Legislation and Policy

Policy Debate: Our government detains over 230,000 people a year – more than triple the number of people in detention just nine years ago.  The annual cost to the government is $1.2 billion.

Published On: Tue, Aug 01, 2006 | Download File

What is AgJOBS?     

AgJOBS, the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act, is a proposed immigration law that would provide agricultural employers with a stable, legal labor force while protecting farmworkers from exploitative working conditions.  The AgJOBS compromise was reached in 2000 after years of Congressional and labor-management conflict resulting in tough negotiations between the United Farm Workers (UFW), major agricultural employers, and key federal legislators.  On January 10, 2007, Senators Kennedy (D.-Mass.), Feinstein (D-Cali.), and Craig (R.-Idaho) and Reps. Cannon (R.-Utah) and Berman (D.-Cal.) introduced AgJOBS in the 110^th Congress.  Read more...

Published On: Tue, Jan 01, 2008 | Download File

Proposals in Congress adversely target immigrants' retirement security in ways that would require the Social Security Administration (SSA) to alter the current retirement benefits framework by significantly changing the way work history is credited to individuals.

Published On: Tue, Jan 01, 2008 | Download File

Background:  Immigration is a critical issue for farmworkers.  The majority of farmworkers are undocumented, with estimates ranging from 53% to 75% of the workforce.  Without legal status, most farmworkers are too fearful of deportation to challenge unfair treatment.  Intensified immigration enforcement efforts have driven undocumented workers further underground, leaving them even more vulnerable to exploitation.  Read more...

Published On: Tue, Jan 01, 2008 | Download File

This fact sheet's questions and answers take an in-depth look at the provisions of the final REAL ID Act regulations that particularly affect immigrants.

Published On: Fri, Feb 01, 2008 | Download File

This paper describes some of the government's enforcement actions and a handful of government rules issued in 2007 affecting immigrant rights.

Published On: Fri, Feb 01, 2008 | Download File

A fact sheet that describes the costs associated with local anti-immigrant ordinances.

Published On: Mon, Oct 01, 2007 | Download File

Across the country, states and localities are grappling with the problem of illegal immigration, and scores of communities are considering the role their police department might play in helping the federal government enforce immigration laws.

Published On: Wed, Aug 01, 2007 | Download File

Covers the exploitation of migrant workers doing backbreaking and dangerous clean-up work in New Orleans.

Published On: Wed, Aug 23, 2006 | Download File

The stories of migrant workers who are brought to the United States from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras to plant trees, thin forests and apply herbicides for timber contractors.

Published On: Fri, May 19, 2006 | Download File