This document discusses unaccompanied alien children arriving at the US border and whether this situation should be considered an immigration crisis or humanitarian crisis. It provides background on laws related to unaccompanied children and argues the situation is a humanitarian crisis due to violence and poverty in Central America. The document advocates for supplemental funding to improve conditions for detained children and to address root causes in home countries. It also discusses views from Congressman Adam Smith who supports increased legal representation for children to have fair treatment.
The document discusses the negative impacts of deporting immigrant parents on their families and U.S. citizen children. Deportations have risen significantly in recent years, separating hundreds of thousands of families. When parents are deported, their citizen children often face economic hardship, emotional distress, and psychological trauma. Some children are left in foster care or even adopted, which can permanently separate families. Recent legislation and policies have made it more difficult for parents to avoid deportation even if they have citizen children. A proposed bill called the Child Citizen Protection Act aims to give judges discretion to prevent deportations that would harm citizen children.
This document discusses perspectives on immigration in the United States. It begins by outlining the diverse views among the public and how those views are represented along partisan and regional lines. Conservatives generally favor more restrictive policies while liberals support pathways to citizenship. The document then provides historical context on immigration to the US before concluding by arguing that US citizens should recognize the value of citizenship that immigrants desire.
This listing of immigration terms, from a to z, provides easy-to-grasp, jargon-minimized tips and definitions, as well as examples taken from various writings and blog posts of Immigration Attorney Carlos Batara.
These terms pertain to several major areas of immigration law, including family visas and marriage-based petitions, permanent resident programs, citizenship and naturalization, deportation and removal defense, immigration appeals, humanitarian programs involving asylum, refugees, TPS, and trafficking victims, as well as immigrant domestic violence protections, such as VAWA and U visas.
Immigration law is one of the toughest areas of law because rules are consistently changing due to the political ramifications of international policy measures.
This A - Z presentation hopes to provide insight on many of the commonly asked questions asked by immigrants and immigration reform advocates.
51 FLORIDA GROUPS/LEADERS ASK HILLARY CLINTON MEETING & VIEWS ON URGENT HAITI...Stanleylucas
We respectfully ask you to promptly inform of us of your views on the following concerns, which are of great importance to the Haitian-American community: Temporary Protected Status , Haitian Family Reunification Program, Cholera, Redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status, Elections, Denationalization of Dominicans of Haitian Descent, Revert to the Pre-September 22 Parole and Non-Detention Policy, Black Lives Matter
Once again, the top immigration news stories showed the national division on immigration issues. Without a public consensus, immigration reform remains stymied. The August 2015 Immigration News Top Ten Slide Share Presentation reflects this lack of clarity. Selected for inclusion in this month’s immigration news roundup are the following topics:
• Origin And Community: Asian And Latin American Youth And U.S. Deportation Relief
• Border Jails Facing Bond Defaults As Immigration Boom Goes Bust
• Central American Radio Stations Are Playing Anti-Immigration Songs Paid By The U.S. Government
• 15 Reasons Why Trump’s Plan To End Birthright Citizenship Is A Horrible Idea
• Filipino Immigrants In The United States
• Vandals May Be Targeting Emergency Water Stations At The Border
• Unauthorized Immigrants Paid $100 Billion Into Social Security Over Last Decade
• Immigration Judges Are Burning Out Faster Than Prison Wardens And Hospital Doctors
• El Salvador Declares Street Gangs As Terrorist Groups, Supreme Court Rules
• A Human Immigration Policy For A Nation Of Immigrants
Immigration family unity is the most crucial issue facing legislators, policy makers, attorneys, as they attempt to shape a workable immigration system. Learn why in our April 2015 immigration news roundup.
Consider the long immigrant visa waiting lists. Why are so many immigrants willing to wait up to 33 years for a visa? Family unity.
What is the controversy surrounding the detention bed quota, which keeps many immigrants without any criminal convictions locked up in privately-owned jails? Or why is there a battle in California to shape punishment for minor drug offenses?
Clearly, both issues are related to deportation defense. But there is more – the fight to keep immigrant families together.
The DACA renewals are important because they keep immigrant youth in line to hopefully become lawful permanent residents someday in the future.
The expanded and new military programs to bring immigrants into the armed services are significant because they offer an opportunity for naturalization.
Green cards and citizenship provide deserving immigrants the opportunity to live with their family members on a legal basis.
So as you browse through this curated presentation of immigration news, compiled by Immigration Lawyer Carlos Batara, we encourage you to think about the negative effects of family separation on legal family members.
After all, there would be almost no immigration law debate if countless mixed (part-immigrant/part-citizen and part-immigrant/part-permanent resident) families did not exist.
But they do exist. Love happens.
More than any other aspect of immigration reform, keeping families together is the foremost issue.
So join us at http://www.bataraimmigrationlaw.com to help make this world a better place one immigrant family at a time.
And thank you for sharing this presentation with your family and friends.
CGRS and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) have collaborated to produce an important report urging lawmakers to reform the U.S. immigration system for migrant children who are coming to our borders with surging frequency. They come, often unaccompanied by an adult, in search of safety, stability, and protection. These children face a system that was created for adults, does not provide them legal counsel, and is not required to consider the child’s best interests, despite the potentially enormous impact of the proceedings on the child’s life and future.
This document discusses different models of federalism in the United States and debates which level of government should have more control over certain issues. It outlines that the national government is responsible for issues like national defense and foreign policy, while states handle elections and public safety. It also describes different forms of federalism over time, from cooperative to new and coercive federalism. The document argues that some issues like immigration are best handled at the national level due to cross-state impacts, while others like minimum wage may be better left to state regulation to avoid large economic fluctuations. Overall, it conveys that federalism has adapted over history and both national and state governments rely on each other.
The document discusses the negative impacts of deporting immigrant parents on their families and U.S. citizen children. Deportations have risen significantly in recent years, separating hundreds of thousands of families. When parents are deported, their citizen children often face economic hardship, emotional distress, and psychological trauma. Some children are left in foster care or even adopted, which can permanently separate families. Recent legislation and policies have made it more difficult for parents to avoid deportation even if they have citizen children. A proposed bill called the Child Citizen Protection Act aims to give judges discretion to prevent deportations that would harm citizen children.
This document discusses perspectives on immigration in the United States. It begins by outlining the diverse views among the public and how those views are represented along partisan and regional lines. Conservatives generally favor more restrictive policies while liberals support pathways to citizenship. The document then provides historical context on immigration to the US before concluding by arguing that US citizens should recognize the value of citizenship that immigrants desire.
This listing of immigration terms, from a to z, provides easy-to-grasp, jargon-minimized tips and definitions, as well as examples taken from various writings and blog posts of Immigration Attorney Carlos Batara.
These terms pertain to several major areas of immigration law, including family visas and marriage-based petitions, permanent resident programs, citizenship and naturalization, deportation and removal defense, immigration appeals, humanitarian programs involving asylum, refugees, TPS, and trafficking victims, as well as immigrant domestic violence protections, such as VAWA and U visas.
