Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

FAIR continues TV ads against immigration reform

As the Senate launches an immigration debate that could last the rest of the month, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) drops at least $36,000 in its latest round of advertising against the bill, while a major labor union begins advertising in favor of passage.

FAIR drops multi-state TV buy against Senate immigration bill

Last update: June 4, 6:40 p.m.

NRSC tries to paint GOP as Party of Yes in new fundraising video

Criticized as the party of "no" by Democrats and even members of their own party, GOP Senate Republicans are trying to convince donors in a video posted online Thursday that theirs is in fact the party of "yes."

Group opposed to immigration bill advertising in 18 states

As the Senate prepares to take up sweeping and controversial immigration reform legislation next month, NumbersUSA is hitting the airwaves to oppose the legislation in 18 states.

Surge of immigration lobbyists fueled by push for high-skilled foreign workers

As the immigration reform bill has been negotiated in the Senate, the number of new lobbying registrations filed this year disclosing an interest in the issue has surpassed the number from all of 2012. Some organizations are hiring lobbyists for the first time while others have bolstered their Washington presence to influence the bill.

Immigration: Give me your poor, your tired . . . your lobbyists?

Long before the last election put new political momentum behind the stalled efforts to enact a comprehensive update of the nation's immigration laws, Washington's influence industry was teed up to make it a titanic battle, an analysis of lobbying disclosures by the Sunlight Foundation shows.

Anti-immigration lobby runs first ad targeting Lindsey Graham

The first issue ad of the immigration reform battle hit the airwaves in South Carolina last week, targeting Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who is up for reelection in 2014. NumbersUSA, one of the leading groups opposing comprehensive immigration reform paid for the ads, reports filed with the Federal Communication Commission show. The group, headed by long time advocate Roy Beck, has been around since the late '90s and argues that increased immigration will deplete the country’s resources, leading to sprawl, congestion and restrictions on individual liberties.

Key players in immigration debate have support of special interests

Immigration lobby begins to flex muscle

This week, while much of Washington's attention is focused on the debates over gun control and Chuck Hagel's nomination as defense secretary, the pieces are beginning to move into place for another legislative battle that could make the other two look like a lobbying Little League (sorry, NRA).

Immigration shift: As Obama, Romney court Hispanics, are state lawmakers doing the same?

Immigration is in the headlines this week, with President Barack Obama and his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, aggressively courting the Hispanic vote in back-to-back addresses to a conference of Latino politicians and the Supreme Court expected to rule next week on a controversial Arizona law aimed at illegal immigrants.

Sunlight Live to cover Rick Perry's debate debut in California

With a new face officially in the mix, eight Republican candidates will take the stage again next week to spar about the economy, jobs, budget deficit and more at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

Civil rights groups want details on immigrant fingerprint program

As Arizona turns up the heat on illegal immigrants, civil rights groups are demanding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) release details about a rapidly expanding federal program that helps local police identify illegal immigrants for potential deportation. The Center for Constitutional Rights and two other groups filed a lawsuit on April 27 attempting to force ICE to turn over data about its “Secure Communities” program after failing to get the information through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Illegal immigrant stats available, but yet to appear on Data.gov

According to Department of Homeland Security statistics, there were an estimated 460,000 unauthorized immigrants in Arizona in January 2009. That statistic, making Arizona the state with the seventh largest illegal immigrant population, was often cited last week, as Gov. Jan Brewer signed the nation’s toughest law on illegal immigration.

Description of Citizenship Database Available – If You’re Willing to Pay Nearly $112,000

After taking nearly four years to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request, the U.S. immigration agency is demanding $111,930 for records that describe what is in a government database of claims for U.S. citizenship – not the actual database itself.