By ZEKE MILLER and KEN THOMAS AP, 2:32 PM WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is hoping to counter Chinese efforts to bolster its economic influence in the Americas during his inaugural trip to Latin America next week amid an escalating trade fight and his harsh rhetoric on immigration. The White House said Thursday that Trump is set to attend the Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru, and will travel to Bogota, Colombia, to promote good governance and democracy in the Western Hemisphere. The trip will bring the president face to face with the targets of some of his fiercest ire and follows his announcement that he will direct the deployment of National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. The deployment has sparked widespread outrage in Mexico, which had already been enraged by Trump’s pledge to construct a border wall. Trump is also set to face scrutiny over his recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum — though exporters to the U.S. who will be … [Read more...] about Trump to visit Latin America amid trade, immigration fights
Immigration
Houston immigration advocates say Trump doesn’t understand DACA after Easter tweet blitz
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Houston group is speaking out against President Donald Trump's rash of Easter tweets, in which he vowed there will be no deal on the DACA program.The president blamed Democrats and the Mexican government for what he calls a dangerous flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S., saying the influx of people are trying to take advantage of DACA. But the pro-immigration group FIEL says the president showed no clear understanding of the DACA program or how it works.Trump also threatened to pull out of NAFTA unless Mexico does more to stop people from crossing the border. Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release. Getting more dangerous. “Caravans” coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2018 Mexico is doing very little, if not NOTHING, at stopping … [Read more...] about Houston immigration advocates say Trump doesn’t understand DACA after Easter tweet blitz
Immigrant groups call U.S. Census question on citizenship ‘catastrophic’
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Some fear a new addition to the 2020 U.S. Census could cause Texas to lose out on congressional seats and millions of dollars.This week, the United States Department of Commerce announced it would add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. A decision Damaris Gonzalez isn't feeling good about."I'm afraid for my family, and for my community," Damaris Gonzalez said. "It's going to be causing a lot of bad effects on them."Gonzalez came to the United States illegally as a child.She now works to help other immigrants.While she plans to participate in the census, she's worried about others."This is just another trick for them to keep our communities in fear," Gonzalez said. "Now more of our people in our community will not be filling out the census."She's not alone.National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Texas state director Claudia Ortega-Hogue said this decision came as a shock. "This census question added at the last minute will be … [Read more...] about Immigrant groups call U.S. Census question on citizenship ‘catastrophic’
Trump administration seeks to close immigration ‘loopholes’
0 View Comments WASHINGTON — Trump administration officials said they're crafting a new legislative package aimed at closing immigration "loopholes" after the president called on Republican lawmakers to immediately pass a border bill using the "Nuclear Option if necessary" to muscle it through. "The big Caravan of People from Honduras, now coming across Mexico and heading to our "Weak Laws" Border, had better be stopped before it gets there. Cash cow NAFTA is in play, as is foreign aid to Honduras and the countries that allow this to happen. Congress MUST ACT NOW!" Trump tweeted at daybreak Tuesday. The president also tweeted about "caravans" on Sunday and Monday. The president has been tweeting about immigration and the border for the last few days, declaring protections for so-called Dreamer immigrants "dead," accusing Democrats of allowing "open borders, drugs and crime" and warning Mexico to halt the passage of "caravans" of immigrants or risk U.S. abandonment of the … [Read more...] about Trump administration seeks to close immigration ‘loopholes’
Justice Department imposes quotas on immigration judges, provoking independence concerns
Home Daily News Justice Department imposes quotas on immigration… Attorney General By Lorelei Laird Posted April 2, 2018, 6:31 pm CDT The Justice Department on Monday announced that immigration judges’ job performance will be evaluated according to how quickly they close cases, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Journal says the quotas are intended to speed up cases, clearing the immigration court system’s lengthy case backlog. They were announced Friday in an email from the Executive Office of Immigration Review, the DOJ office that houses the immigration courts. Director James McHenry told judges the quotas would take effect Oct. 1, with the start of the federal government’s next fiscal year. “The purpose of implementing these metrics is to encourage efficient and effective case management while preserving immigration judge discretion and due process,” McHenry wrote in a message acquired by the newspaper. Under the new standards, for … [Read more...] about Justice Department imposes quotas on immigration judges, provoking independence concerns