The Council In the News

Immigration status not a question on 2010 Census, despite push by some to ask it

To the chagrin of some, that’s not one of the questions included in the 2010 Census forms that have been arriving at homes across the country over the past few weeks.

Census officials said it should not come as a surprise, because the U.S. Census’ 1790 mandate does not require that a person completing the Census reveal their legal status.

Published In: Naples News | 03/19/10

Studies Show Immigration Reform Could Give a Boost to the Economy

Add to the immigration debate following yesterday’s White House meetings a few recently published studies that could prove to be useful in pushing for comprehensive immigration reform.

One study shows that comprehensive immigration reform could add $1.5 trillion to the country’s GDP over the next 10 years by increasing consumption and investment. Comprehensive immigration reform, here, is defined as a plan that “creates a pathway to legal status for unauthorized immigrants in the United States and establishes flexible limits on permanent and temporary immigration that respond to changes in U.S. labor demand in the future.” According to this Center for American Progress and Immigration Policy Center study, comprehensive reform would also boost wages for both native-born and newly legalized immigrant workers.

Published In: The Washington Independent | 03/12/10

Study Says Immigration Reform Could Be Good For ‘The Economy’

Published In: The Nashville Post | 03/12/10

Local business leaders call on Sen. Durbin to lead immigration reform

A group of business owners from the Northwest suburbs has called on Sen. Dick Durbin to lead Congress in reforming the country's immigration system, which they said could be the "recipe" needed to stimulate the country's struggling economy.

About half dozen business people spoke during a news conference Thursday at the La Quebrada Banquet Hall in Elgin, sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

"We thank Sen. Durbin for being a supporter of immigration reform, but we want him to be a leader," said Jose Figueroa of Vista Insurance Agency in Rolling Meadows.

Published In: The Daily Herald | 03/11/10

Immigration reform affords chance to improve economy

As President Barack Obama discusses immigration reform with congressional leaders, it is important to keep in mind that such reform would deliver a much-needed boost to the U.S. economy. Contrary to the views of some, immigration is an economic resource that can be maximized to the benefit of both immigrant and native-born workers. A comprehensive immigration reform package that includes a pathway to legal status for unauthorized immigrants already living in the United States would increase their wages, and therefore their purchasing power and tax contributions, which would support hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs at a time of high unemployment, and generate billions of dollars in government revenue at a time of gaping budget deficits.

Published In: The Hill | 03/09/10

Long, complex path to citizenship puts lives on hold

Imad Doski applied for his U.S. citizenship five years ago with dreams of a high-dollar job translating Kurdish and Arabic.

Since then, the native of Iraq has discovered one private contractor pays U.S. citizens $60,000 more per year than other immigrants. Another only hires citizens.

"When you are a citizen, opportunities are different, pay is sometimes different, people sometimes look at you differently," said Doski, a Nashville bookkeeper.

Published In: The Tennessean | 03/08/10

Stanislaus County inmates all get immigration check

Each time someone is booked at Stanislaus County jail facilities, the inmate's fingerprints are sent electronically to the FBI's criminal database to check the person's criminal history.

New technology will now simultaneously send those fingerprints to immigration officials trying to identify dangerous criminals who entered the country illegally.

The technology is part of a federal initiative called Secure Communities, which checks the immigration status of anyone booked at jails across the country.

Published In: The Modesto Bee | 03/08/10

Our Jobs, Our Lives

On Thursday, March 4, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) expressed confidence that the so-called jobs bill will be passed as early as next week. A tweaked version of the Senate measure has already passed the House. This latest attempt to address the economy which has been hailed as a rare bipartisan effort, is a welcome development, especially in places like Los Angeles, where double-digit unemployment has contributed to the city's worsening budget problems.

Published In: The Huffington Post | 03/05/10

DHS Fails to Meet Target Immigration Goals

More than one year into the administration of President Barack Obama, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) still must pursue some key changes in support of immigration reform to embrace Obama's intended immigration policy objectives, a policy group said Tuesday.

DHS must move forward in due process for illegal immigrants by creating an ombudsman at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to investigate complaints and keep its focus on detention reform at ICE, recommended the Immigration Policy Center in its report, The Challenge of Reform: An Analysis of Immigration Policy in the First Year of the Obama Administration.

Published In: Homeland Security Today | 03/03/10

Reviewing first year of immigration policy under Obama

The Immigration Policy Center today has released a thoughtful and detailed analysis on the Obama administration's work on immigration. The report focuses on all the key areas: worksite raids, E-verify, detention, immigration benefits, reform, etc.

Here's just one quick excerpt on specific issues such as enforcement and border strategy.

Published In: Houston Chronicle | 03/02/10