President Biden has upset many immigrant advocates this past weekend by hiring several immigration judges previously selected by former President Trump. Many of these judges are former prosecutors and counselors for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Almost none have experience representing migrants in court. This move by the Biden administration has puzzled many voters, as it stands at odds with Biden’s stated Read More
US Withdraws Biometrics Proposal
The United States government withdrew a Trump-era Biometrics proposal last Friday. The measure sought to collect biometric details from all individuals applying for immigration or naturalization benefits, an expansion of previous biometric policy. While supporters of the rule argued it would improve security vetting and reduce fraud, many critics saw it as another unnecessary step in an already inefficient Read More
Boat of Migrants Capsizes Near San Diego
A 40-foot cruiser boat of migrants carrying about 30 people capsizes near San Diego early Sunday morning. Passengers were met with a powerful current. Three died, and of the 29 rescued, five were taken to the hospital. After one day, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search. According to the authorities, the passengers were migrants, likely coming from Baja California, Mexico. These maritime passages are not new, Read More
State Department Announces the winners of 2022 Diversity Immigration Visa Program
The State Department announced the winners of the 2022 Diversity Immigration Visa Program this Saturday. The program, also known as “The Green Card Lottery,” allows winners to apply for visas, opening up a pathway to citizenship. The program is limited to individuals from countries where less than 50,000 natives migrated to the United States within the previous five years. It benefits about 55,000 people each Read More
Supreme Court Sides With Undocumented Immigrant in Recent Case
The Supreme Court sided with an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant today in a 6-3 decision. Agusto Niz-Chavez, who brought the case, had illegally crossed the border in 2005, eventually settling in Detroit. The government initiated removal proceedings against him in 2013 and sent him a notice of the charges. Only later did the government send a second notice with the date and time of his court appearance. It Read More
President Biden Nominates Harris County Sheriff to Head ICE
President Biden will be nominating Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez to serve as director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Gonzalez has served as sheriff to Texas’ most populous county since 2017, prior to which he served on the Houston City Council. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez is a long-time critic of former president Donald Trump and his immigration policies. In 2017, he ended a partnership with ICE Read More
AILA Virtual National Day of Action
Last week, Ellen participated in AILA’s 2021 Virtual Day of Action. The purpose of the day was to advocate to our legislators in D.C. to: Hold USCIS accountable for inefficient policy changes and crisis-level processing delays, and to return it to its customer-oriented mission. Reform our immigration courts. Reduce and phase out the use of immigration detention. Provide a pathway to citizenship for Read More
Biden Changes the Official Rhetoric Regarding Immigration
In the midst of an immigration debate characterized by harsh words and alienation, President Biden has taken steps to change the rhetoric with which we approach the topic. Through detailed memos issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department, the Biden administration has ordered U.S. immigration agencies to replace the words “illegal alien” and “assimilation” with “undocumented noncitizen” and Read More
George W. Bush Criticizes GOP Approach to Immigration
In a series of interviews held this past weekend, former George W. Bush distanced himself from his party on the topic of immigration. On NBC’s Today show, he said the Republican party he served has become “isolationist, protectionist, and to a certain extent, nativist.” He also criticized the fear mongering tactics of many anti-immigrant Republicans. In a Sunday Washington Post op-ed, George W. Bush advocated for Read More
Voting Reforms Might Have Unintended Consequences for Immigrants
The “For The People” act passed the House in early March. The Democrat-sponsored bill attempts to increase voter turnout through sweeping reforms. This legislation is especially intended to help voters of color. However, some immigration experts have raised concerns that the bill may unintentionally harm immigrants. As the bill appears before the Senate, Democrats have found themselves faced with a dilemma. Read More
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