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
Gary Haugen’s Congressional Testimony on Human Trafficking
In his recent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Gary Haugen, President and CEO of International Justice Mission, shared practical steps that Congress could take to end human trafficking. Haugen emphasized that local law enforcement and a fair judicial system are the keys to defeating this global scourge. Without ending impunity, he says, human…Olivia Enos -
- News
10 States Suing Over Obama’s Immigration Actions Find Their Senators on Opposite Side
Twenty-six states are suing the federal government over President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, but U.S. senators representing 10 of those states are taking the opposite approach in Washington. “We have senators from states going against what their constituents want and what their state attorney generals or governors are doing,” says @HvonSpakovsky Lawmakers in Florida, Indiana,…Kelsey Bolar -
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Border Patrol Union Leader Blasts Washington: ‘We’re in the Middle of Political Football’
A union leader for U.S. Border Patrol agents spoke out today to voice concern about the political haggling over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. “We don’t want our border left unguarded,” says @Shawn_Moran Shawn Moran, vice president for the National Border Patrol Council, says the congressional showdown over President Obama’s executive actions and…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Obama to Immigration Agents: Ask Illegal Immigrants If They Qualify for Executive Amnesty
There’s been a shocking turn in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. “The Obama administration has ordered immigration agents to ask immigrants they encounter living in the country illegally whether they might qualify under President Barack Obama’s” executive amnesty, reported the Associated Press Wednesday. Reporter Alicia Caldwell wrote that these new policies “mark an unusual…David Inserra -
- News
Boehner Finalizing Plans to Pursue Legal Action Against Obama on Immigration
House Speaker John Boehner told Republicans in a closed-door meeting today that he is moving towards a plan to authorize legal action against the White House over President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. According to a source who attended the meeting, Boehner, R-Ohio, told lawmakers that the House will pursue a legal course that “gives…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Congress Seeks to Improve Global Anti-Trafficking Efforts
As National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month comes to a close, Congress is turning its attention to combatting human trafficking. New estimates suggest that as many as 35.8 million people are victims of human trafficking. Renewed attention on this international crisis is necessary if the U.S. is to continue to lead global anti-trafficking efforts….Olivia Enos -
- News
House Conservatives Pressure Senate Counterparts to ‘Start Fighting’ Obama’s Immigration Policies
Conservatives in the House of Representatives issued a stern message to their Senate counterparts today and emboldened them to “start fighting” and pass legislation that rolls back President Obama’s immigration policies. “It’s high time that Ted Cruz and Mike Lee and others decide that they’re going to start fighting, using the procedural rules in the…Melissa Quinn -
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These Are the People Who Can Benefit From Obama’s Immigration Actions
Who are the 11.4 million immigrants living in the United States illegally? Last week, the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute released data profiles that provide an answer. The study focused on immigrants who stand to benefit from President Obama’s recent executive actions, which defer deportation for up to 5.2 million illegal immigrants and grant them work…Josh Siegel -
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House-Passed Immigration Plan Gets Bitter Response at GOP’s Hershey Retreat
HERSHEY, Pa. — Just one day after the House of Representatives passed legislation rolling back several of President Obama’s immigration policies, GOP lawmakers from both chambers of Congress are expressing skepticism about whether the bill will win approval in the Senate. “We want to give our members an opportunity to vote and express their opposition…Melissa Quinn -
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House Votes to Undo 4 Years of Obama’s Immigration Policies
The GOP-led House voted today to undo major portions of President Obama’s immigration policy, including his recent executive actions and an earlier program that allowed immigrants who entered the country illegally as children—a group known as Dreamers—to stay. In voting 236-191 to pass a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security through the end of…Josh Siegel -
- News
Mike Lee: ‘Some’ Senate Democrats Would Support Defund of Obama’s Immigration Action
An outspoken conservative senator said today that he expects “some” Democrats to join him in supporting an expansive plan by the House of Representatives to block President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, would not speculate if Republicans could count on enough Democrats to ultimately pass legislation in the Senate defunding Obama’s…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Q&A: How House Republicans’ Plan to Defund Obama’s Immigration Executive Action Works
Last week, the House released its bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of September as well as several amendments that seek to defund President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. There are several important questions that Congress and the American people should understand before Congress votes on this issue. What is…David Inserra -
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Immigration Group Urges Congress to Join States in Fight Against Immigration Executive Action
As 25 states sue the Obama administration over the president’s controversial executive amnesty order, an immigration group is urging Congress to join the fight on behalf of taxpayers and the Constitution. “For six years, the Obama administration has been obsessed with centralizing power but refused to use it to enforce immigration laws. Instead, they’ve focused…Kenric Ward -
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House GOP Agrees to Expansive Plan Blocking Obama’s Immigration Actions
House Republicans will vote on far-reaching legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security through September and undo President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. After considering several proposals, the agreement favored by House leaders would prevent Obama from implementing his recent executive actions to defer deportation for up to 5 million immigrants living in the…Josh Siegel -
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Virginia Attorney General Sits Out Fighting Obama Administration on Immigration Executive Action
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia is sitting out the legal fight over President Obama’s controversial amnesty order, even though illegal immigration costs Virginians more than $1.8 billion a year. Indeed, while 25 other state attorneys general are suing the administration to block the path to citizenship for some 5 million illegals in this country, Virginia Attorney…Kenric Ward -
- News
House GOP Plots Attack on Obama Immigration Actions
House Republicans, bolstered by a bigger majority, are moving quickly to block President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. Acting on the party’s promise to confront Obama on his unilateral actions to protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportations, GOP leaders plan to move on legislation as early as next week. “The House will soon take…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
25 States Continue Their Battle Against Obama’s Immigration Executive Actions
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen of the Southern District of Texas has scheduled a hearing for Jan. 9 on the request for an injunction filed by 25 states against President Obama’s immigration amnesty plan. In a nationally televised speech on Nov. 20, Obama announced (and began implementing) the executive actions. The original lawsuit was filed on Dec. 3,…Hans von Spakovsky -
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96% of Illegal Immigrant Families With Deportation Orders ‘Can’t Be Found’
Thousands of illegal immigrants who spilled into border states earlier this year have “disappeared” from government tracking, according to a recent investigation by a Houston TV station. 96 percent of the more than 4,100 families released on recognizance and ordered deported did not show up to court. The wave of unaccompanied children and women illegally…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
Why a Federal Judge Says Obama’s Immigration Action Is Unconstitutional
The U.S. Justice Department and the Obama administration have lost their first battle in the war over the president’s plan to provide “deferred action,” or amnesty, to almost 5 million illegal aliens. When the judge for a Pennsylvania federal district court held on Dec. 16 that President Obama’s “Executive Action is unconstitutional because it violates the…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
What Christmas Means to My Immigrant Family
I’m not much of a sentimental guy, but I have to admit I get pretty sentimental at Christmas. It is a special time in my family, not least because of eventful Christmases that my parents, who are no longer with us, experienced in their lives. I’ve written about those Christmases on previous occasions, such as…Hans von Spakovsky