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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Highlights from the iMarch
Watch the recap from December’s iMarch kickoff below. Learn more and get involved at iMarch.us. Read More
Nativists Can’t Back Up Their Claims on Immigration and Crime
Social scientists have concluded that immigrants are far less likely than the native-born to commit serious criminal offenses or end up behind bars. More than one hundred years of research has firmly established this fact. Yet nativists still claim that undocumented immigrants pose a threat to public safety and… Read More
Three Year Anniversary of Family Detention Center Is Sad Reminder of America’s Cruelest Immigration Policy Practice
December marks the three-year anniversary of the opening of the country’s largest family detention center for non-citizen mothers and their minor children located in Dilley, Texas. Referred to as a “baby jail” since it holds children under one year of age there, the opening of the Dilley family detention center… Read More
‘Sanctuary’ Policies Do Not Foster Crime, Research Shows
During its first ten months in office, the Trump administration has made aggressive immigration enforcement a priority. One of the areas in which this approach was crystalized was around so-called sanctuary jurisdictions—communities across the country that have adopted ordinances that explicitly curtail cooperation with the federal government regarding immigration… Read More
Seacoast Online: New England Council urges immigration reform
An organization that represents businesses across New England is urging action to prevent the loss of thousands of immigrant employees from the already tight labor market. Jim Brett of the New England Council joined with the New American Economy last week in a media teleconference as a display of united… Read More
Santa Fe New Mexican: Time’s running out for Dreamers
Protection for adults brought illegally to the United States as children is still possible before the end of the year — that’s the word from U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham. As chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, she is a point person on finding a compromise that Congress and the… Read More
Where Doug Jones Stands on Immigration Policy
Doug Jones, a former Democratic prosecutor once considered a longshot in Republican-majority Alabama, narrowly won the state’s Senate race Tuesday evening in what may ultimately prove to be a needed boost for immigrants’ rights on Capitol Hill. Jones’ stance on immigration was largely captured during the contentious Senate race,… Read More
The Washington Post: Democrats can’t shut down the government, but they can win on DACA
There is lots of talk about whether Democrats will try to shut down the government, after the two-week funding bill runs out, in order to get relief for young people affected by President Trump’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Harry Enten at FiveThirtyEight ponders: “Democrats arguably… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
