Border & Immigration News
The Daily Signal provides border and immigration news, including reporting, analysis, and commentary on policy, enforcement, and political debates.
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Trump Loses Sanctuary City Fight With Chicago
The Trump administration cannot withhold grant money from cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, an appeals court ruled Thursday. President Donald Trump’s threat to withhold public safety grants from jurisdictions that don’t cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, otherwise known as “sanctuary cities,” violates the Constitution’s separation of powers provisions, the 7th…Jason Hopkins -
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Trump Suggests He May Withhold Bailout Funds From States With Sanctuary Cities
President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that he may withhold federal bailout funds from states with cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Trump was asked at a White House event with business leaders about the idea of another round of stimulus money for U.S. taxpayers. The president said he liked the concept of…Jason Hopkins -
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Trump Suspends Immigration for 60 Days to ‘Put Unemployed Americans First in Line’
President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Wednesday to suspend all immigration into the United States for 60 days, with the chance of extensions, as the nation struggles with the coronavirus pandemic and reopening the economy. “We have a solemn duty to make sure these unemployed Americans regain their jobs and their livelihoods….Fred Lucas -
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California Offers $125 Million in Coronavirus Assistance to Illegal Aliens
California will dole out $125 million in coronavirus assistance to illegal aliens living in the state, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a press briefing Wednesday. The announced disaster relief assistance program is a public-private partnership with $75 million in funds being covered by taxpayers and another $50 million by philanthropic donations. “California is the most diverse state in…Jason Hopkins -
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Illegal Immigrants in Los Angeles Can Apply for Pre-Paid Debit Cards
Los Angeles will be doling out pre-paid debit cards to residents who have faced economic hardship due to the coronavirus lockdown, and living in the country illegally won’t disqualify you from getting the cash. Los Angeles officials have begun accepting applications for a no-fee debit card that provides cash to residents who were already living…Jason Hopkins -
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Democrats Across Country Fight for Coronavirus Aid to Illegal Aliens
Democratic lawmakers in Congress are calling on the federal government to make illegal aliens eligible for federal relief amid the coronavirus pandemic, while local and state Democratic leaders already have made their coffers available for those living unlawfully in the country. President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act on March 27, making $2.2 trillion in stimulus funds…Jason Hopkins -
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California Governor Working to Give More Coronavirus Aid to Illegal Aliens
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is actively considering a proposal to establish a relief fund for illegal aliens who are not covered by the stimulus package passed by Congress. Newsom on Tuesday confirmed that he is working with Democrats in the California state Legislature on a “Disaster Relief Fund” for illegal aliens, according to The…Jason Hopkins -
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Chicago Mayor Signs Executive Order Giving Coronavirus Benefits to Illegal Aliens
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday signed an executive order ensuring that all immigrants and refugees—including illegal aliens—are eligible to receive the city’s coronavirus benefits. The city of Chicago has launched several programs in order to help residents cope with the financial challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such initiatives include a coronavirus Housing Assistance Grant…Jason Hopkins -
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DHS Chief Chad Wolf Hopes to Have 450 Miles of Border Wall Built by End of Year
Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, joined The Daily Signal Podcast at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year to detail progress on President Donald Trump’s wall at the U.S. border with Mexico. Read a lightly edited transcript of the interview, posted below, or listen to the podcast: Plus: Andy…Rachel del Guidice -
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House Democrats Ask DHS to ‘Release as Many Immigrants as Possible From Detention’
Citing the coronavirus pandemic, several progressive lawmakers are demanding the Department of Homeland Security release illegal aliens from detention and scale back other immigration enforcement measures. Democratic Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, along with four other Democratic congressmen, delivered a letter Monday to acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, requesting the administration take action to protect…Jason Hopkins -
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To Avoid Amnesty, Agricultural Immigration Reform Must Address This Issue
Agricultural immigration reform shouldn’t include amnesty. This should be a given. Unfortunately, some legislators seem to disagree, as evidenced by the agricultural immigration legislation the House passed last year and legislation recently introduced by Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla. It’s not always easy to define amnesty, but this much is clear: Allowing illegal agricultural workers to remain…Daren Bakst -
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DHS Considers Turning Away Asylum-Seekers, Illegal Aliens at Southern Border
The Department of Homeland Security is considering “all options” to stop the spread of the coronavirus, which would include turning away illegal aliens who arrive at the southern border. DHS officials are reportedly considering turning away asylum-seekers and any individual who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, according to discussions first reported by Fox News. When asked if…Jason Hopkins -
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Virginia Lawmakers Pass Bill Giving Driving Privilege Cards to Illegal Aliens
While the Virginia General Assembly stopped short of passing legislation that gave full-fledged driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, lawmakers did advance a bill that would grant them driving privilege cards. The Democratic-controlled Virginia General Assembly went into overtime over the weekend, passing a flurry of progressive bills before the 2020 session came to an official…Jason Hopkins -
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States Can Prosecute Illegal Aliens for Identity Theft, Supreme Court Rules
The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that state governments can prosecute illegal aliens of identity theft, including aliens who use false Social Security numbers to unlawfully gain employment. In a tight 5-4 decision, a majority of justices on the nation’s highest court ruled that there is nothing in federal immigration law that forbids state prosecutors from…Jason Hopkins -
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ICE Catches Illegal Alien Accused of Child Rape After His Release by NYC
An illegal alien charged with raping a child was released by New York City authorities because of the city’s sanctuary policies, but federal immigration agents were able to arrest him shortly afterward. Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday arrested Miguel Federico Ajqui-Ajtzalam, 20, an illegal alien from Guatemala, according to a press…Jason Hopkins -
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Illegal Alien Released in Chicago Charged With Sexually Abusing 3-Year-Old
An illegal alien accused of sexually abusing a 3-year-old child would have been in federal custody had the Chicago Police Department honored an immigration detainer on him last year and not released him back into the community. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, lodged an immigration detainer with Chicago police for Christopher Puente, 34,…Jason Hopkins -
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Ken Cuccinelli Appointed Unlawfully to Top Immigration Post, Judge Rules
A federal judge ruled that Ken Cuccinelli was illegally appointed to a top U.S. immigration post last year and invalidated some of his directives. Cuccinelli was appointed unlawfully by the Trump administration to head U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, according to a 55-page ruling issued Sunday by Judge Randolph Moss of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.,…Jason Hopkins -
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Trump Administration Can Withhold Funds From Sanctuary Cities, Appeals Court Finds
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the White House can withhold funds from sanctuary cities, delivering a victory for President Donald Trump’s fight with jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration is legally allowed to withhold millions of dollars in federal law enforcement grants from states and…Jason Hopkins -
- Opinion
What the New Self-Reliance Rule Means for Immigrants
Politicians across the political spectrum have a penchant for bragging about how their parents or ancestors came to the U.S. with next to nothing, but worked hard to provide a better life for their children. Yet when the Department of Homeland Security proposed taking self-reliance into account in weighing applications for green cards or immigration visas, liberals condemned the proposal as harsh and sued to block the proposed rule from taking effect. Initially, they won…Lora Ries -
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Greyhound Announces It Will No Longer Allow Border Patrol Checks
Greyhound, the largest bus company in the U.S., announced Friday it will no longer allow Border Patrol agents to conduct immigration checks on its buses without a warrant. The bus company revealed in an emailed statement that it no longer consents to any Border Patrol agents or Customs and Border Protection officers conducting unwarranted searches…Jason Hopkins