Filter
Pakistani Immigrant Celebrates the “Huge Privilege to be an American”
After her arranged marriage, Sophia Said’s conservative Pakistani family expected her to settle down and raise children, but she had other ideas. “I grew up dreaming of going to America, to get higher education,” she says. Said got her chance in 1994, when her husband entered a PhD program in economics at the University of Utah. Said […]
Read MoreYes, All Immigrants – Even Undocumented – Pay Billions in Taxes Each Year
Immigrants—both documented and undocumented—contribute billions of dollars in taxes to the United States every year. Immigrants who are authorized to work in the United States file the same taxes as any U.S.-native including local, state, and federal taxes. Unauthorized immigrants pay taxes as well, often using the Individual Tax Identification Number and consequently are paying […]
Read MoreThe News-Gazette: Champaign Community Coalition gets first look at report on immigrant population
At Wednesday’s immigration-focused meeting of the city’s Community Coalition, attendees were encouraged to learn more about Champaign County’s 1-in-10 foreign-born residents. A preview of a report on the county’s immigrant population was presented at the meeting. The full report, due out in May, was created by the University YMCA’s New American Welcome Center, in partnership […]
Read MoreLargest Worksite Raid in a Decade Signals a Dark Turn in Immigration Enforcement
The largest employment crackdown in a decade was launched on April 5 at a meat-processing plant in Bean Station, a rural community outside of Knoxville, Tennessee. Nearly 100 immigrants were detained during the raid, most believed to be from Mexico. According to reports: “[Immigration and Customs Enforcement] summarily closed off roads, surrounding the plant, and […]
Read MoreThe Justice Department Is Halting Its Legal Advice Program for Detained Immigrants
In its latest attack on due process and access to counsel in the immigration court system, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has decided to suspend its Legal Orientation Program (LOP) despite its demonstrated ability to increase efficiencies in the nation’s horribly backlogged immigration courts. According to the Washington Post, EOIR (the Department of […]
Read MoreThe Economic Cost of House Bill 2315 in Tennessee
House Bill 2315 has been passed by the Tennessee state legislature, and awaits Governor Haslams’s signature in order to become law. This bill would prohibit state and local governmental entities and officials from adopting so-called “sanctuary” policies. There could be significant economic cost to the State of Tennessee if HB 2315 prevails. Using the Census […]
Read MoreNew Border Policies Could Have a Big Impact on Families, Children, and Asylum Seekers
Undocumented immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border increasingly consist of asylum seekers fleeing record levels of violence in Central America. But the Trump administration’s response to this humanitarian crisis has been unforgiving. In fact, the administration has recently made two policy announcements with the goal of further criminalizing immigrants apprehended crossing the border, as well as […]
Read MoreTrumps Calls in the Troops to the Border—But No One Knows What For
President Trump first announced via tweet—and later a signed proclamation—that he plans to send the National Guard to the nation’s southern border. And yet, at the same time, he acknowledged that border apprehensions (which are used to gauge how many people are attempting to cross the border) are at a 46-year low. Some have questioned […]
Read MoreNew Americans in Corpus Christi
Immigrant households in Corpus Christi earned $678.7 million in total income in 2016 and held $514.3 million in spending power, according to a new research brief released by New American Economy (NAE) in partnership with United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce (UCCCC). In addition to the impressive earning and spending power of Corpus Christi’s immigrant […]
Read MoreImmigration Groups Demand Records Related to Family Separation at the Border
To shed light on the cruel and unlawful practice of family separation, a group of immigrant rights organizations filed a series of Freedom of Information Act requests to multiple government agencies this week. The groups seek agency records underlying an unconscionable practice where immigration officials at the border purposefully divide families–taking children from their parents […]
Read MoreMake a contribution
Make a direct impact on the lives of immigrants.