Immigration law is one of the toughest areas of law because rules are consistently changing due to the political ramifications of international policy measures.
This A - Z presentation hopes to provide insight on many of the commonly asked questions asked by immigrants and immigration reform advocates.
51 FLORIDA GROUPS/LEADERS ASK HILLARY CLINTON MEETING & VIEWS ON URGENT HAITI...Stanleylucas
We respectfully ask you to promptly inform of us of your views on the following concerns, which are of great importance to the Haitian-American community: Temporary Protected Status , Haitian Family Reunification Program, Cholera, Redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status, Elections, Denationalization of Dominicans of Haitian Descent, Revert to the Pre-September 22 Parole and Non-Detention Policy, Black Lives Matter
Once again, the top immigration news stories showed the national division on immigration issues. Without a public consensus, immigration reform remains stymied. The August 2015 Immigration News Top Ten Slide Share Presentation reflects this lack of clarity. Selected for inclusion in this month’s immigration news roundup are the following topics:
• Origin And Community: Asian And Latin American Youth And U.S. Deportation Relief
• Border Jails Facing Bond Defaults As Immigration Boom Goes Bust
• Central American Radio Stations Are Playing Anti-Immigration Songs Paid By The U.S. Government
• 15 Reasons Why Trump’s Plan To End Birthright Citizenship Is A Horrible Idea
• Filipino Immigrants In The United States
• Vandals May Be Targeting Emergency Water Stations At The Border
• Unauthorized Immigrants Paid $100 Billion Into Social Security Over Last Decade
• Immigration Judges Are Burning Out Faster Than Prison Wardens And Hospital Doctors
• El Salvador Declares Street Gangs As Terrorist Groups, Supreme Court Rules
• A Human Immigration Policy For A Nation Of Immigrants
Immigration family unity is the most crucial issue facing legislators, policy makers, attorneys, as they attempt to shape a workable immigration system. Learn why in our April 2015 immigration news roundup.
Consider the long immigrant visa waiting lists. Why are so many immigrants willing to wait up to 33 years for a visa? Family unity.
What is the controversy surrounding the detention bed quota, which keeps many immigrants without any criminal convictions locked up in privately-owned jails? Or why is there a battle in California to shape punishment for minor drug offenses?
Clearly, both issues are related to deportation defense. But there is more – the fight to keep immigrant families together.
The DACA renewals are important because they keep immigrant youth in line to hopefully become lawful permanent residents someday in the future.
The expanded and new military programs to bring immigrants into the armed services are significant because they offer an opportunity for naturalization.
Green cards and citizenship provide deserving immigrants the opportunity to live with their family members on a legal basis.
So as you browse through this curated presentation of immigration news, compiled by Immigration Lawyer Carlos Batara, we encourage you to think about the negative effects of family separation on legal family members.
After all, there would be almost no immigration law debate if countless mixed (part-immigrant/part-citizen and part-immigrant/part-permanent resident) families did not exist.
But they do exist. Love happens.
More than any other aspect of immigration reform, keeping families together is the foremost issue.
So join us at http://www.bataraimmigrationlaw.com to help make this world a better place one immigrant family at a time.
And thank you for sharing this presentation with your family and friends.
CGRS and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) have collaborated to produce an important report urging lawmakers to reform the U.S. immigration system for migrant children who are coming to our borders with surging frequency. They come, often unaccompanied by an adult, in search of safety, stability, and protection. These children face a system that was created for adults, does not provide them legal counsel, and is not required to consider the child’s best interests, despite the potentially enormous impact of the proceedings on the child’s life and future.
This document discusses different models of federalism in the United States and debates which level of government should have more control over certain issues. It outlines that the national government is responsible for issues like national defense and foreign policy, while states handle elections and public safety. It also describes different forms of federalism over time, from cooperative to new and coercive federalism. The document argues that some issues like immigration are best handled at the national level due to cross-state impacts, while others like minimum wage may be better left to state regulation to avoid large economic fluctuations. Overall, it conveys that federalism has adapted over history and both national and state governments rely on each other.
In recent months, the Trump Administration has started to indicate that the Temporary Protected Status program is on the chopping block. This presentation discusses which immigrants are most vulnerable and three potential paths to permanent residency for all TPS beneficiaries.
The document discusses the debate around immigration reform in the United States. It provides background on illegal immigration and discusses proposals like the DREAM Act to provide paths to citizenship. The main topic is President Obama's planned executive action to reform immigration policy by expanding protections from deportation and work permits to millions of undocumented immigrants, including parents of citizens. Critics argue this oversteps executive authority and could encourage more illegal immigration.
The memorandum recommends that the Indiana General Assembly's Senate Standing Committee on Education adopt a version of the DREAM Act that would allow certain qualified undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates for public universities in Indiana. It analyzes the federal DREAM Act, state DREAM Acts in other states like California and Texas, and concludes that adopting provisions similar to the Texas DREAM Act could provide economic benefits to Indiana while conforming to federal immigration policy.
Migration Policy Institute Report: Profile of Haitian Diaspora in the United ...Stanleylucas
The document provides detailed information on the Haitian diaspora population in the United States. It estimates that approximately 915,000 Haitian immigrants and their children (first and second generations) live in the US. The largest populations reside in Florida and New York. The diaspora sends $1.1 billion in remittances annually to Haiti, representing 20.6% of Haiti's GDP. While household incomes and educational attainment are lower than the general US population, children of Haitian immigrants have made educational gains.
The document discusses conservative ideas for advancing liberty in the Western United States. It summarizes that the federal government owns nearly half of all land west of Nebraska and is increasingly using that ownership to limit Western states' access to natural resources and tax revenue. This has made the Western states more dependent on the federal government. The document argues that restoring states' control over their own resources and reducing dependence on federal funds would help make government more accountable and responsive to local needs.
This document provides a summary of a report that compares state and federal land management in the western United States. The report finds that state trust land agencies generate significantly more revenue per dollar spent on management than federal agencies like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. On average, the states examined earned $14.51 for every dollar spent on state trust lands, while federal agencies only earned $0.73 for each dollar spent on federal lands. This is because state lands have a mandate to generate financial returns from activities like timber, grazing, minerals, and recreation to support beneficiaries like public schools, while federal agencies face conflicting mandates and lack financial incentives for cost-effective management. The implications of transferring federal lands to state control would depend
“True self-determination does not come with a state-initiated, state-controlled process like this.”
--- Andre Perez, Hawaiian cultural practitioner and community activist, Movement for Aloha No ka Aina (MANA)
The Benefits of Legalization - Meghan Hurleymeghurley1
There are an estimated 11.4 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, primarily from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. While some argue undocumented immigrants should be deported, others believe they should be given legal status and citizenship. A 2013 study found that legalizing the undocumented population would significantly benefit the US economy. Specifically, it estimated that GDP would increase by over $1 trillion over 10 years and hundreds of billions would be gained in personal income and tax revenue, as well as hundreds of thousands of new jobs per year.
