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Birthright Citizenship

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CLEAR Act

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DREAM Act

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States Pass E-Verify Laws

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More Topics

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Chain Migration

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Comprehensive Amnesty Threat

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Federal E-Verify

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The Visa Lottery

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In the News

Bailing Out Illegals

In the News - Monday, July 13, 2009

Illegal aliens constitute about 7% of the state's population, or about 2.7 million, according to an April report by the Pew Hispanic Center. State officials say that they add about $4 billion to $6 billion in costs, primarily in the area of schools, prisons and jails, and emergency rooms. This is money the slightly less Golden State can scarcely afford.

For fiscal 2009-10, it's estimated that about $834 million will be spent to incarcerate 189,000 illegal immigrants in the state's prison system. In Los Angeles County alone, Supervisor Mike Antonovich says, illegal aliens add up to $550 million annually in criminal justice costs.

Investors.com

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=481960

Parched State Searches for Ways to Expand Water Supply

In the News - Friday, July 10, 2009

When California's budget impasse is settled, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will have to deal with the state's other big crisis: fresh water.

Gov. Schwarzenegger and other top lawmakers have already drafted plans to attack a severe water shortage in the state, which has suffered a three-year drought.

As soon as the stalemate over how to bridge California's $26.3 billion budget gap is resolved, the governor and legislative leaders plan to introduce a package of water-related measures calling for more water conservation and an estimated $10 billion bond measure to finance more fresh water storage.

By Jim Carlton -- Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124710094111315647.html

Illegal immigrants again in the budget spotlight

In the News - Friday, July 10, 2009

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said it is wrong to blame illegal immigrants for the state's fiscal problems. He has, however, proposed to limit welfare and nonemergency healthcare for illegal immigrants and their families. So far, the Legislature has rejected his plans.

One of the governor's proposals would place a five-year limit on state welfare payments to the U.S.-citizen children of illegal immigrants. That would affect approximately 100,000 U.S.-born children in about 48,000 California households headed by illegal immigrants, who receive a monthly average of $472. The measure could save $77 million annually, according to the governor's office.

By Anna Gorman and Teresa Watanabe -- Los Angeles Times

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said it is wrong to blame illegal immigrants for the state's fiscal problems. He has, however, proposed to limit welfare and nonemergency healthcare for illegal immigrants and their families. So far, the Legislature has rejected his plans.

One of the governor's proposals would place a five-year limit on state welfare payments to the U.S.-citizen children of illegal immigrants. That would affect approximately 100,000 U.S.-born children in about 48,000 California households headed by illegal immigrants, who receive a monthly average of $472. The measure could save $77 million annually, according to the governor's office.

Under another proposal, the governor could commute the sentences of some illegal immigrant felons in state prisons and shift them to federal detention centers. It costs the state $48,000 to incarcerate a prisoner, and the federal government reimburses about 12 cents on the dollar, according to state finance officials. The administration estimates that commuting sentences of 8,500 felons, along with other sentencing changes, could save $182 million, although other state analysts question that.

By Anna Gorman and Teresa Watanabe -- Los Angeles Times

Show More http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-illegal10-2009jul10,0,3398621.story

Senate Resists Changes on Immigration

In the News - Friday, July 10, 2009

A series of Senate floor votes this week seeking to toughen immigration enforcement is giving the Obama administration its first real taste of the chilly climate for overhauling immigration laws.

On Thursday, the Senate approved a measure that would effectively overturn an immigration-enforcement decision announced one day earlier by the Obama administration. The Department of Homeland Security had said Wednesday that it would rescind a Bush administration program aimed at forcing employers to fire workers who are unable to resolve discrepancies in their Social Security records.

By Cam Simpson - Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124718283357420277.html

Carcieri commends Obama's support of E-Verify

In the News - Thursday, July 9, 2009

Governor Carcieri, who has led the charge in Rhode Island to crack down on illegal immigration, applauded the Obama administration Thursday afternoon for mandating that federal contractors confirm the immigration status of employees. The program goes into effect in September.

It was Carcieri who in 2008 signed an executive order that in part required state agencies and vendors to use the federal E-Verify program to ensure that new hires are allowed to work in the U.S.

