Since the most recent elections, political writers and some Republican politicians seem to have shown a ‘change of heart’ in their openness to comprehensive immigration reform. This is one of the reasons why the immigration reform plans of President Obama is suddenly earning the approval of the nation—well, at least from most of our citizens.

Even if support from Republicans is still not in a grand scale, the few who are not “all in” are at least still giving out their “possibly, yes” approval. Some of these Republicans may not be all out with their support on President Obama’s immigration reform but at least, some of them understand the rationale of providing legal status to a multitude of deserving people.

The recent poll for 2013 shows a 48 percent approval in providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. In the previous six national polls, only 38 percent of Republicans are favoring the reform plans. This support from Republicans does not come without hurdles though, certain qualifications have to be met to merit the pathway to citizenship. Nonetheless, signs are good that this bipartisan support will push forward comprehensive immigration reform.

Source: The New York Times

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A new Washington Post-ABC News poll came out showing an improvement in President Obama’s ratings after a couple of weeks of talking about immigration reform. The ratings seem solid enough to indicate that most Americans are behind the President’s immigration reforms. Compared to the ratings in July, where Obama just earned 38 percent positive rating and 50 percent negative, the 49 to 43 percent rating shows a better rating for the President.

It seems like the drop in illegal border crossings and the record high deportations of criminals is persuading most Americans to back the President with his immigration reforms. And even with the controversial offering of the pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants living in the U.S., more Americans are showing support. The president is even earning for himself credits from the Hispanics with 67 percent of them approving his immigration policies.

Source: Washington Post

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Eight Republicans and five Democrats will comprise the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. With plans of a more comprehensive immigration reform by the Obama administration, this subcommittee will have a great impact on the progress of the reforms.

Among the influential members of this subcommittee are U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy and U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofren. Represetative Gowdy is the newly-appointed chairman of the immigration committee in the GOP-lead House of Representatives. He has been in the state and federal prosecutor arena for 16 years now and got into congress in 2010.

Representative Zoe Lofren on the other hand is the Ranking Democrat on the immigration committee. She was the chairwoman of the said committee until 2010. This U.S. Representative has a solid background in law and immigration since she was a former Santa Clara County supervisor, immigration lawyer and instructor.

Together with the other representatives who will be bringing with them their solid backgrounds and experiences, Reps. Gowdy and Lofren will share the limelight in the days to come. Millions of people may have their hopes, or frustrations, on immigration issues and policies affected by the decisions of this subcommittee.

Source: Inside Bay Area

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On the advent of President Obama’s reelection inauguration, Senator Richard “Dick” Durbin stated that he was optimistic the Senate might pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill. Senator Durbin holds substantial influence in the Senate, as he holds the Senate Majority Whip position, the second highest position in the Democratic Party leadership in the Senate.

The possible immigration bill might have the DREAM Act included. If this happens, college in the U.S. will soon be affordable for illegal immigrants who have always wanted the opportunity. Work permits will also be possible for a lot of illegal immigrants who qualify, which could allow them to obtain driver’s licenses, state IDs, and social security cards.

Durbin even believes that Republicans might already be rethinking their position on immigration. The 2012 election could be the reason why the realization came about. The support of the Hispanic community and Republicans is very important in any possibility of immigration reform. The result of the previous election shows how votes from the Hispanic community can have an impact, and the value and influence immigration reform has on the elections.

Source: NBCChicago.com

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The Obama administration has been showing major changes in terms of immigration enforcement efforts since the beginning of the last fiscal year. The current administration is reported to have already spent more money on immigration than any other federal law enforcement agency.

The government spent about $18 billion on immigration enforcement programs run by ICE, US-Visit Program and Customs and Border Protection. This is what the Migration Policy Institute report revealed.

The US already spent more than $187 billion on immigration enforcement since the day the Immigration Reform and Control Act was signed by former President Ronald Reagan. Since then, the increase of immigration related crimes has outnumbered other cases in the country.

It is believed that no other nation in the world has shown such determination and commitment in immigration enforcement as the US under the Obama Administration. Critics who used to think that the current administration has been soft on their immigration policies and enforcement are surely now reconsidering their opinions.