The document discusses strategies and programs to help end homelessness among veterans. It provides data on the needs of homeless veterans based on surveys and outlines several key VA programs including HUD-VASH, SSVF, and CHALENG that assess veteran needs and connect veterans with housing, case management, and other services. Key facts include that nearly 75,000 veterans experienced homelessness on a single night in 2009 and the VA aims to effectively target resources and coordinate with HUD and other organizations to meet the diverse needs of veterans and their families.
Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) is an organization founded to support the enhancement of family values in Kenya, with four key pillars namely Life, Family, Religion and Governance. We are an advocacy and networking organization made up of Christian professionals from diverse Christian groups and churches, from diverse professional backgrounds, but all committed to supporting a pro-life, pro-family, pro-religion and good-governance social environment
This document summarizes legal issues facing LGBTQ individuals and families. It discusses barriers LGBTQ families face such as lack of legal ties between parents and children. It outlines states that allow same-sex marriage and civil unions versus states that ban them. It also summarizes the federal Defense of Marriage Act and legal challenges to it. Additionally, it discusses how LGBTQ families are formed through adoption, surrogacy or artificial insemination and legal documents that can help protect LGBTQ families.
The current Platform of the Democratic Party. 49% of Americans say the Democratic Party is “too liberal”; current trends point to a polarization of the Democratic Party that began with "Reagan Democrats" in the 1980s. This polarization indicates the possibility of a future split within the party of "Democrats" and "Socialists". Many policies in the party today mirror the far left policies of European socialist parties.
This document discusses the idea of implementing direct democracy at the federal level in the United States. It provides background on how direct democracy functions through initiatives, referendums, and recalls that are used in many states. The document examines arguments for and against direct democracy, looking at factors like political gridlock, citizen participation, minority representation, money influence, and interest groups. Examples of direct democracy being used successfully in states like California and countries like Switzerland are presented. Overall the document evaluates perspectives on instituting direct democracy at the national level to increase citizen voice and engagement in the political process.
Democracia and allied organizations helped stop the passage of two anti-immigrant bills in Florida through a Spanish language ad campaign targeting prominent Hispanic legislators supporting the bills. The campaign urged the community to mobilize against the bills and their sponsors, leading one legislator to publicly oppose the measures and the other to vote against their own proposal. Politicians in Florida and Pennsylvania are also attempting to suppress voter participation through restrictive voting laws, despite providing no evidence of voter impersonation problems. Democracia opposes these efforts as barriers to participation in democracy.
This document provides summaries of citizenship laws for countries around the world. It begins with general information on how to read the country entries and concepts like dual citizenship. The main body consists of alphabetical listings for each country, detailing how citizenship can be obtained and lost for that nation. It includes information on recognition of dual citizenship, voluntary and involuntary loss of citizenship, and contact information. The document aims to provide a quick reference on citizenship laws but advises contacting country embassies for definitive answers.
Banishment or facilitated reentry a human rights perspectivesoissues
This document summarizes a presentation given by Corinne A. Carey of Human Rights Watch at an ATSA conference regarding issues with current sex offender registration and notification laws from a human rights perspective. It outlines several rights that may be violated by overly broad laws, including privacy, housing choice, and avoiding stigma or harassment. Problems mentioned include registration of non-violent or consensual acts, lifetime requirements, lack of risk assessment, and residency restrictions that can interfere with family integrity. Consequences like loss of jobs or housing and threats of vigilantism against registrants are also discussed. The presentation calls for more narrowly tailored laws that respect human rights.
Domestic Violence In Asian Communitiesaraeshbhe710
Domestic violence is prevalent worldwide, with at least 1 in 3 women experiencing abuse. In the US, 85% of intimate partner violence victims are women. Immigrant women are disproportionately represented among female homicide victims. When planning to leave an abusive situation, one must consider safety, gathering important documents, having funds, and a shelter plan. Immigrant survivors have options under VAWA for legal status and protection, but overcoming mistrust of authorities is difficult due to unequal treatment based on factors like race, class and immigration status. Resources are provided to seek emergency help and social support.
The document discusses issues around educating undocumented immigrant children in the US. It notes that while some argue undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes, research shows they contribute an estimated $428 billion annually. The Supreme Court has ruled that all children have a right to education regardless of immigration status. Possible solutions discussed include better funding alternatives for education, improved teaching methods, increasing awareness, and passing legislation like the DREAM Act to provide pathways to citizenship for certain immigrant youth.
The document discusses the unsustainable level of federal debt being passed on to future generations due to entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. It argues that the existing political system, made up of both Republican and Democratic parties (called "Repocrats"), has grown the size of government far beyond its legitimate role and made promises that cannot be kept without burdening American children with crippling debt. The Liberty Party USA aims to simplify taxes, reduce the size and scope of the federal government and entitlement programs, and ensure spending is in line with tax revenues to preserve freedom for future generations.
Paulson, Kathleen, Unit 6 Research Proposal, HM598Kathy Paulson
This document proposes research into the effects of illegal immigration on the US economy, public safety, and constitutionality. It will examine factors like amnesty programs, DACA, border security, and estimates of the illegal immigrant population. The methodology will use data from government agencies and surveys to determine relationships between illegal immigration numbers and economic/social impacts. A literature review discusses findings that illegal immigration is increasing US population size and costs, while weakening border control. DACA in particular is criticized as encouraging more illegal crossings. The proposal aims to establish a validated approach for assessing these issues and informing immigration reform.
Running head UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN UNITED STATES .docxtoltonkendal
Running head: UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN UNITED STATES
1
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN UNITED STATES
9
Undocumented Immigrants in United States
Hassan Almahdi
St. Mary’s University
Undocumented Immigrants in United States
Overview
Undocumented immigrants can be defined as those people who were not born in America and have no legal rights that allow them to live in America. Undocumented immigrants are also known as aliens but this is not a legal term and it is widely used among the Americans because of its abusive connotation. It is believed that there are more than 11 million people living in America as illegal or undocumented immigrants in United States and this number has stood steady in the last the last eight years consecutively (Massey & Gentsch, 2014). This has been credited on many things that include stability of the Mexican economy and the gradual economic gains of nations across the world that have witnessed a number of its citizens moving to America to seek employment. Other immigration experts attribute this to the recent signed immigration policy by the Trump administration in United States. This paper will look at some of the issues around immigration in America that impact undocumented immigrants.
Undocumented Immigrants
The report that was released this year on the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has remained steady in the last seven years and it has stood at 11.3 million. One reason as to why the number of undocumented immigrants in America has been steady is because of the Mexican economy stability and the improved rules and regulations on immigration in America that have been passed in the last few years (Goldman et al., 2014). The number of undocumented immigrants is likely to go down further in the next few years given the deportation policy that has been passed into law by the Trump administration in the recent past. The policy though controversial has given the immigration department powers to identify any undocumented immigrant and depot them back to their countries. the united states federal government has maintained that the proposed wall on the Mexican American border remain the highest priority of the current administration and this will contribute to the reduction of undocumented immigrants in America (Jiang, 2017). Mexico has been the mother of countries that produce most of the undocumented in American but it reduced to just 49% in 2016 and they have dropped from 6.4 million in 2009 to 5.6 million in 2015. The number has been increasing due to instability among most countries and people have flown to America to seek refuge and asylum.
