What is We Belong Here – Citizenship4ALL?

We Belong Here—a path to citizenship that would benefit millions of undocumented immigrant workers in the United States. This campaign seeks to renew the Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, also known as “The Registry,” which would stop detentions and deportations through adjustment of status..

For decades, legislation has been introduced to create new and winding paths to citizenship. If passed, the “Act to Renew the Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929” would update the current law, commonly known as the “Registration,” to renew a more direct path to permanent protection, allowing individuals to become eligible for legal permanent residence. The bill reforms the Registry to allow immigrants who have been present in the United States for “at least seven years” and meet other criteria to apply for a green card.

Why does the Registry need to be updated?

Currently, Section 249 (8 U.S.C. § 1259) of the Immigration and Nationality Act establishes a path to citizenship, stating that a person may apply to adjust their status to that of a lawful permanent resident if they meet the following criteria:
• Entered the U.S. before January 1, 1972 (commonly known as the “registration date”);
• Have resided here continuously since entry;
• Be of good moral character; and
• Not be ineligible for citizenship or deportable for national security or other specific reasons.

The Registry has been updated several times. The most significant update was the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986, which moved the cutoff date from June 30, 1948, to January 1, 1972. Without further updates, the Registry is now virtually obsolete. According to data from the American Community Survey (ACS), approximately 8 million immigrants could initially be eligible for lawful permanent status under this bill, and more immigrants would become eligible once they meet the seven-year residence requirement.