Media
National Immigration Forum press releases and statements are issued to provide perspective on key policies, legislative actions, reports, and events. View our latest releases below. For prior year releases, use the navigation buttons at the bottom of this page.
Press Releases
Alabama’s Immigration Law Sequel Further Damages State’s Reputation
May 21, 2012
Washington, D.C. — On Friday, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed into law revisions to Alabama’s overreaching immigration law. Gov. Bentley unsuccessfully tried to persuade lawmakers to change two provisions, one that requires schools to check the immigration status of enrolling schoolchildren, and a “Scarlet Letter” provision that uses state funds to create an online public database listing the names of undocumented immigrants who appear in court. The following is a statement from Ali...
Obama Administration Should Include Immigrant Detainees in Prison Rape Elimination Act Guidelines
May 17, 2012
Washington, D.C. — In 2003 a unanimous Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). This was the first civil law that focused on eliminating sexual abuse in detention facilities. However, the Obama administration announced today that the Department of Homeland Security, and thus all immigration detention facilities, are exempted from rules issued by the Department of Justice to implement PREA. The rule states that all Federal departments with confinement facilities, including DHS,...
House Republicans Play Politics with Battered Immigrant Women’s Lives
May 16, 2012
House of Representatives Approves Weakened Violence Against Women Act Washington, D.C. — The House of Representatives approved on Wednesday a watered-down version of the historic Violence Against Women Act. The House’s legislation, H.R. 4970, strips away existing protections for immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking. The proposal passed the House 222- 205 with 22 Republicans voting against the bill. “The immigration debate reached a...
Improve Tourism Visa System to Spur Economic Growth
May 16, 2012
Washington, D.C. —On Wednesday, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing on “Where the Jobs Are: Promoting Tourism to America”. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “The U.S. cannot afford to get tourism wrong. Tourism is one of the largest growth industries in America, pumping nearly $1.8 trillion into the economy and supporting 14 million American jobs in 2010. That’s why it’s crucial...
Evangelical and Faith Leaders Urge Congress to Protect All Battered Women and Children
May 07, 2012
Washington, D.C. — The House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote Tuesday on H.R. 4970, the House version of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The bill, sponsored by Rep. Sandy Adams (R-FL), would dramatically roll back important protections for immigrant women, thus leaving them more vulnerable to abuse. More than 20 faith leaders from the Evangelical, Catholic, Lutheran and other faith-based communities sent a letter to Congress expressing their opposition to...
Civil Rights Leader Decries Arizona Immigration Law as Supreme Court Convenes
April 25, 2012
Washington, D.C. — As the Supreme Court convenes this morning to hear oral arguments in Arizona v. United States, the challenge to Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration law, leaders from across the human rights, civil rights, immigrant and religious spectrum are speaking out against the law and highlighting its negative, discriminatory effects. Dr. Warren Stewart, senior pastor at First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix, is a recognized African-American leader who was a driving force in...
Tri-Caucus, National Immigration Forum Speak Out Against Arizona’s S.B. 1070
April 24, 2012
Washington, D.C.: The Chairs and members of the Congressional Hispanic, Black and Asian Pacific American Caucus joined with the National Immigration Forum to release the following statements regarding the hearing of United States v. Arizona before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum: “At its heart, America is an idea, not an ideology. And the idea that all men (and women) are created equal is unique to America. Once we allow...
Evangelical Leaders Urge Supreme Court to Strike Down Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant Law
April 23, 2012
Washington, D.C. — Evangelical leaders are speaking out against S.B. 1070, Arizona’s discriminatory immigration law, ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on the law on Wednesday. Statements from seven leaders follow: Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals (NAE): “The Supreme Court is hearing an immigration case this week because both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have failed to fix our broken immigration system. The people of...
For Undocumented Youth, Rubio’s Actions Will Speak Louder Than Words
April 20, 2012
Washington, D.C. — In media interviews Thursday, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., continued to tout his proposed alternative to the DREAM Act, which would help address the undocumented youth whom the DREAM Act was designed to assist. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “We welcome the renewed focus on immigration reform. It is clear both parties have realized fixing the immigration system is good policy and good politics. “It’s...
End Racial Profiling, Make Us All Safer
April 17, 2012
Washington, D.C. — This morning the Senate’s Constitution and Civil Rights Subcommittee is convening to discuss “Ending Racial Profiling in America.” This is the first Senate hearing in more than ten years to focus on racial profiling, even though federal and state laws passed during that time have required profiling based on race and ethnicity in order to be implemented. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “From every...
