With a series of hearings and now legislation, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), Immigration Subcommittee Chair Elton Gallegly (R-CA), and Immigration Subcommittee Vice Chair Steve King (R-IA) are advancing their wish list of immigration "reforms" to tighten the screws on immigrants of all statuses. Continue »
Senate Democrats, led by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), today reaffirmed their commitment to a common sense, comprehensive solution to illegal immigration by introducing the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011. The legislation, introduced by Senator Menendez along with fellow Senate Democratic co-sponsors Harry Reid (D-NV), Patrick Leahy (D-VT),... Continue »
The Smith-Grassley push to make the ineffective and burdensome E-Verify program mandatory nationwide continues to generate significant opposition from a broad range of observers, from the editorial board of La Opinion, the largest Spanish-language daily in the U.S., to the Service Employees International Union, to respected columnist Andres Oppenheimer.... Continue »
Today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that it is establishing an advisory board to review the Secure Communities deportation program, and implementing new guidance throughout the field on prosecutorial discretion. ICE Director John Morton has repeatedly said that he believes federal immigration enforcement should focus on the 'worst of... Continue »
Yesterday, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) each introduced their own versions of mandatory E-Verify legislation. Freshman senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) is an original cosponsor of the Grassley bill. Following is a statement from Lynn Tramonte, Deputy Director of America's Voice. Continue »
Today on Capitol Hill, House Republicans, led by Reps. Lamar Smith (R-TX), Elton Gallegly (R-CA), and Steve King (R-IA), unveiled the top bill on their anti-immigration agenda: a plan to make all employers in America use the deeply flawed E-Verify program to check the immigration status of their workers.... Continue »
It's going to be a long, hot summer for anyone who cares about sensible immigration reform, now that Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) is in charge of the House Judiciary Committee. After guiding a trio of extremely misguided immigration proposals into law in 1996, Rep. Smith is back in... Continue »
As the Republican race for the party's presidential nomination begins and the 2012 cycle kicks off in earnest, the GOP's stance on immigration and its related ability to compete for Latino voters will be major storylines. In a report released today, Why Do Elephants Put their Heads in... Continue »
The news that Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R-AL) signed into law a new "papers, please" immigration bill is a new low point for state-based immigration policy, an unfortunate reminder of Alabama and the South's tortured racial history, and another wake-up call to Washington to fix the broken immigration system.... Continue »
Polling released today from Latino Decisions and impreMedia shows that Latino voters prioritize immigration, and do so because they view the issue through a personal lens. The findings hold important lessons for both political parties as the 2012 cycle begins. Among the key findings...Immigration the top priority... Continue »