NDN Backgrounder: Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Today President Obama held a meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss the prospect of passing comprehensive immigration reform this year.

To help those interested in learning more about this pressing national problem, NDN has assembled some resource materials that we thought might be useful.

A Brief Overview on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

• Making the Case for Passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform This Year (PDF) by Simon Rosenberg, 2/19/09 - Rosenberg lays out the basic foundation for why Congress must pass comprehensive immigration reform. This summary is a good introduction for those wanting to learn the fundamentals of this issue.

• The Immigration Proxy Wars Continue by Simon Rosenberg, 2/13/2009 – In this piece, Rosenberg argues that opponents of comprehensive immigration reform will continue to use immigration as a wedge issue on other pressing policy issues in Congress.

• An Updated Analysis of the Hispanic Vote, 2008 by Andres Ramirez, 11/13/2008 – Ramirez provides an overview of the Hispanic electorate in key states during the last presidential election. The study shows a significant increase in participation among Hispanic voters compared to the presidential election in 2004.

• Hispanics Rising II (PDF), 5/30/08 - This important document provides an in-depth narrative of how the immigration issue has impacted American politics and mobilized the Hispanic electorate.

Recent Polling on Comprehensive Immigration Reform Shows Consistent Support for Reform

• Lake Research Poll, Provided by America's Voice, 2/19/09 - This national poll confirms results from polling over the past few years showing that American voters support a comprehensive approach to fixing our broken immigration system.

• Benenson Strategy Group, Provided by America's Voice, 2/19/09 - Polling among voters in swing congressional districts shows similar results as national polling.

• NDN Polls on Comprehensive Immigration Reform in Battleground States, 9/10/08 - NDN conducted polling in key presidential battleground states, that show overwhelming support for comprehensive immigration reform.

NDN Video: Leaders Advocate for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

• Simon Rosenberg at "Making the Case for Passing Immigration Reform This Year", 2/19/09

• Janet Murguia at "Making the Case for Passing Immigration Reform This Year", 2/19/09

• Frank Sharry at "Making the Case for Passing Immigration Reform This Year", 2/19/09

• U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez at "Forum on Immigration and Hispanics", 12/5/07

• U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar at the "Bicameral Immigration Forum", 3/7/07

Other Resources

• The 50-Year Strategy (PDF), Mother Jones, November 2007

• On Obama, Race, and the End of the Southern Strategy by Simon Rosenberg, 1/4/08

• Can Democrats Seize the Opportunity the Immigration Debate Offers Them? by Simon Rosenberg, 12/11/07

• The Economics of Immigration Reform (PDF), Immigration Policy Center, March 2009

• Immigration Reform and Economic Recovery (PDF), Immigration Policy Center, March 2009