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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- Opinion
Mollie Tibbetts Case Shows Cost of Not Enforcing Immigration Laws
This is a lightly edited transcript of an interview on the Aug. 23 Daily Signal podcast. President Donald Trump: You heard about today with the illegal alien coming in, very sadly, from Mexico, and you saw what happened to that incredible, beautiful young woman. It should have never happened. Illegally in our country. We’ve had…Katrina Trinko -
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Illegal Immigrant Charged in Mollie Tibbetts’ Murder
The man charged with killing missing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts is an illegal immigrant, police said Tuesday. Police charged Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, with first-degree murder. The Los Angeles Times reported: “Rick Rahn, special agent in charge with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said … Rivera had been living in the area…Fred Lucas -
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Trump: ‘Open-Border Extremists’ Oppose ICE, Border Patrol
President Donald Trump praised the actions of federal immigration agents Monday and denounced “open-borders extremists” who he said “don’t mind crime.” More than 150 officers and agents of two federal agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, attended the event in the East Room of the White House. “A coalition of open-borders…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Securing the Border Is the Most Humane Policy
Each month, as many as tens of thousands stream across our southern border from Central American countries without obtaining legal status. Thousands are unaccompanied alien children who have completed a perilous journey before even having reached the Rio Grande. All Americans can agree that this is a problem. Our immigration system is broken. From the…Rep. Michael C. Burgess -
- Opinion
Fight Against Human Trafficking Begins in Our Own Neighborhoods
The 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report had a refreshing take on anti-trafficking strategy—one that emphasizes the role of communities in addressing sexual and labor exploitation. The report, released annually since 2001, ranks countries according to their compliance with minimum standards for eliminating trafficking in persons. Countries are ranked from best to worst in four categories: Tier…Brian Hilliker -
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Conservative Lawmakers Weigh in on Trump’s Shutdown Threat Over Wall, Immigration
President Donald Trump has threatened to shut down the government over border security, including the wall, in tweets this week, and some Republican lawmakers agree it’s crucial to address immigration. “While neither the president or myself or any member of Congress … want a government shutdown, the president is playing his hand well and using…Rachel del Guidice -
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‘Undocumented Immigrant’ Is a Made-Up Term That Ignores the Law
The news media is reporting that an internal email at the Justice Department has reminded its lawyers that the legally correct term they should be using in their briefs is “illegal alien,” not the euphemism “undocumented immigrant.” The Justice Department leadership is correct. Illegal alien is the correct legal term that should be used. “Undocumented…Hans von Spakovsky -
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Newt Gingrich Gets Real With Left-Wing Illegal Immigrants: ‘You Must Be an American Citizen to Vote’
Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich accused Democrats of pushing illegal immigration to gain more traction at the polls. Gingrich cited San Francisco as ground zero for the movement, where illegal immigrants are eligible to register and vote in local school board elections, in a Wednesday op-ed for Fox News. “Pro-illegal immigration, sanctuary state-supporting Democratic majority in…Nick Givas -
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After Defeating Government’s Crazy Requirements for Who Can Thread Eyebrows, Immigrant Poised to Achieve American Dream
“I came to this country because it offered better opportunities to start a business and make my dreams come true. But for years, Louisiana worked to keep me and my employees from making a living.” That is how Lata Jagtiani, who emigrated from India, frames her yearslong struggle to sustain her family-owned business in Louisiana…John-Michael Seibler -
- Opinion
We Hear You: Processing Illegal Immigrants at the Border and Maxine Waters’ Call for Incivility
Editor’s note: The issue of separating children from adults who cross into America illegally, and Maxine Waters’ related call for incivility, prompted a wave of comment from our audience. Let’s begin with a sampling. Don’t forget to write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: What a stupid protest, as reported by Jeremiah Poff and…Ken McIntyre -
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Congressman Who Introduced ‘Abolish ICE’ Bill Won’t Comment on Crime by Illegal Immigrants
The Wisconsin congressman who introduced the "abolish ICE" bill admitted he would vote against it during an appearance Tuesday on Fox News Channel's “Tucker Carlson Tonight," while also declining to comment on crime committed by illegal immigrants. The bill from Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., co-sponsored by nine other Democrats, was designed to dismantle U.S. Immigration…Vandana Rambaran -
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Here’s an Indisputable Fact: Immigrants Bring Cultural Change
The most frequently used description of America by those who advocate for large numbers of immigrants—those here legally or illegally—is “America is a nation of immigrants.” The statement sounds meaningful. But in reality, it’s meaningless. What else could America be? If no one had come to America from elsewhere, the North American continent would have…Dennis Prager -
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We Hear You: Family Separation, Open Borders, and Other Immigration Issues, Here and in Europe
Editor's note: Lots of folks write us about illegal immigration, but our lead letter on the topic this time comes from an American mom living in Costa Rica. Like her, you may send your thoughts to [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: It appears that an adviser may have intentionally misled President Trump that a separation policy…Ken McIntyre -
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We Hear You: Patriotism, Citizenship, Immigration, Border Security, and the Vote
Editor's note: On this weekend before the Fourth of July, we spotlight some of your views on the value of U.S. citizenship, legal immigration, and the right to vote, beginning with one writer's recollection of an American patriot. Don't forget to write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: As a youth growing up on the…Ken McIntyre -
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17 States Sue Trump Administration Over the Separation of Illegal Immigrant Families at the Border
Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., are suing the Trump administration over the separation of illegal immigrant families at the border. New York, California, and fifteen other states led by Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Seattle Tuesday, marking the first legal action taken by states in response to the…Ryan Pickrell -
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Hundreds of Women Arrested in Senate Protesting Trump Immigration Policies
Hundreds of women were arrested in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, The Daily Caller News Foundation has confirmed. Female activists descended upon the building to protest the Trump administration’s family separation policy and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. 630 women in foil blankets are being arrested in Hart Office…Robert Donachie -
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Fact Check: Are Half of All Border Patrol Agents Hispanic?
Townhall editor and Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich said in a tweet Wednesday that 52 percent of U.S. Border Patrol agents are Hispanic. Verdict: True Pavlich’s figure is in the ballpark. About half of all Border Patrol agents—51 percent—were Hispanic or Latino at the end of fiscal year 2016. Fact Check: Pavlich mentioned the proportion of Border…Emily Larsen -
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Must-See Moments: Media’s Immigration Meltdown
The Daily Signal’s Facebook Live show “Top 10” features the top news stories of the week. This week, we discuss all things immigration, as the contentious policy debate rages on. First lady Melania Trump caused a stir with a controversial jacket (“I Don’t Care, Do U?”), President Donald Trump signed an executive order, and Homeland…Ginny Montalbano -
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Families of Victims of Illegal Aliens Tell of ‘Permanent Separation’ From Children, Being Ignored by Media
With President Donald Trump still facing criticism over separating migrant families who illegally crossed the border, other families met with the president Friday to share their stories of “permanent separation” from children killed by illegal immigrants—and to complain of being ignored by the news media. Among those family members were Laura Wilkerson, who recalled the…Fred Lucas