Musings on Immigration

The Trump Administration earlier this month released the worst set of economy- and society-destroying immigration proposals we have seen since we closed immigration to America in 1922. If enacted, these proposals would hamper the economic growth of our country for the next generation and lead to rampant human rights violations. Fortunately, these demands are so ridiculous, radical, racist, and anti-American that they’ll never become law. Just last month, Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer were convinced that Trump was 100% onboard with the DREAM Act. But Trump’s anti-immigration brain has managed to undo that deal by essentially ransoming the continuance of the DREAM Act in exchange for the most heinous and illogical immigration policies of the past century. The proposals were announced earlier this month by White House senior policy advisor Stephen Miller in an “urgent” press conference. Miller is a conservative white nationalist with a history of dis...

If you left your home country out of fear for your own safety and you have a credible fear to return, you may qualify for asylum in the United States. There are strict criteria that you must meet to be eligible for asylum. Two of the most important requirements are: ·        You were persecuted in your home country in the past or you have a credible fear that you will be tortured or persecuted if you return; and ·        The reason you will be persecuted relates to your religion, political opinion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or race. Unfortunately, having a general fear of dangerous situations in your home country is not grounds for obtaining asylum. Your application for asylum may also be denied if immigration officials determine that your own government could protect you from persecution or that you could avoid persecution by moving to a different part of your country. If you b...

In another staggering blow to the U.S. immigrant community, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has protected nearly 900,000 young unauthorized immigrants from deportation over the course of its existence, has been rescinded. In her recent memorandum to USCIS officials, Elaine C. Duke, acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, rescinded the June 15, 2012 memorandum that created the DACA program. Effective immediately, all initial requests for DACA will be rejected by USCIS unless they were accepted by Sept. 5, 2017. Also, USCIS will no longer approve advance parole requests associated with DACA. All DACA renewal requests will be rejected unless they are received by Oct. 5, 2017 from current beneficiaries whose benefits expire between Sept. 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018. Also, all applications for Employment Authorization Documents associated with new DACA cases will be rejected unless they were filed by Sept. 5, 2017. U...