Immigration Systems

Expansive Bipartisan Bill Introduced on the Heels of REAL ID Passage

The 2005 Kennedy-McCain bill in the U.S. Senate proposed 400,000 new low-skilled worker visas, a legalization path for unauthorized immigrants, and family reunification reforms.

Real Challenges for Virtual Borders: The Implementation of US-VISIT

US-VISIT's border security and counterterrorism goals exceed what the program can deliver. Policymakers should consider scaling back expectations and make more effective investments.

Backlogs in Immigration Processing Persist

U.S. immigration processing backlogs grew more than 1,000 percent between 1990 and 2003, driven by rising naturalization applications and post-9/11 screening requirements.

Domestic Workers: Little Protection for the Underpaid

Female migrant domestic workers in Arab states face abuse, wage theft, and exclusion from labor law with little recourse.

President Reiterates Commitment to Immigration Reform at Summit Meeting

At a March 2005 summit, President George W. Bush reaffirmed his guest-worker proposal while Congress debated restructuring immigration enforcement agencies.

Biometrics, Migrants, and Human Rights

Biometric border controls raise privacy and discrimination concerns for migrants, with little evidence they curb terrorism or unauthorized migration.

The 9/11 Commission Staff Report on Terrorist Travel

Promise and Prospects of the UN's Convention on Migrant Workers

Thirteen years after passage, the UN Migrant Workers Convention had just 27 signatories, with major migrant-receiving countries notably absent.

Human Rights Strengthen Migration Policy Framework

International human rights law offers a principled framework for managing migration equitably, covering admission, treatment, and removal of noncitizens.

Presidential Budget, State of the Union Address Immigration Issues

President George W. Bush proposed major immigration enforcement increases in his FY 2006 budget.