Immigration Chronicles

Who's tougher on illegal immigration? Bush or Obama?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:06:50 -0600

HOUSTON CHRONICLEA federal agent is seen outside the Shipley Do-Nuts facility, where ICE agents conducted a workplace raid in 2008. Ten months into President Barack Obama's administration, I wonder if we can make the following declaration: The new president...

Ariz. prosecutor files 1st employer sanctions case

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:03:30 -0600

A lot has happened since 2007. We elected the nation's first black president. Scientists discovered water on the moon. We endured a global financial crisis. And Bill Belichick went for it on fourth-and-2. Here's yet another development to chew over:...

Immigrants hit harder by current recession

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:47:32 -0600

While immigrants fared better economically during the decade of economic growth that started in the mid-1990s, they have been harder hit by the recent economic downturn than native-born workers, according to a new report released today by the Migration Policy...

Protecting wilderness vs. chasing illegal immigrants

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:11:26 -0600

HOUSTON CHRONICLEBig Bend, located along the Texas-Mexico border, is one of the most remote national parks in the country. Most of my time along the border has been spent in the huge expanse of Big Bend in Texas. It's...

One transgender detainee's ordeal in detention

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:56:59 -0600

Esmeralda: A Transgender Detainee Speaks Out from Breakthrough on Vimeo. It's no state secret that the nation's immigration detention facilities are in trouble. The labyrinth of private and government detention centers, prisons and jails have faced a torrent of criticism...

Napolitano: Now is the time for immigration reform

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:51:50 -0600

News that DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano is making a significant case today for comprehensive immigration reform is not surprising. Her boss in the White House has long been behind reform efforts that would include a path toward legalization for...

Lou Dobbs deported from CNN; liberal groups cheer

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:22:56 -0600

Immigrant advocates are taking credit for the departure of CNN's Lou Dobbs, who announced on last night's show that he was leaving the network. The groups are crediting the Drop Dobbs, or Basta Dobbs campaign, launched after reports by Dobbs'...

More on the San Francisco juvenile sanctuary policy

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:12:30 -0600

There's a new development in the ongoing saga in San Francisco over how to handle cases involving juvenile immigrants accused of crimes. The New York Times reports this: Setting up a potential showdown with the mayor, the San Francisco Board...

The latest in immigration and politics

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:09:54 -0600

Fotolia I've come across a few interesting posts on immigration after the Nov. 3 election. This piece, which ran in New America Media, called the results of last week's election a "mixed bag" for supporters of a comprehensive immigration reform...

Senate blocks census citizenship question

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:25:01 -0600

Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesRep. Joe Baca (D-CA), Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Congressional Black Caucus chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-TX), Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) hold a news conference outside the U.S. Captiol Oct. 22 to voice their...

Supreme Court interested in AZ employer sanction law

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:08:24 -0600

The Arizona Republic has this story on a possible challenge to the Arizona employer sanction law: The U.S. Supreme Court has indicated it is interested in hearing an appeal from business groups that, for the past two years, have been...

Obama ends HIV travel ban

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:53:59 -0600

Associated PressPresident Barack Obama speaks in the White House on Friday before signing the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 and repealing the HIV travel ban. A rule formally ending the HIV travel ban will be published...

No city vote on 287(g)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:20:01 -0600

We have a full story running on this in tomorrow's paper, but here is the word from today's special city council meeting: Three City Council members fell short of forcing a vote Wednesday on the city's participation in a controversial...

Harris County to continue controversial program

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:18:46 -0600

This breaking news is up on our homepage, but in case you missed it, it's official: The Harris County Sheriff's Office will continue to participate in the federal government's 287 (g) program to screen for suspected illegal immigrants in the...

The week of 287 (g)

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:10:14 -0600

It's shaping up to be quite a week in Houston when it comes to the federal government's 287 (g) program, a controversial initiative that trains local jailers to screen for illegal immigrants. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is set...