BU Now » illegal immigrants

Hearing on AZ immigration law

Dick Taffe — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:24:32 +0000

A federal judge in Phoenix is hearing arguments from the state, the feds, and civil rights groups over whether Arizona’s controversial new immigration law — requiring officers to check a person’s immigration status if there’s a “reasonable suspicion” that the person is here illegally — should take effect next week. Law Professor Susan Akram, an authority on immigration law, says similar attempts by states to seize from the federal government responsibility for immigration matters have either been tied up in litigation for years or were overturned.

“It does not appear that public opinion has been influenced by the actual facts involved in passing such measures: that they are unlikely to be enforceable because they conflict with an area in which federal law pre-empts most state action; that they are going to be subject to serious and lengthy litigation; and that they are going to cost the states and localities significant resources without achieving the benefits they seek.”

Contact Susan Akram, 617-358-3060, smakram@bu.edu

Nebraska town targets illegals

Dick Taffe — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:02:48 +0000

With about 57 percent of residents voting for it, the town of Fremont, Neb., has passed an ordinance aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration by banning hiring or renting property to illegals. The town now faces a long legal fight similar to that embroiling the state of Arizona after it recently enacted a law targeting undocumented immigrants. Law Professor Susan Akram, an authority on immigration law, says that in both cases voters and officials are pushing such measures to force the federal government to clamp down harder on illegal immigration in various ways.

“Unfortunately, it does not appear that public opinion has been influenced by the actual facts involved in passing such measures: that they are unlikely to be enforceable because they conflict with an area in which federal law pre-empts most state action; that they are going to be subject to serious and lengthy litigation; and that they are going to cost the states and localities significant resources without achieving the benefits they seek.”

Contact Susan Akaram, 617-358-3060, smakram@bu.edu

Obama immigration policy unresolved

Dick Taffe — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:00:52 +0000

Trying to build public support for candidate Obama’s pledge to overhaul U.S. immigration law, the Obama administration so far has maintained most Bush administration enforcement policies to keep the borders secure before the debate begins in Congress over changing the laws. The only formal change was to limit controversial raids at workplaces. School of Law Professor Susan Akram, a specialist in immigration law, can put it all into context.

Contact Susan Akram, 617-358-3060, smakram@bu.edu