By Cynthia Needham -- Providence Journal

http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/07/carcieri-commen.html

Secretary Napolitano Strengthens Employment Verification with Administration's Commitment to E-Verify

In the News - Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today strengthened employment eligibility verification by announcing the Administration’s support for a regulation that will award federal contracts only to employers who use E-Verify to check employee work authorization. The declaration came as Secretary Napolitano announced the Department's intention to rescind the Social Security No-Match Rule, which has never been implemented and has been blocked by court order, in favor of the more modern and effective E-Verify system.

DHS Release

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1247063976814.shtm

D.C. area a hot spot for legal immigration last year

In the News - Sunday, July 5, 2009

The D.C. area was among the most popular regions for legal immigrants in 2008, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The Washington region ranked fourth among metropolitan destinations for immigrants in fiscal 2008, and Virginia and Maryland were in the top 10 in state rankings, according to DHS’s annual flow report.

By David Sherfinski -- Washington Examiner

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/DC-area-a-hot-spot-for-legal-immigration-last-year-49983327.html

Justice Department: U.S. Border 'Underprotected,' 'Easily Breached'

In the News - Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Judging from recent reports by the National Drug Intelligence Center, you could come to the conclusion that Mexican drug cartels can do something the U.S. government cannot: control border crossings.

The cartels maintain "gatekeepers" -- their own sort of Border Patrol.

"Gatekeepers regulate the drug flow from Mexico across the U.S.-Mexico border into the United States by controlling drug smugglers' access to areas along the border," says identical language in NDIC reports on southern Arizona and West Texas. "Gatekeepers collect 'taxes' from smugglers on all illicit shipments that are moved through these areas, including drugs and illegal aliens. The taxes are generally paid to the DTO that controls the area; the DTO then launders the tax proceeds."

By Terry Jeffrey -- TownHall.com

http://townhall.com/columnists/TerryJeffrey/2009/07/01/justice_department_us_border_underprotected,_easily_breached

New roadblock for immigration?

In the News - Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Most illegal immigrants come to this country from Mexico looking for jobs. Regardless of how much the government beefs up border security — which, certainly, must be done — if there is no functioning temporary worker program, illegal immigrants still will have strong incentive to sneak over the border.

Denver Post Editorial

http://www.denverpost.com/editorials/ci_12709515

Democrats play word games on immigration

In the News - Tuesday, June 30, 2009

On June 24, Sen. Charles Schumer gave a remarkable speech on immigration. Preparing the way for the Obama administration's expected push for comprehensive reform, Schumer seemed to adopt a newer, tougher-sounding tone as he promised that a bill would be passed during "this Congress."

"People who enter the United States without our permission are illegal aliens, and illegal aliens should not be treated the same as people who entered the United States legally," Schumer said.

By Byron York -- Washington Examiner

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Democrats-play-word-games-on-immigration-7900449-49456097.html

Polls

Poll Reveals Progressives Support Lower Immigration Numbers

Oppose Amnesty Prefer Lower Numbers - Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Leah Durant, the Executive Director of Progressives for Immigration Reform, will appear on Lou Dobbs on CNN on Tuesday night to explain new poll numbers showing that liberals are concerned about rising population numbers due to increased immigration. The poll was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC in April.

The poll revealed:
  • Sixty seven percent of liberals and progressives felt the level of population growth caused by immigration negatively impacts the quality of life in the United States.
  • Fifty eight percent felt that the current levels of immigration are harmful to the environment.
  • Sixty three percent said that current levels of immigration hurts job prospects for American workers.

Progressives for Immigration Reform

Leah Durant, the Executive Director of Progressives for Immigration Reform, will appear on Lou Dobbs on CNN on Tuesday night to explain new poll numbers showing that liberals are concerned about rising population numbers due to increased immigration. The poll was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC in April.

The poll revealed:

  • Sixty seven percent of liberals and progressives felt the level of population growth caused by immigration negatively impacts the quality of life in the United States.
  • Fifty eight percent felt that the current levels of immigration are harmful to the environment.
  • Sixty three percent said that current levels of immigration hurts job prospects for American workers.
  • With regard to undocumented workers already here, the poll revealed that self-identified liberals are split over whether illegal immigrants should be offered an amnesty. Fifty three percent were in support of a pathway to citizenship and forty five percent were opposed.

