Immigration Reform
State of Play
Preparing for the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice
Laura Peralta-Schulte
Lobbyist
Ashley Wilson
Communications Coordinator
•Policy
Evaluate
•Process
Will this bill become law?
•Politics
•(and Prayer!)
Pieces of the
Puzzle
Things at play when we talk
about immigration reform
•Sanctuary Cities
•Homeland Security & Border Control
•Refugee Resettlement
•Administration Challenges
Definition: jurisdictions with policies
or laws that limit the extent to which
local law enforcement will assist the
Federal Government on immigration
matters
Policy
Sanctuary Cities
Currently there are more than 200
state & local jurisdictions with such
policies
Why? Allows police to focus on law
enforcement priorities, encourages
immigrants to work with police
without fear of deportation
Policy (cont.)
Sanctuary Cities
The Vitter Bill (S. 2146) would
penalize the exercise of any
police discretion by stripping
funding from localities that do
not enforce immigration.
Process
Sanctuary Cities
The House of Representatives
passed a similar bill (H.R. 3009) in
July
The Vitter Bill is likely to be taken up
as a “Managers amendment” on the
Senate Floor on October 20
Presidential: Candidate Donald
Trump has focused on this issue
during his campaign and has put
intense pressure on Congress to act
Politics
Sanctuary Cities
House: Anti-immigrant members,
pushed by outside groups like the
Heritage Foundation and Numbers
USA, pressed for action. House bill
passed 241 to 179.
Senate: This is a case where
immigration populations in a state
can make an impact.
Operation Streamline: the federal
government’s detention-anddeportation program under which
immigrants are prosecuted in group
trials and convicted of illegal entry
into the country—a misdemeanor.
Policy
Homeland Security & Border
Control
If they cross again, they may be
convicted of an aggravated felony
and face up to two years in prison.
The program allows for up to 80
immigrants to be tried at a time, and
there is limited legal
representation.
Policy (cont.)
Homeland Security & Border
Control
Key objective of leadership in the
House & Senate: further
militarize the border. Includes
expansion of Operation
Streamline and increased
funding for border control.
Process
Homeland Security & Border
Control
Legislative efforts to increase border
control are moving through Homeland
Security Committees & Appropriation
Committees in both houses. There will
likely be an increased funding this year
for border security.
Politics
Homeland Security & Border
Control
Immigration has been a major issue
in the Republican presidential
campaigns and many of the
candidates have engaged in antiimmigrant bashing. This has
strengthened the resolve of
immigration foes on Capitol Hill.
Policy
Refugee Resettlement
The world is facing a refugee crisis
fueled by war and extreme poverty.
This is an issue that must be dealt
with by governments around the
world.
Policy (Cont.)
Refugee Resettlement
H.R. 3573 (Sponsored by Rep.
Michael McCaul – Head of
Homeland Security Committee): Bill
would require refugee resettlement
numbers to be approved by joint
resolution of Congress every year
and would prioritization religious
minorities – Christians -- in Middle
East. Every single year numbers
are already determined in
consultation with Congress. This
bill allows congress to politicize the
program and allow assessment to
be subject to partisan gridlock.
Process
Refugee Resettlement
There is a threat that H.R. 3573
could move through the Committee
and the House quickly.
Politics
Refugee Resettlement
The refugee issue is being merged with
the issue of terrorism. Republicans in
the House have used the issue to call for
restrictions of non-Christian refugees
into the U.S. Republican presidential
candidates – like Donald Trump – have
also raised the issue of terrorism in the
context of discussions on refugees.
Family Detention:
Policy
Administrative Challenges
In response to a spike in the number
of women and children crossing the
border from Central America, the
Administration engaged in a
massive expansion of family
detention centers in the U.S. The
faith community has been calling on
the Administration to end the
practice of family detention.
Advocates for detained families filed a
lawsuit last year arguing that the practice
of family detention violates earlier court
rulings which require children not be held
in detention centers for an extended
period of time.
Process
Administrative Challenges
U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee found the
Administration’s practice of detaining
immigrant families in detention centers
unconstitutional and ordered that they
stop the practice immediately. The
Justice Department recently filed a motion
to appeal the ruling and is expected to do
so by October 23rd.
Politics
Administrative Challenges
Large majorities of Democrats in the
House and Senate have urged the
Administration to stop the practice of
family detention. Republican members
have been quiet on the issue. The
policy is being driven by the Department
of Homeland Security.
Policy
DACA/DAPA
Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA): Administrative
action that allows
undocumented individuals who
entered the U.S. before their
16th birthday (before June 2007)
to receive a renewable twoyear work permit and
exemption from deportation
In November 2014, President
Obama attempted to expand DACA
Policy
DACA/DAPA
Deferred Action for Parents of
Americans (DAPA):
Administrative action that would
allow undocumented parents of
U.S. citizens or legal permanent
residents who entered the U.S.
before November 20, 2014 to
receive a renewable two-year
work permit and exemption
from deportation
Process
DACA/DAPA
Opponents of immigration reform
went to Court to argue that DACA
Expansion and DAPP exceed the
President’s authority. The issue is
still being litigated and experts
believe the issue will not be
resolved until June of 2016.
Changes to the Visa system and
refocused enforcement priorities
went into effect.
Politics
DACA/DAPA
Following passage of comprehensive
immigration reform in the Senate,
advocates for reform pushed to have the
House vote on reform. House leadership,
however, refused to bring a bill up for
vote. This lack of leadership was the
impetus for President Obama to act.
Republicans in Congress roundly criticize
the President for the use of Executive
Action in 2012 and 2014.
Immigration reform is and will remain a big
issue in the 2016 campaign!
IFTJ Immigration Reform Talking Points
FWD.US Member of Congress Tracker
Resources
FWD.US Presidential Candidate Tracker
Interfaith Immigration Coalition
American Immigration Council
www.networklobby.org
THANKS!
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& Nuns on the Bus
lperalta@networklobby.org
awilson@networklobby.org
Twitter: @NETWORKLobby
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