Forum Publications
The President’s FY 2013 Budget: Department of Homeland Security
February 15, 2012
On February 13, 2012, the President released his Fiscal Year 2013 budget. This paper contains a summary of the immigration-related items in the budget of the Department of Homeland Security.
The President’s FY2013 Budget: Department of Justice
February 15, 2012
On February 13, 2012, the President released his Fiscal Year 2013 budget request. This paper contains a summary of the immigration-related items in the budget of the Department of Justice.
FY 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations
January 25, 2012
A brief summary of the immigration-related components of the Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Homeland Security, including appropriations allocated for Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Community and Courtroom Responses to Immigration Detainers
January 05, 2012
This paper takes a look at some of the problems that have been created for local jurisdictions that have honored immigration detainers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In many cases around the country the abuse of an individual’s rights has led to litigation against the local jurisdiction, and several jurisdictions have changed their policies regarding ICE detainers.
Cut Here: Reducing Wasteful Spending on Immigration Enforcement
November 15, 2011
This paper puts a spotlight on the amount of money our government currently spends on enforcing our broken immigration laws, and how much that spending has increased in recent years. Much of the spending is for programs that are not cost effective, and the government could save hundreds of millions of dollars if spending on these programs was reduced or eliminated. Billions more could be saved by reforming our immigration laws in a comprehensive, allowing enforcement resources to be focused on...
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...
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.
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.
Summary of the HALT Act
August 02, 2011
A summary of H.R. 2497, the “Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation” Act, introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX). The bill would take the unprecedented step of suspending several immigration law provisions relating to humanitarian relief for the remainder of President Obama’s first term, including Temporary Protected Status, cancellation of removal, parole, and waivers to certain bars to entry. The bill would essentially prohibit the President from providing relief from...
Secure Communities
July 11, 2011
This paper looks at ICE’s Secure Communities program, examines program statistics that show a plurality of persons arrested by ICE through the Secure Communities program have no criminal history—contradicting the program’s stated objective to focus on the most serious criminal offenders. The paper also reviews the controversy over the ability of local jurisdictions to opt out of the program, and makes a series of recommendations.
