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Remembering December 17: Repeal of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
December 17 marks the anniversary of the 1943 repeal by Congress of the Chinese Exclusion Act of May 6, 1882. With only a few exceptions, this law barred any Chinese from immigrating to the United States, and was the first time U.S. immigration policy singled out citizens of a particular nation for wholesale discrimination.
Read MoreIn Birthright Citizenship Decision, the Supreme Court Expanded Trump’s Power
On the surface, the Supreme Court’s ruling in the birthright citizenship case Trump v. CASA was about the dry legal question of whether federal district courts can issue “universal” injunctions—orders constraining the government from acting against individuals beyond those who brought the lawsuit. But the impact of the Court’s decision is likely to be seismic, […]
Read MoreSenate Approves Unprecedented Spending for Mass Deportation, Ignoring What’s Broken in our Immigration System
Washington DC, July 1, 2025 — On July 1, the U.S. Senate passed a budget reconciliation bill that includes an unprecedented allocation of funds for immigration detention and enforcement while simultaneously stripping healthcare from millions of Americans. The bill, passed today with Vice President JD Vance contributing the tie-breaking vote, earmarks some $170 billion for […]
Read MoreWhere Do Refugees Settle in the United States? FOIA Documents Reveal Where Refugees Arrive and Their Demographic Data
Where do refugees settle upon arrival in the United States? As the global displacement crisis evolves, the factors driving individuals from their homes—violence, conflict, and even climate change—continue to change along with it. On June 26, the American Immigration Council released a tool based on demographic data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) […]
Read MoreYoung Poet Wins 2025 Creative Writing Award, Paying Tribute to Refugees
WASHINGTON, DC, June 24, 2025—The American Immigration Council honored Luu Ly, an 11-year-old attending the Chapin School in New York City, with its 28th annual Celebrate America Creative Writing Contest award, which honors the immigrant experience. Luu’s poem, “American Poem,” narrates her grandparents’ escape from Vietnam during the war, describing how they settled down as […]
Read MoreDistrict Court Blocks Unlawful Removal of Venezuelan Asylum Seeker Under Alien Enemies Act
In a May 21 decision, a federal district court in Georgia ordered the federal government to refrain from disappearing a Venezuelan man under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA).
Read MoreMexican Immigrant Family Shares Success Across Allen County
Flora Barrón had a comfortable childhood in Northern Mexico, attended college, and worked as an administrative assistant before marrying a successful rural veterinarian. But when an economic downturn pushed local farmers into bankruptcy, her husband’s business struggled. “That’s when we came to America,” she explains. “Our plan was to come here and work for two […]
Read MoreBhutanese Immigrant Co-Founds Community Association in Pittsburgh that Supports All Newcomers
When Timsina arrived in New York City at 39 years old, he’d never driven a car, let alone navigated a massive subway system. As a member of Bhutan’s ethnic Nepali minority, which has experienced persecution for decades, Khara Timsina’s family was prevented from receiving an education or working in the country. In 1992, they left […]
Read MoreGuatemalan Immigrant Works to Secure a Safe and Humane Environment for All Workers in Santa Fe
Iris Madely Alay was born to a single mother in rural Escuintla, Guatemala, and dropped out of school at age ten to help raise her siblings. “I liked school, but I had to leave,” she said. “I had a sad childhood because I didn’t have my father around, and my mother had to dedicate herself […]
Read MorePresident Trump’s New Travel Ban: What You Need to Know
Eight years ago, President Trump made history by invoking an obscure authority, section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, to “suspend the entry” of nationals of multiple Muslim-majority nations. After two versions of the ban were initially struck down in court, the Supreme Court upheld a third version, which remained in effect until President […]
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