Sponsors (15)
The bill swaps a fixed cutoff for a 7-year rolling eligibility window that helps many long-term residents apply but also risks making some previously eligible applicants ineligible and raises legal and administrative costs.
Immigrants who have been in the U.S. for at least 7 years gain a rolling eligibility window to apply under Section 1259, replacing a fixed cutoff date.
Immigrants who previously met the date-based cutoff but entered fewer than seven years before applying may become ineligible under the new 7-year rolling rule.
Immigrants and federal employees (including DOJ staff) may face higher legal and administrative costs because narrower eligibility could increase denial reviews and processing burdens.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Replaces a fixed entry-date cutoff for registry eligibility with a rolling rule requiring entry at least seven years before the application date.
Introduced July 28, 2025 by Alejandro Padilla · Last progress July 28, 2025
Changes the timing rule for the immigration "registry" benefit by replacing a fixed, historical entry cutoff with a rolling requirement that an applicant must have entered the United States at least seven years before the application date. The bill only amends the timing language in 8 U.S.C. § 1259(a), makes a minor header text change, contains no new funding or deadlines, and takes effect 60 days after enactment.