Immigration

Looking Ahead: Key Issues in US Politics Approaching the 2010 US Midterm Elections

July 20, 2010
It has been nearly two years since the 2008 US Congressional election which saw the Democrats take control of Congress and Barack Obama claim the presidency over the Republican Party which had been in power for the previous eight years. This November's mid-term elections will offer the Republicans and Tea Party supporters the opportunity to reclaim some power in the US. Primaries have already begun throughout the country and a variety of issues which are sure to take centre stage in the lead up to November have started affecting election results.

Report Highlight: FOCALPoint – Focus on Canada-Mexico

July 20, 2010
The new May edition of FOCALPoint focuses on the significant Canada-Mexico relationship. In this edition, which includes an article from Ambassador of Mexico to Canada, Francisco Barrio-Terrazas the often forgotten but important relationship between Canada and Mexico is highlighted. The various authors point to the increase in trade and foreign investment between the two countries as well as the evolving cooperation between Canadian provinces and Mexican states in the areas of agriculture, forestry, environmental management and education.

Lawsuits Against Arizona and US Immigration Reform

July 14, 2010
It first started with Arizona's immigration law S.B. 1070 and now other states are also contemplating the implementation of similar immigration measures. However, the US Justice Department has now joined in filling a suit against Arizona and its Governor Janice Brewer. This all began back in late April when Arizona passed S.B. 1070 which allows law enforcement officials to question a person's immigration status if there is ‘reasonable suspicion' that he/she may be in the country illegally.

Calderon Visit Includes Strong Words for North American Partners

June 14, 2010
On May 28, 2010, Mexican President Felipe Calderon finished his second visit in ten days to his country's NAFTA partners. The trip included speeches before both nation's legislatures as well as meetings with President Obama and Prime Minister Harper.

National Guard Troop Deployment Announced

July 23, 2010
U.S. President Barack Obama set an August 1 deployment date for 1,200 National Guard members to be sent to the Mexican border. Alan Bersin, the U.S. customs and border protection commissioner, said the troops’ mission will be to “support efforts of law enforcement, not to have a direct law enforcement role.” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared that the troops will support “agents working in high-risk areas to disrupt criminal organizations seeking to move people and goods illegally across the southwest border.”

Religious Leaders on Immigration Reform

July 23, 2010
Arizona's law allowing local police to enforce federal immigration law has added new fuel to the debate over immigration reform, an issue that continues to be one of the most difficult national issues. The Obama administration's recent decision to challenge the state law has further raised the stakes. Four religious leaders who recently attended a faith and immigration conference at the Council on Foreign Relations weigh in with their views of reconciling religion and immigration law. Read more

Immigration Update: State-Level Legislation

July 19, 2010
With Arizona’s immigration law SB 1070 slated to go into effect on July 29, legislators around the country continue to look at similar restrictive measures toward undocumented immigrants. The U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit filed against Arizona on July 7 may delay implementation of the law or permanently strike it down, but, either way, state legislators are increasingly acting to take federal policy into their own hands. http://www.as-coa.org/article.php?id=2521

Hard Talk: Immigration - Jan Brewer vs. Bill Richardson

July 19, 2010
In a pre-release from the forthcoming AQ (to be released July 29, 2010), two U.S. border state governors face off on immigration. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer argues that Washington's failure to enforce existing immigration laws leaves the state with no choice but to take care of matters itself, while her counterpart in New Mexico, Bill Richardson, argues that immigration must remain in the hands of the federal government. http://www.as-coa.org/article.php?id=2517

Wagering on the DOJ’s Case against the AZ Immigration Law

July 15, 2010
“We can't take bets on this because it’s illegal and probably immoral,” write the authors of The Houston Chronicle’s Immigration Chronicles blog in a post about whether a U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit will succeed in blocking implementation of Arizona’s controversial immigration law. Legal experts interviewed wager that the case will achieve its end before the July 29 implementation of the legislation. Read an AS/COA analysis of the Justice Department’s federal case against Arizona.

A Place to Call Home: What Immigrants Say Now About Life in America

July 14, 2010
Although there are common themes among immigrants, certain groups do have unique perspectives. We chose to look at two groups, immigrants from Mexico and immigrants who identify themselves as Muslims as these groups are at the forefront of immigration policy and perceptions. Mexican immigrants are more likely to say they're happy in the United States, but also significantly more likely to perceive discrimination against immigrants. They're also more likely to be lower-income and perhaps face more language barriers.