Immigration News
Check out daily roundups of immigration-related news stories, read articles that quote and cite AILA and AILA leadership, and check out analysis from AILA members and leadership on the AILA blog.
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AILA in the News
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Why Immigration Reform Helps Our Economy
By Karol Brown, AILA Media Committee Discussions about immigration reform often focus on the issue of “undocumented“ or “illegal“ aliens. But fixing our broken immigration system is about more than the determining the fate of the estimated ten million people currently living and working
Not Letting Go Of The Dream
Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill) just won't let it go. And that's a good thing when it comes to the DREAM Act, a bill that will provide a pathway to immigration compliance to thousands of undocumented students and young adults. Fueled by his passion for justice, Durbin is determined to see the DREAM Ac
ICE’s Union “On The Water Front”
The ICE union's reaction to ICE Director John Morton's prosecutorial discretion memorandum shows that the union leadership, apparently out of touch with its own members, is hell bent on maintaining the status quo-indiscriminate arrest, detention, prosecution, and deportation of immigrants-without th
Jose Antonio Vargas Takes His Seat
The success of a civil rights movement depends on people who are willing to take extraordinary personal risk. Yesterday Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, did just that by outing himself as an undocumented immigrant in the New York Times, the nation's leading newspaper of r
The Wrong Help Can Hurt: The Administration Acts to Protect Vulnerable Immigrants
By T. Douglas Stump Every year, thousands of immigrant families fill in their forms, pay sometimes tens of thousands of dollars in fees, and still face deportation. They've tried to make better lives for themselves, tried to enter the U.S. legally, and, in the process, they've fallen victim to imm
Hey Kid, Show Me Your Papers
By David Leopold and Eleanor Pelta Remember Kindergarten? For us it was long time ago, but we both still have vivid memories of our teachers, some of the other kids of the class, and, of course, the playground. It can be frightening for young children to start school and learn to separate from the
Momentum Builds For Nationwide End To “Secure Communities”
Guest blog by Michael Mandel, Co-Chair, AILA-NY Advocacy/Media Committee In this era of record deportations, enforcement only policies and an all around refusal by Congress and the Obama administration to ease the daily terror felt by millions of immigrants, advocates welcomed the recent news that M
AILA Dream Defenders
I am thrilled to announce AILA Dream Defenders! AILA Dream Defenders or “AD2“ is a collaborative effort between AILA, United We Dream, the National Immigration Project, and the National Immigration Law Center. Our goal is to establish an effective pro bono program for DREAMERs across the Unit
Hey Guys, When You’re Lost, It’s Okay to Ask for Directions
By Tony Weigel Back in the mid-1990's, before GPS and Mapquest, this midwesterner attempted to navigate the roadways of greater Atlanta. It seemed like every road changed names at least twice and managed to run in every direction. What looked relatively clear on my map was indistinguishable once t
All Children in America Should Have Education and Opportunities
By Karol Brown “[I]t is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he [or she] is denied the opportunity of an education.“ - Brown v. Board of Education Recently, state legislatures around the country have debated or approved laws that penalize undocumented immigr
Action Speaks Louder Than Words: President Obama Can Use The Law To Help Families and Businesses Even If Congress Refuses To Act On Immigration
I think we can all agree that in the past couple of weeks President Obama has demonstrated he has the guts to make tough decisions. He is a Commander-in-Chief worthy of the title; one who is willing to put the country first, regardless of risk to his own political future. Fixing our broken immigrat
Illinois Says “No Mas” to Secure Communities
By Paul Zulkie, AILA Past President On May 4, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn notified ICE that he was pulling the state out of ICE's flawed Secure Communities initiative. For us locals, it is nice to see the Land of Lincoln get national recognition for leadership on immigration policy as opposed to cr
One Down, 300 Million More To Go
Donald Trump isn't satisfied with the President's production of his original birth certificate. And I suspect others in the “birther“ movement won't be either. Trump chose his words carefully today, leaving plenty of wiggle room to keep his “birther“ rant alive. “I have accomplished s
Passover In The First Person
By David Leopold and Eleanor Pelta This week Jews all over the world celebrate Passover. Extended families, friends, and strangers gather together and relive the story of the exodus from the bondage of the Pharaohs of Egypt. It is a holiday of freedom and hope. And also a celebration of springti
Take the Next Step in Protecting Foreign National Same-Sex Spouses
A couple of days ago gay rights groups and immigration advocates applauded an announcement by USCIS that it would suspend decisions on marriage based immigration petitions filed by gay Americans on behalf of their foreign national partners. That was good news for gay and lesbian Americans who have b
Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Workers
They had old-world names like Gussie, Rose, Max, Albina, Morris and Sarafina, and came from the “old countries“ like Romania, Russia, Austria and Italy, but they had the same dreams that immigrants have always brought to this country, and continue to bring today: dreams of security far away fr
Why Smart States’ Legislatures Are NOT Passing Immigration Bills
Guest Blog by Charles Kuck, AILA Past President We all read that the Arizona legislature has had its fill of anti-immigrant legislation, backing off passing any of the unconstitutional, anti-immigrant legislation proposed by immigrant basher-in-chief State Senator Russell Pearce. Now Kansas, home to
USCIS Gets It Right
USCIS has taken an important step in the right direction with its recent announcement that it is reviewing its policy on H-1B cap exemptions for non-profit entities that are related to or affiliated with an institution of higher education, and that until further notice, the agency will give deferenc
MSU* on Steroids
In an announcement of a report released today, the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) declares that “[n]early 200,000 children are estimated to have been born to women lawfully admitted as temporary visitors from all over the world in 2009.“ The report then goes on to suggest that these chi
Peter King’s Grand Inquisition
It's hard to imagine the chair of a major congressional committee holding a hearing about the radicalization of the Irish, Jews, Catholics, or African Americans. Yet, this morning, Rep. Peter King, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, will do just that. King bills his hearing as an in
Really? You’re Proud of That?
Today, in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, DHS Secretary Napolitano answered a query from Senator Grassley to the effect that this administration granted fewer deferred actions in the past year than the Bush administration did in its last year. Deferred action: that would be the legal amel
ICE To Resume Deportations to Haiti: First Rule “Do No Harm”
No one can argue with the removal of dangerous criminals. That is why grounds of removability for serious crimes are in the law. But when the US effectively dumps hundreds of people, especially thugs convicted of “homicide, rape, sexual assault, robbery, sex offense against children,“ and oth
Utah’s Immigration Bill: It’s Time To Close The Loop
On Friday, the Utah legislature followed Arizona's footsteps (or is that missteps?) and passed The Utah Immigration Accountability and Enforcement Act. The law is another ill-advised attempt by a state to regulate immigration. Even though it's sweetened with a temporary worker provision and leaves
Rep. Lamar Smith Polishes His “Mythical” Immigration Agenda
In his recent Washington Times Op-Ed, Mythical racism in immigration enforcement, Rep. Lamar Smith, the Republican Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, essentially outlines what we can expect on immigration policy from the House Republican leadership over the next couple of years. Unfortunate
Why Those Opposed to Illegal Immigration Should Love the 14th Amendment
I have been pondering the issue of birthright citizenship now that it's (unbelievably) under fire, and there is one thing I just can't figure out. Why are those who are staunchly opposed to illegal immigration not defending the 14th Amendment just as staunchly? After all, the 14th Amendment sets up