Illegal immigration

PHOENIX (Reuters) - The U.S. government will audit hiring records of 1,000 firms in agriculture, healthcare and other areas to determine if they have illegal immigrants working for them, authorities said on Friday. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, said businesses served with audit notices were selected for inspection because they have connections to "public safety and national security." The agency declined to identify the businesses because of what it said was the "ongoing, law enforcement-sensitive nature" of the audits. A spokeswoman said they included agriculture, food and healthcare firms as well as contractors serving government facilities. Immigration policy is a divisive ... Read Full Story

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Some U.S. Democrats see momentum building for an overhaul of immigration laws that would legalize millions of undocumented workers, but analysts say a crowded agenda and struggling economy may once again sink hopes for reform next year. Representative Luis Gutierrez says he will introduce a comprehensive reform bill in the Democrat-controlled Congress in December, offering a path to citizenship for law abiding undocumented workers. "It's my feeling that we just can't wait any longer for a bill that keeps our families together, protects our workers and allows a clear pathway to legalization for those who have earned it," the Illinois Democrat ... Read Full Story

Sen. Orrin Hatch joined 11 other GOP senators in a letter Friday criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for saying legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants would be a boon to the economy. However, Hatch himself has previously called for ways to legalize aliens short of giving them amnesty and has pushed bills to repeal sanctions against employers who hire illegal workers, as well as bills to allow illegal immigrants to receive federal loans and work-study assistance for college. However, Hatch and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, more recently have been under attack by Utah conservatives who say they sometimes are too liberal. The critics include ... Read Full Story

By Adebe D.A. For over a decade, 287(g) programs have been put into place to deter “illegal” immigration in the US. This past weekend , DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano headed talks at the Center for American Progress about yet another overhaul of migration policy so that undocumented immigration ceases to be a problem once and for all. Napolitano-style immigration reform, however, won’t resolve the continued breaking up of families , destruction of business, and terrorizing of migrant communities. Instead of being preoccupied with the supposed “problem” of immigration and fearful that lax policies will open the floodgates, we should be prepared to address the ... Read Full Story

By Adebe D.A. For over a decade, 287(g) programs have been put into place to deter “illegal” immigration in the US. This past weekend , DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano headed talks at the Center for American Progress about yet another overhaul of migration policy so that undocumented immigration ceases to be a problem once and for all. Napolitano-style immigration reform, however, won’t resolve the continued breaking up of families , destruction of business, and terrorizing of migrant communities. Instead of being preoccupied with the supposed “problem” of immigration and fearful that lax policies will open the floodgates, we should be prepared to address the ... Read Full Story