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USCIS Claims It’s Strapped for Cash, Requests Emergency Funding From Congress
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) says it’s running out of money, fast. In a letter to Congress, USCIS declared that the coronavirus pandemic had caused unavoidable budget shortfalls. The agency—normally funded by fees from visa petitions and immigration benefit applications—says it will run out of money by June. It’s asking Congress for an emergency […]
Read MoreHelp keep these immigrant-serving organizations operating during COVID-19
There is critical work being done around the country to ensure that immigrants, refugees, and other vulnerable groups have access to information and resources they need, from health care to economic stability. To support this work, we have compiled a list of organizations coordinating direct services that could use your support to ensure that they […]
Read MoreTrump’s Immigration Restrictions Extend to Nearly 7% of the Entire World
President Trump issued the fourth travel ban of his presidency on Friday. This ban comes almost three years to the day after the first one brought thousands of protesters to airports around the country. People from Nigeria, Eritrea, Myanmar, and Kyrgyzstan are now barred from immigrating to the United States. Those from Sudan and Tanzania […]
Read MoreLawmakers Call for Release of All Transgender Migrants From ICE Custody
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this month demanding the release of all transgender people in ICE’s custody. At least two transgender women have died in the last two years. Both died following multiple, ignored requests for medical attention in ICE custody. Advocates and lawmakers fear more […]
Read MoreCameroonian’s Death in ICE Custody Underscores Problems with Immigration Detention
Nebane Abienwi, a 37-year-old man who had recently fled war-torn Cameroon, died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Tuesday. His passing—the first of the new fiscal year that began on October 1—follows a string of tragic and unnecessary deaths in ICE detention that illustrate just how poorly the agency operates its facilities. […]
Read MoreChicago Tribune Commentary: I helped refugees in Iraq. Now I’m a refugee working in the U.S.
As an aid worker in Iraq, I worked with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the United Nations to help Syrian refugees fleeing the Islamic State. Now, I’m an immigrant myself, building a new life in Chicago and contributing to my new home as an administrator at a local hospital. I urge our leaders […]
Read MoreHere’s What to Expect From Trump’s New Immigration Deal With Mexico
Only weeks after threatening to impose tariffs on Mexico, President Trump backed down on Friday after both countries announced that Mexico would step up immigration enforcement at its southern border. The Mexican government also said it would also expand its participation in the so-called “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP) by taking in more asylum seekers who […]
Read MoreThe Transcontinental Railroad at 150: The Contributions of Chinese Immigrants and Chinese Americans
This week marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Transcontinental Railroad, the first continuous railroad line from California to the East Coast. The completion of the Railroad was transformative, shortening travel time between New York and San Francisco from up to six months to less than a week. It opened up the West […]
Read MoreRemembering Ellis Island’s Busiest Day: How Has Immigration Changed Since 1907?
On April 17, 1907, thousands upon thousands of immigrants filed through Ellis Island’s Registry Room, a room no larger than two high school basketball courts. By the day’s end, they had set the record for the number of immigrants processed in a single day—11,747. By the end of the year, more than 1 million other […]
Read MoreFOIA Requests Seek Data About Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Adjudications
Under the Trump administration, we have seen an uptick in requests for additional information about petitions filed by U.S. employers on behalf of foreign-born workers. We also have seen greater numbers of denials of these petitions. According to the employers and their workers, these trends reflect unlawful adjudications across the board. In response to these changes, the Council filed two Freedom in Information Act requests.
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