Immigration 101
Immigration in the United States is complex and ever-evolving. Start here to understand the fundamental aspects of immigration policy, its history, and its impact on both individuals and the country at large. Learn commonly used terms about immigration law and how the U.S. immigration system is designed. Explore layered topics like how and whether immigrants can become citizens, as well as what individual protections look like under the law.
Legal Groups File Emergency Motion to Stop ICE from Jailing Immigrant Teens in Adult Detention
Washington, D.C, October 4 — Advocacy groups the American Immigration Council and the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) filed an emergency motion on October 4, seeking to enforce a 2021 court ruling (in the Garcia Ramirez v. ICE case) that prevents ICE from illegally locking… Read More
What a Government Shutdown Means for the Immigration System
With weeks of failed negotiations, Congress has less than 12 hours to avert a possible government shutdown. Should government funding lapse on October 1 without a deal, the impact will be felt differently across the government agencies that play a role in the immigration system. Democratic members of… Read More
Hispanic Heritage Month is Still a Time for Celebration, Even Amidst Fear
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month. Here is what I am celebrating. I come from a culture of many languages. We carry histories that stretch across continents and generations. We are doctors, students, and teachers. We are neighbors, coworkers, and friends. We are valuable. We are worthy. And we should… Read More
Why Is It So Hard to Become a US Citizen?
“Why don’t they just get in line?” It’s a question often directed toward undocumented immigrants living in the United States, a pointed challenge on why someone didn’t come to the country “the right way.” The short answer: there is no “line” available for most immigrants. The pathway to… Read More
New USCIS ‘Special Agents’ Will Be Given the Power to Arrest, Use Deadly Force Against Immigrants
On September 5, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency established by Congress to adjudicate immigration applications, made a startling announcement. For the first time since the agency was created in 2003, the agency will create a new class of “special agents,” who will… Read More
The Trump Administration Moves to Reinstate Restrictions on Legal Immigration Proposed in First Term
As we continue to see sweeping changes to immigration enforcement inside the United States, the Trump administration has also begun taking steps to restrict immigration to the United States. Over the past two weeks, the Trump administration announced that it was intending to bring back multiple policies from Trump’s… Read More
New Report: Trump’s Second Term Ushers in Extreme Immigration Overhaul that Threatens Our Democracy
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 23, 2025 — A special report released today offers a sweeping analysis of the Trump administration’s first six months back in office, revealing an unprecedented transformation of the U.S. immigration system that strikes at the foundation of American democracy. While some voters may have supported… Read More
Senate Approves Unprecedented Spending for Mass Deportation, Ignoring What’s Broken in our Immigration System
Washington DC, July 1, 2025 — On July 1, the U.S. Senate passed a budget reconciliation bill that includes an unprecedented allocation of funds for immigration detention and enforcement while simultaneously stripping healthcare from millions of Americans. The bill, passed today with Vice President JD Vance contributing the… Read More
What Does the Supreme Court Ruling on Birthright Citizenship Mean?
The Supreme Court issued a decision in the CASA v. Trump case on Friday, handing the Trump administration a major win by limiting judges’ ability to block unlawful policies nationwide. This could open the door for conflicting rules about who is guaranteed birthright citizenship, largely dependent upon where they… Read More
Lawsuit Challenges Tennessee “Anti-Harboring” Law that Criminalizes Providing Shelter to People who are Undocumented
WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2025 — On June 20, a coalition including a religious organization and two individuals filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a newly enacted Tennessee law that criminalizes providing shelter to people who are undocumented, even when there is no intent to conceal them. Read More
All gifts are matched dollar for dollar
No one should face the immigration system alone
