- it’s necessary. We need a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, especially those, like TPS holders, whose lawful status is being stripped by this administration every day. We urge Members of Congress to consider the harmful impact of the Dignity Act and join us in opposing this bill.