Rules, Regulation and Government Legislation
The major reason as to why there are more immigrants in United States in the rules and regulations that must be followed for one to be an American citizen and that allow the authorities to deport already undocumented immigrants ...
In recent months, the Trump Administration has started to indicate that the Temporary Protected Status program is on the chopping block. This presentation discusses which immigrants are most vulnerable and three potential paths to permanent residency for all TPS beneficiaries.
The document discusses the debate around immigration reform in the United States. It provides background on illegal immigration and discusses proposals like the DREAM Act to provide paths to citizenship. The main topic is President Obama's planned executive action to reform immigration policy by expanding protections from deportation and work permits to millions of undocumented immigrants, including parents of citizens. Critics argue this oversteps executive authority and could encourage more illegal immigration.
The memorandum recommends that the Indiana General Assembly's Senate Standing Committee on Education adopt a version of the DREAM Act that would allow certain qualified undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates for public universities in Indiana. It analyzes the federal DREAM Act, state DREAM Acts in other states like California and Texas, and concludes that adopting provisions similar to the Texas DREAM Act could provide economic benefits to Indiana while conforming to federal immigration policy.
Migration Policy Institute Report: Profile of Haitian Diaspora in the United ...Stanleylucas
The document provides detailed information on the Haitian diaspora population in the United States. It estimates that approximately 915,000 Haitian immigrants and their children (first and second generations) live in the US. The largest populations reside in Florida and New York. The diaspora sends $1.1 billion in remittances annually to Haiti, representing 20.6% of Haiti's GDP. While household incomes and educational attainment are lower than the general US population, children of Haitian immigrants have made educational gains.
The document discusses conservative ideas for advancing liberty in the Western United States. It summarizes that the federal government owns nearly half of all land west of Nebraska and is increasingly using that ownership to limit Western states' access to natural resources and tax revenue. This has made the Western states more dependent on the federal government. The document argues that restoring states' control over their own resources and reducing dependence on federal funds would help make government more accountable and responsive to local needs.
This document provides a summary of a report that compares state and federal land management in the western United States. The report finds that state trust land agencies generate significantly more revenue per dollar spent on management than federal agencies like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. On average, the states examined earned $14.51 for every dollar spent on state trust lands, while federal agencies only earned $0.73 for each dollar spent on federal lands. This is because state lands have a mandate to generate financial returns from activities like timber, grazing, minerals, and recreation to support beneficiaries like public schools, while federal agencies face conflicting mandates and lack financial incentives for cost-effective management. The implications of transferring federal lands to state control would depend
“True self-determination does not come with a state-initiated, state-controlled process like this.”
--- Andre Perez, Hawaiian cultural practitioner and community activist, Movement for Aloha No ka Aina (MANA)
The Benefits of Legalization - Meghan Hurleymeghurley1
There are an estimated 11.4 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, primarily from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. While some argue undocumented immigrants should be deported, others believe they should be given legal status and citizenship. A 2013 study found that legalizing the undocumented population would significantly benefit the US economy. Specifically, it estimated that GDP would increase by over $1 trillion over 10 years and hundreds of billions would be gained in personal income and tax revenue, as well as hundreds of thousands of new jobs per year.
The document discusses strategies and programs to help end homelessness among veterans. It provides data on the needs of homeless veterans based on surveys and outlines several key VA programs including HUD-VASH, SSVF, and CHALENG that assess veteran needs and connect veterans with housing, case management, and other services. Key facts include that nearly 75,000 veterans experienced homelessness on a single night in 2009 and the VA aims to effectively target resources and coordinate with HUD and other organizations to meet the diverse needs of veterans and their families.
Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) is an organization founded to support the enhancement of family values in Kenya, with four key pillars namely Life, Family, Religion and Governance. We are an advocacy and networking organization made up of Christian professionals from diverse Christian groups and churches, from diverse professional backgrounds, but all committed to supporting a pro-life, pro-family, pro-religion and good-governance social environment
This document summarizes legal issues facing LGBTQ individuals and families. It discusses barriers LGBTQ families face such as lack of legal ties between parents and children. It outlines states that allow same-sex marriage and civil unions versus states that ban them. It also summarizes the federal Defense of Marriage Act and legal challenges to it. Additionally, it discusses how LGBTQ families are formed through adoption, surrogacy or artificial insemination and legal documents that can help protect LGBTQ families.
The current Platform of the Democratic Party. 49% of Americans say the Democratic Party is “too liberal”; current trends point to a polarization of the Democratic Party that began with "Reagan Democrats" in the 1980s. This polarization indicates the possibility of a future split within the party of "Democrats" and "Socialists". Many policies in the party today mirror the far left policies of European socialist parties.
This document discusses the idea of implementing direct democracy at the federal level in the United States. It provides background on how direct democracy functions through initiatives, referendums, and recalls that are used in many states. The document examines arguments for and against direct democracy, looking at factors like political gridlock, citizen participation, minority representation, money influence, and interest groups. Examples of direct democracy being used successfully in states like California and countries like Switzerland are presented. Overall the document evaluates perspectives on instituting direct democracy at the national level to increase citizen voice and engagement in the political process.
Democracia and allied organizations helped stop the passage of two anti-immigrant bills in Florida through a Spanish language ad campaign targeting prominent Hispanic legislators supporting the bills. The campaign urged the community to mobilize against the bills and their sponsors, leading one legislator to publicly oppose the measures and the other to vote against their own proposal. Politicians in Florida and Pennsylvania are also attempting to suppress voter participation through restrictive voting laws, despite providing no evidence of voter impersonation problems. Democracia opposes these efforts as barriers to participation in democracy.
This document provides summaries of citizenship laws for countries around the world. It begins with general information on how to read the country entries and concepts like dual citizenship. The main body consists of alphabetical listings for each country, detailing how citizenship can be obtained and lost for that nation. It includes information on recognition of dual citizenship, voluntary and involuntary loss of citizenship, and contact information. The document aims to provide a quick reference on citizenship laws but advises contacting country embassies for definitive answers.
Banishment or facilitated reentry a human rights perspectivesoissues
This document summarizes a presentation given by Corinne A. Carey of Human Rights Watch at an ATSA conference regarding issues with current sex offender registration and notification laws from a human rights perspective. It outlines several rights that may be violated by overly broad laws, including privacy, housing choice, and avoiding stigma or harassment. Problems mentioned include registration of non-violent or consensual acts, lifetime requirements, lack of risk assessment, and residency restrictions that can interfere with family integrity. Consequences like loss of jobs or housing and threats of vigilantism against registrants are also discussed. The presentation calls for more narrowly tailored laws that respect human rights.