Source: WashingtonPost.Com

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On January 2, 2013, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced the posting of the final rule for provisional waivers, effective March 4, 2013. This establishes a process that allows certain individuals to apply for a provisional unlawful presence waiver before they depart the United States for immigrant visa interviews.

Prior to this announcement, immediate relatives of U.S. Citizens  who were not eligible to adjust status in the United States must leave the U.S. and OBTAIN A WAIVER ABROAD AFTER their immigrant visa interviews,  when they are found inadmissible due to previous unlawful presence in the U.S.

But with this new provision, these applicants can apply for the waiver IN THE UNITED STATES, obtain an approval, and leave for only a short time to get the immigrant visa abroad.

To obtain an approval of the provisional unlawful presence waiver, the applicant must be inadmissible ONLY ON ACCOUNT OF UNLAWFUL PRESENCE, and demonstrate that the denial of the waiver would result in EXTREME HARDSHIP to his or her U.S. Citizen spouse or parent. The USCIS will publish a new form, Form I-601A, for individuals to use when applying for a provisional unlawful presence waiver under the new process.

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The U Visa is designed for immigrants who were victims of serious crimes. They are given the opportunity have legal status in the U.S. due to their cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activities. The visa is applicable to derivatives of those whose applications were granted, including children of U visa principal applicants who are under 21. But what about those who turn 21?

An interim memo has been issued on December 12, 2012, granting deferred action on a case-to-case basis to those U visa  holders who are to turn twenty-one.  The USCIS will also grant extensions to those who have aged out of derivative eligibility before the implementation of this memo.

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The 287(g) program gives state police the power to question people about their status, serve arrest warrants, and transport people with immigration violations. Since 2002 when the Bush administration started the 287(g) program, it had already received mixed opinions. Part of the reforms in the works under the Obama administration is the scrapping of part of this controversial program.

In Georgia and many other states, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ordered the termination of part of the 287(g) program which deputized state and local police to help enforce federal immigration laws. Some speculate that this administration is keen on totally scrapping out the 287(g) program but this is still in the works.

Source: AJC.Com

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There are mixed emotions and opinions when the latest data revealed showing an unprecedented 409,849 people being deported since September of this year. Despite the support of President Obama and his administration in setting a path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants, the numbers of deported immigrants still skyrocketed.

It is noted that President Obama deported a record of 1.5 million illegals in his first term. The administration is not worried about the negative feedback they are getting from some people, in fact, they are even claiming that the figures just show how their shift in enforcement in focusing on criminals is working. Immigrant advocates, the Latino politicians and civil rights groups are not happy about this news. As they feel no sympathy for hardened criminals, some of them, such as Rep. Luis Gutierrez are concerned that some of those who are deported are parents and breadwinners. What they would want as the best solution is the passage of a comprehensive immigration reform that Congress should take up next year.

In response to the criticisms, U.S. Immigration and Enforcement Director John Morton is giving orders to his agents to focus solely on ‘serious offenders’. This should mean that illegal immigrants who are convicted of one or two minor misdemeanors are not going to be pursued.

Source: NPR.Org

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The analysis of Census data that was published earlier by the Associated Press highlights the significant drop in the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States, from the 12 million mark in 2007 to the estimated 11.1 million in 2011. Unlike previous years where 80% of undocumented immigrants are Hispanics while Asian immigrants lagged, the number of immigrants from Asia are currently increasing.

It was back in the nineties when the number of undocumented immigrants flocked the United States because of its strong economy. Those from other countries see the status of the economy in the country before as better than its current situation. This decline in the numbers can be attributed not only to the weakening U.S. economy but also the country’s strong enforcement policies.

Based on the current report, the numbers of undocumented immigrants are made up of about 55%  Mexicans, 25% Latin Americans, and an increasing 10% from Asia. It is observed that fewer Mexican workers are entering the country. The Latino communities are hoping that the opportunities will be better for them again as they showed their support for President Obama during the election. Whether things will be better or worse remains to be seen.

Source:  ABC News Univision

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