Legalization

Will the Dems Go It Alone On Immigration?

Published on Thu, Apr 29, 2010

The Senate leadership is planning to introduce a summary outline of an immigration bill shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday, one day after circulating a draft to advocacy groups. The framework—whose existence I reported earlier this week and which is spearheaded by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)—seems to have been written with the intention of attracting support from moderates on both sides of the aisle. But if Dems can't get Republicans to sign on, will they go it alone?

Published in the Mother Jones

American Immigration Council's Yearly Top Accomplishments

Scroll down to learn more about the accomplishments that we are most proud of for each year.

2011Read more...

Advocacy groups weigh in on 287(g) phase out

Published on Thu, Oct 18, 2012

Senior policy analyst Michele Waslin was quoted in this article ICE's 287(g) program:

"Michele Waslin, a senior policy analyst with the American Immigration Council, said the task force piece of the 287(g) agreements pertains to police officers on the street.

Waslin said the council, a non-profit that aims to educate the public about immigration and promote sensible, humane immigration policies, has always “advocated for the end of the 287(g) program.”

Waslin said that Secure Communities would still identify criminal illegal immigrants, but would probably eliminate some of the issues some people have had about 287(g).

Waslin said that there are people who worry about police officers exceeding their authority and the potential for racial profiling, civil rights violations and discrimination under the program.

“That’s where the criticism has come from, the police stopping people and asking to see papers,” she said."

Published in the Inside NOVA

Legal Action Center Argues for Greater Federal Court Oversight of Immigration Decisions

Released on Thu, Oct 07, 2010

Washington D.C. - In a continuing effort to promote greater federal court oversight of immigration decision-making, the American Immigration Council's Legal Action Center (LAC) recently submitted amicus (friend of the court) briefs in two cases involving motions to reopen. For noncitizens facing removal from the United States, a motion to reopen (an opportunity to present new evidence in a case) may be the last and only way to pursue their claims for lawful residency in the United States. Failure to grant such a motion might prevent anyone - from an asylum seeker to a U.S. citizen's family member - from presenting new evidence that could prevent deportation. Yet, although the federal courts are the last chance for redress, they frequently refuse to hear claims that immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals abuse their discretion when they deny motions to reopen.

The LAC argument is based on the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Kucana v. Holder that the Board of Immigration Appeals cannot shield its decisions from judicial review by labeling these decisions "discretionary." Only Congress can limit court review of motions to reopen, and it has not done so.

Given the gravity of removal from the United States, the high volume of immigration court cases, and the reality that most noncitizens do not have lawyers (only 39% of noncitizens were represented in immigration court in 2009), federal court oversight is critical to ensure due process. For an immigration system that is widely understood to be plagued with errors, judicial checks and balances are especially critical.Read more...

View Release

The American Immigration Council Welcomes Bi-Partisan Senate Immigration Bill

Released on Wed, Apr 17, 2013

Washington D.C. – The American Immigration Council applauds the “Gang of Eight” Senators who have introduced the "Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act." The Senators and their staff have been working tirelessly, for months, to create a bi-partisan solution that attempts to fix our broken immigration system. The Senate is to be commended for having the courage to lean into this difficult issue and bring forth a detailed and comprehensive proposal. In addition, labor and business groups should be acknowledged for their role in negotiating, in advance, some of the toughest sticking points to help ensure a smooth path through Congress.

In the coming days and weeks as the bill is analyzed and debated, there will be many who criticize both the policy remedies in the bill, as well as the sheer length of the legislation. It is important to keep in mind, however, that developing a comprehensive solution requires striking a delicate balance between a diverse cross section of stakeholders and impacted constituencies. Furthermore, the dysfunctional system that we have developed over the past two decades is in dire need of deep and precise reforms. While there will be fair criticisms of some of the bill’s contents it is important to keep the spirit of the debate productive and to ensure room for compromise. Read more...

View Release

Bipartisan Immigration Bill Recaptures Unused Visas

Released on Mon, Sep 08, 2008

This week, the House Judiciary Committee will mark-up H.R. 5882--a bipartisan bill which will allow for the critical recapturing of visas that have gone unused in past years due to bureaucratic delays and instead permit the visas be issued to family-based or employment-based legal immigrants.

View Release