Department of Homeland Security
Legal Service Providers Sue to Remove Barriers to Access to Counsel in Immigration Detention
Legal service organizations have sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for preventing people jailed at four immigration detention centers from having meaningful access to their lawyers. The barriers to attorney access at these facilities illustrate ICE’s failure to protect the fundamental rights of detained immigrants nationwide. At any… Read More
Unpacking the Migrant Shooting in Texas
Late last week, detention center warden Michael Sheppard and his twin brother Mark Sheppard were arrested after allegedly shooting into a group of 13 migrants, killing one and seriously injuring another. This incident is yet another example of a tragic outcome for migrants at the border. It was followed the… Read More
Want to Hire an Immigrant or Refugee? Chambers of Commerce Aim to Make That Easier
With job openings at nearly twice as high as the pre-pandemic norm, employers across the country are continuing to struggle to fill open positions and meet workforce needs. But they’re finding a natural ally in an unusual place: chambers of commerce. Chambers are refocusing the conversation around immigration by… Read More
Biden Administration’s New Public Charge Rule Should End Fear of Trump Wealth Test
Three years ago, the Trump administration sent fear throughout immigrant communities across the nation with its Public Charge rule, which functioned as a wealth test for green card applicants. This fear had been amplified by a leaked draft of the rule in 2018, which would have punished intending… Read More
Fact Check: Migrants Aren’t the Ones Smuggling Fentanyl Into the United States
There is no doubt that fentanyl is a major problem inside the United States. Over the last decade, rising availability of fentanyl has caused a spike in overdose deaths across the nation. In 2021, almost 90% of opioid overdose deaths were linked to fentanyl. The criminal networks that produce… Read More
What Does Legal Representation Look Like in Immigration Courts Across the Country?
Written by Emily Creighton of the American Immigration Council and Jennifer Whitlock of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. It might seem like a straightforward statistic: 44% of individuals who appear in deportation proceedings have an immigration attorney. But it’s not so simple. Instead, it is a number that must factor… Read More
House GOP’s Immigration Framework Recreates Trump’s Border Wish List
As midterm election season heats up, House Republicans on the “American Security Task Force” have produced a new framework for what they say is a plan to “secure the border.” Despite the claim of new ideas to tackle the situation at the border, the framework is almost identical to… Read More
Who Enforces Immigration Policy Anyway?
The lack of a major overhaul in the United States’ immigration system for roughly thirty years has created an ecosystem where states have attempted to insert their authority over immigration, especially when it comes to enforcement. Texas has made headlines with its tougher approach and outsized role in shaping… Read More
Supreme Court Refuses to Restore Biden’s Immigration Enforcement Priorities for Now
In a blow to the Department of Homeland Security’s attempts to set priorities for immigration enforcement, late last week the Supreme Court of the United States decided 5-4 to deny a request from the Department of Justice to restore the priorities while litigation continues. This decision comes after a… Read More
Updated ICE Directive Fails to Deliver Meaningful Protections for Immigrant Families
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently announced a new directive aimed at preserving family unity and the parental rights of noncitizens. The directive, “Interests of Noncitizen Parents and Legal Guardians of Minor Children or Incapacitated Adults,” went into effect on July 14. Though media outlets have lauded the… Read More
All gifts are matched dollar for dollar
No one should face the immigration system alone