Accessibility links
The Immigration Debate The immigration bill dies in the Senate despite White House efforts to push the compromise through.
thumbnail
Special Series

The Immigration Debate

Self-Deportation Program Raises Skepticism

Charles Kuck is president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and discusses the belief by some that a government ad campaign is employing scare tactics to pressure undocumented workers to self-deport. Kuck is joined by lawyer and Spanish-language radio host Jay Marks, who shares what his listeners are saying about the self-deportation program.

Self-Deportation Program Raises Skepticism

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93558736/93558730" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Government Ads Nudge Immigrants To Self-Deport

An unusual advertising campaign in Spanish-language newspapers and radio stations calls for undocumented immigrants to turn themselves in. The ads are part of a new self-deportation program sponsored by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). James T. Hayes, who heads the program, explains the ad campaign and whether it's working.

Government Ads Nudge Immigrants To Self-Deport

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93558733/93558729" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Vicente Fox on U.S. Immigration

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox discusses Mexico's war on drugs, the alarming number of young women in the country whose murders remain unsolved, and why he takes issue with U.S. border fences. Fox also weighs in on the race for the White House.

Vicente Fox on U.S. Immigration

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90883427/90883420" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Experts Discuss Myths about Latino Kids

New census data shows that about a quarter of children younger than five in the U.S. are of Hispanic decent. Pedro Noguera, professor of education at New York University; and Jeffrey Passel, from the Pew Hispanic Center, discuss the rising number of Latino children and what it means for America.

Experts Discuss Myths about Latino Kids

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90216206/90216202" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Voters, Candidates Weigh Illegal Immigration in Virginia

It was once considered a staple of federal law enforcement, but state and local governments across the country are now attempting to influence the movement of undocumented workers and their families. Residents in Prince William County, Va., where recently passed anti-illegal immigration measures are on the minds of voters, are preparing for upcoming local elections.

Voters, Candidates Weigh Illegal Immigration in Virginia

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15996993/15996992" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Bill Giving Children Path to Citizenship Blocked

Democrats failed to win a key test vote Wednesday on a measure to allow certain illegal immigrant children to put themselves on a path to citizenship if they go to college or join the military.

Bill Giving Children Path to Citizenship Blocked

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15604139/15604085" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Businesses Feel Effects of Raids on Illegal Labor

In recent months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have raided factories, farms and restaurants across the country — arresting laborers allegedly working in the U.S. illegally. Guests discuss how the crackdown has affected businesses that rely on an immigrant work force.

Listen to this 'Talk of the Nation' topic

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15292417/15292414" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Agency Head Defends Immigration Raids

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is stepping-up its efforts to find and arrest illegal immigrants. Julie Myers, who leads ICE, explains how and why the agency conducts the raids and responds to widespread criticism of the agency's efforts.

Agency Head Defends Immigration Raids

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15030342/15030337" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Feds Sue Illinois Over Worker-Verification Law

The Department of Homeland Security is suing Illinois over its new law to keep employers there from enrolling in a federal program that verifies the legal status of job applicants. Lawmakers and rights groups say the E-Verify system is flawed.

Feds Sue Illinois Over Worker-Verification Law

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/14962703/14962673" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Human Rights Commission Critical of Crackdown

The Human Rights Commission is critical of Prince William County's tough stance on illegal immigration. Chris Labiosa, vice-chairman of the county's Human Rights Commission, discusses his group's most significant concerns with the resolution and their plans to fire back if those concerns are not addressed.

Human Rights Commission Critical of Crackdown

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/14945031/14945025" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Virginia County's Immigration Crackdown Stalls

Officials in Prince William County passed a controversial resolution earlier this year to crack down on illegal immigrants. But county officials have delayed the plan — which aims to deny civil services to illegal immigrants and increase police checks — because of a lack of funding. Prince William County Executive Craig Gerhart explains the latest developments.

Virginia County's Immigration Crackdown Stalls

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/14945028/14945024" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Farmers Worry About Immigration Crackdown

The government wants to hold employers accountable if they can't show that their workers have valid Social Security numbers. Farmers say doing so could put them out of business — an estimated 70 percent of agricultural workers in the U.S. are undocumented.

Farmers Worry About Immigration Crackdown

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/14509724/14509706" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Student Facing Deportation Fights for DREAM

College student Juan Gomez is facing deportation from Florida back to Colombia, the country he and his family left when he was a child. He recently received a stay of deportation and is working to persuade Congress to pass the DREAM Act.

Student Facing Deportation Fights for DREAM

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/14290798/14290781" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Searching for Skilled High-Tech Workers

Some employers say they are having trouble finding adequately skilled workers. Are foreign-born workers the solution? Microsoft thinks so — this fall, the company is opening a software development center in British Columbia to attract qualified computer scientists who can't get visas to work in the U.S.

Searching for Skilled High-Tech Workers

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/14241565/14241558" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The Politics of Enforcing Immigration Law

As the federal government steps up raids on businesses that employ illegal immigrants, officers are arresting people who have lived in the country for years, and may have American-born children. Guests discuss increased enforcement, and the changing politics of the immigration debate.

Listen to this 'Talk of the Nationn' topic

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/13867625/13867621" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript