PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5228-5229)
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 28, 2022
Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929
This bill expands eligibility for a program that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to, at its discretion, provide lawful permanent resident status to certain long-term residents of the United States, including individuals who are unlawfully present.
Currently, this program, sometimes referred to as the Registry program, is only available to eligible non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who entered the United States before January 1, 1972. The bill removes this entry cutoff date and opens up the program to eligible individuals who have resided in the United States for at least seven years.
Existing requirements (e.g., the individual must not be inadmissible or deportable due to certain grounds related to crime or terrorism) continue to apply.
People & committees
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] · D–CA
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5228-5229)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.4974 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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