U.S.-Mexico Border
The State of Texas is Arresting and Detaining Border Crossers for Trespassing
The state of Texas has started a concentrated effort to arrest immigrants who have recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. The immigrants are charged with criminal state offenses of trespassing and criminal mischief. The arrests are the latest in a series of attempts by Texas officials to increase the consequences of… Read More
Biden Will Admit Asylum Seekers Ordered Deported Under Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols
Asylum seekers who were ordered deported for missing their U.S. court hearings under the Trump administration’s so-called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)—informally known as the “Remain in Mexico” program—will be allowed to restart their proceedings in the United States. Thousands of others whose cases were terminated because of procedural… Read More
Congress Proposes Legislation to Expedite and Expand Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Allies
As military troops withdraw from Afghanistan, Afghan nationals that supported the operations of the U.S. government—as translators and other vital roles—are in danger of violent retribution from Taliban forces. The Department of State offers resettlement to eligible Afghans through the special immigrant visa program, but slow processing and significant backlogs… Read More
Biden Will Use Border Wall Funding for Safety and Environmental Protections
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on June 11 its plan for funds the Trump administration had planned to use to construct a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Unspent funds will address safety and environmental issues, while funds diverted from the Department of Defense will be returned for… Read More
DACA Has Allowed Me to Pursue Education, But We Need A Permanent Solution Now
My name is Hali Calzadillas-Andujo and I’m originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. I first came to the United States with my mother and siblings when I was eight years old. I didn’t even know what it meant, really, except that I was rejoining my father. I came to Santa Fe, New… Read More
DHS Issues New Guidance for Government Attorneys in Immigration Court Proceedings
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) issued a new memorandum on May 27 that provides guidance on how its attorneys can and should exercise prosecutorial discretion. In the memo, which was made public on Friday, the lead government attorney for the Department… Read More
As US Birth Rate Declines, Programs Like Social Security Need Immigration to Survive
Birth rates are falling in the United States at the same time more Americans are reaching retirement age. Together, these two trends present enormous economic challenges for the nation. A growing number of retirees are leaving the labor force and relying on programs like Social Security and Medicare. But there… Read More
Supreme Court Rejects Government Practice of ‘Notice-by-Installment’ in Niz-Chavez v. Garland
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week in Niz-Chavez v. Garland that immigration law requires the government to give noncitizens complete notice about the initiation of their immigration court case at one time. The April 29 ruling denounces the government’s current practice of providing necessary information over time and in… Read More
Sinema and Cornyn Propose Changes to Asylum Processing at the Border
The current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border has once again exposed the flaws of our country’s asylum system. On April 22, Senators Kyrsten Sinema and John Cornyn and Representatives Tony Gonzales and Henry Cueller introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill as an effort to alleviate some of the system’s greatest deficiencies. Read More
Supreme Court Considers the Future for Thousands of People With TPS
The U.S. Supreme Court heard argument this week on the question of whether certain people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and who have developed strong connections with their communities that have made them eligible for more permanent status, may get their green card. The outcome of the case,… Read More
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No one should face the immigration system alone