How to Talk About:

IMMIGRATION
Table of Contents
3 What You Need to Know in 60 Seconds

4 Misperceptions v. Facts

9 Infographics

Appendix: Immigration Quizzes

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S VOICE How to Talk About: Immigration 2

What You Need to
Know in 60 Seconds
WHAT’S AT STAKE: PD
 rug Trafficking: Drug smugglers flood
Immigrants bring important skills, labor our border with dangerous substances;
and contributions to our economy and 90 percent of all fentanyl and heroin is
culture. But our current immigration trafficked through the Southern border.
system is broken. PH
 uman Trafficking: Thousands of
children are brought illegally to our
Bad Solution: Inaction borders, many by human traffickers and
The Southern Border is a humanitarian crisis: smugglers who wish to exploit them.
PO
 ver 76,000 unauthorized migrants PE
 conomy: Illegal immigration reduces
crossed in February 2019, an 11-year high. the wages of low-skilled U.S. workers by
PM
 ore migrants traveled with families 0.4 to 7.4 percent, and only about half
during the last six months, over 36,000 of illegal immigrants pay income taxes.
in February alone, making family units
now the majority of illegal entrants. A BETTER PATH FORWARD:
PN
 early one in three women reported being SECURE OUR BORDERS AND ENACT
sexually assaulted during the journey IMMIGRATION REFORM
through Central America and Mexico. Congress should immediately provide the
PM
 ore than 50,000 adults are now in funding needed for increased physical
Immigration and Customs Enforcement barriers, border patrol agents, technology,
(ICE) custody, the highest number ever. and immigration judges to process cases.
PA
 bout 2,200 newcomers arrive each
day, requiring processing, shelter and Congress should also develop a
medical care. comprehensive immigration plan that
PA
 shortage of immigration staff has created offers opportunity, rewards hard work and
a backlog of 1 million pending cases. merit, and honors the rule of law.

Illegal immigration has consequences: We should continue to welcome people

PP  ublic Safety: Over the last two years, here legally, while being fair to both
266,000 criminal aliens have been immigrants and U.S. citizens.
arrested on charges that include nearly But we must put our national interests,
100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, including our security and our economy, first.
and 4,000 killings.

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S VOICE How to Talk About: Immigration 3

Misperceptions v. Facts

MISPERCEPTION: Americans support illegal immigration.

FACT: Americans support LEGAL—not or important threat. The United States
ILLEGAL—immigration. A whopping welcomes approximately 1 million legal
84 percent of Americans view legal immigrants each year—more than any
immigration as a good thing. Six-in-ten other nation in the world—and imposes
Americans (65 percent) say immigrants no restrictions based on race or religion.
strengthen the country “because of The law requires that anyone entering
their hard work and talents.” However, the United States do so legally and an
77 percent of Americans view the overwhelming majority of Americans
large numbers of illegal immigrants agree. (Sources: Gallup, Pew Research,
entering our border as either a critical Pew Research)

MISPERCEPTION: The U.S. does not accept enough people from other countries.
FACT: There are more immigrants in the U.S. in 2017. They comprised 13.7 percent
U.S. (here legally and illegally) than any of the population, the highest share since
other country in the world. There were 1910. (Sources: Pew Research, New York
about 44.5 million immigrants living in the Times)

MISPERCEPTION: Most immigrants are here illegally.

FACT: There are about 44.5 million United States each year, and the majority
immigrants living in the U.S., and a do so legally. However, in 2018, each
big majority (three-quarters or 33.8 day, about 2,200 people tried to enter
million) are here lawfully. In 2015, among our border unlawfully. The United States
lawful immigrants, 19.8 million held U.S. welcomes immigrants, but they must
citizenship, 11.9 million were permanent enter lawfully. (Sources: Pew Research,
residents, and 2.1 million people were in U.S. Customs and Border Protection, The
the U.S. on temporary visas. More than Washington Post)
one million people immigrate to the
continued >>

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S VOICE How to Talk About: Immigration 4

