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Texas Sues Federal Government Again, This Time Over Refugees
This week, Texas filed a lawsuit against the federal government and International Rescue Committee (IRC) to prevent the resettlement of a Syrian refugee family in the state. The family was originally scheduled to arrive in Texas today. The state is the first to take legal action to block refugees and comes two weeks after Texas […]
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 MoreMillions of Immigrants Could Become U.S. Citizens—and Voters
Politicians who demonize immigrants do so at their own peril. Immigrants are already a key voting bloc in many states. And they are only going to get stronger as more and more of them become lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and, ultimately, U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote. Needless to say, all of these potential […]
Read MoreUnrepresented, Unaccompanied Children Ordered Deported After Just One Hearing
Last summer, the U.S. government decided to prioritize the deportations of unaccompanied children and of families with children in response to increased numbers of children fleeing violence in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Children’s cases were conducted on an expedited schedule, or “rocket docket,” that left children with little time to try to find an […]
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 MoreAccountability Continues to Elude the Border Patrol
A startling number of media accounts continue to demonstrate that the Border Patrol is an agency which is unable to control many of its agents and shows little willingness to provide accountability for its actions. Its agents frequently use force—sometimes deadly force—against people who do not represent a serious threat. Their agents are rarely disciplined […]
Read MoreRecognizing the Vital Contributions Foreign Born Veterans Make to the U.S. Military
Immigrants bring tremendous skills, talents, and energy to our country – including to our military forces. It’s important to recognize the essential impact immigrant veterans, standing shoulder to shoulder with native-born soldiers, have made and will continue to make within the ranks of the U.S. military. Here’s how the U.S. military is strengthened by diversity in its […]
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 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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