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
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… -
news
‘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… -
news
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… -
opinion
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… -
news
National Guard Would Be Waste of Resources, Border Patrol Agents Say
As Texas Gov. Rick Perry activates troops to help manage a surge of immigrants entering his state through Mexico, Border Patrol agents responsible for apprehending the illegal crossers say they do not want assistance from the National Guard to secure the border. Perry announced Monday he would deploy up to 1,000 National Guard troops to… -
news
Life on the Border: Trespassing Immigrants Damage Fences, Disrupt Game Hunting
ENCINO, Texas—Far from the border with Mexico, Ronnie Osburn, manager of the Tepeguaje Ranch, says illegal immigrants trespass his property to avoid a highway checkpoint and make it to Houston—and beyond. In the follow-up to The Daily Signal’s “Life on the Ranch” video, Osburn describes how trespassers vandalize the wired fence that lines his property,… -
news
6 Cities React to Illegal Immigrants in Their Communities
An influx of illegal and unaccompanied immigrant children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador in U.S. border towns is causing the federal government to look elsewhere around the country to house them. But many Americans oppose the placement of illegal immigrants in their communities. 1. Granjeno, Texas "In the past month I've seen it everyday,… -
news
At the Border, Processing Center Opens for Illegal Child Migrants
McALLEN, Texas — The U.S. government was set to open a 55,000-square-foot processing center in this border town on Sunday to temporarily house immigrant children who have entered the country illegally. More than 57,000 unaccompanied children, mostly from Central America, have entered the U.S. illegally since October. The children had overwhelmed Border Patrol facilities, spurring… -
opinion
By the Numbers: Central American Immigrants in U.S.
According to a Center for Immigration Studies fact sheet, the majority of the massive influx of illegal immigrants flooding across the southern border of the United States originate in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The infographic below breaks down the current Central American community in the United States. -
opinion
Shovel Ready Judges: The Obama Plan to Address Immigration Backlog
On Tuesday, President Obama requested $3.7 billion in “emergency” funds from Congress to address the urgent immigration crisis along the southwestern border. The proposal includes a request of $45.4 million “to hire approximately 40 additional immigration judges and support teams, including those anticipated to be hired on a temporary basis.” Although the funding request has… -
news
Sen. Coburn: Why Don’t We Verify Immigration Status of Sponsors for Unaccompanied Children?
Department of Health and Human Services official Mark Greenburg stated during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Wednesday that, when placing unaccompanied, illegal immigrant children into homes to await their respective deportation hearings, the department does not verify nor take into account the legal status of sponsors. Committee member Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., remarked… -
opinion
The U.S. Should Dismiss UNHCR Opinion That the Migrants Are Refugees
Should the Central American migrants crossing our border be treated as refugees? Recent statements in the press by officials of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicate the agency thinks they should. But as the administration and Congress struggle to find common ground on resolving the crisis, the UNHCR officials’ views simply add another… -
news
Goodlatte Blames Obama’s Executive Orders for Wave of Illegal Immigrants
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said Monday that President Obama’s unauthorized “administrative legalizations” are to blame for the growing humanitarian crisis on the southern border. Goodlatte claims that Obama’s “lack of leadership” and executive orders are sending an inviting message to immigrants attempting to illegally cross into the U.S. -
news
‘We Must Protect Them’: Ads Seek to Deter Child Migrants From Central America
A dramatic ad, commissioned by U.S. homeland security officials to discourage youngsters from Central America from crossing the southern border, depicts the death of a youth on his way to America to make “great money.” The public service announcement, in Spanish, is airing in Guatemala as part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials’ $1 million… -
opinion
Daily Signal Google Hangout to Focus on Immigration
Obama administration officials have said for years that the border “is as secure as ever,” but the huge increase in the number of illegal aliens crossing the U.S. southern border in 2014 alone prove otherwise. Heritage Foundation experts say a multitude of factors are contributing to the recent influx, including President Barack Obama’s lax enforcement… -
opinion
These Newlyweds Explain Why U.S. Immigration System Needs Fixing
“We wanted to do things right” is the theme of the love story between newlyweds Doug and Magdy Sampson. An American and a Guatemalan, the Sampsons were determined to live and marry in America as quickly as possible, but soon found out the U.S. immigration process was far from easy or quick. Their story gives… -
opinion
How One Immigrant Escaped Tyranny to Achieve the American Dream
Virginia Prodan, a Dallas immigration attorney, escaped Communist Romania and was granted political asylum by the United States. She immediately fell in love with the freedom and possibility in America. This is the story of her journey to become an American citizen—and why she is committed to helping immigrants come to the United States legally. -
news
1,100 Illegal Immigrants Are Living at an Oklahoma Army Base. Why Can’t This Congressman Visit?
Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., was denied access July 1 to the Department of Health and Human Services facility at Fort Sill, Okla., which houses more than 1,100 illegal immigrant children. Bridenstine, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said that he was told to return July 21 if he wanted to gain access. Skeptical of the… -
news
After Border Visit, Congressman Says U.S. Failing to Detain, Deport Illegal Immigrants
Tens of thousands of immigrants who illegally crossed the Mexico border into the United States are in the process of being released into communities throughout the nation rather than being indefinitely detained or immediately deported, according to a Texas congressman. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, who visited the U.S.-Mexico border last week, said an effort is… -
news
Congressman Denied Access to Government Facility Housing Migrant Children
A congressman trying to visit a federal facility housing unaccompanied illegal immigrants from Central America was denied access to the building. According to a press release, Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., yesterday attempted to visit the facility at the Fort Sill Army post—run by the Department of Health and Human Services—in Lawton, Okla., but was told…