MISPERCEPTION: Immigrants overstaying their visas is not an issue of concern.
FACT: Visa overstays are major driver of that in 2014, 42 percent of the total
illegal immigration. According to Pew illegal population (about 4.5 million
Research, the share of unauthorized people) were overstays. While we look to
immigrants who arrive legally but discourage illegal immigration, this is an
overstay their visas is rising, growing issue we should not ignore. (Sources: Pew
substantially between 2007 and 2016. Research, Center for Migration Studies)
The Center for Migration Studies found

MISPERCEPTION: U.S. immigration laws discriminate against specific races or religions.

FACT: Our current admissions policy and diversity. The government grants
imposes no restrictions on religion unlimited family visas to spouses,
or race. In order to prevent possible children, and parents of current citizens,
terrorists from entering the country, as well as 226,000 visas to other family
immigration from countries with a high members. We also grant 85,000 HB-1
risk of terrorism is subject to extra visas to skilled workers and 50,000
scrutiny. The current U.S. admissions “diversity” visas to countries with low
policy focuses on family ties, work, levels of immigration. (Source: CNN)

MISPERCEPTION: Illegal immigration is a net benefit for the economy.

FACT: Immigration (both legal and illegal) labor hurts the U.S. workers who compete
has a mixed effect on the economy. An with immigrants because for them,
influx of immigrants means more labor the result is lower wages. Economists
supply, which lowers the cost of labor. estimate that illegal immigration has
This is good for businesses and the caused the wages of low-skilled U.S.
overall economy, creating as much as workers to decrease by anywhere
$50 billion in benefits. As of 2016, 19.5 from 0.4 to 7.4 percent. (Sources: Pew
million workers were lawful immigrants Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
and an additional 8 million (5 percent of New York Times)
the labor force) were illegal immigrants.
However, this decrease in the price of
continued >>

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S VOICE How to Talk About: Immigration 5

MISPERCEPTION: We need illegal immigration because we don’t have enough low-
skilled workers to do the jobs here in America.
FACT: Immigration can help fill in low-skilled jobs, such as farming,
employment needs in the labor force fishing and forestry (where they comprise
such as shortages of workers with 26 percent of the total workforce),
specific skills or temporary workers. food and preparation (10 percent) or
However, illegal immigration and even construction jobs (15 percent). Sometimes
legal immigration can have a negative companies abuse our temporary-visa
impact on low-skilled workers in the programs and employ illegal immigrants
U.S. Immigration has reduced the wages to save money. This puts U.S. workers at a
and employment rates of groups such disadvantage. (Sources: Federal Reserve,
as young people and black men. Illegal National Bureau of Economic Research,
immigrants are most likely to be working Pew Research)

MISPERCEPTION: Illegal immigration is good because illegal immigrants pay taxes.

FACT: Only about half of illegal Security number or steal someone else’s
immigrants pay taxes, totaling about Social Security number for employment
$23.6 billion in revenues annually. Many verification. We should not encourage the
receive cash payments and have little willful defrauding of government. It is also
incentive to report that income for tax unfair to tax-paying citizens and legal
purposes. Of those unauthorized workers non-citizens to turn a blind eye to those
who work and pay taxes, they do so who skip paying taxes, which fund the
by defrauding their employers and the public goods and services that everyone
government. They may use a fake Social enjoys. (Source: Vox)

MISPERCEPTION: Illegal immigrants do not use public assistance.

FACT: Illegal immigrants are ineligible for are several explanations: Illegal-immigrant
federal entitlement and welfare programs households may access welfare benefits
aside from emergency medical care. Yet, on behalf of their U.S.-born children or
some are still able to gain access to these may receive benefits for legal immigrants
public benefits. How can this be? There continued >>

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S VOICE How to Talk About: Immigration 6

in the household who qualify. In addition, for illegal immigrants through either
some states provide state-funded welfare Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act,
programs to illegal immigrants. As a taxpayers otherwise provided tens of
separate issue, although the law prohibits billions of dollars in healthcare each year
federal dollars from funding health care for illegal immigrants. (Source: Forbes)

MISPERCEPTION: Illegal immigrants don’t commit many crimes.

