The Week in Immigration News
- The ACLU sued Fremont, Neb., over its new immigration regulations, which ban illegal immigrants from working or renting property in the town. The ACLU said the law is discriminatory and preempts federal authority over immigration.
- J.D. Hayworth and John McCain are still fighting for the “toughest on immigration” title in Arizona.
- Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.), the head of the House Immigration Reform Caucus, said he thinks President Ronald Reagan’s decision to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants in 1986 caused the large number of deaths by border crossers last year. “You have people up north who don’t understand what a monumental mistake it was to provide amnesty in ’86,” Bilbray told Upshot.
- Federal Judge Susan Bolton heard the Justice Department’s case against Arizona Thursday, but she gave little indication of how she will rule or when. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer asked Bolton to let the law take effect before she makes a ruling. (It’s set to go into effect July 29.) In the meantime, illegal immigrants are leaving the state.
- ICE officials said Tuesday they will speed up the visa process for performing artists trying to come to the U.S.
- Members of a Mexican American organization called the Brown Berets showed up at a rally supporting SB 1070 in Anaheim, Calif., to scream “Go back to Europe!” The group claims America once belonged to Mexico.
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched a new online detainee search tool Friday to help family members and lawyers locate people detained by immigration authorities.
- Former Rep. Tom Tancredo called Friday for Obama’s impeachment for failing to adequately enforce border security, a claim based on statements by Sen. Jon Kyl that the senator has since walked back.
- Hundreds of undocumented teens and young adults visited lawmakers as part of a mass mobilization for the DREAM Act, legislation that would help them gain citizenship. Some were arrested after a sit-in at Hart Senate Office Building.
