Homeland Security to Visit the Southern Arizona Border

Posted by Matthew Green | Dec 10, 2014 | 0 Comments

During a tense hearing on Capitol Hill, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson was pressed on immigration policy changes. Johnson said he was comfortable with the legal basis for the president’s executive actions. During the hearing, Arizona Representative Ron Barber asked Johnson to return to southern Arizona, to hear the concerns of the people who live along the border.

Mayors Across the Country Support Obama's Immigration Action

Posted by Matthew Green | Dec 09, 2014 | 0 Comments

President Barack Obama continues to face heavy criticism from Republicans for his recent announced immigration policy changes. At the same time, immigrant activists have voiced disappointment for the president not going far enough to extend deportation deferral to a greater number of immigrants. Meanwhile, a number of mayors from across the country are gathering in support of the president’s executive action on immigration.

Arizona Joins in Lawsuit Challenging Obama Immigration Action

Posted by Matthew Green | Dec 08, 2014 | 0 Comments

Losing legal challenge after legal challenge does not seem to have deterred Arizona Governor Jan Brewer from opposing the federal government's immigration policy changes. Just this last week, Brewer was denied a reconsideration of her executive action which denies driver’s licenses to DREAMers. Now, Arizona has joined with Texas and a number of states to sue the Obama administration over the executive immigration orders.

Will Arizona Immigrants Get a License to Drive?

Posted by Matthew Green | Dec 05, 2014 | 0 Comments

While the national focus has been on President Barack Obama’s recent executive action on immigration reform, local Arizona immigration policy has lost another challenge. A federal appeals court denied Governor Jan Brewer’s request to reconsider a ruling which blocked the state’s denial of driver’s licenses to those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. With the recently announced expansion of those who will fall within DACA criteria, this latest ruling could result in driver’s licenses for millions of immigrants across the country.

Republican Reaction to Immigration Reform Remains Unclear

Posted by Matthew Green | Dec 04, 2014 | 0 Comments

There has been no shortage of criticism to President Barack Obama’s decision to reform immigration policy through executive action. Some of the loudest voices speaking out against the president have come from Republican lawmakers. In the days before the president made his immigration announcement, Republicans warned the president against taking such unilateral action. Now, nearly two weeks later, Republicans remain unsure on how to respond in opposition to the executive actions.

Declining Number of Undocumented Immigrants in Arizona

Posted by Matthew Green | Dec 03, 2014 | 0 Comments

Arizona has been at the center of the country’s discussions of immigration and immigration reform. While some of the state’s harshest anti-immigrant laws and policies have recently been struck down by the courts, it remains a divisive issue. Despite the publicity surrounding this past summer’s surge in immigrant children and families from Central America, the number of undocumented immigrants in Arizona has actually decreased in the past few years.

Dreamers' Parents Left Out of Immigration Reform

Posted by Matthew Green | Dec 03, 2014 | 0 Comments

With President Barack Obama’s recent announcement of his executive actions on immigration reform, millions of undocumented immigrants may now seek some form of relief from deportation. This includes additional childhood arrivals under DACA, as well as the spouses and parents of citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs). However, one significant group of immigrants has been left out of the reforms, and those are the parents of DREAMers.

The End of the Secure Communities Program

Posted by Matthew Green | Dec 02, 2014 | 0 Comments

As a result of President Barack Obama’s immigration policy reforms, the program previously known as Secure Communities, will be discontinued. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson has issued a memorandum on the Secure Communities program. The new program will be known as the “Priority Enforcement Program” (PEP). The following is a summary of the DHS memorandum.

Apprehension, Detention and Removal of Undocumented Immigrants Memo

Posted by Matthew Green | Dec 01, 2014 | 0 Comments

President Barack Obama’s announcement on immigration reform has resulted in a policy change affecting the apprehension, detention, and removal of undocumented immigrants. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson has issued a memorandum on the relevant policy changes. The following is a summary of the homeland security memorandum.

Provisional Waiver Expansion

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 26, 2014 | 0 Comments

Another change to the immigration policy after President Barack Obama’s announcement on executive action affects the provisional waiver program. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson issued a memorandum on the expansion of the waiver program to reflect immigration policy changes. The following is a summary of the homeland security memo.

Deportation Deferral Memo (Part 2 of 2)

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 25, 2014 | 0 Comments

In conjunction with President Barack Obama’s announcement of executive action on immigration reform, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson issued a memorandum to reflect the president’s immigration policy changes. That memorandum provides for an amendment to the policy for deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA). The following is a summary of the homeland security memo.

President Obama's Immigration Reforms

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 21, 2014 | 0 Comments

Last night, President Barack Obama announced his plans for immigration reform during a live televised address. Over the course of the coming days, we will bring you a more in-depth analysis of the president’s immigration reforms. This post will serve as a summary of the president’s speech and immigration reform plans.

