Immigration Updates
ICE Offers Inadequate Response to Secure Communities Task Force
May 04, 2012 - Posted by Brittney Nystrom
On April 27, ICE issued its response to the recommendations of the Secure Communities Task Force The response was totally inadequate, amounting to little more than a grab bag of initiatives ICE was pursuing anyway—many only tenuously related to the Secure Communities program.
Immigration Policy Update for April 11, 2012
April 11, 2012 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
Family Unity Waiver Process proposed rule now open for public comment. Congressman Lamar Smith has strange holiday fantasies. Prosecutorial discretion review expanding to seven additional immigration courts. Supreme Court strikes another blow at retroactive application of laws. Justice Department cuts negotiations with Sheriff Joe. Syrians get TPS.
Immigration Policy Update for March 12, 2012
March 12, 2012 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
Court blocks two more Alabama law provisions. Evangelicals dialogue about immigration in Alabama. House hearings on the ICE budget, visa overstays and DWIs. Aggravated felony: murder rape and…cheating on your taxes. Rep. Smith calls new detention standards “hospitality guidelines.” (Lucky thing he didn’t go into the hotel business.)
Blog: Promise of Better Detention Conditions Must Be Followed by Action
March 01, 2012 - Posted by Brittney Nystrom
This week, the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released upgraded immigration detention standards
that would hopefully move the government closer to fulfilling its obligation and its promise to provide safety, dignity and fairness in the immigration detention system.
Immigration Policy Update for February 17, 2012
February 17, 2012 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
The President releases Fiscal Year 2013 budget. Hearings in House avoid real immigration solutions for agriculture. Low-income immigrants spared from tax cut offsets. ICE creates a Public Advocate position. Studies project big costs to Alabama from its anti-immigrant law. ICE vs. Cook County, Ill., in fight over immigration detainers.
Immigration Policy Update for January 31, 2012
January 31, 2012 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
In this issue: Administration to change application procedure for reentry bar waiver. Tourist visa processing to be sped up. More on the prosecutorial discretion initiative. Administration personnel changes. Bill to alleviate immigrant visa backlogs moves to Senate. House Republicans propose to pay for tax cut by cutting child tax credit.
Immigration Policy Update for November 15, 2011
November 15, 2011 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
The father of Arizona’s SB 1070 becomes the first Arizona legislator to be recalled. Mountain West state leaders, meanwhile, discuss a different approach to immigration. To mitigate the crises caused by Congressional inaction on immigration, the President can take some steps, but can’t stop enforcing the broken laws.
Policy Update for October 21, 2011
October 21, 2011 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
Republicans in the House and Senate attacked the Administration for its decision to prioritize immigration enforcement on national security threats. Mandatory E-Verify legislation in the House is stalled by conservative critics. Alabama is seeing a worker shortage in some sectors after passage of a harsh anti-immigrant law.
ICE Detention Reforms: Two Years On
October 06, 2011 - Posted by Guest
Runaway Costs for Immigration Detention Do Not Add Up to Sensible Policies
September 09, 2011 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
Immigration Policy Update for July 27, 2011
July 27, 2011 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
Rep. Lamar Smith introduced the HALT Act, to suspend immigration law provisions relating to humanitarian relief. Bills to allow for indefinite detention of certain immigrants, and to end the diversity visa program, were approved by the House Judiciary Committee. In the Senate, Senator Menendez unveiled a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
Cosmetic Changes are not Enough: Secure Communities Program Needs Sweeping Reform
July 19, 2011 - Posted by Brittney Nystrom
Immigration Policy Update for June 22, 2011
June 22, 2011 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
The House GOP introduced legislation to create mandatory e-verify for the entire country. The House also passed a DHS spending bill for next year. In the Senate two bills were introduced to protect refugees and workers. Around the country, the Administration’s “Secure Communities” program is generating opposition.
Ordinary People and Extraordinary Acts of Courage
June 21, 2011 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
Immigration Policy Update for May 27, 2011
May 27, 2011 - Posted by Maurice Belanger
The House is on the verge of passing a DHS appropriations bill for FY2012. Also in the House, Lamar Smith has introduced an indefinite detention bill and is preparing to introduce new e-verify legislation. The Supreme Court has upheld an Arizona law requiring use of E-Verify by businesses.
