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
US Immigration Exam Replaces ‘Freedom of Religion’ With ‘Freedom of Worship’
A Republican senator from Oklahoma pressed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson at a hearing Wednesday about why the U.S. is “misrepresenting” Americans’ First Amendment right to freedom of religion to immigrants who are applying to become U.S. citizens. “We in the United States actually have freedom of religion, not freedom of worship,” Sen….Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
As Coast Guard Combats Drug Trafficking, Budget Shortfalls Linger
Following 19 interdictions along the Central and South American coasts, the crew of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell returned home on April 16 with over 28,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $424 million. Collectively, these busts are a significant accomplishment for the sea service; however, they only represent a portion of the…Max Meizlish -
- Opinion
Obama Lawyer Struggles to Defend Immigration Plan’s Implementation as Case Goes Through Courts
The Obama administration’s lawyer, Benjamin Mizer, the acting assistant attorney general of the Civil Division at the Justice Department, did not have an easy time in his argument last Friday before a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in the immigration lawsuit filed by 26 states. He was questioned about all of the…Hans von Spakovsky -
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Will Obama’s Immigration Actions Remain on Hold? Appeals Court to Decide.
A federal appeals court today will hear oral arguments about whether to keep or rescind a hold on President Obama’s recent executive actions on immigration. Learn more about the case in this video.Alex Anderson -
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Texas Attorney General: ‘If the Law Matters,’ Courts Will Side With States in Fight Over Obama Immigration Policy
As a federal appeals court considers whether to keep or rescind a hold on President Obama’s immigration program, the attorney general of the state leading the charge against the president’s executive actions “is very confident” the plaintiffs will win out. “All I can tell you is, based on the law, I feel very confident,” said…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Texas Judge Delivers Blistering Rebuke of Obama Administration Immigration Lawyers’ Misbehavior
In an order issued late Tuesday, federal district court Judge Andrew Hanen refused to lift the preliminary injunction he had previously issued stopping the implementation of the immigration amnesty plan announced by President Obama last November. And in a second order, an obviously infuriated Judge Hanen said that the “attorneys for the Government misrepresented the…Hans von Spakovsky -
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Study: Qualifiers of Obama’s Immigration Program Could Earn $1.3 Trillion in Government Benefits Over Lifetime
For the parents of U.S. citizens who benefit from President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, the value of cash welfare benefits they receive will be greater than the amount of money they pay out in new taxes, according to a study by a conservative researcher. Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation,…Josh Siegel -
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A New Strategy for Those Looking to Stop Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration
After a failed attempt to block implementation of the president’s executive action on immigration by not funding it through the Department of Homeland Security funding, Congressional Republicans are seeking another strategy to combat the president’s action. One writer has raised the idea of blocking judicial nominees until the president relents. Curt Levey, the president of…Kate Scanlon -
- News
Thousands of Illegal Immigrants Likely to Get Social Security, Thanks to Obama’s Immigration Executive Actions
President Obama’s executive actions on immigration will likely lead to a hike in the number of people eligible to collect Social Security. This information comes as the Social Security Administration faces questions about 6.5 million active Social Security numbers registered to Americans who are likely deceased. “Starting in 2017, the Social Security Administration expects that…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
Letters to the Editor: Who’s to Blame for GOP’s Failure to Stop Obama’s Immigration Actions?
The Daily Signal devoted significant coverage to the congressional standoff over President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. Our report last week examining how the GOP’s legislative strategy ultimately failed prompted several of you to share your thoughts: — • — Thanks for writing an in-depth reveal of how Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader…Rob Bluey -
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A Closer Look at the Obama Administration’s Not-So-Secret Immigration Operational Center
A federal judge may have temporarily halted President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, but the White House is still proceeding as if it expects the programs to stand. In this video, The Daily Signal explores one reason why. The Obama administration, or more specifically a government agency called Citizenship and Immigration Services, has set up an…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Progressives, Including Obama, Misunderstand What Being a Nation of Immigrants Means
Recently, President Obama has trotted out a new line regarding his executive action on immigration: It’s supported not just by the law but by something more majestic…history! In Florida, he confidently repeated the point to MSNBC host Jose Diaz-Balart: “We’re going to be as aggressive as we can, because not only do we know that…Mike Gonzalez -
- Opinion
Government and Societal Action Critical for Fighting Human Trafficking
“We can change all the laws we want—but until we change the attitudes and respect for human beings, all this work is for nothing,” said Cindy McCain, head of the McCain Institute’s Human Trafficking Advisory Council, at a recent panel discussion at The Heritage Foundation. Heritage’s Lisa Curtis chaired a panel of experts including Cindy…Emily Runge -
- News
House Approves Homeland Security Funding, Lets Obama’s Immigration Actions Stand
The congressional showdown over President Obama’s immigration actions and Department of Homeland Security funding has officially ended. This afternoon the House voted 257-167 to pass a “clean” yearlong Homeland Security funding bill that contains no conditions related to the president’s immigration actions—allowing them to stand. Almost 70 percent of Republicans voted no, but Democrats carried…Josh Siegel -
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Boehner Relents on Immigration Fight, Will Allow Vote on ‘Clean’ Homeland Security Bill
By punting a solution over Homeland Security funding for a week, Republicans hoped the extra time would allow for further debate over President Obama’s contentious immigration actions. But Democrats—who won’t even consider legislation that connects funding the agency through the fiscal year with attempts to repeal Obama’s executive actions—are blocking those conversations from occurring. Today,…Josh Siegel -
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IRS Says Illegal Immigrants Eligible for Tax Credits
Following questions raised by a prominent senator last month, the Internal Revenue Service clarified that illegal immigrants granted deferred action by President Obama are eligible for tax credits. In a letter IRS Commissioner John Koskinen sent to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, last week, the head of the tax agency confirmed that illegal immigrants authorized to…Melissa Quinn -
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Why Scott Walker ‘Changed’ His View on Immigration
During an interview with Fox News Sunday that aired today, host Chris Wallace showed footage from July 2, 2013, when the Wausau Daily Herald asked Walker, “Can you envision a world where, with the right penalties and waiting periods and meet the requirements, where those people could get citizenship?” “Sure. Yeah. I mean, I think…Kate Scanlon -
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Unfiltered: Jeb Bush on Immigration and Common Core
During his Q&A with Sean Hannity at CPAC, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush addressed two controversial topics: immigration and Common Core. The Daily Signal presents the raw, unfiltered footage of Bush’s answers. >>> 15 Things Jeb Bush Said When He Faced Conservative CriticsDaily Signal Staff -
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What Are the ‘Consequences’ of Disobeying Obama’s Immigration Actions? This Senator Seeks Answers
President Obama said at a Miami town-hall meeting this week there would be “consequences” for government officials who fail to carry out his immigration executive actions. Now, a U.S. senator is demanding answers in light of a recent federal court ruling against Obama’s policy. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told The Daily Signal he wants to…Daily Signal Staff -
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Congress Approves One-Week Pact to Fund Homeland Security, but Immigration Fight Lingers
After Congress tonight approved a one-week funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security just hours before a midnight deadline, Republican lawmakers still struggled over how to fund the agency beyond seven days while fulfilling their stated goal of stopping President Obama’s immigration actions. “I am not sure how it is all going to end,”…Josh Siegel