Immigration
Immigration drives nation’s population growth
A recent immigration surge brought newcomers to every state this year, helping to offset a continued drop in U.S. births while contributing to a national upswing of about 3.3 million new residents, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Texas and Florida continued to dominate state population growth, together adding more than 1 million people […]
Youngkin wants to restrict funding for localities that don’t comply with immigration enforcement
Ahead of his annual budget presentation to lawmakers next week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Thursday announced a proposal to block state funding from any locality implementing a “sanctuary city” policy and “refusing to comply with federal law to deport” undocumented immigrants who have committed a crime. The term sanctuary city refers to localities that choose […]
Va. immigrants want candidate support: ‘We’re here to pave way for future generations’
By Samantha Granados / VCU Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — Presidential and congressional candidates have made immigrants and immigration a campaign focus. Immigrants represent 16% of Virginia workers, including entrepreneurs who make up 29% of “Main Street business owners,” according to a recent study by The Commonwealth Institute. Main Street businesses are “storefront shops […]
Kiggans and Smasal face off in highly competitive 2nd District
Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans faces Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal this year in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. Both Navy veterans have been involved in their local communities for years – Kiggans as a former state senator and Smasal as a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. While both women share some priorities, like […]
Where do Virginia congressional candidates in key districts stand on top policy issues?
As Election Day draws closer, The Mercury asked candidates in four key Virginia congressional races — Districts 2, 7, 9 and 10 — to share their views and policy plans on the issues that most impact the commonwealth, and reviewed their positions on their campaign websites, social media pages, and in other media. Read their […]
Convention delegates, Virginia voters reflect on immigration policy ahead of presidential election
Since America was founded nearly 250 years ago, debates about immigration policy have ebbed and flowed. And with crossings at the U.S.’s southern border higher in recent years, immigration policy is a key platform in this year’s elections and a top issue for some Virginia voters. Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump’s vision, […]
Study says undocumented immigrants paid almost $100 billion in taxes
A new study shows that undocumented immigrants paid nearly $100 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue in 2022 while many are shut out of the programs their taxes fund. The findings run counter to anti-immigrant rhetoric that undocumented immigrants are “destroying” social programs. In 40 states, undocumented immigrants paid higher tax rates than the […]
Trump leans in on immigration, crime during campaign stop in Richmond
Former President Donald Trump made a campaign stop in Richmond Saturday ahead of Super Tuesday, a day of primary voting that is expected to seal his bid to be the Republican nominee for president in November. “With your help, we will win big on Super Tuesday,” Trump told the crowd of a few thousand at […]
Congress is haggling over border security: Where does it stand?
WASHINGTON — As Congress negotiates the White House’s $106 billion supplemental aid request for Israel, Ukraine and U.S. border security, fights over immigration policy have tied up the request. The White House sent its proposal that includes nearly $14 billion in supplemental border security funding to Congress in late October, but it will likely look […]
The Torres family needs to stay together, protected and safe
By Eduardo Zelaya For a parent, time can move fast and slow simultaneously. A year ago, Frederick Torres and his wife were preparing to send their little boy to kindergarten. Now, he’s about to be a “big boy” first-grader. The baby boy they carried in their arms when they fled Nicaragua is now a […]
Afghan refugees who aided the U.S. stuck in legal limbo, two years after Kabul’s fall
WASHINGTON — Two years ago, Farzana Jamalzada and her husband made the difficult decision to separately flee Afghanistan, after U.S. troops withdrew from the country and the Taliban took over. It took days for the couple to be reunited at an airport in Qatar, where Jamalzada would show people a picture of her husband on […]
Talks over protecting Dreamers pick up in Congress, but agreement still elusive
WASHINGTON — In a last-minute push, U.S. senators are working on a bipartisan agreement to create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people who were brought to the United States as children. But the success of any major immigration deal appears unlikely, as a lame-duck session of Congress dwindles into its last days. Democrats are […]