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
Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights United States Senate September 8, 2011 Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Graham, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. In the… Read more
Abstract: Based on recommendations by the 9/11 Commission, the REAL ID Act sets minimum legal requirements for driver’s licenses and other state-issued identification. Several of the 9/11 hijackers had obtained at least 30 pieces of state identification, including multiple driver’s licenses. Most states have… 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
Note: This WebMemo is the work of a series of roundtables organized by The Heritage Foundation on congressional oversight of homeland security. It has been seven… Read more
On September 14, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–NV) announced plans to introduce the DREAM Act as an amendment to the upcoming Department of Defense authorization bill. The act would create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. before the age of 16 and have… Read more
More than any other nation, America beckons those who seek opportunity and a better future for themselves and their families. Immigration strengthens our social capital, deepens our national patriotism, and expands our general economy. … 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
Ernest Istook discusses birthright citizenship and illegal immigration. … Read more
Hans von Spakovsky comments on Virginia's enforcement of immigration laws. … Read more
Just three months after the Senate immigration bill met its well-deserved end, amnesty advocates in the U.S. Congress resumed their efforts. Recently, Senator Richard Durbin (D–IL) announced on the Senate floor his intention to offer the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors… Read more
This lecture was held at The Heritage Foundation on March 13, 1998. Welcome to our panel discussion on the 30th anniversary of the publication of the Kerner Commission Report. The Heritage Foundation has a number of goals. One is to roll back the liberal welfare state. A prerequisite to understanding what happened to create the… Read more
Citizens by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has the right to concentrate your affections. The name of AMERICAN, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. … Read more
Delivered July 30, 2007 immigration has become the most controversial, complex, and sensitive subject we face today. It directly affects our economy, our culture, and our future. To ensure that any action we take on immigration policy is in our national interest, we need to approach the subject with reason and facts.… Read more
The United States was established on principles that support the welcoming of new residents to its 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… Read more
In recent days the President and senior White House officials have—in the presence of foreign dignitaries—castigated a law passed in the state of Arizona. This new Arizona law directs that when law enforcement officers engage in a lawful stop, detention, or arrest, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable,… Read more
During presidential election years, it is common to pressure the Administration to speed up the process of naturalization so that a potential pool of new voters is available to help pick the next chief executive. In January, the National Immigrant Solidarity Network lamented that "if USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration… Read more
Last month, Arizona lawmakers introduced legislation intended to invite legal review of the Citizenship Clause of the...… Read more
A recent article by Fox News led with a quote from the Department of Homeland Security: "We are not engaged in a...… Read more
In celebration of Constitution Day, The Heritage Foundation welcomed its new neighbor and ally across the street:...… Read more
There have been numerous debates about “birthright” citizenship in recent weeks. As the Heritage Foundation has pointed...… Read more
Washington has apparently rediscovered a legitimate part of the immigration debate, one often treated as the...… Read more
Over half of Mexican nationals polled in a recent survey by Zogby International say that amnesty would create a massive...… Read more
Liberals and their pro-amnesty allies in the White House always try and frame the debate over illegal immigration as a...… Read more
Women are again charging into what was once seen as a realm that was only populated by men—the illegal immigrant...… Read more