Current Immigration issues Who is responsible for immigration policies?

What is the Dream Act? Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors: bill for qualifying alien minors that would first grant conditional residency and, upon meeting further qualifications, permanent residency. First introduced by in 2001 by Senators Dick Durbin (D) and Orrin Hatch (R)… failed to pass after several attempts. Set up several requirements.

What are the requirements? They were younger than 18 years old on the date of their initial entry into the US. Have proof of having arrived in the US before age 16. Have proof of residence in the US for at least 5 consecutive years since their date of arrival. If male, have registered w/ Selective Service. Be b/w the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of the bill enactment. Have graduated from an American high school, obtained a GED, or admitted to an institution of higher education. Be of good moral character.

What is “DACA”? Who are “Dreamers”? The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was an immigration policy that allowed some individuals who entered the country illegally as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and to be eligible for a work permit. As of 2017, approximately 800,000 individuals– referred to as “Dreamers” after the DREAM bill– were enrolled in the program created by DACA. The policy was established by the Obama Administration in June 2012 in order to provide prosecutorial discretion to federal agencies with limited resources. In September 2017 the Trump Administration ended the policy by phasing it out. Multiple lawsuits by individuals, groups, and states… some to keep, some to end immediately. Still in court limbo

Reaction to DACA Research shows that DACA increased the wages and labor force participation of DACA-eligible immigrants and reduced the number of unauthorized immigrant households in poverty. Studies have shown that DACA increased the mental health outcomes for DACA-eligible immigrants and their children. There are no known major adverse impacts from DACA on native-born worker’s employment while most economists say that DACA benefits the US economy. Question whether Obama’s executive order created DACA was constitutional and what burden that puts on states. Jan 2018: CBS Poll: 70% of Americans supported Dreamers

Sanctuary Cities Sanctuary Cities grew from the Sanctuary Movement begun in the late 1980s, early 1990s. Religious congregations began helping undocumented Salvadorian and Guatemalan families settle in the US in direct defiance of US immigration authorities who strictly limited asylum requests from other countries. The sanctuary activists believed that the federal government was breaking international and domestic refugee law. Police officers should not require about immigration status and should provide city services to everyone equally. There are approximately 39 US cities w/ some kind of sanctuary policy.

Sanctuary Cities: Pro Sanctuary cities are safer b/c they encourage good relationships b/w undocumented immigrants and law enforcement. Sanctuary policies are legal and protected by the 10th Amendment: reserved powers to the states. Sanctuary cities are needed to protect undocumented immigrants against federal immigration laws. Is Illegal Immigration Linked to More or Less Crime?

Sanctuary Cities: Con Sanctuary cities harbor criminals, creating a dangerous environment for US citizens Sanctuary policies defy federal laws to which state and local governments are bound (Supremacy Clause). Sanctuary policies prevent local and state police officers from doing their jobs. Is Illegal Immigration Linked to More or Less Crime? Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?

Separations at the Border April 2018: Separation of family began at the U.S.-Mexico border as a result of policy changes by the Trump administration, namely a “zero tolerance” policy that requires criminal prosecution for those who enter the United States unlawfully, This was an attempt to discourage the practice of releasing migrants apprehended at the border while their immigration cases are pending – a practice the Trump administration calls “catch and release.” Both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations used family detention to detain thousands of families at facilities specifically designed to house children.  They are classified as “unaccompanied alien children” (UACs) and placed into a shelter operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Separations themselves were enforced by DHS; “zero tolerance policy” enacted by the Justice Department. Policy was suspended/attempt to reunite families by July 2018 August 2018: still some 700 children not united w/ parents

Other Immigration Issues Would increasing legal immigration reduce illegal immigration? Is illegal immigration an economic burden to America? Does the “zero tolerance policy” really prevent people from coming to America? (Push-Pull Factors of Immigration). Do undocumented immigrants pay their “fair share” of taxes? What constitutional rights do immigrants have: legal, illegal? Should the US build a wall along the US/Mexican border?

Immigration Laws 1887: Chinese Exclusion Act 1907: Gentlemen’s Agreement w/ Japan 1924: National Origins Act: Quota System 1943: “Bracero Program”: provided for the importation of agricultural workers from North, South, Central America 1952: McCarren-Walter Act: removes race as a basis for exclusion. Introduces an ideological criterion for admission: can now be denied entry on the basis of their political ideology (Communists or former Nazis) 1965: Immigration Act: Nationality quotas are abolished 1990: Increased the number of immigrants to come into the country; again permitted those w/ HIV to enter the country.