Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) defended allowing millions of illegal aliens without criminal records to remain in the United States while promoting her proposed Dignidad Act Monday, arguing their economic contributions are important to the nation’s economy and military strength.
“We are talking about millions and millions of undocumented people who belong to my Hispanic community,” she said. “So why don’t we give them dignity and let those who do not have a criminal record stay and continue contributing to the economy?”
She also stated, “Let them stay. Let them continue contributing to the number one economy in the world, so we can continue being the number one military in the world. If we don’t have the economy, we don’t have the guns, and we cannot defend ourselves.”
Salazar’s legislation, known as the “Dignity Act,” would provide a pathway to legal status for millions of illegal aliens while pairing that process with additional border security measures.
The proposal is intended to address the status of long-term illegal aliens who meet eligibility requirements while maintaining enforcement provisions.
Supporters have argued it could help employers fill persistent workforce shortages, while opponents have argued it could encourage additional illegal immigration and expand the low-wage labor force.
The Florida lawmaker has repeatedly defended the measure by pointing to labor shortages in industries including agriculture, construction, hospitality, manufacturing, health care, and dairy farming.
During a Capitol Hill press conference in April, she cited roughly 150,000 unfilled agricultural jobs and noted that the National Association of Manufacturers publicly endorsed the legislation.
Salazar argued that businesses across multiple sectors depend on workers to fill positions that employers say have remained difficult to staff, according to Breitbart.
Her latest remarks also renewed debate over the role immigration plays in the U.S. economy.
Critics argued that expanding legal status for millions of illegal aliens would increase the supply of low-wage workers while questioning whether large-scale immigration strengthens the nation’s long-term economic and national security interests.
Breitbart highlighted previous comments from conservative commentator Bill Kristol supporting continued immigration, as well as remarks from Katie Smith Sloan, chief executive of LeadingAge, who said immigrant workers remain important to staffing eldercare facilities.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have promoted a different approach to immigration and labor policy.
Both have argued that reducing reliance on low-wage migrant labor would strengthen wages and bargaining power for American workers.
Vance recently said corporations should not depend on low-wage migrants to compete against U.S. workers, adding that policies encouraging offshoring and inexpensive labor weakened domestic industries.
He said a more restrictive immigration policy would give American workers greater leverage in the labor market.
The debate over Salazar’s proposal reflects a broader divide in Congress over immigration policy.
Republican leaders aligned with President Trump have largely emphasized stricter border enforcement, increased deportations, and limiting incentives for illegal immigration.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers, including Salazar, have argued that long-term undocumented immigrants without criminal records should have an opportunity to earn legal status while addressing labor shortages in key industries.
The competing approaches continue to shape negotiations over immigration legislation and border security.
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