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
- September 8, 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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Dreamer Could Help Ease South Carolina’s Shortage of Healthcare Providers
Jacqueline Mayorga was born in Hidalgo, Mexico, to poor but hardworking parents. Her mother was a maid in Mexico City, and her father was a migrant farmworker in the United States who sent money home to the family. When Mayorga was 3 years old, her parents decided to reunite the… Read More
DACA Allows Utah Grad To Provide After-School Care for Kids
Karina Palestina, 30, spends her days coordinating after-school care with the Park City, Utah, school district, but she dreams of a studying for a master’s degree in higher education. Holding her back is the uncertainty around Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a 2012 policy that allows qualifying undocumented immigrants… Read More
DACA Soldier With Skills U.S. Needs Is Put on Indefinite Hold
When William Medeiros learned he could join the United States military, he was elated. As an undocumented immigrant — his parents brought him to the United States when he was 6 years old — Medeiros had few options. “I couldn’t work, and to go to school I would have had… Read More
Researcher Works on Children’s Blood Disorders — but Only With DACA
Today, Martin Rodriguez, a 26-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico, is a PhD student at Wake Forest University, where he is working on developing gene therapies for pediatric blood disorders. “I believe that fulfillment for any human being is best achieved through service to others,” Rodriguez says. “Helping children born with bleeding disorders is something I can… Read More
Enlisted and Standing Ready, Immigrant Marine Must Wait to Serve His Country
In 2015, John Sena and his twin brother were shocked when their mother explained that the family was undocumented. Then a high school senior in Covington, California, Sena’s dream was to become a U.S. Marine. His brother wanted to join the Navy. Three of their uncles had served, and Sena… Read More
U.S. Government Skews Terrorism Data to Add Fuel to the Anti-Immigrant Fire
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a report which comes to a rather predictable conclusion: most of the “international terrorists” in the United States—as opposed to the domestic ones—were born in another country. At one level, this comparison is about as obvious… Read More
NAE Statement on Immigration Sprint
Following the vote to reopen the government with a commitment to reaching an immigration deal by February 8th, New American Economy issued the following statement: “It’s frustrating that congressional leaders haven’t resolved this issue yet, but at least now, they have a three-week window with a clear mandate to come up… Read More
What You Need to Know About Foreign-Trained Doctors in the U.S. Healthcare System
There are more than 247,000 doctors with medical degrees from foreign countries practicing in the United States. A fourth of all physicians in the nation are foreign-trained—the majority of whom are also likely foreign-born (based on medical licensing data). With healthcare worker shortages projected for the foreseeable future,… Read More
Foreign-Trained Doctors are Critical to Serving Many U.S. Communities
U.S. immigration policies significantly limit the ability of these doctors to immigrate to and practice in the United States. As policy-makers debate what immigration reforms would best serve the national interest, they should keep in mind that foreign-trained doctors are already taking the lead on providing care to many communities across the United States. Read More
CNBC: Restaurant and construction industries would get hit the hardest if DACA expires
The stalemate in Washington over an immigration deal could rattle the labor force in key sectors of the economy, prompting several big-name companies to provide legal support to affected employees. The restaurant and construction industries would be hardest hit by the expiration of the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
