News
New Mexico court rules on immigration consequences
San Francisco Chronicle -- Associated Press
The New Mexico Supreme Court says it's not enough that a defendant hears in court that pleading guilty could result in deportation.
The justices ruled Monday in case from Dona Ana County that a defendant was denied effective legal representation because his lawyer hadn't warned him beforehand about a guilty plea's immigration consequences.
Cesar Favela pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and driving while under the influence.
Senators eye immigration reform for tech workers
The Hill -- Julian Hattem
A bipartisan team of senators lent a helping hand to the tech sector on Tuesday by introducing new legislation to reform the immigration system for high-skilled workers.
The bill, which was first introduced in 2013 but failed to move in Congress, would address the major demands of Silicon Valley firms, who say that current law prevents them from bringing into the U.S. enough skilled programmers to keep up with the demand.
Boehner: Amnesty fight with Obama is about runaway executive branch, not immigration
Washington Times -- Stephen Dinan
House Speaker John A. Boehner said Tuesday that moves to block President Obama’s new deportation amnesty are less about immigration than they are about asserting Congress’s right to make laws, and pushing back on a runaway executive branch.
The House is scheduled to begin debating the homeland security spending bill later Tuesday, but the focus will be on a series of amendments the GOP has lined up that would cancel Mr. Obama’s amnesty.
Immigration a major hurdle to Republican unity in Congress
Los Angeles Times -- Lisa Mascaro
"Republicans in all these districts hate amnesty and they don't like the president — it just puts all the hot buttons together," said Roy Beck, executive director of NumbersUSA, an organization that favors limits on immigration. The group has been flooding lawmakers' offices with calls from its 2-million-strong membership, urging Congress to stop the president's program.
Jeff Sessions: Not ‘a single dime’ for Obama’s immigration moves
Politico -- Seung Min Kim
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) is trying to win the messaging war on immigration.
The conservative Republican and chief critic of President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration is sending around a detailed and lengthy memo that encourages fellow GOP lawmakers to block the unilateral moves, even arguing that Congress’ response to what he calls “this emergency” will “define its legacy.”
Loretta Lynch Nomination
NumbersUSA's Position:
OpposeNumbersUSA took an unusual step and scored the April 23, 2015 vote for the confirmation of Ms. Lynch as a vote against against the rule of law, and against the interests of American workers. The Office of the Attorney General, the top law enforcement office in the country, is a position that should be reserved for qualified individuals with the utmost regard for the rule of law. Unfortunately, while Ms. Lynch served honorably as the U.S.
SMART Border Act of 2015
NumbersUSA's Position:
SupportH.R. 300, the SMART Border Act, would require the Department of Homeland Security to gain operational control (100% awareness) along the U.S.-Mexico border, send 10,000 national guard troops to the border, provide grants to local law enforcement that have jurisdiction in border areas, and require implementation of the biometric entry-exit system.
I-Squared Act of 2015
NumbersUSA's Position:
OpposeS. 153, the I-Squared Act of 2015, would increase H-1B visa numbers by more than 100,000 per year and allow certain other visa holders to renew their visas. This legislation would also allow family members of H-1B holders to remain in the country and receive work permits.
Republicans set to ramp up call for more deportations?
Washington Post -- Greg Sargent
Indeed, some anti-”amnesty” advocates forthrightly advocate for this position. They say the threat of deportation dangling over low-level offenders is a good thing, because it discourages illegal immigration and encourages them to get out. As Roy Beck of Numbers USA candidly put it: “Without the threat of deportation, no one will feel they have to leave.”
