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
Syrian Immigration Poses ‘Grave National Security Threat,’ Conservative Leaders Say
Conservative leaders, including a former U.S. attorney general and a previous chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, are warning that the United States is putting its national security at risk unless it strengthens the vetting of Syrian refugees. The 66 leaders who signed Monday’s memo from the Conservative Action Project believe that currently, “there is no possible way…Leah Jessen -
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Meet the State Lawmaker Who Wants to Slap $5K-a-Day Fines on Sanctuary City Officials
A Florida state senator proposes to impose a fine of up to $5,000 a day on officials of “sanctuary cities” who don’t follow federal immigration enforcement policies. “In Florida, [sanctuary cities] enjoy sovereign immunity, meaning they’re shielded from being sued on any of their decisions in conducting their business,” state Sen. Aaron Bean, sponsor of the bill, told…Leah Jessen -
- Opinion
Obama’s Unilateral Immigration Amnesty Plan Gets to the Supreme Court
On Friday, the U.S. Justice Department filed a 35-page petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review Texas v. U.S., the case filed by 26 states against President Obama’s immigration amnesty plan. The government is appealing a preliminary injunction that stopped implementation of Obama’s amnesty plan, which was issued by a federal district court and…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
Lawmakers Demand Answers About Illegal Immigrant Gang Member Who Assaulted Police Officer
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has 10 days to complete a homework assignment. But this assignment, given to him via a strongly worded letter by the chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, doesn’t involve math, science, or literature: it involves telling the truth about the violent criminal past of a known MS-13…Cully Stimson -
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Illegal Immigrant, Deported 3 Times, Charged With Running Over Police Officer
A man deported from the United States three times is accused of running over a Dallas police officer and backing into a second cop. The illegal immigrant, Eduardo Gonzalez-Rio, is being held in the Dallas County Jail, according to The Dallas Morning News. Gonzalez-Rio, 29, was escorted out of a nightclub early Mondaymorning. He got into…Leah Jessen -
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Leaked DHS Memo Reveals Attempt to Skirt Immigration Law; Senate Republicans Demand Explanation
Senate Republicans are asking the Department of Homeland Security to explain a leaked agency memo reportedly revealing that federal officials are planning to evade a federal court order barring pieces of President Barack Obama’s executive immigration actions. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, led eight others on the committee in a letter sent to DHS Secretary Jeh…Natalie Johnson -
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How Georgia Became a Haven for Violent Illegal Immigrants
According to an investigation by Atlanta’s WSB-TV, Georgia ranks first in deportations of illegal immigrants among all non-border states. And it trails only Texas, Arizona, and California as fourth overall, based on a review of government deportation records. In fiscal year 2013, there were 7,120 illegal immigrants deported in Georgia alone, according to WSB-TV reporter Aaron Diamant’s investigation. Of…Daily Signal Staff -
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Republican Committee Chairmen Want Answers About Twice-Deported Illegal Immigrant Who Allegedly Raped a Woman
Congressional Republicans continue to press the Department of Homeland Security for answers on how that agency handles the deportation of illegal immigrants suspected of violent crime. On Friday, the chairmen of both the Senate and House Judiciary Committees sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson concerning a twice-deported man who allegedly kidnapped, trafficked,…Philip Wegmann -
- Opinion
Most Illegal Immigrants Crossing Border Believe They Are Eligible for Legal Status. Obama’s Actions Make That No Surprise.
Families caught illegally crossing the border into the United States recently are telling government agencies they did so in part because they thought they would be allowed to stay. According to data from Customs and Border Protection, which recently interviewed illegal border crossers, families “consistently” believed they were eligible for some sort of legal “permisos,”…David Inserra -
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His Brother Was Killed by an Illegal Immigrant in 2011. Now, He’s Angry the Senate Blocked the Sanctuary Cities Bill.
