Jim Oberweis (R), one of many Republican candidates vying for Representative Byron Donalds' (R-FL) 19th congressional district seat, shredded Representative Maria Elvira Salazar's (R-FL) DIGNIDAD Act in a recent statement, vowing to oppose any amnesty for illegal aliens if he is elected to Congress.
The Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream (DIGNIDAD) Act, introduced by Rep. Salazar in July 2025, seeks to overhaul U.S. immigration by increasing border security while providing a multi-year path to legal status for undocumented immigrants who arrived before 2021, which numerous Republicans argue is mass amnesty.
Oberweis is one of them, saying, "I am adamantly opposed to amnesty —de facto or otherwise— being part of any negotiation.[If] I am elected to Congress, I would stand firmly with the House Freedom Caucus in making sure no such concession finds its way into law. Amnesty called by another name is still amnesty."
Additionally, he declared the bill "an age-old Democrat negotiating tactic... moving the goalposts for political gain, while proposing a 'fix' that is worse than the problem they created in the first place."
"I have a better idea. How about if we stick with common-sense Republican policies, and start by obeying the law from the beginning?" Oberweis questioned.
The congressional candidate compared the DIGNIDAD Act to the mass amnesty deal under President Ronald Reagan, asking, "How many times will Republicans play the sucker?"
Oberweis concluded by saying that entering the country illegally means that "you have already forfeited your right to live in a nation built on equal rights under the law. Ours is a nation of laws, not of men," further chastising the name of the DIGNIDAD Act as unworthy, since it rewards lawbreakers.
"Why should American taxpayers foot the bill so that America's wealthiest can enjoy cheap labor?" Oberweis further questioned. "There is nothing fair or dignified about any of that."
There are many reasons to be currently upset: Corruption at every single level of government is at the top of the list. However, Salazar’s shrewd Dignidad Act is beyond shameful. As I said in another forum, this is an act of treason against the Republican party and everything that Pres. Trump is trying to improve in our country. Since when does breaking the law is dignified? Like millions of Americans before me, I am an immigrant who arrived in NY as a very young child. My family went about it the right way. After many years, I became a citizen. I owe much to this great country. I am part of this country! I vote, I paid taxes and I’m even a volunteer at the local voting poll station and trust me, I keep my eyes wide open to keep people from interfering in other’s voting decisions. I know of people who have been waiting more than 15 years for their immigration application to move through the slow bureaucratic process, their parents passed away and they could not be there to bid them farewell. So Salazar’s solution is to ignore those that have played by the rules and paid a heavy price (economic and emotional) and reward those who break the law? It is absurd! Those who are here illegally, have not been vetted, we don’t even know if their name is true, if they have a criminal history in their own country, if they have a trade or skill that we need or if they are the leeches that came to drain our social services and keep our vets and needy at bay. Shame on Maria Elvira Salazar. I hope voters will remember her “contribution” to legalizing crime at the upcoming elections. She needs to be replaced.