Tonight's Presidential Immigration Announcement

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 20, 2014 | 0 Comments

It appears that President Barack Obama’s announcement on immigration reform will be coming sooner rather than later. Tonight (Thursday, November 20th), the president will unveil his immigration reform strategy in a televised address. Millions will welcome the reforms to a long broken immigration policy, but Republicans are looking to strike back.

Does the President Have the Authority for Immigration Executive Action?

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

All signs point to a coming announcement from the White House on immigration reform. This Friday may be the day that millions have been waiting for, to get some form of relief from the ever present threat of deportation. However, as the president is set to act, opponents are arguing that such an expansive executive action would be illegal, and exceeds the president’s Constitutional authority.

Deportations Tearing Families Apart

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 18, 2014 | 0 Comments

As we count the days until the president’s impending announcement on immigration reform, the millions who continue to live under the constant threat of deportation find little relief. Often times, it is the children of immigrant parents who suffer the most. Stories continue to surface of children being torn from their parents and families, no longer with the safety and security of family life.

Veterans and Students Still Face Deportation Worries

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 17, 2014 | 0 Comments

While the government continues to stand-off on the issue of immigration, thousands of immigrants wait in limbo for relief. The immigration detention centers across the country, including those in Florence and Eloy, Arizona, hold thousands of people waiting or fighting against deportation. Among the people facing the unknown are high schools students and even veterans.

One Week to Immigration Announcement

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 17, 2014 | 0 Comments

As the tension continues to grow between the president and Republican lawmakers, the White House has shown no further signs of backing down. The call for reform continues from the public at large, and the millions of immigrants waiting relief. Now, after months of putting off any official announcement, news sources have reported that President Barack Obama will unveil his immigration plan as early as next week.

Immigrants Losing Out on Health Care

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 13, 2014 | 0 Comments

With the Republicans winning the majority of the Senate in the most recent elections, they now control both houses. In their victory, they have voiced concern over two important issues, health care and immigration. However, because immigration reform remains unresolved, many people cannot take advantage of any of the health care reforms enacted over the past few years.

Another Arizona Immigration Law Struck Down

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 12, 2014 | 0 Comments

It was only last month that an Arizona law which denied bail to immigrants was struck down by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Now that decision is on hold pending a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, yet another Arizona immigration law has been tossed out by a U.S. District Court. This time, the 2005 immigrant smuggling law was rejected because it conflicts with federal immigration laws.

Federal Judges Continue to Admonish Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 11, 2014 | 0 Comments

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is no stranger to criticism and controversy. Arpaio proudly regards himself as “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” and has faced criticism not only for his use of prison camps in housing inmates, but also for his treatment of immigrants. In the latest official backlash against Sheriff Joe, a U.S. federal judge has ordered Arpaio to undergo racial profiling training.

Human Trafficking of Immigrants

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 10, 2014 | 0 Comments

Most immigrants coming to Arizona and the United States from other countries cross the border in search of better economic opportunities or to escape crime and violence in their homelands. But for many people, the costs associated with crossing into the U.S., fear of being caught, and the unknown about the people helping them can lead to a terrifying life of violence and human trafficking.

U.S. Citizen Held in ICE Detention for 3 Years

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 07, 2014 | 0 Comments

Family and friends of the thousands of immigrants held in detention centers across the country are all too familiar with the prison-like conditions their loved ones endure every day. In Arizona detentions centers like those in Florence and Eloy, people spend months or even years in inhumane conditions waiting for a determination on whether they can return to their families, or be deported. However, in some instances, even U.S. citizens are mistakenly detained, which demonstrates just how broken the immigration system is.

Deportation Deferral May Be Coming Soon

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 06, 2014 | 0 Comments

After the beating Democrats took in the latest election, many expected President Barack Obama to take a step back from his pledge to issue an executive order on immigration reform. However, all signs indicate he intends to keep to his latest promise and issue an order by the end of the year. Deportation deferral may be right around the corner, and the swift stroke of a pen may result in creating a safe haven for millions of immigrants here in the U.S.

What the Election Results Mean for Immigration Reform

Posted by Matthew Green | Nov 05, 2014 | 0 Comments

The results are in for most of the elections across the country. Here in Southern Arizona, the 2nd Congressional district vote between Republican Martha McSally and Democratic incumbent Ron Barber remains too close to call. But nationwide, voters have decided to shift the Senate back to the right, giving the Republicans the majority in both houses. There have been predictions on what will be the future of immigration reform after the elections, and we may now see if and what changes will be made.

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Arizona's "Crimmigration" Law Firm

If you are not a U.S. citizen, and you are charged with a crime, you automatically have two legal systems that threaten to penalize you with incarceration and deportation. Our law firm concentrates its practice on assisting foreign nationals charged with crimes to avoid deportation.

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