Brian McCann is angry. Two days before his brother Denny McCann’s birthday, Democrats in the Senate blocked a bill that would have withheld federal funding for sanctuary cities, cities that refuse to work with federal immigration officers and turn over immigrants living in the country illegally. Denny McCann, who was walking in a crosswalk in…Melissa Quinn -
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See How Your Senators Voted on Sanctuary Cities
Senate Democrats blocked legislation that would punish “sanctuary cities” in a 54-45 vote Tuesday afternoon. The bill, called the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, needed to overcome a 60-vote threshold. It would withhold certain federal funding from states or cities that refuse to comply with requests from federal immigration officials to turn over immigrants…Kelsey Bolar -
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ACLU Sues Missouri Colleges for Denying Illegal Immigrants In-State Tuition
The American Civil Liberties Union filed multiple lawsuits in Missouri last week on behalf of three college students who claim they were wrongfully barred from receiving in-state tuition because of their immigration status under President Barack Obama’s executive action. The ACLU’s Missouri division sued three colleges in the state for “illegally” charging those students an…Natalie Johnson -
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There Are Now 340 Sanctuary Cities. Find Out If There’s One Near You.
Sanctuary cities are growing in the United States, leading to a spike of 340 jurisdictions that shield undocumented immigrants from federal immigration law. The Center for Immigration Studies published an interactive map showing the locations of the sanctuaries, revealing scattered pinpoints across the country. You can view that map here. Sanctuary policies vary from state…Natalie Johnson -
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Sanctuary Cities on the Rise, Releasing More Than 9,000 Criminals in US Illegally
The number of sanctuary cities in the United States has risen to 340, resulting in the release of roughly 1,000 detained illegal immigrants each month despite objections from the federal government, according to a new study. The Center for Immigration Studies, a nonprofit organization that advocates for decreased immigration, reported that local authorities acting in these…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
Deportation Numbers Have Dramatically Fallen. Is This Related to Obama’s Immigration Actions?
Deportations have fallen to the lowest point since 2006, according to unreleased government deportation data the Associated Press recently acquired. Furthermore, criminal immigrants being removed have also fallen to the lowest point of the Obama administration. These figures put two huge holes in the administration’s excuses for not enforcing immigration laws and could even be…David Inserra -
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Conservatives Dispute Civil Rights Commission Report Citing ‘Inhumane’ Conditions at Immigrant Detention Centers
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released an extensive report Thursday urging President Barack Obama to release undocumented immigrant women and children from detention facilities, citing “abuse” and “inhumane” conditions. The commission found that several of the facilities had violated federal requirements regarding the treatment of detained immigrants, including poor medical care standards, inadequate sexual…Natalie Johnson -
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Five Questions Sen. James Lankford Wants Obama to Answer About His Immigration Actions
Sen. James Lankford will send a letter to the White House on Thursday asking the president to clarify his remarks that there will be “consequences” for government officials who do not comply with his executive order on immigration. This is the second attempt Lankford, R-Okla., has made to have President Barack Obama explain his statement….Kate Scanlon -
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16 Photos of the Refugees Stranded in Hungary Amid Migrant Crisis
Thousands of migrants from Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, have fled to Europe. As European countries grapple with the situation, Hungary has become the epicenter of the crisis, with many on trains or at train stations. Many of the migrants have resisted going to a refugee camp. 100s of #refugees stuck inside…Kelsey Lucas -
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Study: Half of Immigrant Households Used at Least One Welfare Program
The majority of immigrants in the U.S. receive some form of government welfare, significantly outpacing native-born Americans who use benefit programs, according to a study released Wednesday. The Center for Immigration Studies, a non-profit organization that advocates for decreased immigration, reported that 51 percent of immigrant households used at least one welfare program in 2012…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
The Number of Victims Shows There’s No Excuse for Sanctuary Cities
A litigation battle is raging between the states and President Barack Obama over his attempt to impose a nationwide “sanctuary” policy for illegal aliens. Yet there is no question that existing sanctuary policies implemented by numerous towns and cities have victimized innocent Americans. Those sanctuary policies have enabled illegal aliens to commit thousands of crimes—crimes…Hans von Spakovsky