Immigration and Visa Policy

Texas Governor Shocked Shocked to Discover Illegal Aliens in his Jails

November 24, 2008

It appears that Rick Perry, the governor of border state Texas, has just discovered he has illegal aliens in his jails. And that some of them are being released back into the community to possibly commit more crimes when they should have been deported. (Federal law dictates that aliens convicted of felonies are automatically eligible for deportation.) He wants some heads to roll – just preferably not his. So he has written the classic “strongly worded letter” to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

ICE Marks Transition With Progress on Immigration Enforcement

admin |

November 13, 2008

The Secure Communities Initiative, a new program launched by ICE in the last month, is an admirable step to facilitate cooperation with local and federal law enforcement to identify criminal aliens incarcerated in the nation’s jails to prevent them from being released back onto the streets.

ESTA Buyer Beware

Security Debrief |

November 7, 2008

One of the most important programs being developed by the Department of Homeland Security as the Chertoff regime departs is the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Individuals traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, who have not been interviewed by a consular official, will be required to submit a short form with biographical information similar to that provided on the I-94 form currently used BEFORE traveling to the U.S. Recognizing that not all travelers will learn of the new requirement and that not all air carriers have built IT connections to check ESTA approvals before boarding, U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans a “soft” enforcement regime for at least several months as the program becomes live. Of course, ESTA is just one layer in our security apparatus that also includes passenger reviewed by CBP at the National Targeting Center and US-VISIT biometrics checks.

John Torres Likely Choice to Lead ICE

Chris Battle |

November 6, 2008

John Torres, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will take the helm after yesterday’s announcement that Assistant Secretary Julie Myers is stepping down.

Raising the Stakes in Immigration Enforcement Poker

Security Debrief |

October 20, 2008

While much attention has been paid to the imploding U.S. economy, DHS’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) applied its own version of inflation to the ‘cost of the doing business’ by seeking for the first time the debarment of seven companies from federal contracting opportunities. The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) provide that contractors may be considered for debarment if they have been found to have either knowingly hire an unauthorized worker or to continue to employ an alien who is or becomes unauthorized.

A Review of The Closing of the American Border, by Edward Alden

Security Debrief |

October 17, 2008

“The Closing of the American Border” is a superb text for policy makers who must wrestle with the challenges of border security and immigration policy.

Israel On Board

admin |

October 7, 2008

The United States is considering admitting Israel into the Visa Waiver Program, announces a recent news article. Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit stated the reasoning behind this consideration when he said, “It is absurd that the U.S. requires Israelis to have visas, when Americans are exempt from the need for a visa to Israel, and in many states around the world Israelis enter without visas,” Both Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Under Secretary of State William Burns are in agreement regarding this step toward Israel.

Closing of the American Border

Security Debrief |

September 26, 2008

There haven’t been many “insider” books about how DHS has functioned but a good one has appeared. The Closing of the American Border was published last week by Edward Alden of the Council on Foreign Relations and formerly with the Financial Times. It’s a detailed look at the policies and programs deployed after 9/11 to deter and detect terrorists hoping to use our transportation systems against us.

A Hurricane Ike Time-Out on Immigration Enforcement – The Right Choice

Security Debrief |

September 12, 2008

Following recent months of aggressive immigration enforcement by DHS, it may surprise some that it would announce a time-out in immigration enforcement. Yet, DHS properly did that when it announced today that it would cease enforcement operations in the Texas regions that are implementing mandatory evacuations in anticipation of Hurricane Ike’s arrival. In logically exercising its law enforcement discretion, DHS announced that there would be “no DHS immigration enforcement operations associated with evacuations and sheltering.” And this makes sense.

E-Verify and new technologies will force Congress and the country to deal with illegal immigration

Security Debrief |

August 29, 2008

While there may be no legislative resolution to the thorny issue of illegal immigration this year, the next President and next DHS Secretary will have no choice. Technology is forcing the country to recognize the reality of illegal employment, and E-Verify is just one part of that new reality.

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