Millions of undocumented immigrants gain path to permanent residency under new bill

What it does

This bill creates two pathways to permanent residency for certain undocumented immigrants: the American Dream Act allows DACA recipients and those who entered as minors to apply for conditional permanent residency (with a 10-year probationary period) if they meet education, military service, or work requirements; the American Promise Act allows TPS and DED holders to adjust directly to permanent residency. Both pathways include criminal and security bars, background checks, and application fees ($495–$1,140), with fee waivers for low-income and vulnerable applicants.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to create legal pathways to permanent residency for two categories of long-term undocumented residents (DACA-eligible and TPS/DED holders), with conditions and security requirements. This is substantive immigration policy reform, not a narrow carve-out or procedural measure.

What the text implies

• Section 105 repeals the 1996 ban on state in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants, potentially increasing higher-education access and cost to states but also expanding economic mobility for beneficiaries.
• Section 309 confidentiality provisions shield applicants from immigration enforcement referral based on application data, creating a firewall between benefit applications and deportation — a significant shift in how immigration data is handled.

The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.

Who stands to gain

nonprofit organizations (grant recipients under Section 310); legal service providers and immigration attorneys; educational institutions (increased enrollment from eligible aliens)