Week of March 8–14, 2023

A report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) reveals that American taxpayers spend a minimum of $151 billion annually to cover the costs of illegal immigration as of 2022. The breakdown shows that taxpayers contribute $182 billion each year to provide services and benefits to illegal aliens and their dependents. Although approximately $31 billion in taxes are collected from the estimated 15.5 million illegal aliens in the US, the net cost amounts to $150.7 billion per year. This figure represents a 30% increase in taxpayer costs over the past five years. The surge in costs can be attributed to the Biden administration's de facto open borders policies, resulting in a historic influx of illegal migrants. The report's analysis accounts for federal, state, and local programs accessible to illegal aliens and their US-born children. The largest cost component is K-12 education, followed by healthcare, food assistance, and criminal justice expenses associated with illegal immigration. The report highlights the need for addressing the financial burden imposed on taxpayers and controlling immigration effectively.

Congressman Mike Lawler and County Executive Ed Day, both Republicans, held a press conference in Rockland County to discuss the impact of immigration and call for more federal resources and bipartisan immigration reform. While Day mentioned the strain on schools, food pantries, housing, and social services, he didn't provide specific details or numbers. He did mention an increase in enrollment of English Language Learners in the local school district and a rise in foster care children and demand at food pantries, but it was unclear how immigrants contributed to these issues. Protesters gathered outside the conference in support of immigrants, highlighting the importance of immigrants in the nation's foundation. Lawler emphasized the need to fix the broken immigration system, stop illegal immigration at the southern border, create a pathway to legalization for undocumented individuals, and improve the legal immigration system to benefit society, the economy, and the culture.

A majority of Canadians view increasing immigration as a positive for the economy, despite concerns about a housing shortage that could drive up prices. A poll conducted by Nanos Research Group for Bloomberg News found that 52% of respondents believe Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan to increase the number of new permanent residents will have a positive impact on Canada's economy, while 38% see it as negative. Trudeau aims to welcome 465,000 permanent residents in 2023, with a target of reaching half a million newcomers by 2025. The population growth driven by immigration has made Canada the fastest-growing among the Group of Seven countries. Although many Canadians support high levels of immigration, the housing shortage and rising rents remain pressing issues.

Friday, March 10, 2023, - New Immigration Guidance Aims To Attract Jobs And Entrepreneurs

The Biden administration is focused on promoting entrepreneurship and attracting global talent to the United States. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating its policy manual and providing a menu of options for entrepreneurs under the International Entrepreneur Rule. The goal is to offer details on pathways within the immigration system for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses, create jobs, and innovate in the country. This update aims to build confidence in adjudications, potentially resulting in more applications and fewer Requests for Evidence. The USCIS website now includes a menu of options for noncitizen entrepreneurs to work in the U.S. and immigrant pathways for entrepreneur employment. This initiative aligns with the administration's efforts to support high-skilled foreign nationals in science and technology fields and attract global talent to strengthen the economy and technological competitiveness of the United States.

The Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) met in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to discuss the future of immigration in Canada. The ministers focused on joint initiatives to address immigration priorities across the country and were pleased with the progress in improving Canada's immigration system to meet economic and regional needs. They discussed increasing provincial/territorial involvement in economic immigrant selection, expanding the Provincial/Territorial Nominee Programs (PNPs), enhancing application processing times, reducing duplication, and granting greater agency over PNPs. The ministers condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and discussed supporting Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. They also discussed settlement and integration efforts, foreign credential recognition, and collaboration with the Forum of Labour Market Ministers. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a client-centered economic immigration system with increased provincial/territorial involvement in immigrant selection. They emphasized the importance of regional immigration and the need to examine communities' capacity to welcome newcomers as immigration targets increase. The ministers also discussed service delivery models for settlement services and ensuring public support for immigration remains strong.

