Senator Alex Padilla of California said his proposal would modernise an immigration provision that has not been updated since 1986, benefiting more than eight million people. It’s past time to modernize our immigration laws and create a fair pathway to lawful permanent residency.” The measure would cover Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, essential workers, and children of long-term visa holders. It could also help highly skilled workers, including H1B visa holders who have waited years for employment-based green cards. The proposal is seen as significant for Indian professionals, who make up a large share of H1B visa holders and often face lengthy waits for permanent residency because of employment-based green card limits.