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A Compelling Case Study in Family Detention and Pro Bono Counsel
When the family detention center in Artesia, New Mexico, was hastily propped up by the U.S. government in order to detain and rapidly process women and children for deportation, immigration rights advocates raised alarms. Over the course of several months, as an uptick in families and unaccompanied minors appeared at the U.S. border, the media-fueled […]
Read MoreHouse Bill to Seal the Border is Unrealistic, Congressional Budget Office Finds
Last week, the House Homeland Security Committee sent to the House floor H.R. 399, the “Secure our Borders First” Act. The measure would mandate 100 percent “operational control”—defined as “the prevention of all unlawful entries into the United States”—of high traffic areas within two years, and the entire Southern border within five. DHS Secretary Jeh […]
Read MoreDozens of Mayors File Brief in Support of Immigration Executive Action
Mayors from 33 cities, along with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, filed an amicus brief on Monday in the Texas v. United States lawsuit that challenges President Obama’s executive action on immigration. Interestingly, a number of cities that have signed on to the brief supporting the administration’s action are […]
Read MoreHouse to Vote on Bill to Further Militarize the U.S. Border
With the start of the 114th Republican-controlled Congress, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced H.R. 399, the “Secure Our Borders First” Act. McCaul introduced the new bill exclusively with Republican co-sponsors unlike his 2013 bill, the Border Security Results Act, that had four Democratic co-sponsors. But examining the bill’s […]
Read MoreImmigrant Entrepreneurs Bring Vitality to Main Street, Help Local Economies Grow
Midtown Global Market, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a place where vendors hawk fresh produce, baked goods, coffee and espressos, and arts and jewelry. And as its more than 40 different businesses represent people from five continents, the market is one example of how a city can cultivate the entrepreneurial potential of immigrants. Midtown Global Market […]
Read MoreHouse Begins Debate on Anti-Executive Action Amendments to DHS Funding Bill
After the House Rules Committee on Monday night sent a bill that continues funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the rest of the year. Five amendments were attached as the House of Representatives began debating the measure on Tuesday. A vote is expected Wednesday. In December, Congress only approved funding for the […]
Read MoreAttorneys General from 12 States, D.C. File Brief in Support of Executive Action on Immigration
Texas is leading a lawsuit challenging President Obama’s executive action on immigration and has asked for a preliminary injunction that will be considered in a hearing on Thursday, January 15 in a federal district court in Brownsville, Texas. Texas is arguing that the president’s actions will harm states economically and socially. Challenging these claims, Washington […]
Read MoreThe Cost of Citizenship is a Barrier for Some Immigrants
Of the 13.3 million legal permanent residents (LPRs) in the United States, 8.8 million are currently eligible for citizenship. Many, however, are not making the leap from legal permanent resident status to citizen. The number of those naturalizing has been less than 800,000 for the past five consecutive years, and in 2013, a mere 8.9 […]
Read MoreGovernment Report Blasts Border Patrol Drones as Ineffective, Wasteful
Over the past decade, as the government has pursued an “enforcement first” strategy, U.S. Border Patrol enforcement has exploded with devastating consequences. Border Patrol has used excessive force without accountability while costing taxpayers $8 billion annually, with little clear impact on migration. Amongst this spending, as a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General report […]
Read MoreStates Begin New Year by Implementing New Immigration Laws
Many of the positive immigration reforms approved in 2014 happened in the states. Despite federal inaction on federal immigration reform, state and local officials took pragmatic steps to help undocumented immigrants living in their communities better integrate. Connecticut and California were two of 10 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico […]
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