Glimmers of civil compromise in Congress
Among the many polarizing issues in the United States, illegal immigration ranks among the highest. The current administration鈥檚 measures have cut apprehensions and unlawful border crossings to their lowest point in decades. But its sweeping crackdown on unauthorized migrants, including cases of wrongful or mistaken detention and deportation, has severely divided the public 鈥� and elected representatives.
Still, a significant handful of congressional members is seeking to bridge this schism. And several others are pushing to expand the appeal of cooperation and compromise across party lines.
A coalition of 11 House Republicans and 12 Democrats has signed on to a bill, the Dignity Act of 2025, which reflects long negotiations and several compromises. The bill takes off the table citizenship for 聽people who have lived long in the U.S. illegally yet allows for legal residency after seven years, with related check-ins and fees. It also updates asylum, employment, and other legal immigration processes.
This style of bipartisanship received a boost in June. The House Civility and Respect Caucus proposed a resolution to allow two legislators from opposing parties to be sponsors of a bill. The current rule allows only one lawmaker.
While this change may seem minor, it can encourage willingness to work across party lines and signal seriousness of intent to voters back home. In 2014, the late Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana helped initiate the Bipartisan Index ranking for just such a purpose. This gauge, he wrote, measures legislators鈥� efforts 鈥渢o entertain a wider range of ideas, and to prioritize governance over posturing.鈥�
Research shows that inclusive alliances improve legislative effectiveness. A 2023 study analyzing more than 40 years of congressional data found that broader coalitions greatly improve prospects for passing legislation, a pattern that holds true whether it is initiated by majority or minority members.
In 鈥渁 political climate where bipartisanship and compromise seem like harmful traits,鈥� these findings 鈥減oint to the continued value of bipartisanship,鈥� study co-author Laurel Harbridge-Yong noted.
In the case of the current Dignity Act, there are both critics and supporters, and it鈥檚 not yet certain what will happen to it. But, said the American Immigration Council, 鈥淚t is a sign that bipartisan compromise is still alive among some factions of both parties.鈥�
鈥淲hether it becomes law or not,鈥� the council concluded, 鈥渋t鈥檚 worth highlighting the fact that there are still good-faith efforts to reach a compromise on a subject that desperately needs one.鈥�
