Contrary to the claims of advocates, the backlog is not caused by an increase in cases. Andrew Arthur, the Center's resident fellow in law and policy and author of the report, points to data from a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report showing that the "total case receipts" in 2015 was about the same as in 2006. But the number of cases actually completed declined 31 percent even as the number of immigration judges grew 17 percent.

Erecting barriers along the southern border would stem the flow of heroin carried by “mules,” and in vehicles crossing between the ports of entry. This in itself would increase the cost of drug smuggling and the cost of heroin, making the product less available to would-be users. It is, therefore, a positive first step that the fiscal 2018 Homeland Security Appropriations bill “includes $1.6 billion for construction of a wall and other physical barriers along the U.S. southern border.”

A new analysis of the H-2B visa program data by the Center for Immigration Studies shows the locations where jobs have been offered to guestworkers, pay rates, and numbers of unemployed and available U.S. workers, with a particular focus on less-educated U.S. workers. The three interactive maps below show that U.S. companies are hiring H-2B guest workers in large numbers for jobs even in areas of high unemployment and with low labor force participation.

Sends Immigration Enforcement Bills to the Senate

Earlier this evening, the House passed two significant immigration enforcement bills addressing sanctuary policies and public safety.

Jessica Vaughan commented, “It is noteworthy that more members of Congress chose to vote for the largely symbolic Kate’s Law rather than H.R. 3003, which would have more of an impact on public safety and the rule of law by taking care of the sanctuary problem.”

Possible Fallout from California's SB 54

This report examines the administration's option of limiting foreign student entries and immigration activities in "sanctuary" jurisdictions as a potential federal response to state and local obstruction of immigration enforcement. This could be especially important if California's SB54 – with its stringent anti-cooperation requirements – is passed and signed into law. SB54 has been approved by the Senate and is currently before the Assembly.