Jorge Zaldivar, an immigrant who had been fighting for residency since marrying his American wife in 2005, received approval from an immigration judge for the cancellation of his removal. The decision was met with celebration by family and supporters. Jorge's journey involved a series of challenges, including deportation to Mexico for three years, leaving his wife and five children behind. The process was complicated by a traffic accident that led to his arrest under Colorado's repealed SB-90 law, and he faced difficulties proving that he had been in the US for over 10 years. Despite complying with the law, he was detained by ICE in 2019 and deported in 2020, resulting in years of separation from his family. His supporters, including his wife and attorneys, persevered in their efforts, and an immigration judge ruled in his favor, granting him legal permanent residency. His wife expressed frustration with the immigration system and called for immediate changes. Jorge will be eligible to apply for full citizenship in 4.5 years.

Two suspected smuggling boats capsized near Blacks Beach in La Jolla, San Diego, resulting in the death of eight people. The incident, described as one of the worst maritime smuggling tragedies in California, highlights the dangers faced by migrants seeking entry into the United States. The San Diego Fire Department and U.S. Coast Guard recovered the bodies but found no survivors. Immigration advocates criticize the existing asylum process, claiming that it presents obstacles for migrants and does not adequately address their needs. They argue that migrants, particularly those with darker skin, face difficulties using the CBP One app and encounter closed doors at ports of entry, leading to desperate attempts to cross into the U.S. through dangerous means. The area near Blacks Beach is known to be hazardous due to sand bars and inshore rip currents. As President Joe Biden visits San Diego, advocates call for dignified treatment and improved resources to process migrants in a humane manner.

Republican lawmakers in Texas have proposed legislation that would criminalize illegal border crossings from Mexico and establish a state border police force with the ability to deputize private citizens. The move is part of Texas' ongoing efforts to challenge the federal government's authority over immigration. Civil rights organizations, immigration advocates, and Democrats have criticized the proposals, expressing concerns about the potential for racial profiling and questioning the impact on border communities. Since President Joe Biden took office, illegal border crossings have increased, with many migrants surrendering to U.S. Border Patrol agents and being released to pursue their cases in federal immigration court. The Republican proposals align with Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star, which includes increased patrols, enhanced inspections, and the construction of barriers along the border.

The U.S. Department of State has announced that it will reintroduce stateside visa revalidation for H and L visa categories later this year. Stateside visa processing, which allows visa renewal without traveling to home countries or third countries, was discontinued in 2004 after the 9/11 attacks. This decision will ease backlogs for visa renewals at consular posts abroad and save time and effort for foreign nationals in H or L visa status. The State Department will need to streamline operations to facilitate passport transmittal and biometrics requirements. The expansion of premium processing for F-1 students with pending Form I-765 applications has also been announced by USCIS. F-1 students in various categories, such as pre-completion or post-completion Optional Practical Training, will be eligible to apply for premium processing services, with a fee of $1,500 and a processing timeframe of 30 calendar days. These updates aim to improve efficiency and reduce burdens in the immigration system.

Tuesday, Mach 14, 2023 - Immigration reform receives push back from Idaho lawmakers

Legislation aimed at federal immigration reform in Idaho is facing opposition from lawmakers. Senate Joint Memorial 101 (SJM101) urges Idaho's congressional delegation to advocate for and introduce legislation addressing immigration issues. The bill sponsor, Senator Jim Guthrie, criticized the federal government for failing to secure the border and provide a guest worker visa program to meet labor demands, particularly in year-round agriculture. SJM101 highlights the presence of millions of undocumented people in the United States, many of whom are employed in critical sectors and contribute to the economy. It calls for targeted, business-focused, market-driven immigration reform without uniformly incarcerating or deporting undocumented individuals. Some lawmakers requested a public hearing before voting on the resolution, while the Idaho Freedom Caucus opposed it, citing concerns about amnesty and border security. The motion to send the legislation back to committee for a public hearing failed, and it will proceed to the Senate floor for voting before moving to the House.