FACT: Entering the United States violations, assault, homicide, robbery,
unlawfully is a crime. However, many sex offense, kidnapping, or immigration
illegal immigrants commit other offense. Between 2011-2016, there were
(dangerous) crimes and pose public 730,000 non-U.S. citizens in federal,
safety risks after entering unlawfully. state, and local prisons. (Sources: U.S.
Over a quarter-million illegal immigrants Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
were incarcerated in the United States The Hill)
from 2017-2018 for crimes such as drug

MISPERCEPTION: Illegal immigrants are deported if they commit a crime.

FACT: The deportation process is long Sanctuary Cities have become enablers
and does not guarantee criminals will for repeated offenders. According to a
be removed. It may take months for a 2014 report from U.S. Immigration and
deportation proceeding—from the notice Customs Enforcement, over an eight-
to appear before immigration authorities month period there were 8,145 illegal
to a final ruling from an immigration judge immigrants in Sanctuary Cities for whom
to an actual removal from the country. detainers were declined, meaning they
Meanwhile, criminals continue to offend. were released by local law enforcement
Some 22 percent of federal inmates were after being apprehended for committing
non-U.S. citizens and nearly 20,000 of a crime. Of those, about 23 percent later
them were re-incarcerated in federal, faced criminal arrests. (Sources: AP
state, or local prisons. The average illegal News, Department of Homeland Security
immigrant in federal, state, or local prison & Department of Justice, The Hill, U.S.
has been arrested an average of 8.3 times. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
continued >>

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S VOICE How to Talk About: Immigration 7

MISPERCEPTION: Human trafficking is not a major issue.
FACT: According to the U.S. Department women and children. Nearly one third
of State, the U.S. is a destination country of women surveyed reported that they
for thousands of trafficked men, women, had been sexually abused on the journey
and children from other parts of the through Mexico to our Southern Border.
world. These victims are brought here, Thousands of children are brought
many lured from their home under false illegally to our borders, many by human
pretenses of opportunity, and trafficked traffickers and smugglers who wish to
for the purposes of sexual and labor exploit them. (Source: Doctors Without
exploitation. The Southern border Borders)
is a particularly dangerous zone for

MISPERCEPTION: Border walls do not work.

FACT: Border walls built with the right PT
 ucson, AZ built in 2000 and
mix of personnel and technology lead apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing
to massive declines in illegal crossings – the border fell 90 percent over 15 years.
usually by 90 percent or more. Examples: (Source: KGUN)
PY
 uma built in 2005 and its
PS
 an Diego built a wall in 1992 and
apprehensions dropped 95 percent over
apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing
9 years. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
the border have dropped 95 percent
over the past 23 years. (Source: NPR)
PE
 l Paso, TX built a wall in 1993 and
apprehensions of illegal aliens crossing
the border dropped 72 percent in one
year and 95 percent over the next 22
years. (Source: ABC News)

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S VOICE How to Talk About: Immigration 8

Infographics

Download these graphics to include with ANY Twitter, Facebook or Instagram posts.

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S VOICE How to Talk About: Immigration 9

Quiz #1: Facts About
Immigration to the U.S.
1 What percent of the 2 Since 1970, immigrants’ 3 How many people
current population was share of the U.S. immigrate to the U.S.
born outside the United population has nearly annually?
States? tripled. A. A pproximately 1,000
A. 2 .1% people
A. T
 rue
B. 4
 .7% B. 1 0,000
B. F
 alse
C. 9
 .6% C. 1 00,000
D. 1 3.7% D. O ver 1,000,000

4 What percent of the 5 What percent of U.S. 6 On average, how many

projected U.S. population public school children are individuals attempt to
growth through 2065 is immigrants or the children illegally immigrate to the
expected to come from of immigrants? U.S. each day?
immigrants and their A. 6% A. 2
0
descendants? B. 1 0% B. 2
 70
A. 8
 8% C. 1 6% C. 2
 ,700
D. 2 5% D. N
 one of the above
B. 6
 5%
C. 4
 0%
D. 2
 5%

continue to answers >>

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 1

Quiz #1 Answers

Q1 ANSWER: D. Q2 ANSWER: B. Q3 ANSWER: D.

