Immigration at the Border
The U.S. Deportation System’s Human Toll
The injustice of the U.S. deportation machine is apparent in many ways. There are the senseless deportations of people whose worst offense was a traffic ticket. There is the tearing apart of families as wives are separated from husbands, children from parents—not to mention the impact on… Read More
Counties Limit ICE Detainers As DHS Secretary Says He’s Taking a ‘Fresh Look’
As a growing number of states and counties end or limit their cooperation with immigration detainers, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Thursday that he is taking a “fresh look” at Secure Communities, a program that started in 2008 that allows local law enforcement to share fingerprints… Read More
Understanding ICE’s Release of Immigrants with Criminal Convictions
Washington D.C. – Understanding the complexities of immigration law and its intersection with criminal law is not easy. Over the past month, a flood of reports about enforcement policies and deportation data have compounded the confusion. Some of these reports were clearly designed to derail genuine and productive… Read More
Nativist Report Mischaracterizes and Over Dramatizes ICE Releases
Once again, in an attempt to derail an honest debate about immigration policy, the nativist Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) released a report this week claiming that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is setting free tens of thousands of dangerous criminals. The implication, of course, is that… Read More
Why Federal Officials Reminded Schools Not to Discriminate Against Immigrant Students
Last week, the Department of Education took steps to help ensure that undocumented students are not deterred from enrolling at K-12 public schools. The Department issued updated guidance regarding public schools’ responsibility to provide equal access to elementary and secondary education for all students regardless of immigration… Read More
Las Denuncias de Abuso por parte de Agentes Fronterizos Rara Vez Resultan en Acción
Un nuevo informe del American Immigration Council revela la notoria falta de rendición de cuentas y transparencia que afectan a la Patrulla Fronteriza de los Estados Unidos y su agencia matriz, la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP, por su sigla en inglés). El informe, titulado “Sin… Read More
All the Action on Immigration is (Still) in the States
Although their fate ultimately likes in federal immigration reform, unauthorized immigrants are getting much help from state and local officials who are taking pragmatic steps to allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition and to limit local law enforcement from honoring immigration detainers issued by federal immigration authorities. On… Read More
Complaints of Abuse by Border Agents Rarely Lead to Action
In a new report, the American Immigration Council shines a light on the lack of accountability and transparency which afflicts the U.S. Border Patrol and its parent agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The report, titled No Action Taken: Lack of CBP Accountability in Responding to Complaints… Read More
Courts Should Hold Border Patrol Agents Accountable for Fourth Amendment Abuses
In October 2010, while Alejandro Garcia de la Paz was returning to San Antonio from his work outside of Vanderpool, Texas, two agents from the United States Border Patrol pulled the truck he was riding in over to the side of the road. Although the driver, Alejandro and… Read More
May Day Protests Remind Legislators Immigration Reform is Workers Issue
On Thursday, protesters expressed their mounting frustration over Congress’ failure to pass immigration reform in May Day demonstrations across the nation. From New York to California, thousands of labor, faith, and immigrant rights activists took to the streets to lift up the positive impact immigrant workers have on our… Read More
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