Filter
Taking Their Message to Policy Makers in Transit
WASHINGTON — The epiphany hit Jeremy Robbins, appropriately enough, while he was riding in a taxi in the nation’s capital. Mr. Robbins, the executive director of the Partnership for a New American Economy, a group devoted to an immigration overhaul, was finishing up a day of lobbying on Capitol Hill when he began thinking about […]
Read MoreCentral American Children’s Testimony Humanizes Debate Around Unaccompanied Minors
Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus convened a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to add another dimension to the the ongoing debate around unaccompanied children from Central America arriving in large numbers at our southern border. Three children, who were once unaccompanied minors from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, testified to the violence they […]
Read MoreKentucky’s vested interest in immigration reform
Following the new millennium, Kentucky witnessed staggering growth to its immigrant population. These residents brought business and a new labor force, strengthening the state’s economy. This reason alone necessitates that Kentuckians have a vested interest in immigration reform. Just consider national elections: If any Republican veers from the conservative stance, it will be seemingly toxic […]
Read MoreAvalanche of Local Detainer Limits Underscores Need for Federal Policy Reform
Across the United States, county after county continues to alter policies to limit compliance with immigration detainers because of constitutional concerns. A spate of federal rulings found that detainers were not mandatory, so local officials increasingly seem to be coming to the conclusion that honoring detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which ask officers […]
Read MoreHouse and Senate Face Stalemate over Proposals to Fund Border Challenges
Members in the House and Senate are offering competing proposals to address humanitarian needs as child migrants cross the U.S.-Mexico border alone, but it could be difficult to reconcile the two plans before the August recess. The Obama administration requested $3.7 billion in additional funding earlier this month. If Congress fails to pass the additional […]
Read MoreRefugee Children Don’t Need More Immigration Enforcement
A humanitarian crisis requires a humanitarian response. In the case of the unaccompanied children from Central America who are arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, this would include decent food, shelter, and medical attention while in U.S. custody. Even more crucial, it would include careful screening of each child’s case to determine if he or she […]
Read MoreTaking Attendance: New Data Finds Majority of Children Appear in Immigration Court
As the number of unaccompanied children arriving at the United States border has increased, some lawmakers have argued that children frequently disappear into the woodwork, and propose mandatory detention as a solution. Some say as many as 90 percent fail to attend their immigration court hearings. Yet government data recently published by Syracuse University’s Transactional […]
Read MoreWhite House Discusses Strengthening Communities by Welcoming Immigrants
This week nearly 200 leaders from communities across the U.S. gathered at the White House for a National Convening on Immigrant and Refugee Integration. Attendees included practitioners, policymakers, elected officials, researchers, business representatives, and faith leaders. The participants discussed successful initiatives, as well as challenges and opportunities for immigrant integration. “This inaugural event gave peer […]
Read MoreDOJ Adds Temp Judges and Shifts Priorities in Response to Unaccompanied Minors
Congress has long neglected the immigration court system, like so many other aspects of our immigration infrastructure. For years, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has dedicated more and more resources to immigration enforcement efforts, resources for the immigration courts have not commensurately increased. As a result, immigration courts cannot keep up with their […]
Read MoreSenate Hearing Debates Enforcement-Focused Solution to Humanitarian Challenge
On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on the Administration’s emergency request for $3.7 billion to address the humanitarian situation as children and families flee violence in Central America. While the committee nominally addressed only the funding request, the president’s stated intention to ask for more “discretion in processing” children also was a […]
Read MoreMake a contribution
Make a direct impact on the lives of immigrants.
