The news that Florida's state legislature will not advance Arizona-style anti-immigration legislation this year is a welcome development that should puncture several growing myths about the politics of immigration. For one, the developments in Florida should give pause to Republican strategists seeking to use immigration as a wedge issue... Continue »
One day before President Obama gives a major speech on immigration at the U.S./Mexico border, new polling underscores that Americans are well ahead of some in Washington when it comes to understanding how to fix the broken immigration system. In particular, while many Republicans in Congress continue to... Continue »
As the federal government and state legislatures try to expand the role of police in civil immigration enforcement, state and local police are pushing back. In Texas, Illinois, California, and elsewhere, law enforcement leaders are speaking out against proposals to gut their community policing policies and require them... Continue »
Yesterday, the state of Illinois took the lead among states – and the federal government – in advancing common sense positions on immigration reform. The state took a major step forward for sensible immigration policy, offering an important example of how other states should act until Congress finally... Continue »
Earlier this week, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy (D) wrote to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requesting deferred action on behalf of DREAM-eligible student Mariano Cardoso, who is facing deportation despite living in the U.S. since he was a year old and being mere months away from graduating... Continue »
Rep. Lamar Smith is on the warpath against the state of Utah for passing a law that seeks a federal waiver to create a Utah-based work permit program for undocumented immigrants. This provision was part of a package passed signed into law by Gov. Herbert in March, along... Continue »
This was an important meeting for a number of reasons. First, the President made it clear he is willing to use whatever political capital he has to make the case for immigration reform that can fix our nation's dysfunctional immigration system in a way that ends illegal immigration.... Continue »
Despite opposition from the business, faith and education communities, the Georgia legislature just passed an Arizona-like anti-immigration bill, and Governor Nathan Deal said that he plans to sign it. According to Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, the bill will "create an... Continue »
Today on a press call, DREAM Act youth and immigration experts described the established legal authority of the President to halt the arrest, jailing and deportation of young people who would be eligible for the DREAM Act. Speakers provided examples of how President Obama and previous presidents have... Continue »
New analysis of Elton Gallegly's (R-CA) tenure as Chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee shows that his hearings rely on a consistent blueprint and a common underlying goal. Despite the supposed range of hearing topics, they each follow the same formula: pit different groups against each other to... Continue »