President Trump's immigration demands threaten DACA deal
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's long list of immigration demands has landed with a thud among lawmakers hopeful for a deal to protect hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation.The list of demands released late Sunday includes funding for a southern border wall and a crackdown on so-called sanctuary cities — items that are cheered by the president's most loyal supporters, but are non-starters among Democrats and could divide Republicans, who will have to come together on any deal.The demands have left pro-immigration activists alarmed.
Chicago asks for national halt to Pres. Trump's immigration rules
CHICAGO — Attorneys for Chicago on Monday asked a federal judge for a nationwide halt to Trump administration requirements that cities enforce tough immigration laws in order to receive some federal grants, staking out a leadership role for the nation's third largest city in the fight over so-called sanctuary cities.Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proclaimed the city a sanctuary for immigrants in the country illegally and has refused to allow immigration police access to city jails without a warrant.
'Lousy speaking immigrant:' Oklahoma woman records racist rant at Goodwill
DURANT, Oklahoma -- A man launched a racist tirade at a Mexican-American woman in an Oklahoma Goodwill store, and she responded by turning on her phone's camera.It happened while Maty Roberts, her daughter, and her daughter's boyfriend were at the Goodwill in Durant, Oklahoma.Roberts said the man first directed his verbal assault on her daughter."Like, 'I hate wetbacks.
Justice Dept questions cities on following immigration law; Milwaukee County makes list
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is questioning whether some so-called sanctuary cities are responding honestly when asked whether they follow the law on sharing the immigration status of residents.Attorney General Jeff Sessions says the department is reviewing responses from 10 jurisdictions that are facing the loss of some federal grant money if they can't prove they cooperate with federal immigration authorities.The cities include New York, Chicago, New Orleans and Philadelphia — where Sessions canceled a speaking appearance that was set for Thursday.Also on the list are two states — California and Connecticut — along with Miami-Dade County in Florida; Cook County in Illinois; Milwaukee County in Wisconsin; and Clark County in Nevada.CLICK HERE to read a letter from Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel Margaret Dunn in response to the feds, as required by the DOJ in its initial threat to cut off federal Byrne grant funding from several municipalities, including Milwaukee County.
Voces de la Frontera to rally after accusing city leaders of changing Milwaukee's immigration policy
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says his stance on cooperation with immigration officials hasn't changed.
House GOP pushes bills to crack down on illegal immigration
WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House on Thursday, June 29th pressed ahead with legislation to crack down on illegal immigration, a key priority for President Donald Trump.One bill would strip federal dollars from self-proclaimed "sanctuary" cities that shield residents from federal immigration authorities, while a separate bill would stiffen punishments for people who re-enter the U.S. illegally.President Trump often railed against illegal immigration during his presidential campaign, and his support for tougher immigration policies is crucial to his voting base.
Immigration arrests at Mexican border continue to plummet
WASHINGTON — Arrests of people caught trying to sneak into the United States across the Mexican border plummeted in March to the lowest monthly figure in more than 17 years, the head of the Department of Homeland Security reported.That's a likely sign that fewer immigrants are trying to make the trek into the United States.Secretary John Kelly said the steep decline in arrests is "no accident" and credited President Donald Trump's approach to illegal immigration.Kelly reported the figures in written testimony submitted to a Senate committee ahead of an appearance Wednesday.
Judge in Hawaii puts Pres. Trump's travel ban on hold
HAWAII -- A federal judge in Hawaii has put President Donald Trump's revised travel ban on hold.U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson issued his ruling Wednesday, March 15th after hearing arguments on Hawaii's request for a temporary restraining order involving the ban.His ruling prevents the executive order from going into effect Thursday.More than half a dozen states are trying to stop the ban, and federal courts in Maryland, Washington state and Hawaii heard arguments Wednesday about whether it should be put into practice.Hawaii argued that the ban discriminates on the basis of nationality and would prevent Hawaii residents from receiving visits from relatives in the six mostly Muslim countries covered by the ban.The state also says the ban would harm its tourism industry and the ability to recruit foreign students and workers.
"People we know are affected:" Kenosha, Racine communities gather to pray in wake of new immigration order
KENOSHA -- The Kenosha community is standing together with local immigrants.
Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, Hawaii join Washington, Minnesota in legal challenge to US travel ban
SEATTLE — U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle has granted Oregon's request to join Washington and Minnesota in their lawsuit opposing President Donald Trump's travel ban.Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum asked to intervene in the lawsuit on Feb. 22, arguing that it is harmed the state in the same way as Washington claims.She says the executive order has hurt Oregon, its residents, employers, agencies, educational institutions, health care system and economy.She adds that the travel ban forces Oregon to violate its own laws against discrimination.Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey says her state is joining Washington state's lawsuit against President Trump's revised travel ban.The Democrat said President Trump's travel ban "remains a discriminatory and unconstitutional attempt to make good on his campaign promise to implement a Muslim ban."Healey said Thursday, March 9th that she decided to consolidate legal efforts by joining other states, led by Washington, to challenge what she called the administration's "unlawful immigration policies."Healey's office has voluntarily dropped its case in Massachusetts against the first version of the travel ban.Other states opposed to the travel ban are consolidating their efforts with the Washington state lawsuit.New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement Thursday that his office is also joining the lawsuit.He is calling the revised executive order "a Muslim ban by another name."A religious leader's mother-in-law living in Syria is playing a large part in Hawaii's lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's travel ban.Imam Ismail Elshikh of the Muslim Association of Hawaii is a plaintiff in the state's challenge.
Immigration lawyer's advice: "People here should stay; People who have visas should come ASAP"
MILWAUKEE -- When you read the revised version of President Donald Trump's executive order on travel restrictions, it appears none of it applies to Talha Naseer.
GOP lawmakers say Wisconsin 'sanctuary cities' should be fined, pro-immigrant group calls for strike
MADISON -- Wisconsin cities that ban their police from cooperating with federal immigration agents would be fined under a Republican-backed proposal circulating in the state Legislature.Similar legislation failed last year after an estimated 20,000 people rallied against it at the state Capitol.
Officials: New President Trump order drops Iraq from travel ban list
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say President Donald Trump's new immigration order will remove Iraq from the list of countries whose citizens face a temporary U.S. travel ban.Four officials say the administration's decision follows pressure from the Pentagon and State Department.
Pres. Trump says he's open to immigration package that could include path to legal status
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Donald Trump told television anchors Tuesday, February 28th that he is open to an immigration package that could include a path to legal status for many people living in the United States illegally.That's according to a person with knowledge of the discussion, which occurred ahead of President Trump's prime-time address to Congress.President Trump also said he was open to citizenship for the so-called Dreamers — those who were brought to the country illegally as children.
President Trump weighs mobilizing National Guard for immigration roundups; Press Sec. says "100% false"
WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants, including millions living nowhere near the Mexico border, according to a draft memo obtained by The Associated Press.The 11-page document calls for the unprecedented militarization of immigration enforcement as far north as Portland, Oregon, and as far east as New Orleans, Louisiana.Four states that border on Mexico are included in the proposal — California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas — but it also encompasses seven states contiguous to those four — Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Syrian refugee living in Dane County files federal lawsuit over Pres. Trump's travel ban
MADISON -- A Syrian refugee living in Dane County has filed a federal lawsuit alleging President Donald Trump's executive order halting immigration from seven countries is unconstitutional.The man filed anonymously to protect his wife and three-year-old daughter, who are still in Aleppo, from being targeted by military regimes.He had applied for them to join him in the United States, but his lawsuit says processing was halted January 27th when President Trump temporarily stopped immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries.The lawsuit says the man was granted asylum status in May 2016 after he fled Syria to escape torture by army regimes.
Mayor Barrett signs resolution in opposition to President Trump's executive order on immigration
MILWAUKEE -- Local refugee groups united Tuesday, February 7th as three federal judges grilled lawyers from the Justice Department and Washington state -- as they determine whether to lift a nationwide halt against President Donald Trump's travel ban against citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Tuesday night assured people that in Milwaukee, immigrants will be safe.
"We will not take one step back:" Local groups march in support of immigration and civil rights
MILWAUKEE -- It was happening across the nation today, people marching in support of immigrant and minority rights.