13.7%. There are more True: Immigrants’ share of Over 1,000,000. According
immigrants, including those the total population has to the Office of Immigration
here legally and not legally, fluctuated over time. In 1970, Statistics, more than one
in the U.S. than any country immigrants accounted for million people immigrate to
in the world. In 2017, there just 4.7% of the population. the United States each year.
were about 44.5 million Today they are 13.7% of the Of the 1,127,167 individuals
immigrants, or 13.7% of the population. Immigrants and who arrived in the United
population, in the U.S. This is their U.S.-born children make States in FY 2017 as lawful
the highest share since 1910. up 27% of the U.S. population permanent residents (LPRs),
Sources: Pew Research and (86.4 million people). 748,746 (66%) came through
The New York Times. Sources: Migration Policy family ties; 137,855 (12%) were
Institute, Pew Research issued employment-based
green cards; 146,003 (13%)
were refugees; and 51,592
(5%) were issued diversity
visas. Sources: CNN, Office of
Immigration Statistics

Q4 ANSWER: A. Q5 ANSWER: D. Q6 ANSWER: C.

88%. In addition to new About 25% of U.S. public An average of more than
immigrants, U.S. births to school children are first- 2,700 individuals attempted
immigrant parents will be generation immigrants or to illegally cross the border
a big factor. In 2016, 7.4% the children of immigrants each day in February. That’s
of immigrant women gave (second-generation an average of roughly 76,000
birth versus 5.9% of U.S.- immigrants). There was a 51% individuals per month.
born women. Source: Pew increase in the number of Source: The New York Times
Research first- and second-generation
immigrants in the U.S. public
school system between 1995
and 2014. Source: U.S. News &
World Report

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 2

QUIZ #2: U.S. Immigration
Policy and Family Ties
1Which of the following is our current 2 What was the total number of legal
policy on visas for admission to the U.S.? immigrants admitted into the U.S. in FY
A. T
 he focus is on family ties, work, and 2017 as a result of chain migration?
diversity. The government issues unlimited A. 7
 50
family visas to spouses, children, and B. 7,500
parents of current citizens, as well as C. 75,000
226,000 visas to other family members. D. 750,000
We also grant 85,000 HB-1 visas to skilled
workers and 50,000 “diversity” visas to
countries with low levels of immigration.
B. T
 he focus is on family ties, work, and merit.
The government issues unlimited family
visas to spouses and children and 150,000
visas for parents of current citizens. We
also have a merit-based system that grants
85,000 HB-1 visas to skilled workers, but
there is no diversity program.

3 Chain migration can be used by 4 What percent of Americans think legal

cousins, aunts, and uncles, not just immigration levels should decrease in the
parents and children. future?
A. True A. 4
 9%
B. F
 alse B. 34%
C. 27%
D. 15%

continued >>

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 3

Quiz #2 Answers

Q1 ANSWER: A. Q2 ANSWER: D.
Our current admissions policy is focused 748,746 (66%) of the 1,127,167 immigrants
on family ties, work, and diversity. Answer to the U.S. in FY 2017 were admitted on the
choice 2 is the policy proposed by the Trump basis of family ties, not on skills. This means a
Administration, which would focus purely on family member who is a U.S. citizen or lawful
nuclear families and skilled workers. Sources: permanent resident sponsored them. This is
NPR, White House Fact Sheet often referred to as chain migration. Sources:
Office of Immigration Statistics, Congressional
Research Service

