US Senator Alex Padilla has renewed his push for legislation that would create a pathway to lawful permanent residency for more than 8 million long-term immigrants, arguing that Congress should modernise immigration laws as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement.Padilla, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, urged lawmakers to pass the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929, a bill first introduced a year ago. The proposal would update the long-standing "Registry" provision of US immigration law, allowing certain immigrants who have lived continuously in the United States for at least seven years to apply for lawful permanent resident status, provided they have no criminal record and meet other existing green card eligibility requirements.Also Read| Green cards for Dreamers? Inside the Dream and Promise Act that may give millions US permanent residency"A year ago, I introduced this bill to push back against the Trump Administration's cruel treatment of hardworking immigrants," Padilla said. "Since then, President Trump’s campaign of fear has only escalated, with families living under constant uncertainty despite having built their lives in this country. Congress cannot continue to ignore millions of long-term residents who contribute to our economy and communities every day. It’s past time to modernize our immigration laws and create a fair pathway to lawful permanent residency."The proposal aims to update Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, known as the Registry provision. The law allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant lawful permanent resident status to certain immigrants who have lived in the US since a specified date and meet other conditions.Want to apply for an H-1B visa? Check out our complete US guideCongress last revised the Registry provision in 1986 during the Reagan administration. The current eligibility cutoff remains January 1, 1972, meaning only people who have lived continuously in the US since before that date may qualify under the existing law.Padilla's bill would replace the fixed cutoff with a rolling system. Instead of requiring applicants to have lived in the US before a specific historical date, immigrants would become eligible if they have lived in the country continuously for at least seven years before filing an application.According to Padilla's office, the change could benefit more than 8 million people, including Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, children of long-term visa holders, essential workers and highly skilled workers such as H-1B visa holders waiting years for employment-based green cards.Also Read| Pay $750, get a quicker US visa interview. Approval? That's still uncertainThe legislation is co-led by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and has the support of several Democratic senators, including Cory Booker, Adam Schiff, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Representative Zoe Lofgren is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.More than 30 labour unions and immigrant advocacy organisations, including the AFL-CIO, SEIU, UNITE HERE, United Farm Workers and FWD.us, have endorsed the proposal.The bill has been introduced in Congress but has not advanced into law. It would need approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate before being signed by the President to take effect.