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History Shows That Border Walls Don’t Work
A border wall is a powerful symbol of exclusion: “We” are going to keep “them” out. And, by doing so, “we” are going to protect our people, our way of life, our society and economy from the threat that “they” represent. It’s a concept that is elegant in its simplicity. It’s the concept that launched […]
Read MoreUsing Job and Educational Opportunities to Resettle Refugees
The UNHCR estimates that worldwide there were over 65 million refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people who fled conflict, violence, and human rights violations in 2015. On average 24 people were displaced from their homes every minute of every day during 2015. Although there are now a record number of forcibly displaced individuals, there are […]
Read MoreSensible Immigration Policies Enhance U.S. National Security
Putting down a welcome mat for immigrants—rather than building a wall—ultimately makes the United States a more secure nation. Of course, measures that ensure we keep those out who represent a risk to public safety or national security are important. But trying to keep everybody out—be it foreigners in general or all foreigners of particular […]
Read MoreConservative Governors Defy Tradition and Abdicate Responsibility for Resettling Refugees
The United States plays an important role in protecting thousands of the world’s most vulnerable people and is one of 33 countries that resettles refugees. Our long-held legal and moral obligations to shelter those fleeing insecurity and persecution demand nothing less than a robust refugee resettlement by the United States. However, the Governor of Texas […]
Read MoreMisplaced Priorities: Most Immigrants Deported by ICE in 2013 Were a Threat to No One
No one can say with certainty when the Obama administration will reach the grim milestone of having deported two million people since the President took office in 2008. Regardless of the exact date this symbolic threshold is reached, however, it is important to keep in mind a much more important fact: most of the people […]
Read MoreThe Economic Success of America’s Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Today, NAE released its latest research, “Reason for Reform: Entrepreneurship,” which focuses on the success and economic contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs in America. Perhaps not surprisingly, immigrants tend to be an entrepreneurial bunch: Though they made up just 13.2 percent of the total U.S. population in 2014, they represented 20.6 percent of our country’s entrepreneurs. […]
Read MoreEven the Government’s Own Advisory Committee Wants to End Family Detention
Calls to end the detention of immigrant children and their mothers seeking protection in the United States are not new. What is new is that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Advisory Committee on Family Residential Centers, created by DHS itself, has now added its voice to the chorus calling for an end to family […]
Read MoreCelebrate America Creative Writing Contest
The contest begins at the local level, with regional contests run by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) chapters. Each chapter sends its first-place winning entry to the American Immigration Council for the national contest. The grand prize winner (and two guests) will win a trip to read their entry at an awards ceremony hosted […]
Read MoreGroups Settle Lawsuit Challenging Failure of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to Timely Respond to FOIA Requests
In accordance with a settlement reached by the parties, a federal district court dismissed a class action lawsuit which challenged U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) nationwide practice of failing to timely respond to requests for case information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Read MoreHow Investing in Immigrants Leads to a Tax Surplus for States
While the federal government is responsible for admitting immigrants to the U.S., immigrants live in states and local communities. And at the local level, immigrants are our neighbors, coworkers, and classmates, in addition to being taxpayers and consumers. They contribute to local and state economies and have a fiscal impact at the state and local […]
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