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
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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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That DC Limo Trump Protesters Torched Belonged to a Muslim Immigrant
The limousine liberal protesters set on fire in Washington, D.C., Friday in response to Donald Trump’s inauguration belonged to a Muslim immigrant who now faces up to $70,000 of damage to his property. An angry mob attacked one of Muhammad Ashraf’s limo drivers while he was sitting in the vehicle on 12th Street in the northwest…Rachel Stoltzfoos -
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Trump Day One Executive Actions Could Include Immigration, Obamacare, ISIS, and Trade
President-elect Donald Trump plans to use “four or five” executive actions on Friday after being sworn into office, incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters. “We’ve talked about that for a few months now—Obamacare, the fight against ISIS, he talked about immigration, key issues that have been important to him throughout the campaign…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
3 Takeaways From Gen. John Kelly’s Homeland Security Confirmation Hearing
On Tuesday, retired Gen. John Kelly, the nominee to be secretary of homeland security, went before the Senate’s Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee for his confirmation hearing. Here are the top three takeaways from that hearing. 1. The Department of Homeland Security’s management and morale are a top focus for Congress and for Kelly. Multiple…David Inserra -
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4 Key Things to Know About Building Trump’s Border Wall
President-elect Donald Trump has legal authorization to move forward on his core campaign promise of building a border wall; he just needs the money to do it. Trump said he still intends to require Mexico to pay for the wall, but needs congressional appropriation to expedite the process. The dishonest media does not report that…Fred Lucas -
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Texas Governor Pledges to Sign Anti-Sanctuary City Bill
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he expects the Legislature to pass an anti-sanctuary city bill this year, opening a new front in the battle over “local control.” Weighing in on the intensifying national immigration debate, the Republican governor pledged to sign S.B. 4, which would require municipalities to enforce migrant detainers at local jails and withhold state…Kenric Ward -
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Deported Immigrants Get Taxpayer-Funded Grants From Obama Administration
The Obama administration is using a taxpayer-funded program to award business grants to Salvadoran migrants deported from the United States. Run by the nonprofit Instituto Salvadorno Del Migrante and funded through a $50,000 grant from the taxpayer-backed Inter-American Foundation, the program “facilitates [deportees’] reintegration into their communities and supports their enterprises by offering financial education,…Kenric Ward -
- Opinion
How Donald Trump Can Put an End to Sanctuary Cities
Just a few weeks ago, President-elect Donald Trump said, “Cities that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities will not receive taxpayer dollars.” And I absolutely agree. Since 2007, I’ve been fighting to end the dangerous existence of sanctuary cities by introducing legislation every Congress. During the Obama administration’s tenure, over 300 cities—including my hometown of…Sen. David Vitter -
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In Texas, Republicans Fight New Sanctuary Cities in Wake of Trump Victory
In the border state of Texas, the Republican governor and state Legislature are promising to combat a new trend since the election of Donald Trump, in which cities and localities vow to limit how much they assist federal authorities with removing immigrants living illegally in their communities. Sally Hernandez, the Democratic sheriff-elect in Travis County,…Josh Siegel -
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Nation’s Largest College System Says It Will Protect Illegal Immigrants From Trump
The head of California’s community college system, the country’s largest, has joined other education leaders in the state by declaring that he will resist any effort by the federal government to deport illegal immigrants within his student body. Eloy Ortiz Oakley is chancellor of California Community Colleges, a network of some 113 campuses and the largest unified…Blake Neff