Forum Publications
Wanted: Sensible Immigration Enforcement
October 07, 2011
This brief paper argues that billions of dollars are being wasted on immigration enforcement because Congress has not updated our immigration laws. Resources are being spent to remove immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for years, contributing to our economy, and that diverts resources from a focus on public safety or national security threats. If immigrants who have been working in the U.S. and otherwise obeying our laws were given legal status through immigration reform, instead of...
The DREAM Act: Investing in America’s Future
September 22, 2011
This paper briefly explains the basic requirements contained in the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act and explains why it is needed to provide a path to legal status for undocumented immigrant students.
America’s Immigration System Wastes Tax Dollars
September 22, 2011
This fact sheet highlights a few ways in which taxpayer dollars are wasted enforcing broken immigration laws that cannot realistically be effectively enforced until Congress passes broad immigration reforms.
Making the Naturalization Process Less Daunting by Reforming the USCIS Fee Structure
September 22, 2011
This paper discusses fee increases in the naturalization process that have been driven in part by surcharges immigrants must pay on their naturalization and other fees to cover the costs of work done by the immigration agency that has little or nothing to do with the processing of the immigrant’s application. The paper briefly discusses a different approach for funding those activities not related to processing an immigrant’s naturalization or other application.
AgJOBS: Stabilizing the Agricultural Workforce
September 22, 2011
This one-page paper briefly makes the case for legislation called AgJOBS, which would legalize the status of agricultural workers in the U.S. It lists examples of the economic damage that is expected to take place if the undocumented workers on which our farms now depend were to be deported.
Safe Borders, Sane Policies
September 22, 2011
This brief paper explains some facts about enforcement resources on the border and how those resources have been increased in recent years. It suggests that by continuing to pour money in to border enforcement, the government is wasting money, and it lists ideas for cutting down on wasteful spending on border enforcement.
E-Verify: Problems Abound
September 20, 2011
This paper discusses the consequences of implementing the E-Verify employment verification system as a nationwide program without broader reforms to our immigration system that would give legal status to the five percent of our workforce that is currently undocumented.
The Importance of Naturalization: Good for Immigrants, Good for America
September 15, 2011
This one-page paper explains that immigrants want to become citizens, and that is a good thing for America. Some obstacles to citizenship are discussed, with recommendations for overcoming them.
Our Immigration System Must Be Reformed: An Overview
September 14, 2011
This paper briefly lays out some of the problems caused by our broken immigration system and details the elements of practical reforms necessary to repair our immigration laws.
America Needs a Functioning Immigration System that Serves the Needs of America
September 13, 2011
This one-pager explains in brief that our immigration system is broken, what should be done to fix it, and that the public supports realistic solutions.
