Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

May 8, 2009   CLINIC compiles a free Immigration News Bulletin of immigration-related news articles of interest to our network on a regular basis. Every Friday, CLINIC will post the three articles most popular with its readers.  Here are this week’s top stories.

• In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that only people who knowingly steal someone’s Social Security number can be convicted of aggravated identity theft. Under the Bush administration, many undocumented workers were arrested on aggravated identity theft charges and deported after unwittingly using someone’s Social Security number. (David Savage, “Supreme Court limits identity theft law,” Los Angeles Times, 5/5/09)

• The American Immigration Lawyers Association has asked the Justice Department to throw out some of the guilty pleas of the nearly 300 undocumented workers arrested in last year’s raid on the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Iowa. AILA’s request follows Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling that a person must knowingly steal another person’s Social Security number to be convicted of aggravated identity theft. (Julia Preston, “Dismissal of Guilty Plea is Sought for Immigrants,” New York Times, 5/5/09)

• President Obama’s recent efforts to increase security along the U.S.-Mexico border may be a precursor to immigration reform. The Associated Press notes that heightened border security may reduce at least some opposition to a reform bill or legalization. (Suzanne Gamboa, “Analysis: Border security emphasized for a reason ,” Associated Press, 5/7/09)

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