H.R. 5098: Strengthening Our Workforce Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Strengthening Our Workforce Act of 2025, is aimed at providing a pathway to conditional lawful permanent residency for certain non-citizens, particularly those without lawful immigration status who have been present in the U.S. as of January 1, 2024. Below is a summary of the main provisions and requirements outlined in the bill:

Goal of the Bill

The primary goal is to allow certain eligible individuals to obtain a status called conditional lawful permanent residency, which grants them permission to live and work in the United States for a specified period of time.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for conditional lawful permanent residency, an individual must meet several criteria:

• Application Submission: Must submit an application in the required format and pay any established fees.
• Presence in the U.S.: Must be present in the U.S. without legal status as of January 1, 2024, or have deferred action under a specific program such as DACA, or possess a nonimmigrant status that allows for employment.
• Continuous Presence: Must demonstrate continuous physical presence in the U.S. from January 1, 2024, until the date of application.
• Employment: Must have been employed for at least 100 cumulative days in a designated "covered profession" during the relevant period.
• Legal Entry: Must not be inadmissible for specific criminal or immigration violations, although some grounds for inadmissibility can be waived for humanitarian reasons.

Conditions of Status

If granted this status, individuals need to comply with ongoing requirements, including:

• Continuous Presence: Must remain physically present in the U.S.
• Employment: Must maintain at least 100 days of employment annually in an approved profession over the two-year period.
• Deportation Laws: Must adhere to all applicable laws that could lead to deportation.

Adjustment of Status

At the end of the two-year period, individuals’ conditional status may be adjusted to lawful permanent residency provided they have met the requirements and have not raised an objection. This adjustment will require an established fee and may involve a background check.

Numerical Limitations

Individuals qualifying under this act are not subject to the usual numerical limits on immigration status adjustments described in the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Criminal and National Security Bars

The bill outlines certain grounds of ineligibility regarding criminal activities. These include:

• Convictions of felony offenses.
• Multiple misdemeanor offenses, with specific exceptions.
• Convictions for domestic violence, with certain specified victims.

However, there are provisions for waiving some grounds of ineligibility for humanitarian reasons.

Definition of Covered Professions

The bill defines a "covered profession" as jobs in various sectors that are vital to the workforce, including, but not limited to:

• Health care
• Emergency response
• Energy
• Education
• Sanitation
• Food service and restaurant operations
• Agriculture, and many more.

These professions are deemed critical for the functioning of the economy and society.

Relevant Companies

None found