Progressives for Immigration Reform

Show More http://www.progressivesforimmigrationreform.org/2009/06/23/survey-of-600-progressives-and-liberals/

Rasmussen Poll Shows 66% of Likely Voters Believe it is Important to Reduce Illegal Immigration

Oppose Amnesty Support Tougher Enforcement Oppose Rewards for Illegal Migration Opinion Elites vs. Public - Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A new Rasmussen poll shows that 66% of likely voters believe that the government should improve border enforcement and reduce illegal immigration.  However, only 32% of America's "Political Class" agree.

The poll also shows that 77% of likely voters believe that illegal aliens should not be able to receive driver's licenses and 73% of Americans believe that police officers should automatically check to see if someone is in this country legally when that person is pulled over for a traffic violation. 

Rasmussen Reports, 14 April 2009

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/on_immigration_large_gap_remains_between_mainstream_america_and_political_class

Gannett Poll Finds NJ Residents Oppose Rewards for Illegal Aliens

Oppose Rewards for Illegal Migration - Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Sixty-two percent of state residents oppose granting illegal immigrants some type of limited driver's license, according to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll.

Only 32 percent said children of illegal immigrants deserved in-state tuition rates, while 20 percent favored the lower rates for illegal immigrants themselves.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20090324/NEWS01/903240343/1006/

73% Support Police Checking Immigration Status During Traffic Violations

Support Tougher Enforcement - Thursday, March 19, 2009

Seventy-three percent (73%) of U.S. voters believe that a police officer should automatically check to see if someone is in this country legally when the officer pulls that person over for a traffic violation. Only 21% disagree, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of voters also say that if law enforcement officers know of places where immigrants gather to find work, they should sometimes conduct surprise raids to identify and deport illegal immigrants. Twenty-four percent (24%) oppose surprise raids.

Rasmussen Reports

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/73_say_cops_should_check_immigration_status_during_traffic_stops

Immigration Ranks 10th in Priorities

Support Tougher Enforcement - Monday, January 19, 2009

In a Washington Post/ABC Poll released just before Barack Obama's inaguration, respondents ranked immigration No. 10 on a list of priorities for the administration. The economy, Iraq War, foreign policy and education were all ranked ahead of immigration. Twenty-one percent said that it was the highest priority, 48 percent said it was high priority, while 29 percent said it was low priority.

Washington Post/ABC Poll - January 19

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/postpoll_011709.html

Transatlantic Trends: Immigration

Protect Jobs and Wages Support Tougher Enforcement - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

When asked about what governments should do to address illegal immigration, 83% of respondents supported stronger border controls, 74% supported cracking down on employers, and 68% supported deportation.

The German Marshall Fund of the United States, 2008

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No Post-election Mandate for Amnesty

Oppose Amnesty - Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Only 32% of Obama voters considered his support for amnesty as a factor in their decisions to vote for him. 67% said it was either not a factor at all, or they voted for Obama in spite of his stance on amnesty.

60% of voters said reducing illegal immigration and cracking down on employers who hire them is important to them, while only 21% supported "legalizing or creating a pathway to citizenship" for illegal aliens.

57% of voters stated that amnesty would harm American workers and further strain public resources, while only 26% believe amnesty would aid economic recovery and ease public burdens.

http://www.fairus.org/site/DocServer/zogby_2008_tabresults.pdf.pdf?docID=2262

Rasmussen Poll reveals Americans Angry over Immigration

Oppose Amnesty Support Tougher Enforcement - Friday, November 7, 2008

Twenty-six of respondents are angry over immigration policy in the United States.

Sixty-two percent say gaining control of the borders is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/26_angry_about_immigration_the_issue_candidates_ignore

Stats

Chain Migration Under Current U.S. Law

Stats - Thursday, May 8, 2008

chain migration table

chain migration table

NumbersUSA Education and Research Foundation February 14, 2007

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People Who Left the Ranks of Illegal Aliens in the Most Recent Year of Official Record

Stats - Friday, April 18, 2008

  • 183,000 Self-Deported
  • 152,000 Amnestied (allowed to adjust to legal status within U.S.)
  • 63,000 Removed by Federal Authorities
  • 27,000 Died
  • 456,000 Total

Office of Policy and Planning, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (1999)

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