Law Commons^™

When Immigration Borders Move, Huyen T. Pham

Huyen T. Pham

With our recent immigration enforcement efforts, we have created a new paradigm of moving borders: laws enacted at all levels of government that require proof of legal immigration status in order to obtain essential benefits like a driver’s license, a job, and rental housing. Without proof of legal status, the applicant is denied an important benefit; after cumulative denials, the applicant can be effectively denied the ability to live in the United States. What are the implications of moving border laws? Now, more than ever, proof of legal immigration status has become centrally important, not just to gain admission at …