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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- 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…Robert B. Bluey -
- News
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 -
- News
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 -
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Texas Attorney General ‘Very Confident’ Courts Will Side With States in Fight Over Obama Immigration Policy
As lawmakers in Congress struggle to find agreement in their fight to undo President Obama’s immigration policy, a state attorney general today voiced confidence in the courtroom battle over the executive actions. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the Obama administration “disingenuous” and “devious” for appealing a federal judge’s order halting the president’s executive actions…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Why Congress, Not Just the Courts, Must Address Obama’s Immigration Executive Actions
If funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapses on Friday, there should be no confusion as to who is “defunding” Homeland Security. The House passed a spending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The legislation would prohibit funding for implementation of President Obama’s illegal executive actions on immigration, while still funding the…Daren Bakst -
- News
Conservatives Reject McConnell Plan to End Immigration, Homeland Security Stalemate
As the Friday deadline for funding the Department of Homeland Security nears, House Conservatives are fighting a new Senate plan for preventing a partial shutdown of the agency. Under Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s proposal, his chamber would vote first on a measure to fund Homeland Security and then hold a separate vote on a…Josh Siegel -
- News
Republicans Differ Over How to Fight Obama on Immigration, Fund Homeland Security
For each side in the debate over funding the Department of Homeland Security, the answer is simple—at least in their own minds. “I think the bill we passed is the right position, plain and simple,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, who won’t support anything other than House-passed legislation that funds Homeland Security only if Congress revokes…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
The Obama Administration Makes Its Next Move in the Immigration Fight
As expected, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an appeal today with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas v. U.S. This is the lawsuit filed by 26 states against President Obama’s unilateral amnesty plan for illegal immigrants. The Justice Department will be asking the Fifth Circuit to overturn the Feb. 17 order of…Hans von Spakovsky -
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Q&A: What You Need to Know About Court Order Stopping Obama’s Immigration Actions
A federal judge’s ruling Monday halted President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, stopping—at least temporarily—the government’s attempt to grant legal status to an estimated 5 million illegal immigrants. U.S. District Court Judge Andrew S. Hanen’s ruling, in response to a lawsuit from 26 states, comes just days before the Obama administration planned to implement the…Josh Siegel -
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What 2016 Hopefuls Say About the Court Ruling Against Obama’s Immigration Moves
Would-be successors to President Obama wasted little time aligning themselves with a federal judge who blocked the president from unilaterally allowing up to 5 million illegal immigrants to stay here and get work permits. Although neither Hillary Rodham Clinton nor any other Democratic hopeful was out front with a reaction, some of the likeliest Republican…Ken McIntyre -
- Opinion
Senate Democrats Choosing Illegal Immigrants Over Border Patrol Agents
Allow funding for the Department of Homeland Security to lapse or engage in the legislative process. Those are the only two options Senate Democrats have at this point. Everything else transcribed in the press or recited by television pundits is nothing more than a distraction. Senate Democrats, of course, deny that binary choice, but their…Mike Needham -
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Federal Judge Blocks Obama’s Immigration Actions. Here Are 32 Tweets Reacting to the Ruling.
A federal judge’s ruling yesterday halted President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, stopping—at least temporarily—the government’s attempt to grant legal status to an estimated 5 million illegal immigrants. U.S. District Court Judge Andrew S. Hanen’s ruling, in response to a lawsuit from 25 states, comes just days before the Obama administration planned to implement the…Ben Smith