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100 Immigrant Women Begin 100-Mile Pilgrimage in Time for Pope’s Visit
Today, 100 immigrant women, domestic workers, and faith and immigrants’ rights leaders, set out on a 100-mile journey by foot from Pennsylvania to Washington D.C. Their message to Pope Francis—who begins his visit to the U.S. on September 22—put immigration at the front and center of his meetings and… Read More
First Step in Visa Modernization: Making the Wait More Palatable
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has taken a positive step, together with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), to encourage noncitizens to “stay the course” as they endure long waits for permanent residence. Beginning in October, more people who are waiting in the United States for an immigrant… Read More
Read This Year’s ‘Celebrate America’ Fifth Grade Creative Writing Contest Entry
The American Immigration Council is proud to announce the first place winner of the 18th annual Celebrate America Fifth Grade Creative Writing Contest. This contest inspires educators to bring U.S. immigration history and lessons into their classrooms and gives fifth graders the opportunity to learn more about immigration to the… Read More
ICE Director Saldaña Faces Critics in Congress
On Tuesday, new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Sarah Saldaña, responsible for immigration enforcement inside the United States, testified for the first time to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee. Saldaña defended ICE’s implementation of its new enforcement priorities, promised to convince local jurisdictions to… Read More
Senate Hearing Examines Proposals to Increase Guest Workers
This week, the Senate Homeland Security committee examined various immigrant guest worker proposals. This was the Committee’s third “Securing the Border” hearing this week, after Tuesday’s hearing on transnational crime, and Wednesday’s hearing on root causes of Central American migration. The witnesses all agreed that increasing… Read More
Immigration Agency Issues Long-Awaited Guidance on L-1B Visa Petitions
This week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) took another crucial step toward administrative reform of our immigration laws. The agency issued for public comment long-awaited policy guidance on its adjudication of L-1B “specialized knowledge” visa petitions. The L-1 category allows a U.S. multinational company to transfer talented employees,… Read More
ICE Sweeps Up Minor Offenders with Families, Using Heavy-Handed Approach
On Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it had arrested over 2,000 immigrants with criminal convictions, by re-instituting a periodic sweep ICE calls “Operation Cross Check.” ICE’s head called those arrested the “worst of the worst.” But reality does not match the rhetoric. Rather, ICE’s… Read More
White House Proposes Plan to Address Causes of Children Fleeing Central America
President Obama requested $1 billion in his fiscal year 2016 budget proposal to address the root causes of unaccompanied children fleeing to the United States. Vice President Joe Biden announced the plan for these funds in a New York Times op-ed, saying that “[a]s we were reminded last summer… Read More
How Immigrants Contribute to the U.S. Military
Just as immigrants have roots in communities across the country, they are also found throughout the ranks of the U.S. military, fighting on the front lines and shaping policy in the Pentagon. The importance of the myriad roles that immigrants play in the armed forces has only increased since 9/11. Read More
President Obama Follows Long History of Presidents Using Authority on Immigration
In a speech tonight at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s annual gala, President Obama is expected to reaffirm his promise to take executive action on immigration reform, according to Buzzfeed. After Congress’ failure to pass comprehensive legislation, immigrant communities have been waiting for months to see what… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
