Sen. Kelly advocates for bipartisan immigration reform bill

Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly is advocating for bipartisan immigration reform and joined a group of lawmakers supporting the Dignity Act on Wednesday.

The bill is officially called Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream. It’s a revised version of similar legislation introduced in 2023.

The bill was introduced last year and would create a pathway for DREAMers to achieve legal status, while implementing stricter penalties for immigration law violations. It would create a 60-day period for determining if a migrant is eligible for asylum, and it would streamline court proceedings.

The bill prioritizes immigrants who’ve already been living in the United States for a certain time. It has 40 sponsors, who are a mix of Democrats and Republicans.

Kelly said under the current immigration system, law-abiding citizens are targeted unnecessarily.

“These folks are as American as my own two kids. In what world does it make sense to focus time and resources chasing down and holding people like them rather than chasing down criminals?” Kelly said.

The bill hasn’t gone to a committee vote yet, and is awaiting action in the House of Representatives. The bill hasn’t moved since last July.