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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A Morning in Immigration Court: Judge Hears 38 ‘Favorite’ Cases, Many He’ll See Again
“It is my favorite docket, the juveniles,” Immigration Judge John Milo Bryant says, unprompted, as he hears the case of 15-year-old Christian Hernandez, a recent illegal arrival from Honduras. Bryant, the gregarious judge overseeing 38 juvenile cases in Arlington, Va., Immigration Court on a Tuesday morning, commends Christian for his “perfect English.” Christian, a good-looking…Josh Siegel -
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Immigration Isn’t Just an Issue for Lawmakers. Everyday Americans Say It’s a Big One, Too.
The flood of illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexico border has made immigration a top issue for Americans, new polling shows. Job-seeking U.S. citizens are increasingly unhappy about competing for work with illegal immigrants. During a panel discussion at The Heritage Foundation today on the border crisis and immigration debate, Kellyanne Conway, president of the Polling…Melissa Quinn -
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Who’s Teaching the Undocumented Children at Federal Immigration Facilities?
SANTA FE, N.M.—A new school year is about to start for kids across New Mexico. That includes the children staying in the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, which has been remodeled to house up to 700 immigrants, nearly all of whom came to the United States from Central America. But who has been contracted…Rob Nikolewski -
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A Look Inside One of America’s Immigration Courts
OMAHA, Neb.—In an office building near Omaha’s airport, stern-faced, gray-haired immigration judge Jack Anderson presides over removal hearings in a courtroom filled with juveniles, most of them from Central America, all of them hoping to be allowed to stay in the United States. Josue, 13, sits in the front row with his mother and two…Deena Winter -
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Did Politics Drive Obama Administration to Release 600 Criminal Illegal Immigrants?
A new report by the Homeland Security inspector general has once again put the spotlight on the Obama administration’s release of more than 600 illegal immigrants with criminal convictions. Last night, Sharyl Attkisson helped Fox News’ Lou Dobbs make sense of the story. In early 2013, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released thousands of…Philip Wegmann -
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It’s Absurd to Say Government Can’t Afford to Detain Criminal Illegal Immigrants
“The fact is if the government needs money to detain illegal immigrants, especially those with felon backgrounds, I think we can find that money when you know how much money we spend in this country.” >>> Obama Administration Released Over 600 Illegal Immigrants With Criminal ConvictionsGenevieve Wood -
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Obama Administration Released Over 600 Illegal Immigrants With Criminal Convictions
More than 600 convicted criminals, including felons, were among thousands of illegal immigrants freed under the Obama administration in advance of 2013 budget cuts mandated under sequestration. That’s according to a new report today from the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security. The Obama administration released 2,226 immigrant detainees, 617 of whom had…Sharyl Attkisson -
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As School Year Begins, Class Will Be In Session for Up to 50,000 Immigrant Kids
The new school year will soon be in session, and according to USA Today, possibly overcrowded. Federal law mandates that all children enroll in public school this fall—including an estimated 50,000 undocumented immigrant children. As the border crisis comes to the classroom, states are rushing to prepare by hiring more teachers and even opening new…Philip Wegmann -
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Ignore the Fearmongering: Illegal Immigrants Crossing Border Won’t Bring Ebola
“I don’t think there’s any concern today at all about ebola coming in through the southern border.” Watch the full interview about what Americans should and shouldn’t be concerned about in regards to ebola threat:Genevieve Wood -
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A Governor’s Dilemma: Illegal Immigrants Divert Resources From State’s Own Citizens
On June 13, the first bus of illegal immigrant minors, aged 12-17, arrived at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The state of Oklahoma was given no formal notice, and no chance to object. After weeks of bad publicity, public outrage and political pressure, the Obama administration announced this week that the facility will close by Friday, Aug….Gov. Mary Fallin -
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Rubio: Senate Immigration Plan ‘Never’ Will Get Enough House Votes
Congress should approach immigration reform in stages rather than in one big package that “never” will attract enough votes in the House, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said today, backing further away from the “comprehensive” Senate bill he helped pass last year. “We’re not debating what to do. We’re debating how to do it,” Rubio told…Josh Siegel -
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13 Years Ago, This Operation Stifled Illegal Immigration From Central America
More than a decade ago, a cooperative effort between Washington and Mexico City resulted in the arrest and repatriation of thousands of illegal immigrants, reduced border apprehensions of Central American immigrants by 76 percent, and saved U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars. In an interview with the Center for Immigration Studies, retired U.S. immigration official Hipolito…Philip Wegmann -
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Taxpayers Cover Cost of Flying Immigrant Children to Hawaii
HONOLULU—Although 2,500 miles from the continental United States, Hawaii has joined the list of states temporarily housing unaccompanied minors from Central America who have illegally crossed into America through the U.S.-Mexico border. Who’s paying to transport the minors to Hawaii? You, the taxpayer. Some 60,000 Central American youths fleeing their home countries have come to the…Malia Zimmerman -
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Terry McAuliffe Underestimates Child Immigrants in Virginia
Gov. Terry McAuliffe said the border crisis is a federal problem, not Virginia’s, and that undocumented children are only being housed at one location in the state—even though news outlets have confirmed more. During a Wednesday radio interview on WTOP, a caller asked the Democratic governor how he is going to handle the border crisis now that it has…Kathryn Watson -
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Schools Brace for Flood of Immigrant Children
MIAMI—With thousands of Central American children newly arrived in the United States, and more expected to come, school officials have asked the federal government for a helping hand. Immigrant kids cost about $1,900 more per pupil to educate. Teachers must be bilingual. The students will need health care and psychological services because many arrive sick and traumatized…Marianela Toledo -
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I Played by the Rules on Immigration. Why Is the U.S. Making It So Hard for Me to Become a Doctor?
Fifteen years ago, when I was 6, my parents and I moved to the United States from Canada, where I was born. Since moving to this great country, I have attended elementary, middle and high school in Coral Springs, Fla., and I’m currently pursuing a bachelor degree in biological sciences and pre-med at Florida Atlantic…Brandon Macknofsky -
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Oklahoma Congressman Fights Plan to House Illegal Immigrants at Military Bases
Rep. Jim Bridenstine, a freshman congressman and Navy pilot whose military awards decorate his Capitol Hill office, holds a special affection for fellow servicemen. The Oklahoma Republican also is sympathetic to Central American children who are being smuggled into the United States from Mexico to reunite with family. Bridenstine witnessed the intersection of those two…Josh Siegel -
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‘Send Them Back’: Wealthy Cape Cod Town Rejects Plan to House Immigrant Children
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has answered the call to shelter immigrant children, but Cape Cod residents aren’t having it. Last week, the Democratic governor announced his offer to house up to 1,000 children at Camp Edwards military base on Cape Cod. Concerned for the children’s wellbeing, Patrick declared, “I think we are the kind of…Philip Wegmann -
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Backlogged Immigration System Prolongs Road to Deportation for Unaccompanied Minors
As lawmakers debate how to handle the surge of immigrants crossing the country’s southern border, unaccompanied minors denied asylum face a long road back home. Because of the backlogged U.S. immigration system, many of those children remain in the country for years—even if deportation is the only option. According to information obtained by the House…Melissa Quinn -
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What’s Right and What’s Wrong About Republicans’ New Border Crisis Policy Proposal
House Speaker John Boehner’s Border Crisis Working Group released Wednesday its recommendations on what should be done on the border crisis. The group, which is chaired by Rep. Kay Granger, R-Tex., announced 12 policy ideas for how to solve the influx of unaccompanied alien children on the border. Some of their ideas are good, some…David Inserra