Q3 ANSWER: A. Q4 ANSWER: A.
True. Technically an immigrant who becomes a 49% of Americans think legal immigration
citizen can get green cards for their spouses, should decrease, 34% think it should stay
parents, and/or children. But over time, the at the same levels, and 15% think it should
parents can bring in their other children, who increase. Source: Pew Research
can bring in their spouses, who also can bring
in their parents, etc. Sources: Department of
Homeland Security, The New York Times

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 4

QUIZ #3: Immigration
and Economic Impact
1How many immigrants 2 Legal immigrants are 3 U.S. immigrants are
were working in the U.S. in considered a “public nearly 3 times as likely
2017? charge” (i.e. dependent on to lack health insurance
A. 4
 0 million the government) if they versus U.S. citizens.
B. 3
 7 million participate in which of A. T
 rue
C. 3
 0 million the following government B. F
 alse
D. 2
 7 million programs?
A. M edicaid
B. C HIP
C. F ood Stamps / WIC /
National School Lunch
D. H ousing Benefits
E. C
 hild care services
F. N
 one of the above.

4 What portion of illegal 5 Over the past 6 Is immigration an

immigrants pay income two decades, illegal economic benefit or loss to
taxes? immigration has increased the country?
A. A
 lmost all the size of the low-skilled A. A
 benefit—it increases
B. A
 bout three-quarters workforce significantly. labor supply and reduces
C. A
 bout half What effect has this had on the cost of many goods.
low-skilled U.S. workers? Immigrants earn money,
A. N
 othing. Their earnings pay taxes, and spend their
increased at the same rate earnings back into the
as other workers in the economy.
economy. B. A
 loss—it lowers wages
B. T
 heir earnings increased by increasing competition
faster than average for jobs. Immigrants use
earnings because there government services and
were more of them. increase the burden on
C. T
 heir earnings decreased American taxpayers.
because more workers C. B
 oth of the above are true.
competed for these jobs.
continue to answers >>

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 5

Quiz #3 Answers

Q1 ANSWER: D. Q2 ANSWER: F. Q3 ANSWER: A.

27 million immigrants (17% of None. Since 1882, in an effort True. 20% of immigrants lack
the total civilian labor force) to limit the burden to our social health insurance versus 7%
were working in the U.S. in welfare system, the government of U.S.-born citizens. From
2017. As of 2016, 19.5 million has denied legal immigration 2013 to 2016, the time the
were lawful immigrants and to anyone who is likely to Affordable Care Act was
an additional 8 million (5% of become a “public charge” and implemented, the immigrant
the labor force) were illegal dependent on the government. uninsured rate fell from 32%
immigrants. (This breakdown Currently, immigrants are only to 20%, largely due to the
is not yet available for 2017.) considered a public charge if expansion of Medicaid. Source:
Sources: Bureau of Labor they receive cash benefits from Migration Policy Institute
Statistics, Pew Research the government (for example,
through the Temporary Aid for
Needy Families program). The
Administration has advocated Q6 ANSWER: C.
for changing the rules so that Immigration (both legal and
non-cash welfare services, illegal) lowers the cost of labor,
like those listed above, would which is good for businesses
also be considered. Sources: and the overall economy,
Brookings Institution, The New creating as much as $50
York Times billion in benefits. But this is
bad for laborers who have to
compete with immigrants for
jobs. Immigrants pay taxes, but
Q4 ANSWER: C. Q5 ANSWER: C. because their wages are lower
About half of illegal As labor supply increases, than average and because they
immigrants pay income taxes, the price of labor (wages) consume government services
totaling about $23.6 billion decreases. Labor economists at a higher rate than native-
in revenues annually. Source: estimate that illegal born Americans, they create
Vox immigration has caused a “fiscal hole” estimated to be
the wages of low-skilled about $50 billion annually. This
U.S. workers to decrease by offsets the economic benefits
anywhere from 0.4 to 7.4%. of immigration, so the net effect
Source: The New York Times is about neutral. Although
various Americans are affected
differently, low-skilled workers
are disproportionately harmed.
Source: Politico

