US senator proposes Green Card for immigrants after 7 years, faces 'traitor' accusations

California Senator Alex Padilla has reintroduced a bill that would grant Green Cards to immigrants who have resided in the U.S. for seven continuous years and have no criminal record. This legislation seeks to update the Registry, a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act established in 1972, by replacing the fixed date with a rolling seven-year residency requirement.

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If you’ve built a life here, contributed to this country, and have no criminal record, you should have the chance to stay. It’s been one year since I introduced a bill to do just that.

The bill, co-led by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, aims to provide a pathway to permanent residency for a range of individuals, including Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, essential workers, and skilled workers on employment-based visas. Padilla stated that individuals who have built a life in the U.S., contributed to the country, and maintained a clean criminal record should have the opportunity to stay.

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We’ve all witnessed the devastating consequences of Trump and Stephen Miller’s immigration policies, families separated, babies incarcerated, and so many lives lost. It’s why we need a better path forward instead of scapegoating and abusing hardworking immigrants.

"We’ve all witnessed the devastating consequences of Trump and Stephen Miller’s immigration policies, families separated, babies incarcerated, and so many lives lost. It’s why we need a better path forward instead of scapegoating and abusing hardworking immigrants," Padilla said, advocating for a more humane approach.

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Laws are already in place to come here legally. If you didn't, your a criminal. Padilla is a traitor to the constitution & taxpayers.

Despite the bill's intent to offer a more accessible immigration process, Padilla faced backlash online. Social media users criticized the proposal, with some calling the senator a 'traitor' for advocating for foreign nationals. Critics argued that existing laws provide legal avenues for immigration and that the bill could be exploited by those who entered the country illegally.

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Look, that was a horrible bill, that probably why you introduced it while the opposing party was in power. Someone, would just need to enter illegally and avoid getting in trouble for seven years.