U.S. Immigration Reform

Fall Forecast: Immigration Reform Unlikely, Census Bureau Issues New Data on the U.S. Foreign-Born Population

With comprehensive immigration reform stalled in Congress in 2006, U.S. census data showed a 16 percent growth in the U.S. foreign-born population from 2000 to 2005.

Immigration and America's Future: A New Chapter

A comprehensive U.S. immigration overhaul spanning admissions, enforcement, and integration is essential to meet 21st-century economic, demographic, and security needs.

Congressional Republicans Continue Field Hearings on Immigration, Introduce New Immigration Reform Proposal

In July 2006, U.S. senators introduced a bill allowing unauthorized immigrants to join a temporary worker program after certification of U.S. border security; 21 more House field hearings deepened the reform stalemate.

Congressional Negotiations Stall while Bush Administration Pushes Enforcement, Integration

With House-Senate negotiations on immigration reform pushed to September 2006 at earliest, the Bush administration ramped up border and workplace enforcement as a stopgap.

Immigrants' Costs and Contributions: The Effects of Reform

Senate Approves Scaled-Back Immigration Bill, President Calls for National Guard on Border

The U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill in May 2006 by a 62-36 vote, adding amendments to cap temporary workers at 200,000 annually and strengthen border fencing.

American Immigration Reform from a Scandinavian Perspective

A Norwegian migration official argues the U.S. problem is unauthorized status—not numbers—and urges a managed, employer-driven work permit system with no cap on labor visas.

Immigration Reform and the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church became central to the 2006 U.S. immigration debate, mobilizing nearly 80 dioceses in support of comprehensive reform and opposing enforcement-only approaches.

Senate Debate Resumes and DHS Boosts Internal Enforcement

The 2006 Hagel-Martinez immigration bill in the U.S. Senate proposed 325,000 annual temporary work visas and tiered legalization for unauthorized immigrants as of spring 2006.

Senate Debates Temporary Worker Program and Path to Legal Status for the Unauthorized

A March 2006 U.S. Senate bill proposed 400,000 annual temporary work slots and legalization for unauthorized immigrants as hundreds of thousands rallied in support.