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.
Testimony before the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Committee on the JudiciaryUnited States House of Representatives …
On May 15, the Congress introduced a revised version of S. 2233, the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act. Written in consultation with the Departments of Homeland Security and State, the latest version is an improvement over past legislative proposals for reform. Together with related efforts in the House…
The Heritage Event on AZ's immigration law is reported on KPNX (Phoenix, AZ). …
On April 25, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case with significant implications for immigration policy and enforcement well beyond the immediate statute at issue. Arizona v. United States is a challenge to much of the state enforcement scheme of Arizona Senate Bill 1070 (S.B. 1070), which…
Last month, the Senate introduced the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act, which would seek to foster the greatly overdue expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, the legislation would also create misguided priority programs and specialized provisions for different kinds of travelers seeking to visit the United…
Member expansion is not the only thing that is on hold when it comes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Since 2007, VWP partner nations have been required to enter into three information-sharing agreements with the United States as a stipulation of membership. Through these agreements, member nations share data…
President Barack Obama commented on Univision radio that, with a second term, he would get immigration reform “done.” The last attempt at immigration reform occurred in 2007 when President George W. Bush failed due to the perception that his Administration did not take border security and interior enforcement as seriously…
FYI: Heritage WebMemos are now called Issue Briefs. The Obama Administration has decided to kill one of America’s most successful interior…
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…
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. …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
On March 21, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano introduced a new component of the E-Verify system called Self Check. This free, voluntary service would allow individuals to log in to a system to verify their immigration status and address any problems with their work status, including outdated information or…
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…
It is today routinely believed that under the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, mere birth on U.S. soil is sufficient to obtain U.S. citizenship. However strong this commonly believed interpretation might appear, it is incompatible not only with the text of the Citizenship Clause (particularly as informed by the debate…
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…
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,…
In a speech at Disney World’s Cinderella Castle earlier this year, President Obama declared that “America is open for...…
The Obama Administration has claimed that the southern border is secure because apprehension rates for illegal border...…
You wouldn’t know it from watching cable television, but education is more important for Hispanic voters than the issue...…
Are Hispanics really a monolithically liberal voting bloc? The left would have you think so, but the reality is more...…
Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis described the states as "laboratories for democracy." Policies enacted at the...…
For the second year in a row, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear an immigration case out of the State of Arizona. And...…
After last week's Republican primary elections in Wisconsin, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., the 2012 presidential...…
It’s been said before, but it must be repeated. Hispanics are not single-issue voters. Despite the narrative reinforced...…
In a decision that should cheer those who believe in the rule of law and want to see our federal immigration laws...…
Consider it an illegal fringe benefit for illegal immigrants. Today, 12 states allow individuals who are in the United...…
Senior Research Fellow