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.
How the United States Immigration System Works
- How the Immigration System Works
- June 24, 2024
U.S. immigration law is very complex, and there is much confusion as to how it works. This fact sheet provides basic information…
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Birthright Citizenship in the United States
- Birthright Citizenship
- July 9, 2026
This fact sheet explains birthright citizenship, the Fourteenth Amendment, and its interpretations. Who is…
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Asylum in the United States
- Asylum
- August 27, 2014
Asylum seekers must navigate a difficult and complex process that can involve multiple government…
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Muncie Star Press Opinion: My best friend is a Dreamer and a BSU grad. Congress, let her stay
Our freshman year at Ball State University, my best friend and college roommate Erika Espinoza revealed a closely guarded secret. She was an undocumented immigrant. Fleeing poverty, her parents brought her from a rural town outside of Mexico City to Indiana when she was 9. Fortunately, in 2012, during… Read More
Census Bureau Asked 250,000 Households About Their Citizenship Status, Despite Court Ruling
Despite losing at the Supreme Court, the Trump administration still managed to ask nearly a quarter of a million U.S. households about the citizenship status of their household members. That’s because the administration had already started mailing out its 2019 Census Test—a nationwide test used to inform the upcoming 2020… Read More
Statement for the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship Hearing “Policy Changes and Processing Delays at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.”
The statement highlights the Council’s concerns regarding systemic U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services delays in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Read More
Trump Administration Rejects More Student Visas From Muslim-Majority Countries
Hosting foreign students is a vital way the United States builds better relations with other countries. Many foreign students go on to become government, business, and academic leaders in their home countries. The opinion they form of the United States during their student years stays with them throughout their lives. Read More
Changing Patterns of Interior Immigration Enforcement in the United States, 2016 -2018
To better understand the changing interior enforcement trends under the Trump administration, this report analyzes individual-level data on immigration enforcement outcomes. Read More
Supreme Court Rules Against Citizenship Question on 2020 Census
In a rebuke to the Trump administration, the Supreme Court ruled against adding a question on citizenship to the 2020 U.S. Census form—for now. Critics feared the question may discourage immigrant, mixed-status, and minority households from participating in the Census, resulting in widespread undercounting and dramatic shifts in political representation. Read More
Omaha World Herald Midlands Voices: Chasing the dream, fulfilling the promise
On June 5, the House passed the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019. With it, our country took a step towards protecting 1.3 million DACA-eligible residents and more than 318,000 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders who live in the U.S. Nebraska’s own Rep. Don Bacon chose to do… Read More
The Changing Face of Undocumented Immigration
Undocumented flows are declining, more people are coming from Central America and Asia, and more arrive on valid visas. Read More
New Diversity Visa Requirements Impose Major Obstacles for Applicants
The U.S. State Department announced a new rule last week that changes the Diversity Visa Program, a lottery system that grants 50,000 foreign nationals the opportunity to apply for an immigrant visa number. Applicants must come from an underrepresented country that has… Read More
The Advocate Guest column: Lawmakers should support American Dreamers
As a researcher and educator who studies migration, I’ve interviewed many young adults who were brought to the United States as undocumented children. I can tell you that these hardworking and resilient young people, often known as Dreamers, deeply love this country and are eager to realize their God-given… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
