• After Federal Order, Iowa DOT Reverses Immigrant License Decision
• Source: Des Moines Register   |   Iowa   |   January 24, 2013
• The agency had angered immigration activists late last month by determining that state law prohibited it from issuing licenses to people granted “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Status” by President Barack Obama’s administration.

• This is the Year for Immigrant Driver's Licenses, Say California Advocates
• Source: Sacramento Bee   |   California   |   January 23, 2013
• For fourteen years, proponents have pushed bills unsuccessfully to grant driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. But a changing political climate gives this year's measure a fighting chance to become state law, supporters say.

• New Legislatures Revisit In-State Tuition for Immigrants
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   January 22, 2013
• While President Barack Obama pushes an overhaul of the country’s federal immigration laws, states are likely to decide whether undocumented immigrants should get in-state tuition.
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• Feds: Undocumented Immigrants' Eligible for Driver's Licenses
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   January 21, 2013
• The Department of Homeland Security updated guidelines for Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that are intended to end months of debate about whether undocumented immigrants who receive federal work permits through the program are eligible for state-issued driver’s licenses.

• Arizona Gov. Brewer Softens Tone on Illegal Immigration
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   January 21, 2013
• Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most ardent hard-liners on illegal immigration, is noticeably softening her tone on the issue.

• Young Illegal Immigrants Now Eligible for Driver's Licenses in Oregon
• Source: Oregon Statesman Journal   |   Oregon   |   January 18, 2013
• Immigrants who came to the United States illegally as children may obtain Oregon driver’s licenses if they participate in a federal program approved by President Barack Obama.

• North Carolina AG Urges DMV to Approve Illegal Immigrants' Driver's Licenses
• Source: Raleigh News & Observer   |   North Carolina   |   January 18, 2013
• Young illegal immigrants participating in the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program should be eligible for driving privileges in North Carolina, said the state Attorney General.

• Immigration Reform Pushed to Back Burner by Utah's New AG
• Source: Salt Lake Tribune   |   Utah   |   January 18, 2013
• New Attorney General John Swallow’s Office has wasted no time in pushing to the back burner one of his predecessor’s priority projects: coming up with an agreement that would streamline the process for legal workers to come to Utah from the Mexican state of Nuevo León.

• State Immigration Compacts Signal Bipartisan Principles for Reform
• BY: J.B. Wogan   |   Nation   |   January 17, 2013
• Colorado is the latest state to publish guiding principles for federal immigration reform.

• $50.7B Sandy Aid Package Approved by House
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   January 16, 2013
• After 78 days, a bitter lobbying blitz by Northeastern lawmakers and a tongue-lashing from Gov. Chris Christie, the U.S. House approved $50.7 billion in emergency aid to rebuild in the aftermath of the worst storm to ever sweep through New Jersey.

• Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa Urges Immigration Overhaul in D.C.
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Nation   |   January 15, 2013
• Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa delivered a high-profile speech in Washington, D.C., in support of overhauling immigration laws but sidestepping questions about his future once his mayoral term ends.

• Immigration Makes Up Most of Federal Law Enforcement Spending
• BY: Caroline Cournoyer   |   Nation   |   January 8, 2013
• The United States spent nearly $18 billion on immigration enforcement in fiscal 2012, about 24 percent more than it spent collectively on the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Secret Service and all other criminal law enforcement agencies, according to a report.
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• Obama Signs Sandy Bill to Pay Flood Insurance Claims
• Source: The Hill   |   Nation   |   January 7, 2013
• The $9.7 billion bill will provide a short-term increase in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s borrowing authority for the flood insurance program. The NFIP was expected to run out of money by Monday without the authorization, FEMA warned.

• Gun Control, Fiscal Cliff Debates Pushing Immigration Reform Out of Spotlight
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Nation   |   January 7, 2013
• Immigration reform has a long history of being sidetracked by other issues.

• Sandy Aid Vote Revived After Outrage from Governors, Lawmakers
• Source: Albany Times-Union   |   Nation   |   January 3, 2013
• The outcry over the cancellation of a vote on a $60.4 billion federal aid package for Superstorm Sandy victims from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and top Republican and Democratic congressional leaders forced House Majority Leader John Boehner to offer quick action for Friday on a portion of the badly needed funding.
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