Florida Congresswoman Seeks Papal Support for Controversial Labor Bill
Rep. Maria Salazar, a Republican from Florida, is reaching out to the Pope for backing on a contentious low-wage labor legislation known as the Dignidad Act. This bill could establish a two-tier society, segregating nationals from low-wage immigrant workers.
Salazar promoted a public meeting on her X account, using Spanish and providing a translation of the conversation details.
Today, I had the privilege of discussing immigration with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, which is one of the pressing issues our country faces. I entrusted the “DIGNITY Act” into his hands.
It’s worth noting that over 40% of Catholics in the U.S. are either immigrants or children of immigrants. The families we discuss in Washington mirror those attending church alongside you.
America can secure its borders without close-mindedness. From Miami to Congress and the Vatican, I will persist in finding a solution to our immigration challenge.
There’s no clear evidence that the Pope endorses legislation focused on creating a two-tier labor system backed by investors, yet he hasn’t explicitly opposed U.S. economic policies that attract immigrants from impoverished nations, often relegating them to a second-class status.
Pope Leo emphasized on June 8 in Spain that migration brings a dual demand for social justice: ensuring safe pathways for migrants and providing a respectful welcome, while also promoting the right for individuals to remain in their home countries. However, he didn’t clarify how to reconcile these potentially conflicting objectives.
However, Salazar’s proposal appears primarily aimed at bringing in inexpensive labor to benefit U.S. investors, which could ultimately exacerbate housing inflation and consumer costs.
The Dignidad Act would grant provisional status to millions of undocumented immigrants, creating a new stream of cheap labor that could suppress wage growth for American workers.
Salazar defended the bill during a Capitol Hill press conference in April, stating, “When people claim we’re just trying to aid big corporations in obtaining cheap labor, that simply isn’t true.” She argued that various sectors, from agriculture to manufacturing, are involved.
Who else is there? Certainly farmers and those in dairy. We all enjoy milk, right? There are currently about 150,000 jobs in agriculture, and even though I’m not connected in manufacturing, the National Association of Manufacturers held a public conference supporting the Dignidad bill… Agriculture, construction, hospitality—these are all sectors involved.
Salazar believes that this labor pool will lead to more affordable products for Americans. “People want costs to go down, particularly for fruits and vegetables.”
However, focusing on cheap labor could also deter investors from utilizing technology that enhances productivity and profitability for American workers.
For instance, while many companies are developing robotic solutions for tasks like fruit picking, farmers might be hesitant to adopt these innovations if the Dignidad bill continues to facilitate a flow of inexpensive labor.
In a similar vein, blocking Salazar’s proposal could foster investment in tech that outperforms traditional labor methods—like laser-equipped robots that can handle weed removal more effectively than human workers.
This migration policy also seems designed to lessen risks for investors, many of whom remain cautious about investing in developing nations such as El Salvador, Kenya, Indonesia, and Egypt.
A reduction in U.S. investments abroad might push mass immigration towards Europe and the U.S., opening opportunities for Chinese exporters and investors in the larger Asian and African markets.
