Forum Publications
S. 744 - Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act
April 24, 2013
This document briefly highlights the provisions of the Senate immigration reform bill, introduced on April 17.
Letter to the President on Immigrant Integration
February 05, 2013
At the start of President Obama’s second term, more than 50 organizations signed a letter urging his administration to play an active role in helping immigrants become U.S. citizens. The letter outlines steps the administration might take to more effectively use government resources to help immigrants become Americans.
The President’s FY 2013 Budget: Department of Homeland Security
February 15, 2012
On February 13, 2012, the President released his Fiscal Year 2013 budget. This paper contains a summary of the immigration-related items in the budget of the Department of Homeland Security.
FY 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations
January 25, 2012
A brief summary of the immigration-related components of the Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Homeland Security, including appropriations allocated for Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Making the Naturalization Process Less Daunting by Reforming the USCIS Fee Structure
September 22, 2011
This paper discusses fee increases in the naturalization process that have been driven in part by surcharges immigrants must pay on their naturalization and other fees to cover the costs of work done by the immigration agency that has little or nothing to do with the processing of the immigrant’s application. The paper briefly discusses a different approach for funding those activities not related to processing an immigrant’s naturalization or other application.
The Importance of Naturalization: Good for Immigrants, Good for America
September 15, 2011
This one-page paper explains that immigrants want to become citizens, and that is a good thing for America. Some obstacles to citizenship are discussed, with recommendations for overcoming them.
Modest Investment for Immigrant Integration Should be Preserved
May 27, 2011
Immigrant integration benefits our nation as a whole. Our democracy is strengthened when eligible immigrants become citizens and participate fully in our society and political system. A modest government investment in immigrant integration is threatened by a spending bill now being considered in the House.
Making the Fee Structure of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services More Transparent
May 27, 2011
USCIS has begun to move away from a model in which virtually all of its activities, including those having nothing to do with the adjudication of applications of fee-paying customers, are paid for by fees collected from those customers. A House Appropriations bill would reverse that initiative, likely requiring USCIS to again raise fees to cover its costs.
House Spending Bill Proposes to Reverse Government Initiative to Integrate Immigrants
February 26, 2011
This backgrounder describes the history of a government initiative to help immigrants integrate, and explains how the Continuing Resolution passed by the House to fund the government for the remainder of the government’s fiscal year 2011 will eliminate funding for this important initiative.
The President’s FY2012 Budget Department of Homeland Security
February 23, 2011
A summary of the immigration-related priorities in the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security.
