A federal judge in Dallas, Texas dismissed a lawsuit by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who favored deporting DREAMERS. The officers opposed the Department of Homeland Security’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The court held that the Civil Service Reform Act, a law governing federal employment disputes, barred it from hearing the… Read More »
Victory for Aliens! Local Texas Anti-Immigrant Housing Law (Still) Unconstitutional
Still unconstitutional: Trying to oust immigrants from Farmers Branch, Texas through discriminatory, anti-immigrant housing laws. Farmers Branch’s Latino population is over 45%. The Dallas suburb’s ordinance criminalized housing rentals to those immigrants it considered unlawfully present. The law never took effect; it was blocked from the outset by two previous court decisions. The Fifth Circuit Court of… Read More »
Interfaith Support For Immigration Reform
Americans of all faiths support a comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship. At 63%, this is three times those who favor deportation. 4500 Americans were surveyed. Religious leaders, including Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, and Muslims, likewise back this comprehensive approach.
Take Heart, Texans: Immigration Appeals Court on Marriage Equality
“Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act . . .is no longer an impediment to the recognition of lawful same-sex marriages and spouses under the Immigration and Nationality Act if the marriage is valid under the laws of the State where it was celebrated.” So ruled the national Board of Immigration Appeals on July 17, 2013,… Read More »
DOMA’s Death ♥ and Marriage Equality
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s June 26, 2013 statment about immigration benefits following the Supreme Court’s declaration of DOMA’s unconstitutionality: I applaud today’s Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor holding that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. This discriminatory law denied thousands of legally married same-sex couples many important… Read More »
Immigration Benefits for Gay Married Couples
DOMA is ruled unconstitutional. The Supreme Court issued its decision this morning. Read it here. Federal law, including benefits, must now apply equally to all legally married couples – whether same sex or opposite sex. Gay married couples may now seek applicable IMMIGRATION BENEFITS.
2013 World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day was established by the U.N. to honor the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. Learn more here.
Texas Leads Record Year For immigration Prosecutions
50,000 immigration prosecutions in the first half of FY 2013 make this a record year for bringing criminal charges against aliens who illegally enter – or try to – and get caught. Texas leads the way. The Southern District (Houston) and the Western District (San Antonio) rank #1 and #2, followed by Arizona, New… Read More »
USCIS Starts Customer Identity Verification
Starting Monday, May 6, 2013, USCIS will take fingerprints and photographs at their local offices – “Customer Identity Verification (CIV)” – for individuals who come for an interview or to get immigration benefit evidence (e.g. temporary travel documents; temporary evidence of LPR status, such as stamps on passports or Forms I-94). USCIS advises that CIV’s purposes… Read More »
“Social Sharing” of Marijuana Not Deportation Worthy
April 23, 2012 SUPREME COURT Decision: A state marijuana distribution conviction that does not involve remuneration, or involves only a small amount, is not an “aggravated felony” under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The 7-2 Supreme Court’s opinion was written by Justice Sotomayor. Justice Alito joined Thomas’ dissent. This decision overturns the contrary ruling… Read More »