White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated Thursday that President Donald Trump would veto a GOP-backed immigration amnesty bill if it reached his desk.
Pressed by Reagan Reese, the Daily Caller’s White House correspondent, Leavitt dismissed any amnesty-granting proposal during the briefing when asked about the administration’s stance on the legislation. (RELATED: ROOKE: House GOP Plans To Screw Over Voters With Proposed New Bill)
“Congresswoman Salazar introduced legislation that would give some illegal immigrants in the country a path to citizenship,” Reese said. “Ten Republicans signed on to what she is calling the ‘Dignity Act.’ I’m curious about the White House’s position on this legislation, and if the president would veto this bill.”
Leavitt’s response clarified the administration’s rejection of any proposal offering a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, even as some House Republicans rally behind the effort.
“From my understanding, neither the White House nor the President has read through this legislation,” she said. “We’ve been focused, of course, on the One Big, Beautiful Bill, which passed — another historic accomplishment of this president, in record time. The Genius Act this week and the rescissions package have been the focus of the White House. But the president has made it very clear: he will not support amnesty for illegal aliens in any way.”
Republican Florida Rep. Maria Salazar, who introduced the bill Thursday, appealed to the president directly in a post on X.
“Mr. President, only you have the skills and political courage to fix what others were too afraid to touch,” the congresswoman wrote. “The Dignity Act is your chance to make the best deal for our immigration system America has ever seen. This is your moment, and I believe you are the leader God has chosen to seize it.” (RELATED: Republicans Offer Trump Perfect Opportunity To Blow Up His Legacy)
Salazar introduced similar legislation in 2023, framing it as a broad fix for immigration that included boosting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hiring and granting deferral of removal for certain eligible non-citizens. Trump, however, has already drawn a firm line. Asked during a July 8 cabinet meeting about amnesty for illegal farm workers, he flatly rejected the idea.
“There’s no amnesty,” Trump said. “What we’re doing is we’re getting rid of criminals, but we are doing a work program.”
