immigration

Undocumented UT Grads Call for Permanent Immigration Solution

Ann Choi — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:15:00 +0000

A UT student organization held a ceremony today for undocumented students who will graduate with their peers this weekend.

Last year, undocumented students became eligible to apply for a two year-long work permit that would protect them from deportation through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. However, the undocumented graduates said the policy protects only the students –not their families – and therefore, it’s not a permanent solution.

Immigrants to be Largest Driver of U.S. Population Growth

Hansi Lo Wang — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:01:23 +0000

New immigrants will be the main driver of population growth in the U.S. by as early as 2027, according to new Census Bureau projections.

This would be the first time in almost two centuries that new births will not be the largest source of U.S.

Austin Offers 'Emergency Cards' - for When the Language Barrier Could Mean Life or Death

Bobby Blanchard — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:57:39 +0000

The City of Austin’s Commission on Immigrant Affairs unveiled emergency cards Friday designed to help first responders assist people who don’t speak English.

The business card-sized rectangles allow those people to hand over basic personal and medical information to emergency responders. This includes information such as name, allergies and other vital information needed in emergency situations.

New Border Trend: Undocumented Immigrants Want to Get Caught

Joy Diaz, KUT News — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:46:51 +0000

In Texas, Border Patrol Agents are among those affected by Washington’s across-the-board budget cuts known as the “sequester”. The men and women guarding the more than 12 hundred miles of Texas’ border say that brings good news and bad news at a time when illegal border crossings from Mexico are slightly up.

Sequester-related furloughs for border patrol agents start next month. Meaning, there will be fewer agents at the border at any given time and agents will not get paid for the fourteen days they are furloughed.

At the Capitol, Activists Rally for Immigration Reform

Marissa Barnett — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:21:16 +0000

Several hundred people marched to the Texas Capitol today with a message for state legislators and President Obama: “Listen, we are in the struggle.”

For those who rallied Friday, the struggle is for immigration reform.

Map: Immigration March May Disrupt Traffic This Morning

Bobby Blanchard — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:02:49 +0000

Austin drivers can expect traffic delays later this morning because of an immigration reform march downtown.

The Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition is putting on what it calls the "first Texas statewide march in 2013 for Humane Immigration Reform." The coalition promotes human rights and economic justices for immigrants.

Partner organizations from El Paso, Dallas, Houston and other cities will be in attendance. According to a Facebook event, more than 400 people are coming to the march.

Half of All Construction Workers May Be Undocumented

Mark Dewey and Matt Largey, KUT News — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:44:50 +0000

As many as half of Texas construction workers could be undocumented immigrants, according to a study released today.

In the study, the Workers Defense Project examined building permits in five big markets across the state, including Austin. They visited random residential and commercial building projects to survey 1,200 construction workers during lunch breaks or after their shifts.

Texas Lawmakers Urge Action on Immigration

Ben Philpott, KUT News — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 23:32:14 +0000

As Congress continues to debate whether to take up comprehensive immigration legislation, some Texas lawmakers hope to get the Legislature to support those efforts.

Reps. Ana Hernandez Luna, D-Houston, and Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, filed a resolution this morning that would “urge Congress to swiftly enact and fund comprehensive immigration reform.”

Listen: A Conservative, Business-Minded Approach to Immigration

Laura Rice, KUT News — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:15:28 +0000

An event in Austin today aims to bring together Texas leaders in business, law enforcement and faith to talk about immigration.

Bill Filings Down in 2013 Texas Legislature

Ryland Barton — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:17:18 +0000

The 2013 Texas Legislature is running behind last session when it comes to bill filings, according to legislative reporting service Telicon.

The firm reports 476 fewer bills have been filed this legislative session, compared to this time in the 2011 session. The 27 percent drop is partially to blame on 2011 being a big year for ideological legislative filings, said UT government professor Jim Henson.

Rep. Joaquin Castro: A Path to Citizenship is Coming

Ann Choi — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:01:19 +0000

With immigration reform on the agenda in Washington, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro of San Antonio predicted today that some sort of path to citizenship will be created for undocumented workers.

At the annual Texas Association of Business conference today, Castro said the current immigration system creates a second class of people who can never gain citizenship. However, he believes that society's changed views on immigration ultimately will lead to change in policy.

Cornyn Calls for Stricter Immigration Enforcement, Opposes Amnesty

Mark Dewey — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:32:12 +0000

With President Obama and some legislators from both parties pushing immigration reform, Texas’s Sen. John Cornyn says he does not support a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s immigration laws.

Instead, he advocates stricter enforcement of existing laws.

Obama's Immigration Plan Inspires Some, Irks Others

Julian Aguilar, Texas Tribune — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:50:27 +0000

A day after a bipartisan group of U.S. senators offered a plan to fix the country’s immigration system, President Obama offered up his own — and warned lawmakers to get serious about the issue or deal with him.

“If Congress is unable to move forward in a timely fashion, I will send up a bill based on my proposal and insist that they vote on it right away,” he told a crowd in Las Vegas.

Obama: 'Now Is the Time' for Immigration Reform (Update)

Mark Memmott, NPR and Eyder Peralta — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:18:39 +0000

Update at 3:06 p.m. ET.

Immigration Overhaul Good for Business?

Ryland Barton — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 01:40:33 +0000

Yesterday’s bipartisan Senate proposal to overhaul the immigration system has drawn praise and criticism from both sides of the aisle. In Texas, one question remains: is immigration good or bad for business?
The proposal from eight U.S. Senators calls for increased border security and a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the country.