Immigration 101

Immigration 101

The U.S. immigration system is complex and can be difficult to understand. These resources provide key data points, historical information, and background on hot topics in immigration. Learn the basics about immigration. Immigration in the United States is complex and ever-evolving. Start here to understand the fundamental aspects of immigration policy, its history, and its impact on both individuals and the country at large. Learn commonly used terms about immigration law and how the U.S. immigration system is designed. Explore layered topics like how and whether immigrants can become citizens, as well as what individual protections look like under the law.

How the United States Immigration System Works

U.S. immigration law is very complex, and there is much confusion as to how it works. This fact sheet provides basic information…

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Birthright Citizenship in the United States

This fact sheet explains birthright citizenship, the Fourteenth Amendment, and its interpretations. Who is…

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Asylum in the United States

Asylum seekers must navigate a difficult and complex process that can involve multiple government…

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Breaking Down Trump’s Attempt to End Birthright Citizenship

Breaking Down Trump’s Attempt to End Birthright Citizenship

By Laila Khan and Raul Pinto On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for babies of undocumented immigrants and for people with temporary status in the U.S. Executive Order 14156: Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship… Read More

Trump’s Day 1 Orders Use Fearmongering to Expand His Immigration Authority

Trump’s Day 1 Orders Use Fearmongering to Expand His Immigration Authority

On January 20, 2025, the day President Trump took office for his second term, he issued a series of immigration-related executive orders and proclamations that will quickly re-shape the U.S. immigration system. These executive orders affect nearly every facet of a complex and demanding system. Most of the policy… Read More

Misguided Laken Riley Act Does Nothing to Fix the Problems That Plague Our Immigration System

Misguided Laken Riley Act Does Nothing to Fix the Problems That Plague Our Immigration System

WASHINGTON, JAN. 22, 2025 — Today, the House voted in the final step for passing S. 5, legislation that will have devastating implications for many immigrants in the United States and our system of legal immigration alike.   The bill eliminates due process for many immigrants, including some… Read More

Centering Humanity in the Immigration Debate

Centering Humanity in the Immigration Debate

“La tierra se secó.” That was my dad’s short explanation for why he left Mexico as a teenager in the 1970s. His family relied on their small farm in rural northern Mexico for subsistence. But when the droughts came, the land could no longer sustain them. So, he, like my… Read More

Testifying on the Catastrophic Economic and Humane Costs of Mass Deportations

Testifying on the Catastrophic Economic and Humane Costs of Mass Deportations

The American Immigration Council appeared before Congress to address the catastrophic economic and humane costs of mass deportations. Read More

Immigration Was on the Ballot in Multiple States on Election Day – Here’s What Happened

Immigration Was on the Ballot in Multiple States on Election Day – Here’s What Happened

On Election Day, voters gathered in various cities and states across the country to cast ballots on immigrant-related issues, like immigration protections, integration, and noncitizen voting. Here are the results of some key ballot measures. Arizona’s Proposition 314 In Arizona, the passage of Proposition 314, also known as the… Read More

Giving Thanks to the Hands That Feed America: Immigrant Farmworkers

Giving Thanks to the Hands That Feed America: Immigrant Farmworkers

With the approach of Thanksgiving, when many families will be celebrating with food and gratitude, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the people who help make Thanksgiving celebrations possible. Many of the fruits, vegetables, and other staples of our Thanksgiving celebrations are harvested by immigrant farm workers. In… Read More

Documented Dreamers: An Overview

Documented Dreamers: An Overview

This fact sheet provides an overview of Documented Dreamers, explains how they can age out of immigration status at 21, and summarizes the current federal legislative proposals to protect them from deportation. Read More

Biden Should Use His Authority to Protect Vulnerable Immigrants Before He Leaves Office

Biden Should Use His Authority to Protect Vulnerable Immigrants Before He Leaves Office

President-elect Donald Trump vowed to deport millions of immigrants in his successful bid for a second term at the White House. This week, we gained a clearer picture about how he aims to fulfill this promise. Tom Homan, former acting chief for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will oversee… Read More

Council Litigation Seeks Refugee Processing Data

Council Litigation Seeks Refugee Processing Data

This Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit seeks to compel the U.S. Department of State to release data about the demographics, processing, and adjudication of refugees’ applications for admission into the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The United States has long played a leading role in resettling… Read More

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