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After a June 2012 announcement by President Obama to grant “deferred action” to undocumented youth, Isabel Castillo ‘07 applied for authorization to work and live legally in the United States for the first time in her life. She also began assisting many others with similar applications.
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More than 150 Evangelical leaders today called on President Obama and Congress to begin working on broad immigration reform legislation that reflects American values, including human dignity, family unity and respects the rule of law. The evangelical leaders represent congregants from various denominations including the Assemblies of God and the Southern Baptist Convention which are increasingly Latino. Of the nation’s 52 million Latino population, almost 7 million belong to Evangelical churches, according to Pew Hispanic Center.
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Virginia Organizing leaders are celebrating a victory after the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors declined to renew the 287(g) agreement with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a meeting Wednesday night.
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The U.S. Supreme Court this morning handed down a mixed decision in Arizona v. United States, a case challenging that state’s SB 1070 law, which is based on the controversial Prince William County ordinance that was cast aside as unworkable in 2008. While throwing out provisions making it a state crime to be in the country illegally and to make it a state crime to seek work, the Court refused to say that the Arizona “show me your papers” law was invalid on its face, without additional facts and an interpretation of the law by the Arizona Courts
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On May 12, 2011, after months of delay and inaction by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, Gov. Bob McDonnell wrote Secretary Janet Napolitano requesting immediate approval of the Commonwealth’s application for the Virginia Department of State Police to be granted limited immigration enforcement authority under a 287(g) agreement,…
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Isabel Castillo, a 2007 Eastern Mennonite University graduate, has become a nationally recognized spokesperson for the plight of undocumented young people in the United States. Castillo was featured in a Feb. 20, 2011, New York Times article, “Dream Act Advocate Turns Failure into Hope.” This publicity led Jesuit-run University of San Francisco to invite her…
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Gov. Bob McDonnell officially ordered today that all executive branch state agencies implement the E-Verify system to verify employment eligibility based upon immigration status for all new hires by June 1, 2011, a full 18 months ahead of the legislated deadline of Dec. 1, 2012. The 2010 General Assembly passed legislation (HB737) requiring all state…
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Virginia Organizing is hosting an immigration forum on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Community Mennonite Church, 70 S. High St., Harrisonburg. The forum will focus on preserving immigrants’ rights with a heavy amount of attention on immigrants’ issues in the 2011 Virginia General Assembly. The forum will feature Walter Tejada, currently on the Arlington…
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House Republican leaders are taking up the hot-button issue of illegal immigration at the outset of a Virginia General Assembly session taking place against the backdrop of fall elections. “House Republicans believe that playing by the rules and abiding by the law is important. Countless immigrants to this great nation have come here to embrace…
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After months of discussions, Gov. Bob McDonnell has formally requested that the Department of Homeland Security enter into a 287(g) agreement with the Virginia Department of State Police allowing certain Virginia troopers to perform certain functions of a federal immigration officer within the borders of the Commonwealth. “I have been a longtime proponent of allowing…
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