Border & Immigration News
The Daily Signal provides border and immigration news, including reporting, analysis, and commentary on policy, enforcement, and political debates.
-
- News
3 Different Ways State GOP Lawmakers Are Fighting Sanctuary Cities
In states across the country, Republican lawmakers are aiming to combat sanctuary cities and counties, and in some cases banding together to develop new ways to prod local jurisdictions into helping enforce federal immigration law. While these efforts are not unique—18 states introduced legislation to limit sanctuary policies in the 2016 state legislative session—they are…Josh Siegel -
- News
Father Gives Heartbreaking Plea on Anniversary of His Son’s Murder by an Illegal Immigrant
The father of a high school football player killed by an illegal immigrant spoke about how the media ignores the victims of those crimes. Jamiel Shaw Sr., a guest at President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress Tuesday, spoke on the anniversary of his son, Jamiel Jr.'s, death. Shaw mentioned how the media ignores these crimes and…Amber Randall -
- News
Trump Reform Could Admit More Self-Sufficient Immigrants
President Donald Trump’s gesture for bipartisan immigration reform seemed to call for replacing the current legal immigration system that prioritizes family reunification with an economic merit-based system. “Those seeking to enter a country ought to be able to support themselves financially,” @POTUS says. If that’s the direction, then some pro-enforcement groups seem willing to listen….Fred Lucas -
- News
How Trump Proposes to Help Victims of Crimes by Illegal Immigrants
With family members of three Americans killed by illegal immigrants looking on, President Donald Trump on Tuesday night used his address to Congress to bring attention to his plan for an office to help victims of crimes committed by those not authorized to be in the country. “I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security…Josh Siegel -
- News
Trump Invites Families Hurt by Illegal Immigrants for His Speech to Congress
The guests President Donald Trump invited to hear his Tuesday night address to a joint session of Congress will represent four issues: border security, school choice, small businesses, and Justice Antonin Scalia’s Supreme Court legacy. Per a White House press release, Trump invited family members of three people who were murdered by illegal immigrants, a…Caleb Ecarma -
- News
One County Saw a 27% Drop in Assaults After It Helped Enforce Immigration Law. Here’s the Rest of the Story.
In July 2007, the elected board of a growing county in Northern Virginia adopted a controversial resolution requiring the police department to partner with the federal government to help deport illegal immigrants. Corey Stewart, the Republican elected the year before as chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, ran on a platform of…Josh Siegel -
- News
Trump Targets Criminals, Late Arrivals in Immigration Enforcement
The Department of Homeland Security will make prioritization key in its beefed-up enforcement of the border and the interior of the country—removing criminals first, while more recent arrivals will also face expedited removal. However, critics call it “mass deportation” that will face a legal challenge. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly released implementation memos to agencies…Fred Lucas -
- News
How Illegal Immigration Harms Black Americans, According to Civil Rights Commissioner
As the Trump administration gets ready to tackle illegal immigration, a member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission noted the impact on the black community that he believes is too often ignored. “A sizable number of black men don’t have access to entry-level jobs,” Peter Kirsanow says. “Black males are more likely to experience competition…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
The Truth About Sanctuary Cities and Crime Rates
If restricting local law enforcement from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests is supposed to make communities safer, as some immigration advocates and law enforcement officials suggest, I’d like to hear them reconcile their beliefs with the actions of Texas’ Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez. Hernandez, sworn in as the newly elected…Scott Erickson -
- News
Congressman’s Bill Would Do More to Curtail Sanctuary Cities Than Trump’s Executive Order
President Donald Trump’s executive order defunding sanctuary cities has been widely praised by Republicans in Congress, but one congressman wants to do more to encourage enforcement of immigration laws. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., said in a press release addressing Trump’s executive order, “It is wonderful to finally have an ally in the White House.” In…James Rogers -
- News
Last-Minute Lawyer Faulted for ‘Poor Job’ Defending Trump’s Immigration Order
The lawyer who argued the case for President Donald Trump’s executive order designed to bar terrorists from entering the country is the target of sharp criticism for his performance Tuesday night before a federal appeals court. “I’m not sure I’m convincing the court,” Justice Department attorney August E. Flentje said during Tuesday’s hearing. August E….Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
How Trump’s Immigration Executive Order Honors the Spirit of the Statue of Liberty
On a bronze plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty is inscribed a poem titled “The New Colossus.” A line in this poem states, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free … ” These words proclaim the American ideal that we are a people welcoming anyone seeking…Rep. Barry Loudermilk -
- Opinion
Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration Is Both Legal and Constitutional
If you want to see the difference between a federal judge who follows the rule of law and a federal judge who ignores laws he doesn’t like in order to reach a preferred public policy outcome, just compare the two district court decisions issued in Washington state and Massachusetts over President Donald Trump’s immigration executive…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Lame-Duck Obama Administration Hid Sharp Decline in Immigration Deportations
In the final months of the outgoing Obama administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials began quietly hiding evidence revealing a huge increase in the number of apprehended and incarcerated illegal aliens allowed to go free, rather than face detention or deportation. In addition to drastically increasing sanctioned catch-and-release cases during the latter part of…Kathryn Watson -
- News
Sanctuary Cities Targeted by Trump Receive Billions in Federal Funds
More than 100 sanctuary cities across America received a total of $27 billion in federal funds in one year, according to a new study. President Donald Trump has promised to withhold at least some of that money if such jurisdictions don’t change their policies on illegal immigrants. Nearly 300 jurisdictions—states, counties, or cities—have some form…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Why the Electronic Immigration System Is Broken
On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security inspector general took the extraordinary step of speaking out against the reinstatement of the Electronic Immigration System to process naturalization benefits for immigrants. Though the system should theoretically streamline immigration and naturalization processes by automating immigration applications and adjudication, it has become a sinkhole of government funds in…Garrison Rutledge -
- Opinion
Trump’s Immigration Actions Reverse Obama’s Open Borders Policy
Moving swiftly to fulfill his campaign promise to get the nation’s illegal immigration problem under control, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Jan. 25 that constitute an almost complete reversal of the Obama administration’s nonenforcement and open borders policy. From improving the physical barrier at our southern border to finally moving against sanctuary…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
The Showdown Over Sanctuary Cities
In the 1940s, Jan Ting’s parents faced a difficult path to American citizenship following a U.S. immigration ban on Chinese workers that lasted 61 years. Today, Ting is a law professor at Temple University—after serving as a top immigration official under President George H.W. Bush. Ting is also a strong opponent of sanctuary cities that…Sharyl Attkisson -
- News
Trump Signs Executive Orders to Stem Illegal Immigration. Now What?
Immigration analysts say President Donald Trump’s executive actions Wednesday to combat illegal immigration signify his intent to strip away impediments imposed by his predecessor and enforce existing laws more strictly. “The executive orders signed today reflect the administration’s understanding that there is more to immigration security than just building the wall,” Jessica Vaughan, the director…Josh Siegel -
- News
Trump Takes Opening Action on Border Wall, Sanctuary Cities
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders Wednesday following through on his signature issue of illegal immigration. The first provides for building a wall along the southern border, and the second for beefing up enforcement inside the country—including a crackdown on sanctuary cities that shield illegal immigrants. “A nation without borders is not a nation,”…Fred Lucas