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 6

QUIZ #4: Illegal
Immigrants and Crime
1 How many illegal 2 Are all illegal 3 What percent of illegal
immigrants were immigrants with prior immigrants, who are
incarcerated for criminal criminal convictions, apprehended in Sanctuary
offenses from 2017-2018? who are apprehended by Cities then released,
A. F
 ewer than 10,000 Immigration and Customs get arrested for criminal
B. B
 etween 100,000 and Enforcement (ICE), activity later?
200,000 automatically deported A. Less than 5%
C. O
 ver 250,000 from the United States? B. B
 etween 10 and 20%
A. Y
 es C. B
 etween 20 and 30%
B. No

4 How many of those 5 How many members of 6 How many foreign

approved for Deferred the violent gang MS-13 are nationals from countries
Action for Childhood in the United States? that support terrorism
Arrival (DACA) had A. A
 bout 500, concentrated were apprehended trying
one or more arrests or in just a couple of states. to cross the Southern
apprehensions prior B. A
 bout 5,000, in about 25 border in 2015?
to their most recent different states. A. 2
5
approval? C. A
 bout 10,000, in about 40 B. 100
A. F
 ewer than 5,000 different states. C. 1,000
B. B
 etween 5,000 and 10,000 D. 4,000
C. B
 etween 10,000 and 50,000
D. M
 ore than 50,000

7 What percentage of
heroin consumed in the
U.S. enters the U.S. through
the U.S.-Mexican border?
A. 9%
B. 29%
C. 59%
D. 90% continue to answers >>

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 7

Quiz #4 Answers

Q1 ANSWER: C. Q2 ANSWER: B.
Over a quarter-million illegal No. It may take months for a deportation proceeding—from
immigrants (266,000) were the notice to appear before immigration authorities to a final
incarcerated in the United ruling from an immigration judge to an actual removal from
States from 2017-2018 the country. In certain cases—such as being 100 miles or closer
for crimes such as drug to the border or in the country for less than two weeks—there
violation, assault, homicide, can be expedited removals, which do not require a hearing
robbery, sex offense, before an immigration judge. The Administration is looking
kidnapping, or immigration into expanding these rules to anywhere in the U.S. and in the
offense, according to a U.S. country for less than two years. Under broad asylum rules,
Immigration and Customs asylum can be claimed even for non-political fear of crime, e.g.
Enforcement report. The domestic abuse. Asylum proceedings can take months. Source:
average illegal immigrant in The Associated Press, USCIS
federal, state, or local prison
has been arrested an average
of 8.3 times, meaning that
Q3 ANSWER: C.
chronically criminal aliens are There are over 500 Sanctuary Cities in the U.S. According to a
repeatedly jailed and released, 2014 report from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
then commit more crimes. there were 8,145 people in Sanctuary Cities for whom detainers
Sources: U.S. Immigration and were declined, meaning they were released. Of those, 1,867, or
Customs Enforcement, The Hill about 23%, later faced criminal arrests. Source: USCIS

Q4 ANSWER: D. Q5 ANSWER: C. Q6 ANSWER: D.

According to U.S. Citizenship There are about 10,000 MS- In 2015, federal officials
and Immigration Services, 13 gang members scattered apprehended 3,977 people
53,792 DACA requestors were throughout 40 states in from the 14 countries
approved with a prior arrest. the U.S. One goal of our classified as “state sponsors
Source: U.S. Citizenship and immigration policy is to keep of terrorism” or “countries of
Immigration Services violent criminals out of our interest.” Between 2006 and
country. Source: Department 2015, more than 67,000 people
of Justice from those nations were
apprehended when attempting
Q7 ANSWER: D. to enter, or live illegally, in the
USA. Sources: Department of
90% of the heroin consumed in the U.S. comes from the U.S.-
Homeland Security, CNN
Mexican border. According to the National Institute on Drug
Abuse, about 15,958 Americans die each week from heroin
overdoses, or 306 each week. Sources: Time Magazine, CBS News