Domestic Violence In Asian Communitiesaraeshbhe710
Domestic violence is prevalent worldwide, with at least 1 in 3 women experiencing abuse. In the US, 85% of intimate partner violence victims are women. Immigrant women are disproportionately represented among female homicide victims. When planning to leave an abusive situation, one must consider safety, gathering important documents, having funds, and a shelter plan. Immigrant survivors have options under VAWA for legal status and protection, but overcoming mistrust of authorities is difficult due to unequal treatment based on factors like race, class and immigration status. Resources are provided to seek emergency help and social support.
The document discusses issues around educating undocumented immigrant children in the US. It notes that while some argue undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes, research shows they contribute an estimated $428 billion annually. The Supreme Court has ruled that all children have a right to education regardless of immigration status. Possible solutions discussed include better funding alternatives for education, improved teaching methods, increasing awareness, and passing legislation like the DREAM Act to provide pathways to citizenship for certain immigrant youth.
The document discusses the unsustainable level of federal debt being passed on to future generations due to entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. It argues that the existing political system, made up of both Republican and Democratic parties (called "Repocrats"), has grown the size of government far beyond its legitimate role and made promises that cannot be kept without burdening American children with crippling debt. The Liberty Party USA aims to simplify taxes, reduce the size and scope of the federal government and entitlement programs, and ensure spending is in line with tax revenues to preserve freedom for future generations.
Paulson, Kathleen, Unit 6 Research Proposal, HM598Kathy Paulson
This document proposes research into the effects of illegal immigration on the US economy, public safety, and constitutionality. It will examine factors like amnesty programs, DACA, border security, and estimates of the illegal immigrant population. The methodology will use data from government agencies and surveys to determine relationships between illegal immigration numbers and economic/social impacts. A literature review discusses findings that illegal immigration is increasing US population size and costs, while weakening border control. DACA in particular is criticized as encouraging more illegal crossings. The proposal aims to establish a validated approach for assessing these issues and informing immigration reform.
Running head UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN UNITED STATES .docxtoltonkendal
Running head: UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN UNITED STATES
1
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN UNITED STATES
9
Undocumented Immigrants in United States
Hassan Almahdi
St. Mary’s University
Undocumented Immigrants in United States
Overview
Undocumented immigrants can be defined as those people who were not born in America and have no legal rights that allow them to live in America. Undocumented immigrants are also known as aliens but this is not a legal term and it is widely used among the Americans because of its abusive connotation. It is believed that there are more than 11 million people living in America as illegal or undocumented immigrants in United States and this number has stood steady in the last the last eight years consecutively (Massey & Gentsch, 2014). This has been credited on many things that include stability of the Mexican economy and the gradual economic gains of nations across the world that have witnessed a number of its citizens moving to America to seek employment. Other immigration experts attribute this to the recent signed immigration policy by the Trump administration in United States. This paper will look at some of the issues around immigration in America that impact undocumented immigrants.
Undocumented Immigrants
The report that was released this year on the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has remained steady in the last seven years and it has stood at 11.3 million. One reason as to why the number of undocumented immigrants in America has been steady is because of the Mexican economy stability and the improved rules and regulations on immigration in America that have been passed in the last few years (Goldman et al., 2014). The number of undocumented immigrants is likely to go down further in the next few years given the deportation policy that has been passed into law by the Trump administration in the recent past. The policy though controversial has given the immigration department powers to identify any undocumented immigrant and depot them back to their countries. the united states federal government has maintained that the proposed wall on the Mexican American border remain the highest priority of the current administration and this will contribute to the reduction of undocumented immigrants in America (Jiang, 2017). Mexico has been the mother of countries that produce most of the undocumented in American but it reduced to just 49% in 2016 and they have dropped from 6.4 million in 2009 to 5.6 million in 2015. The number has been increasing due to instability among most countries and people have flown to America to seek refuge and asylum.
Rules, Regulation and Government Legislation
The major reason as to why there are more immigrants in United States in the rules and regulations that must be followed for one to be an American citizen and that allow the authorities to deport already undocumented immigrants ...
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Running Head ISSUES REGARDING IMMIGRATION1Issues Regardi.docxcowinhelen
Running Head: ISSUES REGARDING IMMIGRATION 1
Issues Regarding Immigration 7
Issues Regarding Immigration
Student’s Name
Institution
Introduction
Illegal migration into the United States has recently been on a massive scale. As the population of these illegal immigrants continues to increase, several challenges arise. These challenges come in various dimensions ranging from economic to socio-political challenges. It is, therefore, prudent to provide a succinct solution to these challenges lest the impact of illegal migration would be more perilous in the United States of America than earlier anticipated.
With increased levels of globalization, both terrorism and illegal immigration have been significantly enhanced (Correa-Cabrera & Rojas-Arenaza, 2012, p. 28). Efforts to deal with and provide an amicable solution to these fundamental problems associated with these challenges have attracted both the senate and the house of Congress significantly. This is primary because any neglect to peer into these issues would ideally affect the economy of the United States as well as the socio-economic and political setups among the citizens of the United States of America. What can, therefore, be done to ensure due address to these key challenges?
Efforts have been put by the house of the congress trying to craft a comprehensive law that would address the key challenges of illegal migration into the United States. However, full success of the implementation of these laws has neither been realized (Fialho, 2016, p. 87). However, there is some degree of success in as far as the Congress concerns addressing the real issues of immigration due to the implementation and operation of such comprehensive laws. Besides, there has been a severe neglect on the most favored policy of benign neglect in the recent past. It is apparently no longer tenable in the view and perspective of current US address priorities to the issues of illegal immigration.
Several efforts are currently being employed to try addressing the problems and challenges related to illegal migration in the United States. These include changes in the policy at places of employment and various sectors of the entire economy of the United States. Examples of these policy changes include things such as improving the levels of security at workplaces, ensuring proper and thorough verification of the employees by their prospective employers, establishment of new guest worker program, and offering amnesty to illegal immigrants who are found to be living in the United States of America.
A key focus is, however, on the success of the implementation of these policies and reforms. To ensure the accomplishment and success of these reforms and policies, there must be a comprehensive immigration reform in place (Filindra & Kovács, 2011, p. 93). These reforms should be extensively ideological as well as significantly lopsided to address issues especially on the security at the borders an ...
RECOMMENDATIONS 6
Evidence-Based Recommendations
Evidence-Based Recommendations
Illegal immigration is one of the abused issues in the United States. The issue is of great concern as it not only changes the economic, cultural, but also the social aspect of the nation of concern. Immigration has been wrongly used in the political arenas as political leaders strive to throw their weight around while portraying their competitors how better they are. To the citizenry, immigrants increase competition in the already scarce employment opportunities. Immigrants cheaply provide easily accessible labor hence being preferred over the hosts of the country. On the other hand, they increase competition on available social amenities such as education and health care, hence at times referred to as a burden to the economy. People migrate while escaping wars and natural calamities such as hunger.
In contrast, others move illegally following societal ills such as human trafficking, where they end up in social evils such as prostitution. Whether migrating through the right or wrong channels, deportation has far-reaching effects, especially with the involvement of parents. Right measures should be implemented in dealing with the issue of deportation.
