Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a U.S. Representative from Florida’s 27th congressional district, used her Twitter account on April 9, 2026, to address misconceptions and provide details about the Dignity Act, legislation she supports.
In her first post at 14:44 UTC, Salazar wrote: “There’s a fundamental misconception about what “amnesty” really means. Amnesty is looking the other way: no consequences, no accountability, just more chaos. That’s the system we’ve had for decades. The Dignity Act ends it with enforcement, accountability, real penalties, and https://t.co/2SfE5msOPj”.
Later that day at 15:14 UTC, she expanded on enforcement provisions in the bill: “No it won’t. It actually locks in permanent enforcement measures (border security, mandatory E-verify, and ends catch and release for asylum seekers). None of these are currently codified in law, and until they are, they can keep being changed by the Executive. And therefore https://t.co/5nuGrqqgOY”.
Addressing concerns about criminal eligibility under the proposed legislation at 15:50 UTC, Salazar stated: “This is FALSE. No criminals or gang members are eligible under the bill, period. That includes domestic violence and all forms of trafficking. Moreover, the Dignity Act INCREASES the penalty for child sex trafficking, higher than any other proposed bill (Section 1305). It also https://t.co/ndgunPmfEF”.
The Dignity Act has been a subject of debate in recent years as lawmakers seek comprehensive immigration reform in the United States. The act proposes measures such as increased border security and mandatory use of E-Verify by employers to confirm work eligibility for new hires. Proponents argue that these steps would replace discretionary executive actions with permanent statutory requirements regarding border enforcement and employment verification.
Opponents have raised questions about whether such reforms constitute “amnesty,” a term often used to describe policies allowing undocumented immigrants to remain without significant penalties or legal consequences. Rep. Salazar’s comments reflect ongoing efforts by supporters to clarify distinctions between amnesty and legislative proposals like the Dignity Act that include penalties and enforcement mechanisms.