CONGRESSWOMAN MARÍA ELVIRA SALAZAR SPEAKS WITH POPE LEO XIV AT THE VATICAN ABOUT IMMIGRATION, PRESENTS DIGNITY ACT
VATICAN CITY — U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) spoke today with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where she raised the issue of immigration in the United States and personally presented the Holy Father with information about the DIGNITY Act (H.R. 4393), her bipartisan immigration reform legislation.
During the exchange, the Congresswoman spoke about the importance of finding a lasting solution to America’s immigration challenge and shared the DIGNITY Act as the work she is leading in Congress on the issue.
“It was a profound honor to speak with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV about immigration at such a consequential moment for our country,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “For decades, Washington has debated this issue while millions of families have continued to live with uncertainty. I was grateful for the opportunity to place the DIGNITY Act in the Holy Father’s hands and to share the work we are doing to find a lasting way forward.”
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born Pope, has made migration an important part of his public teaching, addressing both the responsibility of nations to govern their borders and the need to respect the dignity of migrants and families.
The DIGNITY Act is the only major bipartisan immigration reform proposal currently before Congress. It combines border security, mandatory E-Verify, and accountability measures with an earned legal status for qualifying long-term immigrants who meet strict requirements.
Immigration also has deep relevance for the Church in the United States. More than four in ten U.S. Catholics are immigrants or the children of immigrants, according to Pew Research Center. A 2025 report issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and evangelical partners found that roughly one in twelve American Christians is vulnerable to deportation or lives with someone who is.
The people at the center of America’s immigration debate are also, in significant numbers, the people sitting in its pews.
“A nation can defend its borders without closing its heart, Congresswoman Salazar said. “We can uphold the rule of law, demand responsibility, and protect our country while recognizing the inherent dignity of every person and the reality of families who have lived, worked, worshiped, and built their lives here for years. That is the principle at the heart of the DIGNITY Act.”
For the Congresswoman, the exchange also carried personal significance. As the daughter of Cuban exiles representing South Florida, immigration is both a national policy issue and part of the history of the community she serves.
The Vatican exchange brought the Congresswoman’s immigration reform effort into one of the world’s most consequential moral and faith-based conversations on migration, while underscoring her continued push for Congress to reach a durable solution.
Watch the video from Congresswoman Salazar’s visit to the Vatican in English HERE.
Vea el video de la visita de la congresista Salazar al Vaticano en español AQUÍ.
Growing Support for the DIGNITY Act
The DIGNITY Act (H.R. 4393) has continued to gain momentum in Congress and across the country, with support from 40 Members of Congress and more than 100 organizations and stakeholders representing business, agriculture, faith communities, veterans, employers, families, and immigration advocates.
Recent support includes the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, National Association of Manufacturers, National Restaurant Association, and leading scientific and research organizations, adding to a broad coalition backing congressional action on immigration reform.
The effort has also expanded beyond Capitol Hill through the National DIGNITY Coalition, nationwide events, policy forums, roundtables, and direct engagement with workers, employers, faith leaders, Dreamers, mixed-status families, and community organizations.
The DIGNITY Act has generated more than 250 national, state, and local media stories and mentions, as the proposal continues to gain visibility in the national immigration debate.
With its congressional coalition and national support continuing to grow, the effort is increasingly focused on translating that momentum into legislative action.
Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar represents Florida’s 27th Congressional District and serves as Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.