Granting amnesty is one of the options that could be explored in dealing with the deportation of parents. Amnesty entails the granting of a formal legal status to individuals with an illegal residence in a country and is awaiting deportation. The issue of amnesty among immigrants is received with mixed reactions. While some political leaders use the amnesty programs as a means of benefiting themselves, the citizens of the country view the move as a means of suppressing their access to resources. According to Levy (2010), people in support of an amnesty program among the illegal migrants view the deportation of illegal immigrants as being an impractical move. The deportation process is hectic for both the officials and the involved parties. Levy (2010) noted that the deportation process is time-consuming, requires a lot of effort, and is labor-intensive.
The country would have to incur additional costs in trying to correct a situation created by people who failed to take their jobs seriously. Also, it is not a guarantee that all illegal immigrants would be successfully deported as some may escape detection, which means that the government goes through all that trouble for nothing. Instead, the government should use the challenge of illegal immigrants to its advantage. Numerous low-skilled employment positions are unfilled because Americans cannot fill the positions, despite being crucial to the nation's economy. The country stands to benefit more with the illegal immigrants given amnesty as opposed to when there are deported. Levy (2010) added that the legalization of immigrants through ac.
RECOMMENDATIONS 6
Evidence-Based Recommendations
Evidence-Based Recommendations
Illegal immigration is one of the abused issues in the United States. The issue is of great concern as it not only changes the economic, cultural, but also the social aspect of the nation of concern. Immigration has been wrongly used in the political arenas as political leaders strive to throw their weight around while portraying their competitors how better they are. To the citizenry, immigrants increase competition in the already scarce employment opportunities. Immigrants cheaply provide easily accessible labor hence being preferred over the hosts of the country. On the other hand, they increase competition on available social amenities such as education and health care, hence at times referred to as a burden to the economy. People migrate while escaping wars and natural calamities such as hunger.
In contrast, others move illegally following societal ills such as human trafficking, where they end up in social evils such as prostitution. Whether migrating through the right or wrong channels, deportation has far-reaching effects, especially with the involvement of parents. Right measures should be implemented in dealing with the issue of deportation.
Granting amnesty is one of the options that could be explored in dealing with the deportation of parents. Amnesty entails the granting of a formal legal status to individuals with an illegal residence in a country and is awaiting deportation. The issue of amnesty among immigrants is received with mixed reactions. While some political leaders use the amnesty programs as a means of benefiting themselves, the citizens of the country view the move as a means of suppressing their access to resources. According to Levy (2010), people in support of an amnesty program among the illegal migrants view the deportation of illegal immigrants as being an impractical move. The deportation process is hectic for both the officials and the involved parties. Levy (2010) noted that the deportation process is time-consuming, requires a lot of effort, and is labor-intensive.
The country would have to incur additional costs in trying to correct a situation created by people who failed to take their jobs seriously. Also, it is not a guarantee that all illegal immigrants would be successfully deported as some may escape detection, which means that the government goes through all that trouble for nothing. Instead, the government should use the challenge of illegal immigrants to its advantage. Numerous low-skilled employment positions are unfilled because Americans cannot fill the positions, despite being crucial to the nation's economy. The country stands to benefit more with the illegal immigrants given amnesty as opposed to when there are deported. Levy (2010) added that the legalization of immigrants through ac ...
The document provides an in-depth summary and analysis of New York State Bill A.4311, also known as the New York State DREAM Act. The bill would allow undocumented students who graduated from high school in New York to pay in-state tuition rates for college. It discusses the background and history of the bill, arguments for and against it, potential costs and funding sources, implementation process, and compares it to similar federal and state policies. The bill has been introduced in the New York legislature multiple times since 2011 but has not passed yet.
Leigh ann jara immigration program & policy evaluation & analysis 2014Leigh-Ann Jara, M.S.
The moral panic over immigration that has fomented and grown in intensity with the terrorist attacks of 9/11; Welsh (2002, p.5) states that the laws were due to “moral panic…through distorted lens of racial and ethnic stereotypes.” The immigration laws are controversial to sparing viewpoints because the dilemma is not a clearcut liberal vs. conservative, or democrat vs. republican issue. The problem and solutions are multi-faceted and affect many aspects of American life.
1) The document discusses state and local law enforcement's role in enforcing immigration laws. It notes that while the federal government is responsible for immigration enforcement, they lack the resources to do so effectively.
2) It examines how some state and local law enforcement agencies have taken on immigration enforcement duties through programs like 287(g). This allows them to identify and detain undocumented immigrants.
3) However, taking on immigration enforcement can be problematic as it diverts resources away from other law enforcement responsibilities and may damage relationships with immigrant communities. Effective policies and oversight are needed.
This argumentative essay discusses immigration policy in the United States. It argues that President Trump's decision to repeal DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is unconstitutional because it violates the 14th Amendment and concepts of citizenship. The 14th Amendment defines that everyone within U.S. borders is protected, regardless of legal status. While some argue that DACA overstepped presidential powers, revoking it violates the rights of Dreamers who have lived in the U.S. most of their lives. The essay maintains that the U.S. was founded by immigrants and has long welcomed people from diverse backgrounds, so restricting protections for undocumented people goes against American principles.
2. 1
Table of Contents
Background – 2
Immigration/Border Crisis vs. Humanitarian Crisis – 3
Laws – 4
Ways about Treating these Children – 5
How the United States should Address its Root Causes – 6
Improving the Condition and Supplemental Appropriations – 8
Congressman Adam Smith – 9
Opposing Arguments – 10
Conclusion – 11
Bibliography – 13
3. 2
Background
The issue of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) is not one that has just recently been tackled
and discussed by the United States Government. UAC are defined in the statute as children who
lack lawful immigration status in the United States, who are under the age of 18, and who are
without a parent or legal guardian in the United States, or no parent or legal guardian in the United
States is available to provide care and physical custody (Seghetti, Siskin and Wasem 1). The system
that has been put in place over the past decade to handle cases such as UAC has been strained due
to the alarming numbers of UAC arriving at the United States border; this surge has also been
doubling in numbers each year.
Dating back to 2011, since then there has been numerous factors that have contributed to the
dramatic increase in the number of UAC emigrating from Central America (specifically El Salvador,
Guatemala, and Honduras) to the United States (Seelke 23). These children have been leaving their
home country in search of work and education opportunities, hoping to find a better standard of
living, hoping to be granted asylum, and/or to reunite with family members living in the United
States. Due to increase in crime and violence, along with the United States Government’s inability to
guarantee citizen security, it has made this search harder and harder for UACs (Seelke 23).
Records have shown the number of UAC apprehended by border patrol has fluctuated between
FY2009 and FY2011 but then shown to have had a dramatic increase from FY2012 until current
record obtained in June 15, 201. There were 19,440 for FY2009, 18,260 for FY2010, 15,720 for
FY2011, 24,177 for FY2012, 38,146 for FY2013, and 51,458 for FY2014. The most common
countries of citizenship are Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica,
Nicaragua, and Panama, respectively from highest to lowest (Conyers, Jr. and Lofgren 2).
