This week’s Supreme Court order banning automatic deportation of immigrants for minor drug offenses could impact thousands of of lawful permanent residents who were mislabeled as aggravated felons. “It would make me happy if I could return to Chicago,” Martin Escobar told Deportation Nation by phone from Morelos, Mexico, about 100 miles south of Mexico City. “All my family is in the United States. They were born there, and now the only person who is here... Read More

Here’s Renee Feltz’s report from Tuesday’s Free Speech Radio News broadcast: On Monday the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that immigrants convicted of minor drug offenses cannot be automatically deported. The decision could impact thousands of cases. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.  Read More

As more counties become enrolled in Secure Communities they require more funds to cover the cost of holding “criminal aliens” in local jails. Meanwhile federal officials say the cost of detention space has been higher than expected. Top 20 recipients of 2009 SCAAP funds. Credit: U.S. Department of Justice Local police have tried to cover costs by applying for grants with the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), which offers financial assistance for correctional... Read More

Growth in Criminal vs. Non-criminal Detainees. Credit: TRAC It turns out there is some common ground in the polarized debate over how to reform U.S. immigration policy. “One thing liberals and conservatives and everyone in between can agree on is that truly dangerous people should be at the top of the list for deportation,” said Rep. David Price (D-NC). Deportation Nation will spend the next year critically reporting on a key immigration enforcement program designed to achieve... Read More

DC Councilmembers Phil Mendelson and Jim Graham sign a proposal to ban Secure Communities in the nation's capital. Photo: Stokely Baksh In May we reported for The American Prospect that the deployment of Secure Communities hit a roadblock in the nation’s capital when D.C. council members introduced a bill to ban the program. “This is like something out of George Orwell. This is really ‘insecure communities,’” argues District Council member Jim... Read More