Archive for the ‘Trump Immigration Policy’ Category
Trump Issues New Rule that Prevents Individuals Who Crossed the Southern Border Without Inspection from Applying for Asylum
General Background for Asylum Asylum refers to the process of applying for protection in order to avoid harm in one’s country of origin. Asylum (or refugee law) provides protection against human rights violations, namely being harmed in your country of origin based on one of the following protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in […]
USCIS’ NEW POLICY ON WHEN APPLICANTS ARE REFERRED TO IMMIGRATION COURT FOR DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS
BACKGROUND The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) divides immigration related functions between three separate departments: ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) for enforcing immigration laws, CBP (Customs and Border Protection) for controlling the inspection and admission of foreign nationals into our country at our land ports of entry and at airports. Additionally, CBP is responsible for […]
A Dream Act, at What Price?
Last week Trump sent his “term sheet” to congressional republicans containing what he wants in exchange for a “DREAM Act” that would provide an eventual path to citizenship for Dreamers. In contrast to his earlier statements (“I will sign any Dream Act legislation that is put on my desk”), Trump is now attempting to extract […]
What is The Diversity Visa Program?
In light of the tragic attack in New York City this week by Sayfullo Saipov, Trump has called for the end of the Diversity Visa program (the immigration program that allowed Saipov to immigrate to the U.S). In typical Trump fashion, Trump continues to lead through fear, which has the terrible effect of undermining any […]
Trump Issues a New Indefinite Travel Ban on both Previously Designated and New Countries
On Sunday, September 24th, Trump issued his third and most severe travel ban, this time calling for an indefinite ban on entry into the United States of foreign nationals from designated countries. Rather than a 90-day ban, like the previous versions, Trump has put an indefinite ban in place again on foreign nationals from countries […]
Proposed Immigration Bills: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Before our discussion below of recently proposed immigration bills, it is worth reviewing the process of how a bill (a proposed new law) becomes law. The fact of the matter is that, for better or for worse, our country’s founders made it very difficult to change the law (with few exceptions). Bills hit […]
Misconceptions about Undocumented Immigrants
Changing Trends in Immigration Our tumultuous political climate has once again brought immigration to its forefront. The heated issue, however, involves a myriad of misconceptions further complicating a very important, and very personal, discussion. The following data, largely gathered by the Pew Institute, provides relevant information challenging various notions that have colored the immigration […]
Despite Trump’s Stated Support for Christians from the Middle East, Iraqi Chaldean Christians Face Deportation
“Christians in the Middle East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot allow this horror to continue!” President Trump tweeted this January. Indeed, his initial commitment to the Middle eastern Christians and their unwavering support for his campaign, particularly the Chaldean community in Detroit, played a significant role in his victories in certain Michigan […]
Supreme Court Gives Trump His First Partial Victory for his Travel Ban
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a preliminary opinion today temporarily allowing part of Trump’s travel ban to take effect until a final decision is made later this year, perhaps by October. Many feared an end to the string of victories against the travel bans as the second ban worked its way up to the Supreme Court, […]
The Real Cost of Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Plan
When it comes to deportation systems, the United States has taken the bigger-is-better approach in recent years. And by the looks of what’s mapped out in Trump’s executive order, agency memos and budget requests, the immigration enforcement plan will only get more massive. Or “wasteful and ineffective” as the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) put […]