AUSTIN, Texas - Vuelven los problemas de migración por el posible cambio de juego en esta época de elecciones. Mientras la Suprema Corte evalúa la controversial aplicación de la ley de inmigración de Arizona, los detractores acusan al Presidente Obama de extralimitar su labor ejecutiva por su decisión del viernes pasado de permitir a muchos inmigrantes sin documentos solicitar el estatus de deportación diferida. Mientras tanto en Texas, los defensores del inmigrante predicen que la jugada de la administración será envalentonar a los jóvenes "DREAMers" - individuos traídos a los Estados Unidos cuando eran niños - para que se vuelvan políticamente más activos.

Con la decisión de la administración Obama, la inmigración está surgiendo rápidamente como el problema dormido de esta época de elecciones. Los defensores de la comunidad fronteriza de Texas predicen un incremento en la actividad política por parte de los "DREAMers" porque ya se sienten libres para expresarse sin miedo de revelar su estatus legal. Esther Reyes, Directora Ejecutiva de la Coalición de los Derechos del Inmigrante en Austin y miembro de Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (Reforma Migratoria en la Alianza de Texas), dice que el riesgo que asumen los "DREAMers" que han estado ocupando las oficinas de campaña de Obama en todo el país durante las semanas pasadas, merece gran parte del crédito por la nueva política.

"Esto es resultado del trabajo de los estudiantes, más que nada. Sin duda fue un testamento de su arduo trabajo y su audacia y valor para luchar por sus derechos y por la justicia."

La Secretaria de Seguridad Interior, Janet Napolitano, declaró que la decisión fue el último paso del compromiso que hizo la administración hace un año para enfocar los esfuerzos de deportación en quienes cometen algún delito. Los inmigrantes elegibles pueden solicitar la prórroga de deportación en incrementos de dos años, así como solicitar permisos para trabajar.

Si bien Reyes aplaude la medida, opina que los grupos como la Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition (Coalición pro Derechos del Inmigrante de Austin), que ella dirige, estarán monitoreando su aplicación para asegurarse de que los solicitantes y sus familias no corran riesgos legales. Agrega que el impacto del cambio de política será limitado, a menos que el Congreso lo refuerce con leyes.

"También necesitamos un alivio completo, permanente, para nuestros estudiantes sin documentos, porque esto no significa un camino a la ciudadanía. Y eso es por lo que todos los indocumentados de este país luchan: por ser reconocidos."

La legislación "DREAM Act" ganó el apoyo mayoritario en ambos Congresos, pero cedió ante un opositor filibustero. Reyes tiene la esperanza de que una revisión con otro enfoque a los problemas migratorios eventualmente llevará a una reforma integral de todo el sistema migratorio nacional.

Los detractores dicen que la política de Obama es un exceso de autoridad con motivos políticos y que oculta una amnistía. El Congresista por Texas Lamar Smith dijo que tendrá "consecuencias horribles" para los desempleados estadounidenses. Reyes opina que sacar a los migrantes de la sombra les permitirá contribuir más abiertamente a la economía.

"Estas juventudes indocumentadas han demostrado su compromiso con este país, así que tenemos que reconocerles lo que realmente están haciendo."

El Gobierno abrió una línea para preguntas sobre elegibilidad y cómo solicitar la prórroga de su estatus. El número es 800-375-5283.


get more stories like this via email

A new report looked into the recent shift in immigration enforcement, especially at the immigrant detention center in Tacoma.

The University of Washington's Center for Human Rights' report "The Border is Everywhere" found immigration arrests have started to tick back up after falling at the start of the pandemic.

Angelina Godoy, director of the center, said fewer of the arrests are transfers from jails or prisons in Washington and Oregon like they were in the past.

"We see a lot of the more recent arrests happening on ICE check-ins or when folks who have arrived from the southern border are coming here and starting to comply with the process that ICE required them to do in terms of following up on their case," Godoy observed. "That's when they're brought into custody."

Godoy noted Washington and Oregon have passed "sanctuary state" legislation, which has reduced the number of transfers. But other factors are making the average length of stay at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma longer than other detention centers across the country.

The report found bond is granted in a fewer percentage of cases and relief from deportation is denied on more occasions at the Northwest Detention Center than nationwide. Godoy acknowledged there is a perception the Northwest is more friendly to immigrants.

"They might imagine that the conditions here would be better than elsewhere," Godoy explained. "In fact, what we're seeing in report after report is that's not the case."

Godoy emphasized organizations like La Resistencia, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and Washington Immigration Solidarity Network are fighting to improve conditions for people in detention in the region. However, she argued immigration enforcement should be a big issue for everyone in the country.

"A lot of inhumanity is occurring and it's occurring on our watch," Godoy added. "This is something that all of us need to be concerned about and taking action to improve."


get more stories like this via email

A new report found undocumented immigrants are paying substantial taxes in Maryland and nationwide.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found undocumented migrants paid more than $96 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022, with Maryland seeing more than $770 million of tax revenue.

Carl Davis, research director for the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said narratives around how migrants are impacting the nation do not always stand up to scrutiny.

"I think we're able to dispel a lot of myths around this one-sided idea that undocumented immigrants are claiming benefits and not paying any taxes," Davis contended. "It's really not tethered to reality."

With some undocumented workers being paid under the table, the study found if migrants had access to legal status such as a guest worker program, the states and localities would realize an additional $7 billion in tax revenue annually, while adding another $33 billion in federal revenue.

The report showed more than a third of the total paid by undocumented workers goes toward payroll taxes such as Medicare, Social Security and unemployment insurance, programs the same workers are unable to access. With presidential campaign rhetoric often focused on the topic of immigration, Davis noted big policy changes would impact the economy.

"If we're going to dramatically change course on immigration policy, say through ramping up deportations, for example, that's really going to shrink the size of the labor force at a time when a lot of industries are already struggling to fill the positions they have available," Davis emphasized.

While some undocumented immigrants own homes, most rent, and the report found migrants were paying more than $10 billion in property taxes either directly or indirectly via payments to landlords. The study reported most undocumented adults have lived in the U.S. for 16 years or more.

"By and large, these are people who are trying to put down roots and are trying to have a better life for themselves and for their families," Davis added. "These are folks who have been here for quite a while, and who are really contributing to the economy and to our funding of our public services in significant ways."


get more stories like this via email

As immigration takes center stage this election season, a new study revealed the significant tax contributions made by undocumented immigrants.

The essential workers added nearly $100 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022, including nearly $16 million in Maine.

James Myall, analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said the money helps support public infrastructure and services.

"Even folks who are here without documented status are still contributing to the fabric of our communities," Myall pointed out. "Paying in taxes to state and local government."

Myall argued granting more work authorizations to undocumented immigrants in Maine would increase their tax payments by nearly $4 million and reduce reliance on public assistance. Maine's congressional delegation has been pushing for faster work permits but bipartisan legislation remains stalled in the Senate.

With nearly two jobs available for every applicant, Maine companies are looking to immigrants to fill important roles, including in the state's iconic lobster industry, as more workers head toward retirement.

Myall emphasized with one of the oldest populations in the U.S., Maine should welcome everyone who wants to work.

"The direct care sector, in hospitality, in health care," Myall outlined. "In some of these vital sections of our economy - immigrants are helping to fill that gap."

Maine officials say the state will need 75,000 new workers by 2029 to remain economically viable. Earlier this year, Gov. Janet Mills signed a supplemental budget, which included funding to create an Office of New Americans, to help "new Mainers" with resettlement and integration.