National Council of La Raza: Topics

Immigration

Immigration Related Content Related Publications (51) Related News Items (276) Related Events (4) Related FAQs (4) Related Viewpoints (108)

Information on the Immigration Debate

Most Latinos in the U.S. are native-born U.S. citizens. At the same time, many Latinos have family members who are immigrants, or are waiting in long lines to reunite with close family members. Immigration policy has a direct impact on the lives of these families, and NCLR engages in the policy debate in defense of family-based immigration. In addition, immigration policy has an important impact on the civil rights of all Hispanics, many of whom are often mistaken for immigrants. As a result, Hispanics care deeply about the nation’s policies toward immigrants and vigorously support fair and respectful treatment of immigrants under the law. NCLR conducts immigration policy analyses and advocacy activities in its role as a civil rights organization. The primary focus of these activities is to encourage immigration policies that are fair and nondiscriminatory, to encourage family reunification, and to enact necessary reforms to the current immigration system.

NCLR is engaged in many immigration issues including the REAL ID Act, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, state and local police enforcement of immigration laws, the DREAM Act, AgJOBS, driver’s license access for immigrants, and post 9-11 civil liberties.

For basic facts on immigration, click here. For information on integrating immigrants into American life, click here.

The National White Ribbon Campaign for Dialogue is an attempt to engage in peaceful dialogue around the issue of immigration in the United States. All organizations that sign on to the White Ribbon Campaign call for a respectful and constructive debate on immigration matters and reject deplorable tactics such as intimidation, violence and threats, and the spread of fear, hatred, and divisiveness. For more information on the National White Ribbon Campaign go to www.whiteribbon.org

Related Policies

Federal Policies

Social Security Administration (SSA) No-Match Letters: On August 15, 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized new rules regarding Social Security Administration (SSA) no-match letters. Under the new rules, employers have new legal obligations upon receipt of a Social Security no-match letter. If the employer does not follow the suggested procedure, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can use the no-match letter as evidence that the employer hired or continued to employ an unauthorized worker. Unfortunately, NCLR fears that the new no-match rules will hurt Latinos and other workers.
REAL ID Act: The "REAL ID Act" was passed by the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Bush in May 2005. Unfortunately, this new law makes all Americans less safe and undermines fundamental American values of fairness, due process, and protection of those fleeing persecution. The REAL ID Act will also result in an increased number of unlicensed, uninsured drivers on the roads, prevents persons fleeing persecution from receiving humanitarian relief in the U.S
Immigration Facts: General facts on the U.S. immigration system.
Post 9/11 Civil Liberties: Like all Americans, Latinos support measures that strengthen and protect national security. However, over the past several years, efforts to thwart potential terrorist attacks and the development of policies to identify individuals who pose a threat to our nation have alienated and marginalized segments of the Latino community, and immigrant populations as a whole, with little evidence that these steps are effective. In particular, immigration and national security are now intermingled in the U.S. in unprecedented ways, and immigrants – or those perceived to be immigrants – have taken the brunt of many new policies intended to increase national security.
Immigrant Farmworker Legislation (AgJOBS): The “Agricultural Jobs, Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act of 2007” (AgJOBS), H.R. 371/S. 340, is a bill that would help hundreds of thousands of farmworkers across the U.S. legalize their immigration status.
DREAM Act: The “DREAM Act” is federal legislation that would facilitate state efforts to offer in-state tuition to undocumented students and provide certain students with a path to U.S. citizenship.
State/Local Police Enforcement of Immigration Laws (CLEAR Act): There have been several attempts to involve state and local police in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws. While the safety and security of our communities and our country are of the utmost importance, new policies that would allow local police departments to enforce federal civil immigration law will hinder terrorist and other criminal investigations, and have a serious negative impact on Latino communities.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: The U.S. immigration system is in need of fundamental reform. The current immigration laws are out of tune with our country’s economy, and millions of close family members remain in visa backlogs for years, waiting to be reunited with their families. NCLR is working toward comprehensive immigration reform that includes: 1) a path to citizenship for the current undocumented population; 2) the creation of new legal channels for future immigrant workers; 3) a reduction of family immigration backlogs; and 4) the protection of civil rights and civil liberties.
Integrating Immigrants into American Life: The work of NCLR and its affiliates on behalf of immigrants builds on America's identity as a nation of immigrants by promoting fairness in the law and advancing a number of ways to help immigrants fully enter the mainstream of American life. NCLR and its affiliates are on the front lines of carrying out the work that has always been essential to America's success as a nation, ensuring full respect for the contributions of immigrants and full access to the American Dream.

State Policies

State and Local Immigration Initiatives: With the failure of the federal government to pass comprehensive immigration reform, states and localities are playing a more prominent role in immigration regulation.
California: Human Services: NCLR supports programs that provide human services to underprivileged individuals and children.
California: Language Access: NCLR strongly supports measures to ensure that people of limited English proficiency receive quality and accessible health care, and that communication and/or language barriers, which compromise health care, are eliminated.
California: Driver's Licenses: NCLR supports legislation that will ensure immigrants’ ability to obtain a driver’s license.
Driver's Licenses: In recent years there has been much legislation and other activity in the states which impose harsh restrictions specifically on immigrants’ access to state-issued driver’s licenses and identification documents. More recently, the REAL ID Act passed which imposes federal standards on state-issued driver's licenses. NCLR believes that a state-issued DL should be reliable proof of an individual’s identity and proof of authorization to drive a motor vehicle; it should not be tied to an individual’s immigration status.