News

ICE Arrests, Removals Continue Upward Trend

Published:  

New data from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations office show increased activity in the first three quarters of this fiscal year compared to the last. Between October 2017 and June 2018, arrests of illegal aliens increased 17 percent while removals rose about 9 percent. An Enforcement and Removal Operations official told reporters, “We continue to focus our enforcement efforts on those who pose a public safety threat and those who violate the integrity of our immigration laws.”

Job Figures Show Americans Still Want to Work

Updated: September 21st, 2018, 10:55 am

Published:  

  by  Eric Ruark

Economic indicators are good. Employment is up and wages are increasing, albeit modestly. Congress can ensure that trend continues by cutting the inflow of foreign workers. The upcoming budget negotiations will show what commitment, if any, leaders in Congress have to improving conditions for American workers.

Proposed Rule Would Allow Joint Detention of Migrant Parents, Children

Published:  

DHS proposed a rule that would establish standards of care for detaining all illegal alien minors. It includes a provision that would allow for the joint detention of illegal-alien parents and children until they win their asylum case or are deported. The rule would set aside a 2015 court order related to the “Flores settlement” that requires the release of illegal-alien minors and their parents after only 20 days.

Report: Rep. Yoder Drops Support for Asylum Loophole Protections

Published:  

House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) told McClatchy News he dropped support for a Homeland Security spending bill amendment that negates Administration policy strengthening the credible fear standard for asylum seekers. Yoder, however, insists on keeping his amendment to lift the per-country caps for employment-based immigrants.

DOL Launches Initiative to Improve H-2B Wage Compliance

Published:  

The Department of Labor announced a new initiative to ensure that hotels that hire temporary foreign workers using the H-2B visa comply with wage requirements. Under existing law, employers must demonstrate in their request for H-2B workers that they have been unable to find American workers to fill the job and that the use of H-2B workers will not adversely affect wages and working conditions of similarly employed American workers.

Seasonal Businesses Use Exchange Visitor Program as Labor Pool

Updated: September 14th, 2018, 5:00 pm

Published:  

  by  Van Esser

When the Exchange Visitor Program was created in 1961, it was designed to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange." Participants are allowed to work so, for many years, the program enabled young adults to serve as au pairs, camp counselors and teachers in the U.S. But businesses are now using the program to secure seasonal workers, much like under the H-2B visa program, in ways not anticipated under the original program.

Washington Growers Using Record Number of H-2A Foreign Workers

Published:  

H-2A visa applications from Washington State growers have increased more than 1,000 percent since 2009, according to the state Employment Security Department. Washington employers sought 2,092 foreign guest workers in 2009. This year, they requested 24,658 H-2A visas. This reflects a national trend, with employers requesting a record 200,000 H-2A visas last year.

ICE Conducts Criminal Investigation at North Texas Company

Published:  

ICE Agents questioned employees and seized employment documents today as part of an ongoing investigation at Load Trail, a Sumner, Texas-based manufacturer of vehicle trailers. As potential repeat offenders, owners and managers could face criminal charges and steep fines. In 2014 paid, the company paid a $445,000 fine for employing 179 illegal aliens. 

Pages