Visa Amigo

Your immigration law guide.

Immigration Law Reform

ACLU Sues State of Michigan Over Denial of Driver's Licenses to Non-U.S. Citizens

It has been rather standard procedure for many of the border states to attempt to end-run around the federal immigration laws and deal with localized immigration problems (real or perceived) with state law. Recently, Michigan (not a usual suspect) has taken a hard line against immigrants by using an existing section of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code to deny driver's licenses to non-U.S. Citizens or lawful permanent residents. Utilizing a misguided interpretation of the Michigan Attorney General's published legal opinion regarding the definition of the term "resident" in the motor vehicle code, Land has instructed her office to deny driver's licenses to all Michigan residents who are not U.S. Citizens or lawful permanent residents.

U.S. Senate Rejects Negative Immigration Amendment

On July 25, 2007 the Senate rejected a harsh immigration enforcement amendment proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (S. 1644/H.R. 2638).

The Graham amendment proposed a broad array of costly, counterproductive, and pernicious provisions. If passed, the amendment would have:

Undocumented Children Deserve a Chance at the American Dream.

There are thousands of young people in this country who are undocumented immigrants who were brought to this country by their parents at a very young age. Many of these young people know no other country, language or culture--the United States is there home. However, because they were brought here illegally by their parents they have no legal status in the United States.

GOP Kickstarts the Political Nonsense.

The news today from Capitol Hill was encouraging. The immigration reform bill that was very near death was resuscitated with a Senate vote of 64-35 in favor of reopening debate on the bill. Proponents of the bill were prepared to call for a vote on a series of amendments which would lay the ground work for an up-down vote on the entire legislative package. Fortunately, the GOP, armed with the Senate rules and intending to delay a vote, insisted that the entire 373 page legislation package be read aloud. The delay tactic was successful and the vote was postponed until tomorrow. It is truly amazing that our legislature is not able to accomplish more with such sensible and efficient rules--they are worth every penny.