Hot Topic
Abstract
The debate over U.S. immigration — both documented and undocumented — is heating up because of the presidential campaign and continued partisan deadlock in Congress on the issue. Both major party candidates and many congressional leaders promise a fresh start on immigration legislation in 2017, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court’s June ruling that blocked President Obama’s 2014 executive action that would have shielded millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. The two political parties, however, still differ over how to handle immigrants in the country illegally, reform the worker visa program and address the needs of refugees. They also disagree on background checks to identify potential terrorists. Many states continue to pass their own laws in the absence of federal action.