4. 3
Even as the journey from Central America through Mexico to the United States border has become
increasingly costly and dangerous every day, the flows of unaccompanied minors are still increasing.
Therefore, the following sections in this paper will provide information, evaluation, and analysis to
whether or not this is an immigration problem or a humanitarian crisis, along with reasoning why
Congress should or should not provide supplemental appropriation to alleviate the problem.
Immigration/Border Crisis vs. Humanitarian Crisis
The issue of UAC arriving at the United States border has become an increasingly difficult problem
to deal with over time. The citizens of the United States perceive this issue in a variety of ways.
Some call it a border crisis while others consider it a humanitarian crisis. While the definitions of
these two terms have a certain overlap, there are also some self-explanatory differences. While
border/immigration crisis refers to situations that occur due to the lack of strong law enforcement
and strong immigration policy, humanitarian crisis refers to events and situations in which the
health, safety and well being of a large group of people are at jeopardy.
According to Rep. Adam Smith’s press release on July 24, 2014, “the arrival of unaccompanied
minors is not a failure in border enforcement” (Halle, Smith Statement on House Republican Plan
to Address Humanitarian Situation at the Border). There have been multiple misperceptions that
arrival of UAC is an immigration problem and a failure to enforce border control.
The United States already has a well-advanced border control and immigration system. This very
secured border is evidenced by thousands of children that are in government’s custody. When these
children arrive at the border, they are stopped by the Customs and Border patrol and this is the
5. 4
epitome of border security (Halle, Smith Statement on Humanitarian Crisis at the Border). There is
no border security system measure that could possibly stop people from having the desire to cross
the border in order to escape violence in their own home country. The desire is independent to the
laws and the humanitarian crisis is also not a viable explanation to point out that the United States
has a weak border security system. It is due to the surge in number of these UAC that is putting a
speed bump on the laws and systems. Therefore, this situation is seen to be a humanitarian crisis
rather than an immigration/border crisis.
Laws
Some might ask why are the UACs encountered at ports of entry not turned away as inadmissible?
The reasoning for this is due to Section 212(a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Under this section, any immigrant who does not possess valid unexpired immigrant visa, reentry
permit, border crossing identification card, or other valid entry document required by this act is
required to provide one otherwise they will be refused entry permission. However, admission is not
the same as entry. Admission is defined as “lawful entry into the United States after inspection and
authorization by an immigration officer” while entry is generally seen to encompass any “coming of
an alien into the United States” and may be permitted, pursuant to other provisions of federal law in
circumstances where admission is not legally permissible (Manuel and Garcia 5). These UAC are
listed under entry in which they cannot be turned away as inadmissible. The challenge that is
encountered with this law is that these UAC are granted entry under the condition that they will
have to be interviewed and be further processed. On the contrary, they end up disappearing in the
United States and because of the high number of UAC entering the United States, a lot of them are
being turned away without getting a fair trial in court. With that in mind, not all children will get the
6. 5
chance to be interviewed and given a fair trial and thus, prefer running away into the country
illegally.
In addition to the INA, another popular law used in this humanitarian crisis is the 2008 law that was
passed with bipartisan support and signed into place by President George W. Bush. This law
protects minors who arrived in the United States after fleeing human trafficking or other kinds of
abuse or violence (Halle, Smith Statement on Unaccompanied Minors). Many members of Congress
has taken the wrong approach in which they believe in order to alleviate this humanitarian crisis is to
first weaken the 2008 law. Not all children will qualify for asylum or refugee status under this law or
other laws in the book but they should definitely all have fair representation to make their cases in
court (Halle, Smith Statement on Unaccompanied Minors). The issue that arises here is that when
the law was passed in 2008, there was not a prediction that parents in the northern triangle would
want to send their children into the United States. This is seen as an unintended consequence of the
policy, which leads to the belief in decrease of credibility of the 2008 law.
Along with the two laws mentioned, there are many more that comes into play in the process of
alleviating the UAC issue such as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and their
supplemental appropriations bill (Halle, Smith Statement Opposing Republican Appropriation Bill
for Border Situation). Even though the number is large, the loopholes and misconducts of these
laws are inevitable. With the ongoing improvement and amendments of current laws, there is a
possibility that the United States can take the next big step in alleviating this problem and hope to
allow justice towards incoming UAC.
7. 6
Ways about Treating these Children
Throughout the years where this issue has been a pertinent one to the United States, there has still
been a lack of initiative taken to alleviate it. Neither the State Department nor the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) has funded any large-scale assistance programs for
exiled El Salvadorans. On the other hand, the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
implemented a two-phased small-scale program to assist in this situation of unaccompanied minors
who were removed from the United States (Seelke 23).
• Phase 1 (implemented in 2010): assisted in reintegration of 52 children
• Phase 2 (implemented in 2011): focused on building El Salvadoran government
capacity to work with local communities and NGOs to support reintegration of
UAC rather than assisting large numbers of individuals
With these phases having been implemented in the past, the Obama Administration announced its
intention to provide $9.6 million (although source of funding was not specified) to help El Salvador,
Guatemala, and Honduran reintegrate repatriated migrants (Seelke 23).
Another issue that is encountered is the question of which federal agencies have primary
responsibility for maintaining custody of alien children without immigration status (Manuel and
Garcia 6). When this situation arises, a lot of departments toss the responsibilities around and pass it
on to other departments so they would not have to deal with it. With lack of supplemental funding
for these departments, they would prefer to handle as fewer cases as possible. According to the law,
the primary federal agencies responsible for maintaining custody are the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In order to avoid this
8. 7
situation from happening, the root causes of this humanitarian crisis and an increase in funding
should be implemented.
How the United States should Address its Root Causes
The United States and the Obama Administration has been trying to address the root causes of this
humanitarian crisis and why children are fleeing their country and how those children are treated
once they arrive (Seelke 23). The initial action taken on this situation is that the Obama
Administration announced the start of a five-year, $25 million crime and violence prevention
program in El Salvador (Seelke 23). Along with that is the continuation of Central America Regional
Security Initiative (CARSI) funding to address the root causes of migration (Seelke 23).
From many arguments and reasoning behind why there is a surge of UAC coming through the
United States border relates back to the situation in the UAC’s home country. A lot of these
children are emigrating from Central American countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, and
Honduras in which these countries have a high rate of crime and violence. With this argument,
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) reported to Reuters that establishing refugee application programs in
citizenship countries of the UACs is the key to defusing the situation (Conyers, Jr. and Lofgren).
The number of apprehensions increased from about 8,000 in fiscal year 2008 to approximately
52,000 in the first eight and half months of fiscal year 2014 (Kandel, Bruno and Meyer 1). The
current spike is driven entirely by children from the northern triangle and not by children from
Mexico or other Central American Countries (Conyers, Jr. and Lofgren 2). There are four factors
that are contributing to the explanation of the main root causes of this humanitarian crisis. The four
9. 8
are high violent crime rates, poor economic conditions fueled by relatively low economic growth
rates, high rates of poverty, and the presence of transnational gangs.
