Illegal Immigrant Population in U.S. Static in 2010, Study Says

The illegal immigrant population in the U.S. in 2010 was little changed from the previous year, according to estimates from a nonpartisan research organization. Unauthorized immigrants last year numbered 11.2 million, or 3.7 percent of the nation’s population, compared with 11.1 million in 2009, the Pew Hispanic Center said today in Washington.

People from Mexico comprise 58 percent of the total illegal immigrant population, according to the report, which uses figures derived from March 2010 U.S. Census Bureau sample surveys that measure portions of foreign-born residents. There were 3.5 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. in 1990, the report said.

The illegal immigrant population last year decreased in Florida, New York, Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and Nevada, while increasing in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, according to the study.

USCIS to Host Free Session on Naturalization

As part of a larger program to help immigrants better understand the naturalization process, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services host a free information session. During the workshop, USCIS officers will review the content of the naturalization test and provide free educational resources and materials.

Benefits of the Session

1. USCIS personnel will be available to discuss the naturalization process step-by-step.

2. Provide information about Residency requirements, Application forms, Fees, the background security check and processing times.

3. Participants can also see sample questions from the new test and will receive an overview of U.S. history and civic principles.

4. Also watch USCIS officers act out a naturalization interview, and free educational materials.

For location details and other information http://tinyurl.com/4lf243v

Plans to Change U.S. Approach to Immigration Policy

The New York congressman Peter King plans to tighten border security and have more undocumented immigrants arrested if they cross the border, once he becomes the new chairman of the House’s Homeland Security Committee in next week. He believes strongly that Obama administration’s has not doing well in the border security and undocumented immigrant’s issues and he commanded Obama's immigration policies were failing.

"The Obama administration continues to display an obvious lack of urgency when it comes to gaining operational control of the border, which is absolutely critical" said Peter King.

His proposals will target private companies that hire undocumented immigrants and increasing federal support for local police to arrest. He wants more illegal’s arrested.

White House Still Pressing Congress on Dream Act

The Obama administration has been remarkably indecisive on the subject of immigration. On one hand, the president talks a lot about his support for a bill. On the other hand, the Obama administration has also deported a record number of illegal immigrants. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency estimates that 400,000 people will be deported in 2010, 25 percent more than were deported in 2007 under President Bush.

DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) would offer a path to legalization for undocumented college students or soldiers in the military who came to the United States as children (under 15 years old) and have lived here for at least five years. DREAM act will allow 2.1 million illegal immigrants under the age of 35 to legally remain in the country.

But over the years, the DREAM Act has been politically divisive. Beyond this, politicians have to consider public opinion. A more compassionate approach to immigration enforcement would benefit everyone in the United States. According to a recent study by the Center for American Progress, progressive immigration reform would yield at least $1.5 trillion in cumulative U.S. gross domestic product over the next 10 years.

California Court Backs Illegal Immigrant Students

California Supreme Court ruled on Monday that illegal immigrants can be eligible for the same reduced tuition at public colleges and universities as legal residents of the state. Currently, students who attend at least three years of high school in California and graduate are eligible for in-state tuition at public schools, which can save them as much as $12,000 a year compared with students who come from other states. But still Illegal immigrants ineligible for state or federal financial aid. Read full story

Arizona Immigration Law is wrong: Napolitano

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano agreed that Arizona's law to get tough on immigration is the wrong way to get local police involved in enforcement and she recalled the district court ruling in July which said "we cannot have 50 different immigration enforcement teams across the country." Arizona is appealing the judge's ruling.

Napolitano, the former governor of Arizona, said in a Denver speech that there are better ways to involve local law enforcement in fighting illegal immigration, including the federal Secure Communities program that has been implemented in several hundred jurisdictions nationwide. Immigrant advocates across the country have criticized the fingerprint-sharing program as too broad.

The issue is now before the voters of Arizona, as Jan Brewer seeks votes in her election bid. Her success or failure will be used by opposing sides as a refereundum on immigration reform.

Obama defends failed US Visa and immigration reform efforts

On Monday, speaking to a Spanish Language radio program, Obama said it will take time to change US Visa and immigration policies. He recalled that even after Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech, it took years more for African Americans to achieve many of their goals. Let me say this as an African American: We worked for decades on civil rights, Obama said. "It didn't come after two years. People had to march, they had to have their heads beaten, they had fire hoses put on them . . . Change isn't easy. It doesn't happen overnight".

Many Latino voters have grown disenchanted over the signature issue of US Visa and immigration policy and the President is heavily courting Latino voters in the final days of the fall political campaigns. While the President correctly points out the civil rights struggle took years to accomplish, what he conveniently fails to mention is that approximately 11 months after the "I Have a Dream Speech" the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed ending discrimination against african-americans and women. So while the struggle continued for years, legislation was proposed, debated, amended and signed within 11 months. That is something Latino voters could only dream of.

Mr. President, with all due respect, we are heartened that you hold immigration reform in comparison to the Civil Rights struggle, but the two issues could not highlight a broken government any better. 11 months for landmark legislation, versus over a decade of languishing in the shadows.