Here’s a look at your mid-day immigration headlines:
-
Family of DREAM activist’s family picked up by immigration authorities
- ICE claims arrest had nothing to do with immigration activism
- Research centers feud, offer glimpse into heated debate over immigration reform
- Tracking immigration reform for 2013
- Marco Rubio: Riding to the immigration rescue?
- Rubio’s proposals to “modernize” U.S. immigration
- Advocates gather in Tampa to emphasize immigration reform
- Immigration reform advocates see high cost in delayed action
- What’s with the latest immigration reprieve?
- ICE raid in Western Michigan
- Obama plans to push path to citizenship in one fast push
- Immigration unlikely to
reappear in Arizona legislature
- Immigration & inequality
- Floridians join
big push for immigration overhaul
- As Obama pushes for immigration reform, Colin Powell says the GOP has a “dark vein of intolerance“
Posted in Politics
Tagged Activism, citizenship, Deportation, DREAM Act, Immigrants, Immigration, Immigration activism, Immigration Blogs, Immigration for Lunch, Immigration Law, Immigration Links, Immigration News, Immigration Politics, Immigration Reform, Inform US Citizens, Links, Lunch, Politics, Reform
Immigration looks to continue to occupy a spot amongst the top hot button issues throughout 2013. Here are some trends to keep an eye on this week:
1. The Rhetoric Begins to Heat Up: With proposals for immigration reform supposedly to be introduced by the White House and in Congress in the coming weeks, both sides of the aisle are gearing up for
a fierce battle. Last week, the Center for Immigration Studies and the Migration Policy Institute traded blows over a controversial report that the federal government spends more on immigration enforcement than all other federal law enforcement. Meanwhile, other activists warned of the high costs of delaying immigration reform, while Colin Powell bemoaned the GOP’s “dark vein of intolerance.” Expect the rhetoric to increase in the coming week.
2. Details of Immigration Reform Begin to Emerge: With details of President Obama’s soon-to-be-proposed comprehensive immigration reform package, including a possible path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, the GOP responded. Senator Marco Rubio has also proposed a plan that would include a path to citizenship as well as an attempt to “modernize” the U.S. immigration system. Let the debate begin…
3. ICE Targeting DREAMers?: At the end of last week, the mother and brother of an Arizona immigration activist were arrested by ICE. Of course, the agency claims the activist’s efforts had nothing to do with her family being detained, but the arrest was obviously planned out ahead of time, as it occurred at the family’s home. After a rapidly implemented social media campaign, the detainees were released. Look for more information to leak out as the week goes on.
4. State Immigration Laws: Led by Arizona and Alabama, state immigration laws have been one of the most heated points of debate in immigration for the last several years. Will 2013 be any different? With many state legislatures beginning their first sessions of the year, look for answers to that question to come soon. Already, the word is that Arizona will not be exploring immigration laws this year, while Florida may address the issue. Meanwhile, Illinois has wasted little time in offering driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.
5. Immigration Fraud Rings: Unfortunately, fraud seems to hang around immigrant communities like bees follow nectar. It seems to come from all possible avenues, including so-called “notarios,” some immigration attorneys and sometimes even government officials. Last week, a former imigration worker was indicted in a fraudulent documents scheme and a former Salt Lake City immigration lawyer was arrested at the U.S. – Mexico border for participating in a smuggling scheme. If looking for reputable representation, go to AILA.
Posted in Undocumented
Tagged Activism, Barack Obama, citizenship, Deportation, DREAM Act, Immigrants, Immigration, Immigration activism, Immigration Blogs, Immigration Law, Immigration Links, Immigration News, Immigration Politics, Immigration Reform, Inform US Citizens, Law, Links, Marco Rubio, Politics, Reform
A quick look at your mid-day immigration-related headlines:
- What to expect from immigration reform, and when to expect
it
- Is immigration reform starting to take shape?
- How much immigration enforcement does the U.S. need?
- E-verify: Immigration reform’s threat to legal workers
- Audit revealrs that E-verify deemed up to 3.5 million legal workers ineligible to work
- February 2013 visa bulletin
- USCIS publishes FAQ on filing a provisional waiver
- Immigration
reform in 2013? It has a champion in corporate America
- A closer look at immigration reform
- U.S. chamber makes immigration reform top priority
- Gutierrez: GOP needs immigration reform to survive
Posted in USCIS
Tagged Activism, citizenship, Deportation, DREAM Act, Immigrants, Immigration, Immigration activism, Immigration Blogs, Immigration for Lunch, Immigration Law, Immigration Links, Immigration News, Immigration Politics, Immigration Reform, Politics, Reform
Immigration looks to continue to occupy a spot amongst the top hot button issues in U.S. politics as 2013 begins. Here are some trends to keep an eye on this week:
1. The Stateside Waiver Process Moves Forward: Last week, the rule creating new stateside waiver process, which allows immediate relatives of U.S. citizens to file their unlawful presence waivers from within the United States, was published. It takes effect on March 4th. This should significantly reduce the time families are separated during the immigration process. Still, it won’t be simple.
2. Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Now that the fiscal cliff negotiations are over, look for more information
to start leaking out about the possibility of comprehensive immigration reform. From the senators and representatives likely to be leading the way in negotiations to the likely content of immigration legislation, we should be learning some more over the course of the next few days and weeks.
