Immigration News

The Los Angeles Times reported that more than 7,180 deportation cases have been closed under an Obama administration program aimed at focusing immigration enforcement on convicted criminals, but the court backlog it was also intended to address continues to swell. Under the review, which was initiated...

Rollcall.com reported that Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin is calling on supporters of the DREAM Act to encourage Republicans to take up the cause. The move is part of a strategy to appeal to the hearts of the opposition and put a face to the issue of illegal...

The Associated Press reported that the Obama administration's new plan to grant temporary work permits to many young, illegal immigrants who otherwise could be deported may cost more than $585 million and require hiring hundreds of new federal employees to process more than 1 million...

Some USCIS Service Centers are taking a more restrictive approach to filing deadlines for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) applications, which is resulting in unexpected denials. There are several deadlines to consider in handling an OPT application: Pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(f)(11)(i)(B)(2) “[f]or post-completion OPT,...

The National Journal reported that the Obama administration’s program to defer deportation for young undocumented immigrants will be up and running on Aug. 15, but the program’s success will depend on a host of details that will be worked out on a case-by-case basis.  Department of Homeland Security’s...

On July 19, 2012, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano testified before Congress about Deferred Action for Dreamers. Her testimony provided a few new pieces of information about the program that was announced on June 15, 2012. Upper Age Eligibility: Applicants younger than 31 on June 15, 2012...

Fox News Latino reported that Arizona and other U.S. states have slowed the growth of immigration from Mexico to its northern neighbor, according to a study released in Mexico City by the BBVA Bancomer Foundation.  The weak U.S. economy was the principal factor in discouraging Mexican immigrants...

The Arizona Capital Times reported that a year after federal officials announced a program of “prosecutorial discretion” aimed at reducing nearly 300,000 pending immigration cases, only 1.5 percent of the backlogged cases have been closed.  The policy allows prosecutors to exercise discretion on which cases to pursue,...

The National Journal Reported that Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Republican Chuck Grassley on Wednesday removed a huge barrier to legislation that could speed the doddering visa system for highly skilled immigration. He removed his "hold" on legislation that would ease the immense backlogs for applicants from...