Filter
President to Nominate Jeh Johnson as DHS Secretary
According to news reports, President Obama will nominate Jeh Johnson, a former top Pentagon lawyer, as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Friday. He will replace former DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, who resigned to become president of the University of California system. The Daily Beast reports that Johnson was a key part of […]
Read MoreAnti-Immigrant Think Tank Beats Same Old “Tax Fraud” Drum
The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) recently released a paper with the inflammatory title “Paying Illegals to Stay.” The paper highlights a two-year-old report from the Treasury Department’s Inspector General which enumerated what immigrant taxpayers who file their taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) were receiving in tax refunds through the Additional Child […]
Read MoreOngoing Government Shutdown Disrupts Immigration Processing
With the shutdown of the government in its second week, many immigration-related agencies continue to be closed, affecting availability of services and information necessary for applications for immigration benefits and litigation of immigration cases. Because multiple federal agencies play a role in contributing to the functioning of the immigration system, the impact of the shutdown […]
Read MoreIraqi Visa Bill Reauthorized Despite Washington Gridlock
On October 4th, with little fanfare, President Obama signed into law an extension of a popular special immigrant visa program for Iraqi translators/interpreters. The law, which passed unanimously out of both the House and the Senate, extends the program, which expired on September 30, until the end of 2013. This rare agreement in the midst […]
Read MoreMassive Immigration Reform Rally Proceeds in Washington, D.C.
After several thousand people rallied for immigration reform in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, more than 100 activists were arrested outside of the Capitol during a protest to push the House to vote on immigration legislation. Those arrested for refusing to move out of the street included eight Democratic members of Congress: Reps. John Lewis (GA), […]
Read MoreICE Detainers Continue to Target Immigrants with No Criminal Convictions
This week, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) released a troubling new report showing that only about 10% of ICE detainers target “individuals who pose a serious threat to public safety or national security.” Although the agency’s highest enforcement priorities are threats to public safety and national security, government data shows that, in recent months, […]
Read MoreThe California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Speaks to the Need for Wise Immigration Reform
On September 26, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law the California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (AB241). Only the third state-level measure of its kind in the country after New York and Hawaii passed their own bills, the Bill of Rights represents an historic milestone for domestic workers and advocacy groups seeking social justice for […]
Read MoreHow a Government Shutdown Likely Affects Immigration Agencies
The government’s fiscal year ends today, and without legislation authorizing spending to continue, whether for the full fiscal year or even a few weeks, many federal offices and services will be shuttered starting tomorrow. Unfortunately, the chances the United States government will avoid a shutdown are low. The Senate has tabled the House-approved spending bill, […]
Read MoreCollege Leaders Know Immigration Reform Will Help Their Students and the Country
The U.S. has long been a destination for students around the world. They come to attend the nation’s colleges and universities, and many wish to stay to pursue job opportunities and make their lives here, but our immigration system throws up barriers at every step of the way. Foreign students add billions of dollars to […]
Read MoreCustoms and Border Protection’s New “Use of Force” Initiatives Are Welcome First Steps
The endemic use of force within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made national headlines in 2010 when Anastacio Hernandez Rojas, a 42-year old Mexican national living in San Diego, was killed by a Border Patrol Officer while in CBP custody. Since then, at least 18 other people have have died as the result of […]
Read MoreMake a contribution
Make a direct impact on the lives of immigrants.
