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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Nativist Group Cherry Picks Data to Show False Decline in Central American Deportations
The nativist Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) recently issued a report titled, “Records Reveal Few Central Americans Deported,” to support their arguments to detain and deport more Central American children. The report centers on a comparison that, according to CIS, shows a 40 percent decline in deportations… Read More
Immigrants Offset Population Decline and Aging Workforce in Midwest Metros
As Immigrant Heritage Month continues this June, it’s clear that an increasing number of places large and small across America recognize the value immigrants have brought and continue to bring to the United States. After all, metropolitan areas, as the drivers of the nation’s economy, are where the majority… Read More
Homeland Security Secretary Responds to House Republicans and Flawed Anti-Immigrant Report
Only days after President Obama asked Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson to hold off his deportation review in order to give House Republicans space to move immigration reform negotiations forward, some of those same House Republicans in the Judiciary Committee held an “oversight hearing”… Read More
Foreign Workers Do Fill Critical Needs in U.S. STEM Labor Market
The debate around whether there exists a scarcity of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workers is heating up once again. The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) released a new report claiming there is not, in fact, a STEM worker “shortage” in the U.S., and therefore no need… Read More
Understanding ICE’s Release of Immigrants with Criminal Convictions
Washington D.C. – Understanding the complexities of immigration law and its intersection with criminal law is not easy. Over the past month, a flood of reports about enforcement policies and deportation data have compounded the confusion. Some of these reports were clearly designed to derail genuine and productive… Read More
Tea Party Express Co-Founder Sal Russo Joins Grover Norquist to Address Need for Immigration Reform
New American Economy and Americans for Tax Reform launch monthly call series featuring conservative perspectives on immigration reform New American Economy, Americans for Tax Reform, and Tea Party Express Release Poll Showing Tea Party Voters Want Immigration Reform This Year WASHINGTON DC – Today, Tea… Read More
Nativist Report Mischaracterizes and Over Dramatizes ICE Releases
Once again, in an attempt to derail an honest debate about immigration policy, the nativist Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) released a report this week claiming that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is setting free tens of thousands of dangerous criminals. The implication, of course, is that… Read More
Righting a Historical Wrong in Same-Sex Marriage Case
Anthony Sullivan, a native of Australia, fell in love with Richard Adams, an American, in 1971. A few years later, the couple traveled to Colorado when they learned the county clerk in Boulder was issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Soon after, they filed a green-card petition based on… Read More
Why Allowing All Immigrants to Drive Legally Is Good Policy
Immigrants across the country are helping to revitalize declining areas and growing state and local economies, and local officials increasingly recognize the vital roles of these immigrant workers, business owners, and entrepreneurs. Some states and cities are creating welcoming initiatives to draw immigrants to and help them integrate into their… Read More
Grupo Nativista Insta al Partido Republicano a Alejarse Aún Más de la Comunidad de Inmigrantes
Los grupos anti-inmigrantes utilizan periódicamente una táctica común que consiste en hacer circular informes que advierten a los legisladores y al público en general acerca del carácter supuestamente amenazante de los inmigrantes. Estos informes tienden a retratar a los inmigrantes como una carga económica y fiscal, una amenaza para… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
