How U.S. Immigration Laws Have Changed Since 9/11

Responding to the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, the United States government enacted new policies and laws that impact American citizenship and immigration.

The U.S. Patriot Act

While intended to protect against terrorism, this act has negatively affected immigrants. Signed into law on September 26, 2001, it grants law enforcement agencies increased rights to search telephone communications, emails, medical, financial, and other records. It also limits foreign intelligence gathering within the United States and gives law enforcement and immigration authorities more leeway to detain and deport immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts.

Deportations, fingerprinting, and questioning of certain non-citizens, particularly males in targeted age groups, are allowed through the act's special registrations. Congress reauthorized the U.S. Patriot Act in 2005.

If the U.S. Attorney General believes any alien may cause a terrorist act, that alien may be detained indefinitely.

Homeland Security Act of 2002

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 was enacted to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism, minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery from terrorist attacks that occur within the United States. The act created the Department of Homeland Security, replacing Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS).

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Funds available through this act enable the Department of Homeland Security to protect U.S. borders with new technology.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill of 2009

This bill could bring sweeping, positive change to immigration. Intended to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, the bill is supposed to—

• Enhance border security and achieve effective immigration enforcement
• Improve detention conditions
• Increase protection during enforcement activities—for instance, providing temporary visas and work authorization for detained workers when they have been targeted by their employers for asserting their rights if they agree to pursue labor claims against those employers
• Reduce long backlogs in family and employment immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing
• Promote family unity in a variety of ways, including reclassifying spouses and children of lawful permanent residents as immediate relatives
• Create the Prevent Unauthorized Migration Visa
• Create a legalization program for qualified undocumented immigrants, their spouses, and their children
• Allow qualified conditional non-immigrants and their spouses and children to apply for lawful permanent resident status (green card) and eventual citizenship
• Increase protections on foreign recruitment and revise existing temporary worker programs
• Encourage citizenship among immigrant communities through a series of inititiatives, including uniform administration of the naturalization exam and encouraging fluency of the English language

Immigration law firms can help

The need for immigration help from an experienced immigration law firm is greater than ever. While the need for tightened policies is understandable, innocent people may suffer. If you need assistance with immigration laws and how they apply to you and your specific situation, seek legal advice from an immigration service law firm.