Immigration 101

The enforcement of immigration laws is a complex and hotly-debated topic. Learn more about the costs of immigration enforcement and the ways in which the U.S. can enforce our immigration laws humanely and in a manner that ensures due process.

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There is no line available for undocumented immigrants and the “regular channels” do not include them.

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This fact sheet provides an overview of how Temporary Protected Status designations are made, what benefits TPS confers, and how TPS beneficiaries apply for and regularly renew their status.

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U.S. immigration law is very complex. Here's basic information about how the U.S. legal immigration system is designed.

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All Immigration 101 Content

  • Blog

Six Takeaways from the First Presidential Debate on Immigration Issues

August 7, 2015

In Cleveland, Ohio, home to nearly half a million immigrants, 10 Republican presidential candidates took to the stage in the first primary debate of the season. Given the pressing need to reform...

  • Blog

Here’s How Different the Immigration Plans of Martin O’Malley and Jeb Bush Are

August 6, 2015

In recent weeks, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley (D) and former Florida governor Jeb Bush (R) have unveiled their approaches to immigration. Although both presidential candidates tackle...

  • Blog

Kasich’s Silence on Immigration Policies as Governor of Ohio

July 31, 2015

Ohio Governor John Kasich is the sixteenth Republican to enter the 2016 presidential race. His campaign website states that Kasich has “done it all.” However, Kasich’s record shows that he has...

  • Blog

Congressional Hearings Highlight Need for Practical, Comprehensive Solutions That Promote Public Safety

July 21, 2015

The tragic murder of Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco this month prompted Congress to schedule two hearings this week—one held today in the Senate Judiciary Committee and another scheduled for...

  • Blog

Anti-Immigrant Group Thinks the Border Can Be Sealed

July 20, 2015

If there is one thing that the past few decades of immigration enforcement has made clear, it’s that unauthorized immigration responds much more to the U.S. job market and the natural desire for...

  • Blog

Scott Walker’s Short-Sighted Views on Immigration Policy

July 14, 2015

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has just become the 15th candidate to announce his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination. His public statements and policy choices as Governor demonstrate a...

  • Blog

Immigrants are Less Likely to be Criminals than the Native-Born

July 8, 2015

When it comes to understanding the relationship between immigration and crime, anecdotes are no substitute for evidence. And, as a new report from the American Immigration Council explains, the...

  • Blog

Jim Webb’s Record on Immigration Policy

July 7, 2015

Former Virginia Senator Jim Webb is now the fifth Democrat to enter the 2016 presidential campaign. He has been more conservative than most Democrats on the issue of immigration policy while in...

  • Blog

Will Governor Christie ‘Tell It Like It Is’ on Immigration?

July 1, 2015

Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey became the 14th candidate to announce his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination. He’s highlighting his reputation as a straight-talking...

  • Blog

Growing Latino Economic and Political Power “Trumps” GOP Presidential Candidate

June 30, 2015

When Donald Trump threw his hat into the ring for the GOP Presidential nomination earlier this month, he made some of the most racist and offensive remarks ever made by a modern-day Presidential...

  • Blog

“Sanctuary” Policies Protect Communities, Not Criminals

March 2, 2017

State by state “sanctuary” policies have received significant attention lately. Hundreds of communities across the nation have passed some version of a sanctuary policy and in doing so have made...

  • Blog

Understanding the Dangerous Implications of President Trump’s Immigration Executive Order

January 26, 2017

On January 25, President Trump signed a pair of immigration-related executive orders, one dealing with border security and the other with immigration enforcement in the interior of the country....

  • Blog

USCIS Changes How Processing Times Are Posted

January 6, 2017

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that beginning on January 4, 2017, it has changed how it posts processing times. Rather that listing weeks or months, it now...

  • Blog

DHS Secretary Nominee John Kelly’s Resume is Thin on Immigration

December 16, 2016

Earlier this month, President-elect Donald Trump selected retired General John Kelly to be his nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). There is not much in the record...

  • Blog

Robots, Not Immigrants, Are Replacing U.S. Manufacturing Workers

December 15, 2016

There is significant evidence that immigrants boost the economy, create jobs, and bolster innovation. However, President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly stated he wants to “put American workers...

  • Blog

What Was the U.S. Government’s Last Experience With a Muslim Registry?

December 14, 2016

Along the campaign trail, then-candidate Donald Trump promised a special registry and database tracking system for Muslims in the United States. Although his spokesperson later claimed that he “...

  • Blog

New American Undergraduates Are Key to Growth

December 5, 2016

The U.S. Department of Education recently released new data on university undergraduates that underscores the key role immigrants and their children play in our economy. New American...

  • Blog

What the Immigration Restrictionists’ Agenda Will Look Like for the Next Four Years

December 2, 2016

One does not have to look hard to find what the restrictionists’ immigration agenda will look like for the next four years. The groups and individuals leading the charge are not shy about sharing...

  • Blog

Thanksgiving Dinner Conversations Could Be Tough, But Are More Important Than Ever This Year

November 22, 2016

Let’s be honest. This is not the Thanksgiving blog we thought I’d be writing this year.  But here we are. Most of us are still reeling from the surprise election results just a couple of weeks ago...

  • Blog

The Ideological Roots of Donald Trump’s Immigration Team

November 15, 2016

As President-Elect Donald Trump names his choices for key positions in his administration, it is clear that he intends to include quite a few people who subscribe to fringe, alt-right, racist...

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