Senator Padilla Reintroduces Rolling Registry Bill to Unlock 8 Million Green Cards
Senator Alex Padilla has revived legislation targeting the 1929 Immigration Act to provide a pathway for long-term residents. The bill seeks to replace the static 1972 cutoff date with a seven-year rolling eligibility window.
Legislative Shift Toward a Rolling Eligibility Model
California Senator Alex Padilla reiterated his commitment on July 27, 2026, to the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929. This legislation aims to dismantle a decades-old bottleneck by amending Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, frequently referred to as the Registry provision. While current law only permits those who arrived before January 1, 1972, to seek permanent residency, Padilla’s proposal introduces a rolling seven-year requirement. This change would eliminate the necessity for recurring congressional updates to entry cutoff dates.
Addressing the Status of Eight Million Residents
The proposed bill targets a broad demographic of roughly eight million individuals currently integrated into American society but lacking permanent legal status. This includes:
- H-1B visa holders and highly skilled professionals trapped in decades-long backlogs.
- Dreamers and individuals under Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
- Children of long-term visa holders and essential workers.
Padilla framed the move as a direct response to what he described as a campaign of fear and systemic attacks by President Donald Trump against immigrant communities. The Senator emphasized that families are living under a cloud of uncertainty despite their economic and social contributions to the country.
Statistics Highlight a Broken System
Data provided by the Senator’s office underscores the obsolescence of the current 1972 cutoff. Between 2015 and 2019, only 305 individuals successfully adjusted their status via the existing Registry provision. The stagnation of the system particularly impacts Indian nationals who represent approximately 80% of the employment-based green card backlog. Under the current 7% per-country visa cap, these professionals often face wait times spanning several decades.
Political Support and Legislative Path
The bill is co-led by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and has secured the backing of more than 30 professional and advocacy organizations. Co-sponsors include Senators Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Adam Schiff, and others. If passed, the legislation would modernize a framework that was last updated during the Reagan administration in 1986, providing a procedural fix for a system Padilla labels as outdated and cruel.
Source: The Hindu — World
