Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted through the AFP Internacional wire service in numerous articles around the world, many in Spanish, about the possibility of U.S. immigration reform in the coming year. Mr. Yale-Loehr sent the following quote to the AFP:

“Immigration reform is theoretically possible. Indeed, the White House offered a four-point plan for immigration reform last January. However, that plan had too many poison pills, such as increased border enforcement and a reduction in family immigration, for the Democrats to accept. I doubt the two sides will be able to agree on immigration reform.”

Here is a link to one the articles: ¿Una reforma migratoria saldrá del nuevo Congreso de EEUU? Poco probable

He said the administration may struggle to justify the national security concerns underpinning the order, as the flow of migrants across the southern border has fallen in recent years. “We also have an obligation under international law not to return people to a country where they fear persecution,” he noted.

The article noted that a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case held that immigrants, regardless of immigration status, are allowed free elementary and secondary education. “But immigrant children can’t access that right if they are detained waiting for their asylum hearings, except in a few family detention centers,” Mr. Yale-Loehr noted.

“Immigration is so controversial right now that it will be almost impossible to get any major immigration reform bill through Congress, no matter which party is in power. Even if the Democrats win control of both the House and Senate and manage to pass an immigration reform bill, President Trump would veto the measure. We won’t see immigration reform until 2021 at the earliest.”