I asked ChatGPT to write an immigration bill. Here's what it produced

The decades-long failure of our Congress to come together on a comprehensive immigration reform bill has been beyond disappointing. As I watch our government use unmarked vehicles with masked enforcers, forcibly remove hard-working people, disrupting families, and not providing evidence that these people are a danger to our country, I wanted to offer an immediate fix to these unjust immigration practices.

If we are going to call ourselves a Christian Nation, then let's act like one and stop the lies and inhumane suffering we are causing to those who are not criminals.

Thinking, it can't be that difficult, I decided to ask ChatGPT to draft a common-sense bill given simple parameters. Its response was surprising. The conversation needs to start now, not later. I urge all our federal representatives to consider this bill as a starting point and enact legislation within 30 days to halt the unwarranted treatment of noncitizens, thereby providing employers with a stable workforce.

Prompt: Draft a bill for the US Congress to provide that any immigrant who is in our country legally, illegally, or awaiting an asylum hearing is provided a visa to remain in the country, subject to being employed, with no felony convictions. Must have an employer show proof of employment with a minimum of 30 hours a week. Also, include that any spouse or child of a legal U.S. citizen is also granted a visa. Include any immigrant who served at least 4 years in the armed services or the U.S. Coast Guard.

With only a few additional prompts, primarily related to style, this is what it produced:

118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. ___

A BILL

To provide conditional visas for certain noncitizens based on employment, family ties, or military service, to prohibit removal or detention absent due process, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

[date]

Mr./Ms. [Sponsor] introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Immediate Conditional Visa and Family Unity Act of 2025”.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) Findings.— Congress finds the following:

1. Families are the foundation of American society, yet current immigration enforcement practices separate parents from children and spouses from one another, often without meaningful due process.

2. Employers in essential industries, including agriculture, construction, hospitality, and healthcare, rely on immigrant labor, and sudden workplace raids and removals create economic instability, disrupt productivity, and impose unnecessary costs on American businesses.

3. Immigration enforcement actions frequently involve masked agents in unmarked vehicles detaining individuals from workplaces, homes, and courthouses, a practice that undermines public trust, chills participation in civic life, and departs from the values of transparency and justice.

4. Many immigrants have honorably served in the Armed Forces of the United States and the United States Coast Guard, defending this Nation with courage and sacrifice, yet some face removal despite such service.

5. Christian values, as well as broader American values, call for the fair and compassionate treatment of strangers and neighbors alike. The practices of arbitrary detention, family separation, and removal without due process are inconsistent with these principles.

6. A system that provides lawful conditional status for individuals who are employed, contributing to society, or connected through family or military service, better reflects the values of justice, compassion, and stability on which the United States was founded.

(b) Purpose.— The purposes of this Act are—

1. to provide immediate and renewable conditional visas for noncitizens who are employed, are spouses or children of United States citizens, or who have served honorably in the military;

2. to prevent the disruption of American families and businesses caused by current immigration enforcement practices;

3. to ensure that no individual covered by this Act is removed or detained absent proof of felony conviction or prolonged failure to maintain qualifying employment;

4. to reduce the financial and human costs associated with indiscriminate enforcement actions; and

5. to reaffirm the Nation’s commitment to values of fairness, due process, and humane treatment of all people within its borders.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act:

1. The term “noncitizen” means any individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, including those lawfully or unlawfully present, or awaiting the adjudication of an asylum application or other immigration proceeding.

2. The term “conditional visa” means a renewable visa issued under this Act providing legal presence, work authorization, and protection from removal, subject to the requirements herein.

3. The term “qualifying employment” means—
   (A) employment of not less than 30 hours per week, verified by an employer; or
   (B) verified employment under a contract for agricultural or farm labor, seasonal or otherwise, certified by the Department of Labor.

4. The term “felony conviction” means any conviction classified as a felony under federal or state law, excluding convictions that have been expunged, vacated, or pardoned.

SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY FOR CONDITIONAL VISA.

(a) Employment-Based Eligibility.— A noncitizen physically present in the United States shall be granted a conditional visa if such individual—

1. demonstrates proof of qualifying employment; and

2. has not been convicted of a felony.

(b) Family-Based Eligibility.— A noncitizen who is the spouse or child (under 21 years of age) of a United States citizen shall be granted a conditional visa upon proof of relationship.

(c) Military Service Eligibility.—

1. A noncitizen who has served honorably for not less than 4 years in the Armed Forces of the United States or the United States Coast Guard shall be granted a conditional visa, regardless of employment status.

2. Proof of honorable service shall be established through official records of the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security.

SEC. 5. DURATION AND PATHWAY TO PERMANENT RESIDENCE.

(a) Duration.— A conditional visa issued under this Act shall be valid for a period of 3 years.

(b) Renewal.— Such visa may be renewed indefinitely upon proof of continued eligibility under section 4.

(c) Permanent Residence.— A noncitizen who maintains eligibility under this Act for a continuous period of 6 years shall be eligible to apply for lawful permanent resident status.

SEC. 6. PROHIBITION ON REMOVAL OR DETENTION.

(a) Immediate Stay of Removal.—

1. Effective on the date of enactment, no noncitizen eligible for a conditional visa under section 4 shall be detained or removed from the United States, except as provided under subsection (c).

2. All pending removal proceedings for individuals eligible under section 4 are hereby stayed until eligibility determinations are completed.

(b) Due Process Required.—

1. No conditional visa holder shall be detained or removed absent a proceeding before an immigration judge.

2. Removal or detention shall be permitted only upon clear and convincing evidence that—
   (A) the individual has been convicted of a felony; or
   (B) the individual has ceased to maintain qualifying employment for more than 180 consecutive days, except for verified illness, disability, or hardship.

(c) Notice Requirement.— Any action to revoke a conditional visa under this section shall require written notice and opportunity for hearing.

SEC. 7. IMPLEMENTATION AND IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

(a) Regulations.— The Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue interim regulations within 30 days of enactment to ensure immediate issuance of conditional visas under section 4.

(b) Interim Authority.— Pending issuance of such regulations, employer certifications, proof of family relationship, or proof of military service shall serve as a sufficient basis for conditional visa status.

(c) Effective Date.— This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.

SEC. 8. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof, is held invalid, the remainder of this Act, and the application of such provision to other persons not similarly situated, shall not be affected thereby.

Well, that's certainly better than anything we've seen from our so-called representatives in Washington ...