Backgrounders

2010

Summaries of Recent Reports on Immigration Detention

June 30, 2010

This document summarizes a number of reports that have been issued by a range of groups that document conditions in immigration detention facilities.

Operation Streamline and its Effects on the Courts and Law Enforcement on the Border

May 11, 2010

Operation Streamline is a government initiative to criminally prosecute persons crossing the border illegally.  This backgrounder discusses the effect of the program on law enforcement and court resources on the border, which have been diverted away from the prosecution of more serious crimes.

The Border Security Buildup: True Border Security Requires Reforming Our Broken Immigration Laws

May 04, 2010

Describes the increases in enforcement resources that have been placed on the southwest border in recent years, and questions the assumption that the borders are “out of control.”

Summaries of Recent Immigration Enforcement Reports

April 06, 2010

This document summarizes a number of reports that have been issued 2008 - 2010 by non-profit and governmental watchdog organizations documenting problems with various immigration enforcement programs.

Fact Sheet: Operation Stonegarden

February 17, 2010

This fact sheet describes Operation Stonegarden, a federal grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, providing funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to enhance their capabilities “to jointly secure U.S. borders and territories.”  The program suffers from lack of a clear agenda and from lack of guidance on how it is to improve border security.

2009

Secure Communities

December 03, 2009

This brief backgrounder explains “Secure Communities,” and discusses its problems.  Secure Communities is a program that allows state and local police to check the fingerprints of an individual they are booking into a jail against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration databases.

Immigration Enforcement & Local Law Enforcement: The ABC’s of State and Local Coordination Programs

August 11, 2009

This fact sheet gives a basic explanation of several DHS programs that coordinate with local law enforcement, including the 287(g) program, the Border Enforcement Security Task Force, the Criminal Alien Program, Intergovernmental Service Agreements, Secure Communities, and the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.

Operation Streamline Fact Sheet

July 21, 2009

National Immigration Forum and the American Civil Liberties Union. This fact sheet describes a Bush administration initiative to press criminal charges on every person who crosses the border illegally in certain stretches of the Southwest border.

Southwest Border Security Operations

July 14, 2009

A summary of current border enforcement initiatives and those of the recent past. Includes a glossary of federal and state border enforcement operations.

The Math of Immigration Detention

July 07, 2009

A backgrounder examining the cost to the taxpayer of detaining immigrants, most of whom have no criminal record and who could be placed in less expensive alternatives to detention.

Change and Continuity: Public Opinion on Immigration Reform

May 18, 2009

This memo highlights the results of recent public opinion surveys indicating support for comprehensive immigration reform.  It also looks at a survey that asked Latinos their thoughts about the immigration debate and how the debate might influence their vote.  Context is provided by comparing current public opinion to surveys conducted in 2007 when Congress last attempted to pass immigration reform legislation.

2008

Backgrounder: Comprehensive Reform of Our Immigration Laws

September 01, 2008

Backgrounder on our broken immigration system, and what must be done to fix it.

Immigration as a Wedge Issue: Little Payoff; Big Opportunity Cost

March 04, 2008

An analysis of the promotion of deportation-only policies as an electoral wedge issue—its effectiveness with the general electorate and its impact on the Latino vote.

Immigration Enforcement in the Wake of Immigration Reform’s Collapse

February 01, 2008

A summary of some of the government’s enforcement actions and a handful of government rules issued in 2007 affecting immigrant rights.

2007

While Debate Rages, the Public Continues to Support Realistic Immigration Solutions

December 10, 2007

A summary of public opinion polling from mainstream news organizations from late 2006 through 2007 showing continued support for immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Backgrounder: Immigration Law Enforcement by State and Local Police

August 31, 2007

An issue brief making the case against using state and local police to enforce federal immigration laws.

A National Survey of Voter Attitudes on Immigration

April 25, 2007

This poll shows that interest among voters in passing comprehensive immigration reform has increased since last year, and that support for comprehensive reform with a path to citizenship is still strong.

Backgrounder: Immigration and the 2006 Election

January 30, 2007

Analysis of how the issue of immigration played out in the Congressional election of 2006.

Immigration Backlogs are Separating American Families 

January 12, 2007

Backgrounder on how our out-of-date family immigration system is preventing families from re-unifying in a timely manner. Suggestions for how immigration laws can be changed to bring families together. 

2006

A National Survey of Voter Attitudes on Immigration

July 25, 2006

Among the major findings: Voters want Congress to resolve the immigration problem this year. An approach similar to the one taken by the Senate has more support than a plan that includes only enforcement and a guest-worker plan. Statements viewed by Hispanics as too harsh towards immigrants or Hispanics are more likely to have had a negative impact on their support for Republican candidates.

Polling Summary: Public Support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

July 14, 2006

A survey of recent public opinion polls from a variety of sources showing solid support for comprehensive immigration reform

Immigration Enforcement: What Has Been Tried? What Has Been The Result?

March 31, 2006

A compilation of statistics and facts highlighting how our reliance on enforcement alone has failed to control undocumented immigration.

Survey of Undocumented Immigrants in the United States

March 29, 2006

This survey explores the willingness of undocumented immigrants to participate in a legalization program similar to what is being contemplated in the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Is “Work and Return” a Solution or a Sound Bite?

February 16, 2006

Backgrounder explaining why immigration reform proposals to give undocumented immigrants temporary work permits and then require them to return to their home countries would not work.

2005

A National Survey Of Voter Attitudes On Immigration

April 07, 2005

A new poll shows support for proposals to allow foreigners and undocumented immigrants to obtain work permits and earn their way to citizenship.

Restrictionist Efforts to Influence the 2004 Elections

January 27, 2005

Despite spending large sums of money in an effort to defeat pro-immigrant members of the House and Senate in the 2004 elections, two restrictionist Political Action Committees ultimately had little effect.

The Latino, Asian, and Immigrant Vote: 2004

January 26, 2005

An analysis of the vote of new American citizens in the general election of 2004.

2004

2004 Election Analysis: Arizona’s Proposition 200

December 08, 2004

Analysis of the anti-immigrant ballot initiative in Arizona in the election of 2004, highlighting the positive lessons gained from the fight against this initiative.

2003

Terrorism and the Government’s Response: Broad Initiatives Do Not Make Us Safer

November 30, 2003

A backgrounder that describes what is needed to be successful in fighting terrorism, and how many of the government’s initiatives launched after 9-11-2001 have been targeted broadly at immigrants, not narrowly at terrorists.

Immigration Under the Department of Homeland Security

September 30, 2003

This Backgrounder is a summary of the key immigration functions transferred to DHS after the passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Immigrants and the 2002 Elections

April 30, 2003

The 2002 election showed that immigrant voters are on the ascent in terms of political power. They are increasing their impact from local elections to state-wide races. Some results show that candidates who can put aside politics and concentrate on policies that matter most to these constituencies will attract immigrant voters, regardless of these voters’ stated party preferences.

2001

Making Our Immigration System More Secure to Guard Against Terrorism

November 30, 2001

This paper makes the argument that any change in the way we manage our immigration system will have only a limited impact on our national security.  Far more important is our capacity to collect and analyze intelligence.  Unless we know who it is that seeks to do us harm and make sure that information is in the hands of the proper authorities, the immigration system will be unable to catch these individuals.  This paper offers suggestions for steps that can be taken to increase the likelihood that potential terrorists would be caught before they act.