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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- News
California Judge Blocks Trump’s Sanctuary City Order
A federal judge in California blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order reducing funding for sanctuary cities Monday, limiting the administration’s ability to punish municipalities that violate federal immigration law. The permanent injunction follows a preliminary ruling, issued in April, in a suit filed by the city of San Francisco and Santa Clara County. “The Counties have demonstrated…Jack Crowe -
- Opinion
Podcast: The Dangers Border Patrol Agents Face
In today’s podcast, we discuss how President Donald Trump is declaring North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism, and new allegations of inappropriate behavior from Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and a New York Times reporter. Talking about the death of a Border Patrol agent, Kelsey Harkness, who has been to the United States-Mexico border, tells…Katrina Trinko -
- News
Trump Administration Cites MS-13 Arrest to Push Change in Minor Immigrant Law
The Trump administration is pointing to a large federal roundup of members of the violent gang MS-13 as vindication of increased enforcement efforts and reason to change the policy on unaccompanied minor illegal immigrants. The Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security announced a joint effort that led to the arrest of 214 gang members…Fred Lucas -
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Democrat Who Opposes Sanctuary Cities Wins Virginia Governor’s Race
In the Virginia gubernatorial race Tuesday between Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Ed Gillespie, immigration was a key issue. Northam, 58, the 40th and current lieutenant governor of Virginia, won, and had 925,203 votes or 51.8 percent of the vote with 74 percent of precincts reporting, according to The New York Times. Gillespie, 56, a former…Rachel del Guidice -
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Noncitizen Immigrants Voted Illegally in Pennsylvania Elections
A Pennsylvania election official confirmed Wednesday that noncitizen immigrants illegally voted in elections hundreds of times since 2000, casting doubt on the state’s ability to screen out ineligible voters on its election rolls. Jonathan Marks, commissioner for Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation, told a state legislative committee that an agency analysis found 544 improper…Will Racke -
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The Murder Case at the Center of Trump’s Immigration Policy Has Begun
The illegal immigrant who shot and killed Kate Steinle in 2015 will go on trial for second-degree murder this week, bringing a conclusion to a case that sparked harsh anti-immigration rhetoric from President Donald Trump and Congress in 2016. Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, 54, claims his killing of Steinle was an accident, saying that a…Anders Hagstrom -
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Trump’s Hard Line on Border ‘Takes Handcuffs Off’ Law Enforcement, Immigration Chief Says
Enforcing laws already on the books helps significantly to fix the illegal immigration crisis, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Tuesday. “If we keep sending this message, ‘It’s OK to violate the laws of this country and … not be worried about enforcement,’ then we’re never going to solve the border…Rachel del Guidice -
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What Trump Told Congress He Wants to See on Immigration
Before granting legal status to illegal immigrants who entered the country as minors, President Donald Trump wants to push enhanced border security, interior enforcement, and move toward a merit-based legal immigration system. At this point, Democrats would be blamed if an amnesty isn’t enacted, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies,…Fred Lucas -
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What Trump Could Learn From the Reagan Immigration Amnesty
It’s been more than 30 years since then-Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., paid a visit to the White House to lean on President Ronald Reagan about enacting what today is viewed by some as the “Reagan amnesty.” “It’s high time we regained control of our borders, and this bill will do it,” Ronald Reagan said. In…Fred Lucas -
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House Freedom Caucus Members Talk Tough on DACA, Immigration Reform
Members of the House Freedom Caucus are staking out a tough stand on immigration reform, including any effort to codify the now-suspended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program into law. “It is unlikely that I will vote for any kind of DACA, absent a global fix for the border security problem,” Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala.,…Casey Ryan -
- Opinion
Texas Wins the Second Round on Sanctuary Cities
Texas has just won the second (procedural) round in the fight over the state Legislature’s attempt to punish cities that implement sanctuary policies. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily stayed on Monday key portions of the injunction issued in September by a federal judge in San Antonio that prevented the…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Meet the Trump Nominee Key to Implementing Immigration Agenda
A Trump administration nominee key to implementing the president’s tough immigration agenda is still awaiting Senate confirmation despite having little trouble clearing committee. Lee Francis Cissna, nominated to serve as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services back in April, sailed through the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 17-2 vote in mid-June. But that doesn’t…Fred Lucas -
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Trump Signals Willingness to Trade ‘Dreamers’ Amnesty for Merit-Based Immigration Reform
President Donald Trump signaled Tuesday that he may accept some sort of legal status for “Dreamers” enacted by Congress in return for lawmakers’ strengthening of immigration law, including merit-based reforms. “We will resolve the DACA issue with heart and compassion–but through the lawful Democratic process,” @POTUS says. In a statement issued after Attorney General Jeff…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
The Absurd Reasoning a Clinton-Appointed Judge Used to Strike Down Sanctuary City Law
A federal judge in San Antonio appointed by President Bill Clinton, Orlando Garcia, has issued a temporary restraining order against portions of Texas’ new sanctuary city law. SB 4, which was set to take effect on Sept. 1, outlawed sanctuary policies by Texas counties, cities, and municipalities. This order is wrong on two levels: It…Hans von Spakovsky -
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Where 7 of Trump’s Key Immigration Policies Stand
President Donald Trump toured the U.S. Customs and Border Protection outpost in Yuma, Arizona, ahead of his “Make America Great Again” rally in Phoenix on Tuesday, in a border state that has borne much of the country’s illegal immigration problem. “He’s been massively successful in deterring anarchy at the border, and he’s done it by…Fred Lucas -
- News
Sessions Defends Withholding Funding: No Tolerance for Loss of ‘Innocent Lives’ in Sanctuary Cities
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Wednesday that a sanctuary city is a “trafficker, smuggler, or predator’s best friend,” specifically taking a whack at Chicago, the first sanctuary city to sue the Justice Department for withholding federal grants. “If voters in Chicago are concerned about losing federal grant money: Call your mayor,” @USAGSessions says. Sessions heralded…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Trump-Endorsed Immigration Bill Would Save Taxpayers Trillions
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump endorsed the RAISE (Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment) Act introduced by Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and David Perdue, R-Ga., a bill to reform the merit-based immigration system and limit low-skill immigration. Low-skill immigration is very costly to U.S. taxpayers. For example, a legal immigrant without a high school…Robert Rector -
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Grassley Seeks Immigration Files for House IT Probe Suspects
Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has requested copies of immigration files for the six Pakistani suspects in the House IT scandal, who allegedly stole equipment from Congress and accessed computers without permission. Grassley, R-Iowa, is seeking more information on Imran Awan, his wife, his two brothers, and two of his close friends…Mark Tapscott -
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Jeff Sessions Warns Sanctuary Cities About Missing Out on Help to Fight Crime
Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited a reported sexual assault by an illegal immigrant in Portland, Oregon, to explain why the Justice Department will continue cracking down on sanctuary cities that receive federal funds. “Cities and states with so-called ‘sanctuary’ policies make all of us less safe,” @JeffSessions says. If a municipality wants access to its…Fred Lucas -
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Trump Backs Merit-Based Changes to Immigration System
President Donald Trump, who already has taken executive actions to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, on Wednesday put the weight of the White House behind a bill to begin to modernize the nation’s immigration system by favoring new entries who bring needed skills to America. Trump announced he is backing legislation co-sponsored by two…Fred Lucas