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How the Asylum and Immigration Court Backlogs Reached an All-Time High
The current backlogs in the immigration court and asylum systems have long been a problem and the government offices tasked with bringing the backlog down still have much to do. As detailed in the Human Rights First report In the Balance: Backlogs Delay Protection in the U.S. Asylum and Immigration Court Systems, there are four […]
Read MoreAbout Us
Why We Do It We have a proud—and complicated—history as a nation of immigrants. Our immigration system and the way it treats immigrants often fail to live up to our highest values and ideals. Not only have we failed, in many cases, to afford basic due process rights, but in countless ways, our outdated immigration […]
Read MoreTax Assistance for J-1 Participants
The American Immigration Council cannot legally provide you with tax advice or endorse services from tax accountants. This page provides links to resources located on the IRS website. If you have any tax law questions, contact the IRS directly. Resources for J Visa Holders For tax filing purposes, most J-1 visa holders are considered Nonresident […]
Read MoreUnderstanding the Central American Refugee Crisis
The unprecedented levels of crime and violence that have overwhelmed the Northern Triangle countries in recent years have produced a refugee situation for those directly in the line of fire, making no amount of danger or chance of deportation sufficient to dissuade those victims from leaving.
Read MoreCreating a Workable Future Flow Program in Senate Immigration Bill
Washington D.C. – Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee continues “mark-up” of S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The Committee will take up amendments related to Title Four, which addresses the majority of non-immigrant, temporary visas including those for high and less skilled immigrant workers, entrepreneurship and innovation programs, and a […]
Read MoreWhat the New Citizenship Fee Structure Means for Aspiring Americans
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) is primarily a fee-funded agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Every two years they are required to review the fees they collect and adjust as needed. Earlier this month USCIS announced they have completed their “fee study” and have proposed raising fees across the board by an […]
Read MoreNew U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines on Immigration Are a Mixed Bag
Earlier this month, the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) voted to change the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which in some cases will lead to increased sentences for those convicted of “Unlawfully Entering or Remaining in the United States” or “Smuggling, Transporting, or Harboring an Unlawful Alien.” However, the USSC did not adopt all of their initially proposed […]
Read MoreTexas’ Distorted View of the Legal Basis for DAPA and Expanded DACA
On April 18, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Texas, a case brought by 26 states to challenge President Obama’s deferred action initiatives, known as expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (expanded DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). While the arguments focused largely […]
Read MoreNew Data Sheds Light on Sprawling, Often For-Profit, Immigration Detention System
It is easy to forget at times just how sprawling and labyrinthine the U.S. immigration detention system truly is. But this is an important fact to keep in mind. Due to the sheer size and complexity of the detention system, detainees are easily “lost” to their family members and attorneys. At any time, with no […]
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Highlights from this week’s immigration news (April 18 – 22)
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court (WSJ) began hearing oral arguments in the state-led effort to block President Obama’s expanded executive orders, DAPA and an expanded DACA program. With the recent death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the high court could end in a 4-4 deadlock, effectively halting the programs until the next administration. This week also […]
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