In Report, 63% Back Way to Get Citizenship

The New York Times (November 25, 2013)

In a report by the Public Religion Research Institute, 63% of Americans indicated support for a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who are currently living in the United States without authorization. 14% of Americans support only a pathway to lawful permanent residence (with no avenue to U.S. citizenship), and 1-in-5 Americans support locating and deporting all unauthorized immigrants. The strong support for a pathway to citizenship crosses political party lines and religious affiliations.  It remains to be seen, however, whether political leadership will act on a comprehensive approach to immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship.

To learn more, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/25/us/in-report-63-back-way-to-get-citizenship.html?_r=0.

To read the report by the Public Religion Research Institute, visit: http://publicreligion.org/research/2013/11/2013-immigration-ii/.

Illinois Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (Brochure in Spanish)

Office for Immigrant Affairs & Immigration Education, Archdiocese of Chicago (November 25, 2013)

In January of 2013, the Governor of Illinois signed into law legislation permitting undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.  It is referred to as a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL) for Non-Visa Status (i.e., undocumented) Individuals. Undocumented people can start obtaining the driver’s licenses in December 2013.  The Office for Immigrant Affairs & Immigration Education of the Archdiocese of Chicago has published a Spanish-language brochure that provides details of the TVDL program. This is a great example of advocates within the Catholic Church helping undocumented people come out of the shadows to integrate into our communities. 

To learn more about the TVDL program visit the website of the Illinois Secretary of State at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/TVDL/home.html.

To read the Spanish-language brochure, visit http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_tvdl10.pdf.

Does the President Have the Power to Stop All/Most Removals?

Blog by Benach Ragland LLP (November 25, 2013)

While President Obama was speaking to a pro-immigrant crowd recently, an activist called on him to exercise his executive authority to stop the deportations of all undocumented people in the United States. With the failure of Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, more and more advocates are calling for the President to not wait for Congress but to instead act unilaterally to stop deportations. The President has already exercised his executive authority to implement the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to stop the deportation of certain young people, and to stop the deportations of certain family members of people serving in the U.S. military. If he can stop the deportations of these groups, why can’t he stop the deportation of all undocumented immigrants?

To read more, visit: http://liftedlamp.com/2013/11/25/does-the-president-have-the-power-to-stop-allmost-removals/.

Survivors Describe Fights and Fear After Haitian Migrants’ Boat Ran Aground

The New York Times (November 27, 2013)

There are an increasing number of Haitians attempting to flee Haiti by boat to the United States. At least 30 Haitians died recently when a small boat overloaded with 150 people ran aground off the coast of the Bahamas.  Human traffickers appear to be the impetus for the increase in the migration from Haiti. 

To read more, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/28/us/survivors-describe-fights-and-fear-after-haitian-migrants-boat-ran-aground.html?emc=edit_tnt_20131127&tntemail0=y.

New immigration policy may keep Marine vet, family together

Winston-Salem Journal (November 27, 2013)

On November 15, 2013, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a new policy permitting them to stop the deportation and permit the adjustment of status of certain family members of veterans and people serving in the U.S. military. With the failure of Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, this new policy is yet another way -- in addition to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) -- that the executive branch of government is exercising its authority to not deport undocumented people from the United States.  This article shows how the new policy permitted the wife of a U.S. marine veteran to apply for Parole-in-Place to put her on the pathway to obtain lawful permanent residence (i.e., the green card).

To read more, visit: http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/article_6e30cbbe-57b8-11e3-8f3e-001a4bcf6878.html.

Obamas Meet Fasting Protesters

The New York Times (November 29, 2013)

President and Michelle Obama visited with three immigration reform advocates, who are in their 18th day of fasting on the National Mall in an effort to persuade the House of Representatives to move on comprehensive immigration reform. 

To read more, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/30/us/obamas-meet-fasting-protesters.html?emc=edit_tnt_20131129&tntemail0=y&_r=0.

Witness:  Iran, Where Your Shoes Can Get you Deported

Human Rights Watch (November 20, 2013)

Human Rights Watch reports that two sisters, both born in Iran to Afghani parents, were deported from Iran because they failed to comply with the strict Iranian dress code for women.  The violation:  one sister wore high-heeled platform sandals. The other sister wore pink sneakers. Although they do not know Afghanistan, they were deported there only a few days after their arrest -- without any hearing to permit them an opportunity to try to stay in Iran.

To read more visit: https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/11/20/witness-iran-where-your-shoes-can-get-you-deported.

How do you get a green card in the United States?

The Washington Post (January 29, 2013)

Earlier in the year, The Washington Post ran an article, “The Insanely Confusing Path to Legal Immigration, in One Chart,” which includes two flowcharts that show the complexity of the current U.S. immigration system. To see the flowcharts, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/29/the-path-to-legal-immigration-in-one-insanely-confusing-chart/.  This is a great way to “see” the steps foreign nationals must go through in order to obtain permanent residence (i.e., the green card) in the United States. 

Subscribe to Migration Update