3. Activism Starts Early this Year: With whispers that Congress looks to pursue immigration reform early in the year, look for activists to crank up the pressure. It started last week, with activists in Florida, Chicago, Washington and beyond making their voices heard.
4. Social Media: Speaking of activists, take
a look at some of the most influential voices on immigration in social media. Social media has played a role in the immigration debate (and everything else) for some time, but expect its influence to grow as the immigration debate intensifies this year.
Posted in USCIS
Tagged Activism, Adjustment of Status, citizenship, Deportation, DREAM Act, Immigrants, Immigration, Immigration activism, Immigration Blogs, Immigration Law, Immigration Links, Immigration News, Immigration Politics, Immigration Reform, Inform US Citizens, Law, Politics, Reform
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Despite the lack of immigration reform (few seriously expected it to come in an election year), 2012 was far from quiet on the immigration front.
While the issue was not discussed as often as some would like during the presidential campaign, immigration did play a part in the political conversation. The year started out with candidates trying to out-conservative each other in the Republican primaries and ended with voters flatly rejecting Mitt Romney’s proposal of “self-deportation” and fresh promises from the re-elected president to pursue comprehensive immigration reform in 2013.
Outside the rhetoric, both President Obama and the U.S. Supreme Court spoke on the matter, with the former extending deferred action to certain childhood arrivals and the latter striking down the majority of Arizona’s anti-immigrant SB 1070.
Of course, President Obama also oversaw a record number of deportations in 2012.
Regardless of the fears expressed by some, immigrants continued to make valuable contributions to the U.S. in 2012, including the army’s soldier of the year. Immigrants and their children continued to contribute to our sciences, businesses, government & politics, education, athletics and society.
Still, very few risked more than those brought here as children, so called DREAMers.
Countless risked deportation to countries they do not know in order to publicly advocate for the rights of other immigrants as well as their own. They organized regional and national organizations, took to the streets and informed their communities through blogs and social media.
In an election season in which their votes would not be counted, they made sure their voices were heard, turning up at campaign rallies and at campaign offices to make sure they were not ignored.
When President Obama announced the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services would be extending deferred action to some DREAMers, many set up immigration forums and application drives to make sure their communities were informed.
DREAMers were active on the state and local levels as well, standing up to the spread of Alabama and Arizona-style immigration laws in other states, filing lawsuits and influencing state and local policies.
Such actions take guts. They also deserve recognition.
Had many DREAMers not taken the time to stand up for their themselves and their communities, it is doubtful deferred action would have ever come to pass. It is also doubtful comprehensive immigration reform would be such a big priority for both political parties going into 2013. Without such efforts, it is likely that anti-immigrant laws in the same vein as those found in Arizona and Alabama would have spread.
If the promise of immigration reform is achieved this coming year, the DREAMers will be in large part the ones to thank.
Photo courtesy of Justice, Peace, & Integrity of Creation
Facebook
Twitter
Immigrant of the Year: The DREAMer
-300×243.jpg” alt=”" width=”300″ height=”243″ />
Despite the lack of immigration reform (few seriously expected it to come in an election year), 2012 was far from quiet on the immigration front.
While the issue was not discussed as often as some would like during the presidential campaign, immigration did play a part in the political conversation. The year started out with candidates trying to out-conservative each other in the Republican primaries and ended with voters flatly rejecting Mitt Romney’s proposal of “self-deportation” and fresh promises from the re-elected president to pursue comprehensive immigration reform in 2013.
Outside the rhetoric, both President Obama and the U.S. Supreme Court spoke on the matter, with the former extending deferred action to certain childhood arrivals and the latter striking down the majority of Arizona’s anti-immigrant SB 1070.
Of course, President Obama also oversaw a record number of deportations in 2012.
Regardless of the fears expressed by some, immigrants continued to make valuable contributions to the U.S. in 2012, including the army’s soldier of the year. Immigrants and their children continued to contribute to our sciences, businesses, government & politics, education, athletics and society.
Still, very few risked more than those brought here as children, so called DREAMers.
Countless risked deportation to countries they do not know in order to publicly advocate for the rights of other immigrants as well as their own. They organized regional and national organizations, took to the streets and informed their communities through blogs and social media.
In an election season in which their votes would not be counted, they made sure their voices were heard, turning up at campaign rallies and at campaign offices to make sure they were not ignored.
When President Obama announced the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services would be extending deferred action to some DREAMers, many set up immigration forums and application drives to make sure their communities were informed.
DREAMers were active on the state and local levels as well, standing up to the spread of Alabama and Arizona-style immigration laws in other states, filing lawsuits and influencing state and local policies.
Such actions take guts. They also deserve recognition.
Had many DREAMers not taken the time to stand up for their themselves and their communities, it is doubtful deferred action would have ever come to pass. It is also doubtful comprehensive immigration reform would be such a big priority for both political parties going into 2013. Without such efforts, it is likely that anti-immigrant laws in the same vein as those found in Arizona and Alabama would have spread.
If the promise of immigration reform is achieved this coming year, the DREAMers will be in large part the ones to thank.
Photo courtesy of Justice, Peace, & Integrity of Creation