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Will the Immigration Court Backlog Finally Go Down?
Although our nation’s immigration courts currently have record backlogs, there may be some help on the way. That was the message from Juan Osuna, Director of the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR)—a division within the Department of Justice (DOJ) department which houses the immigration courts—at an oversight hearing in the House of Representatives Judiciary […]
Read MoreGroups Urge Supreme Court to Hear Executive Action Case This Term
Today, a coalition of 224 immigration, civil rights, labor, and social service groups filed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief, urging the Supreme Court to review the Fifth Circuit’s decision in Texas v. United States, which has delayed implementation of President Obama’s 2014 deferred action initiatives The filing from the American Immigration Council, National […]
Read MoreAre Immigrants Better Off Now Than They Were One Year Ago?
One year ago, President Obama announced executive actions his Administration would take on immigration. These actions were meant as common-sense reforms to an immigration system that has not been upgraded in more than 20 years. The series of reforms range from temporary protections for an expanded group of unauthorized young people (expanded DACA) and parents […]
Read MoreCongress Continues its Knee-Jerk Reaction to Paris Attacks
Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4038, the “American Safe Act of 2015” by a vote of 289 to 137, with 47 Democrats and all but two Republicans supporting the bill. This comes less than one week after the horrific attacks in Paris, which have left many feeling vulnerable and fearful. But this knee-jerk […]
Read MoreAn Overview of U.S. Refugee Law and Policy
The United States has long been a global leader in the resettlement of refugees—and the need for such leadership remains enormous.
Read MoreThe Changing Face of Television
This fall, actress Viola Davis made history by becoming the first black woman to win an Emmy for “Outstanding Lead Actress in Drama.” In her acceptance speech, she drew attention to the lack of opportunities for women of color in television and film — an accusation against Hollywood that has been echoed by many over […]
Read MoreUnderstanding Where We’re at and What Comes Next in DACA/DAPA Case
Last night, a divided panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the federal government’s appeal of the preliminary injunction that has halted implementation of President Obama’s 2014 deferred action initiatives. These initiatives—namely, the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and an expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals […]
Read MoreReport: CBP Must Implement Body-Worn Cameras
Since the incidents in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014, the use of body-worn cameras has been steadily on the rise. It was a major focus of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, which was established to “provide meaningful solutions to help law enforcement agencies and communities strengthen trust and collaboration.” Yet, there has […]
Read MoreSetting the Record Straight on the Leaked Government Memo on Work Authorization
Recently, a leaked memo related to the Department of Homeland Security’s ongoing deliberations about reforming the employment-based immigrant visa system was published online. An “investigative associate” with the restrictionist organization Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) wrote an op-ed in The Hill making grossly inaccurate statements about the contents of the leaked memo—indicating that it applied […]
Read MoreCan State Agencies License The Detention of Immigrant Families?
In the discussion around family detention, little attention has been paid to the fact that states play an important role in licensing any facilities where children are cared for. That role has come under heightened scrutiny since federal judge Dolly M. Gee ruled in August that, under the long-standing Flores v. Reno settlement agreement, children […]
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