High rates of violent crime are a bad environment for any children to grow up in. In 2012, the
homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants stood at 90.4 in Honduras, which makes it the highest in the
world, 41.2 in El Salvador, and 39.9 in Guatemala (Kandel, Bruno and Meyer 1). Poor economic
conditions are a factor that discourages for children to grow up expecting to gain any jobs. With the
hopes of coming to the land of opportunity, the United States that is, they are hoping to encounter
new possibilities in entry level positions in the low-skilled workforce of the industrial sectors.
According to the International Monetary Fund report, the economic growth rates in the northern
triangle countries, which are the three countries mentioned, in 2013 ranges from 1.6% to 3.5%
(Kandel, Bruno and Meyer 1). Low growth rates and extremely low employment opportunities lead
to high poverty rate. Statistic shows that 45% of El Salvadorans, 55% of Guatemalans, and 67% of
Hondurans live in poverty (Kandel, Bruno and Meyer 1). Lastly is the presence of transnational
gangs. Surveys in 2013 indicated that almost 50% of UAC experienced serious harm or threats by
organized criminal groups or state actors and one-fifth experienced domestic abuse (Kandel, Bruno
and Meyer 1). Additionally, back in 2013 the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) interviewed UAC from El Salvador and 66% of them had been abused or threatened by
criminal actors (Seelke 23). With this kind of living condition, how can one blame such a person for
having the desire to flea their home country to find better opportunities and outlook on life? These
are only the few factors that are the root causes of this issue.
10. 9
Improving the Condition and Supplemental Appropriations
While these children are crossing the border to seek out a better standard of living, the United States
is also experiencing a humanitarian crisis of their own. According to the laws and the theme of the
land of fair and equal opportunity, the United States must seek for improvement in condition when
treating these UAC. It is the wrong approach to address this humanitarian situation by weakening
the 2008 law. This legislation was passed with bipartisan support and was signed by president Bush
is in place to protect minors who are fleeing human trafficking, violence and abuse (Office of Rep.
Adam Smith). The other way around alleviating this situation is implementing supplemental
appropriations.
Supplemental appropriations have been a major discussion in Congress and debates have been made
between the Republicans and the Democrats on whether or not appropriations are worthwhile. As
mentioned before, pre-existing laws are not to blame. They have been able to exist until today
because it serves the purpose and the only few possible solutions to alleviate the problem of
overflowing UAC at the southwest border is to increase funding and provide supplemental
appropriations.
When this crisis escalated in July 2014, there has been a request for an emergency of $3.7 billion
supplemental appropriation. The focus of the appropriated funds would be for deterrence –
increased immigration court capacity to speed cases, enforcement – increased surveillance and
expand collaborative law enforcement task forces, foreign cooperation – addressing root causes, and
capacity – increased detainment, care, and transportation. The following are the breakdowns:
• $1.1 billion: providing DHS for Immigration and Custom Enforcements (ICE)
• $433 million: providing DHS for CBP
11. 10
• $64 million: providing the Department of Justice (DOJ)
• $300 million: providing Department of State
• $1.8 billion: providing HHS for appropriate care for UAC
(White House Office of Legislative Affairs 3-4)
With efforts to provide funding, the apprehension number of UAC at the southwest border,
specifically at the Rio Grande Valley Sector, has seen a decrease from 2,652 in fiscal year 2014 to
1,551 in fiscal year 2015 to date (U.S. Customs and Border Protection). As this number shows a very
drastic decrease, it is a very good indicator that the White House, along with members of Congress,
should advocate for further appropriations. Without sufficient funding, this situation is quite hard to
handle.
Congressman Adam Smith
During the week of June 23, 2014, Representative Adam Smith (WA-09) took the initiative along
with Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) to lead a letter co-signed by 43 members of Congress. In
this letter, the content asks Secretary Johnson, the current Secretary of Home Security, to undertake
full review of the extent detainers have contributed to violations of human rights of community
members, implement changes that reduce and reform the way ICE detainers are used, and halt the
use of detainers in their current form (Office of Rep. Adam Smith 1). He mentions that, “[he]
oppose[s] simply deporting [UAC] without considering the protections our laws provide. These
children deserve due process, and [he] support[s] increased funding for immigration judges and legal
representation to help the unaccompanied children make their case in court” (Office of Rep. Adam
12. 11
Smith). Rep. Adam Smith along with numerous other members of Congress sees the need of an
increase in initiative to allow fairness in legal representation and protection of UAC. These children
are crossing the border with an effort to reunite with families in the United States or find better
opportunities to obtain a better standard of living. These UAC deserves justice and even though it is
not possible to accommodate all them, they all deserve a fair trial.
Opposing Arguments
Although there are many requests for supplemental appropriations and an improvement in the
number UAC crossing the border, it can also be seen as a very big investment for the United States
Government. By providing more funds for organizations and immigration patrol in order to solve
this problem, there are other aspects that the funds could be injected into for more investments.
Each year, the budget has only so much new revenue that could be used to wiggle the budget for
each department and aspects. The United States Government aims to balance the budget during the
budget season and with only a few places funding could be taken out of, the extra money that has
the potential to be allocated and dispersed needs to be evaluated critically. The other perspective on
this humanitarian crisis is that the United States could use the funds, that would be a supplemental
appropriation, to provide increase funding in other aspects of the budget such as higher education,
defense, health care, etc.
There are many ways to approach this issue and coming down with one solid answer will be
extremely difficult. The United States Congress, along with several organizations are looking into
alleviating the problem via multiple outlets, channels, and resources. There is no one solid way to
solve this issue and this will be an ongoing crisis for the United States. The number of UAC has
13. 12
decreased since initiatives have been taking by the United States Government. Whether or not this
number will continue to decline depends on the ongoing efforts of the citizens and government.
Conclusion
After all, these UAC are not looking to go to Disneyland, or trying to get a job; they are running
away from catastrophe, violence, and crime to be with family members in the United States. They
are also finding refuge here in order to stay alive (Sharpton). In my opinion, this humanitarian crisis
has come a long way and the United States has put in a good deal of initiative and effort to alleviate
the problem although, there is definitely room for more improvements. With the many support in
Congress for President’s Obama supplemental funding and the outlook on fairness and equality,
there is many channels to find ways to accommodate these incoming UAC.
In my opinion, the President should definitely provide supplemental appropriation to protect the
United States but also, help the incoming UAC who are fleeing their home country from violence
and crime. The United States has a huge landmass with potential to expand hospitality and increase
funding on humanitarian crisis aspect. After experiencing first hand from interning at the Office of
Representative Adam Smith in Washington, D.C., Congress has the potential to drive this nation
towards a protected and fair immigration and border laws. With the help of the President’s
supplemental appropriations and the joined forces of organizations and departments, the United
States has a very good chance in moving forward with this situation without having to hurt a large
quantity of UAC and its own citizens.
14. 13
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