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 8

QUIZ #5: Immigration:
Women and Children

1 If someone wants to 2 Which of the following 3 For 6 weeks during the

enter the country illegally, actions have been summer of 2018, under a
are they better off coming taken by the current “zero tolerance” policy,
with or without a child? Administration? children were detained
A. W
 ith a child A. A
 n order to quickly bring separately from their
B. W
 ithout a child an end to “catch and parents at the border.
release” at the U.S. border Children and parents
B. A
 n order to end the separated at the border
separation of children and were initially detained in
their parents, who enter holding cells separated
the country together by chain-link dividers.
illegally, at the border How long were children
C. A
 proposal to end the 20- detained in these initial
day rule holding cells?
D. N
 one of the above
E. A
 ll of the above A. 2
 0 days
B. B
 etween 1 and 20 days
C. B
 etween 7 and 10 days
D. L
 ess than 3 days

4 As of November 2018, 147 migrant 5 About how many of the women who
children who entered the country illegally travelling through Mexico with the
remain separated from their parents intention of crossing the border are
in the custody of HHS. Which of the sexually assaulted along the way?
following reasons explain why these
A. L
 ess than 10%
children are apart from their families?
B. A
 bout 5%
A. P
 arent is outside the U.S. C. A
 bout one in ten
B. P
 arent is in government custody D. A
 bout one in three
C. P
 arent may pose a threat to child (red flag)
D. N
 one of the above
E. A
 ll of the above
continue to answers >>

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 9

Quiz #5 Answers

Q1 ANSWER: A. Q2 ANSWER: E.
For decades, the U.S. has been In April 2018, the President signed a memo directing the
doing “catch and release,” Administration to take steps to quickly end “catch and release.”
which means we allow anyone In response, the Administration began a “zero tolerance” policy
with an accompanying minor starting in early May. In December, the Administration announced
to declare they are seeking that those who arrive at the border with the intention to enter the
country illegally and claim asylum will no longer be released into
asylum. Then, they are released
the U.S. In June, the Administration signed an executive order to
on their own recognizance into
end the separation of children and their parents at the border. In
the U.S., since minors cannot
September, the Administration proposed new rules to end the 20-
be detained for longer than 20 day rule to be able to detain families together while they await
days, according to a 1997 court immigration proceedings. The proposal recently underwent a 60-
decree, reinforced in a June day period of public comment (ending 11/06/18). The government
2016 court ruling against the is now examining the comments before it can be finalized. In the
Obama Administration. Many interim, the Administration is required to do “catch and release.”
who are released do not turn Sources: The New York Times, Business Insider, The Washington
up for their later asylum court Post, Department of Homeland Security
dates. Having a minor with you
functions as a “get into the U.S. Q3 ANSWER: D.
free” pass. This encourages
These holding cells are in Customs and Border Protection
both child trafficking and
facilities. They were used during the summer of 2018 for
parents bringing their young
separated children, the same way they were used in 2014 during
children on a very dangerous
a wave of unaccompanied children arriving at the border. Within
journey.. Sources: Dept. of
3 days, children were moved to other facilities managed by the
Homeland Security, U.S. Court
Office of Refugee Resettlement, a division of the Department
of Appeals.
of Health and Human Services. These facilities are different and
more comfortable than CBP facilities; they have beds, rooms,
classes, and games. Source: NPR

Q4 ANSWER: E. Q5 ANSWER: D.
All of the above. According to Roll Call, as of About one-third. It is estimated that about
November 2018, 147 children are still separated one-third of women traveling through Mexico
because their parents are outside the U.S., with the intention of crossing the border
waived rights to be reunited with their child, illegally are sexually assaulted along the way.
are in jail on separate criminal charges, or may Source: Doctors Without Borders
pose a danger to the child. It has long been U.S.
policy to separate families under circumstances
like these. Sources: Roll Call, The Hill

INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S FORUM Appendix: Immigration Quizzes 10