News

Jul 27, 2009

Throughout the Presidential campaign President Obama often spoke of tackling immigration reform. It seems the Obama Administration is beginning such work, unfortunately all preliminary changes shows that the Administration will take us in the wrong direction. The current administration has already begun watering down the 287(g) program which is designed to allow state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration laws. The changes would require law enforcement agencies to prosecute illegal immigrants of initial crimes rather than removing them, and would also limit immigration checks to “major” offenses. The Department of Homeland Security is also finding new ways of tampering down enforcement by announcing that it intends to rescind the 2007 Social Security No-Match Rule, a rule designed to clarify the obligations employers had with respect to knowingly hiring unauthorized aliens. While few know what the President will include in the future immigration bill, the current trend does not look positive for real and compassionate immigration reform. In order to be successful, reform must include enforcement of immigration laws, reforming temporary worker visas, border security, and aiding in the economic development in Latin America. The U.S. can, and should, do it in such a way that fosters prosperity and security. View our recent research on this critical issue below, in this week’s Issue In Depth.