U. S.
Senator Alex Padilla of California reintroduced legislation on July 27, 2026, to provide a pathway to lawful permanent residency for over eight million long-term immigrants, including H-1B visa holders facing decades-long backlogs.
The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 would amend Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, known as the Registry provision.
The bill proposes replacing the current fixed eligibility cutoff date of January 1, 1972, with a rolling seven-year continuous residency requirement.
If enacted, any immigrant without a criminal record who meets existing criteria could apply for a green card after residing in the United States for seven years.
The change would take effect 60 days after enactment.
According to Padilla's office, the fixed cutoff date has made the original 1929 provision obsolete, with only 305 individuals adjusting their status through it between 2015 and 2019.
The system last underwent revision under the Reagan administration in 1986.
The legislation specifically targets Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status recipients, essential workers, dependants of visa holders, and foreign professionals.
Indian nationals, who represent roughly 80 percent of the employment-based green card queue, face potential wait times stretching up to several decades due to a 7 percent annual per-country limit.
"A year ago, I introduced this bill to push back against the Trump administration's cruel treatment of hardworking immigrants," said Padilla.
The California lawmaker emphasized that federal immigration policies require modernization to support long-term residents living under ongoing uncertainty.
"Since then, President Trump's campaign of fear has only escalated, with families living under constant uncertainty despite having built their lives in this country.
Congress cannot continue to ignore millions of long-term residents who contribute to our economy and communities every day.
It's past time to modernise our immigration laws and create a fair pathway to lawful permanent residency," said Padilla.
The Senate legislation is co-led by Democratic Whip Dick Durbin along with 14 co-sponsors, including Senators Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren.
Representative Zoe Lofgren leads the companion measure in the House of Representatives.
More than 30 labor, immigration, and civil rights organizations—including the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, and the National Immigration Law Center—have endorsed the proposal.
