The United States was established on principles that support the welcoming of new residents to our shores to learn and embrace American civic culture and political institutions through the processes of immigration and naturalization. Over the past several decades, however, immigration policy has become skewed, falsely presented as an uncompromising decision between unfettered immigration and none at all. Recently, the Obama Administration has begun to call for granting amnesty to the some 10.8 million illegal immigrants in the United States, as part of a comprehensive immigration reform. The Heritage Foundation instead proposes that a phased approach to immigration reform centered on border security, interior enforcement, and legal immigration processes. Read more about our Honest Plan for Immigration and Border Security below.
Issues 2012 provides candidates for elected office the ability to quickly identify the key issues of the day and present clear policy recommendations, supported by facts, for addressing them. Read More.
For far too long, the United States has failed to enforce its immigration laws. Its visa system does not adequately serve the needs of the economy, legal immigrants, or U.S. citizens. Cartel violence and continued illegal immigration along the U.S. southern border have many Americans concerned. Read More.
Today, Congressman Mike Quigley (D–IL)—along with several co-sponsors from both parties—introduced the Visa Waiver Program Enhanced Security and Reform Act. The bill, in consultation with the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, and State, offers updated refinements to last year’s H.R. 959. These include several key reforms to modernize the… Read more
Despite the announcement of reasonable administrative reforms, the Obama Administration continues to pursue a deeply flawed approach to solving America’s immigration challenges. Its repeated attempts to deal with illegal immigrants here before securing the border, strengthening interior enforcement actions, and reforming the visa system remain counterproductive. … Read more
By the end of 2011, at least 43 terrorist plots aimed at the United States since 9/11 had been thwarted. The frequency of attempts against the U.S. homeland has increased over the past three years. These numbers are reminders enough that the White House and Congress cannot be complacent—even in… Read more
Testimony before Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Committee on the Judiciary United States House of Representatives December 7, 2011 My name is Dr. James Jay Carafano. I am the Deputy Director of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis… Read more
Cully Stimson discusses immigration laws. … Read more
Federal law prohibits state colleges and universities from providing in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens “on the basis of residence within the State”—unless the same in-state rates are offered to all citizens of the United States. Today, 12 states are circumventing this federal law,… Read more
From The Heritage Foundation, I'm Ernest Istook. … Read more
James Carafano discusses deportation rules. … Read more
Rolling south across the Lincoln Juarez International Bridge, the 2009 Honda CRV looked much like all the other vehicles headed for Mexico. Who knew there was $300,000 in cash stuffed behind the dashboard? Certainly not the Customs and Border Protection officers who pulled the Honda over… Read more
President Obama and the cast auditioning to replace him represent opposing caricatures of bad border security strategy. Mr. Obama, for his part, tries to look tough on border and immigration enforcement, while simultaneously signaling that he will do everything possible to ensure that illegal border crossing becomes a potential ticket… Read more
America's exceptional status as a "nation of immigrants" is being challenged by globalization, which is making both migration and terrorism much easier. The biggest challenge for policymakers is distinguishing illusory immigration problems from real problems. One thing is quite clear: The favored approach of recent years-a policy of benign neglect-is no longer tenable. Members of both the… Read more
Abstract: Over the past 10 years, traversing the U.S.–Mexico border illegally has become increasingly dangerous for would-be immigrants. Illegal immigrants face kidnapping, murder, and rape at the hands of violent drug cartels and ever more ruthless human smugglers. Crossing treacherous desert areas exposes the… Read more
Abstract: H.R. 3962 would deliberately permit illegal aliens to participate in the government health insurance exchange and in the public option insurance program. It would nominally bar them from receiving health care "affordability credits" and most regular Medicaid benefits, but verification procedures are weak… Read more
Introduction In 1963, President Lyndon Johnson launched the War on poverty with the goal of eliminating poverty in the United States. Since that time, the U.S. has spent over $11 trillion on anti-poverty programs, providing cash, food, housing, medical… Read more
Executive Summary Getting the national homeland security enterprise right is among the most difficult challenges in Washington because the problems in protecting the homeland are rooted in overcentralization, pervasive complacency, and entrenched politics—problems that often cause Washington… Read more
Abstract: Why has the Obama Administration, as part of its lawsuit against the Arizona statute that attempts to help enforce national immigration laws, not claimed that the state law requires or allows illegal racial profiling? The answer is surprisingly simple: Arizona state law actually… Read more
THE ISSUE: For far too long, the United States has failed to enforce its immigration laws. Its visa system does not adequately serve the needs of the economy, legal immigrants, or U.S. citizens. Cartel violence and continued illegal immigration along… Read more
The Senate is currently considering a massive immigration reform bill, the "Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and immigration Reform Act of 2007" (S. 1348). This bill would grant amnesty to nearly all illegal immigrants currently in the United States. The fiscal consequences of this amnesty will vary depending on the time period analyzed. It is… Read more
From the last century, America learned that growing the economy also promotes the free flow of goods, people, services, and ideas. From the last decade, America learned that “smart” security can prevent terrorists, transnational criminals, and other malicious actors from exploiting the networks that facilitate travel among nations. Initiatives such… Read more
Buried under the cacophony of news about the debt ceiling, the budget deal, and the race for 2012, there is good news in the battle for sound immigration law and policy. On May 26, the U. S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting.[1]… Read more
The House Judiciary Committee recently approved H.R. 704, a bill that would abolish a provision of U.S. immigration law called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, or “diversity lottery” for short.[1] The diversity lottery has been an unwise policy since its inception in 1986. It does not bolster the… Read more
Recently, Senator Robert Menendez (D–NJ) introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011, which would grant legal permanent residence status to the nearly 11 million illegal immigrants present in the United States. In addition, the bill’s language also fully incorporates the DREAM Act and the AgJobs Act, providing two further… Read more
It’s been said before, but it must be repeated. Hispanics are not single-issue voters. Despite the narrative reinforced...… Read more
In a decision that should cheer those who believe in the rule of law and want to see our federal immigration laws...… Read more
Consider it an illegal fringe benefit for illegal immigrants. Today, 12 states allow individuals who are in the United...… Read more
Following last week’s GOP presidential debate, the phrase “red card” has been thrown around quite a bit. No, we’re not...… Read more
In an op-ed for FOX News Heritage's Jim Carafano lays out policy ideas that can lead to true immigration reform. The...… Read more
On October 18, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director John Morton announced the removal of the largest...… Read more
How goes the battle for the border? Heritage Foundation Latin American specialist Ray Walser and I spent some time on...… Read more
The illegal immigration of Mexicans to the U.S. has “sputtered to a trickle” due to an increase in economic and...… Read more
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an appeal today with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals of a federal district...… Read more
There is more good news today in the fight against illegal immigration at the state level (and bad news for the Obama...… Read more
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