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Trump Creates New System to Impose Millions in Fines on Undocumented Immigrants
Under a new system put in place by the Trump administration on June 27, immigration officers may be able to impose penalties of millions of dollars on certain undocumented immigrants, putting them at risk not only of deportation but of crushing financial debt. Under this new procedure, designed to reduce the due process available to […]
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 MoreHow Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Threatens the World Cup
The inaugural FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) kicked off on June 14 in Miami, Florida. The new 32-team competition brings together soccer (or football) clubs from around the world. The CWC resembles the better-known FIFA World Cup, where a host country welcomes fans of all backgrounds united by their love of “the beautiful game.” The […]
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 MoreCouncil and AILA File Lawsuit to Compel DHS and USCIS to Release Details about the Suspension of Processing Asylees’ and Refugees’ Green Card Applications
On March 25, 2025, media reports surfaced indicating that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—the agency in charge of approving green card applications and other immigration benefits—had stopped processing green card applications filed by asylees and refugees. The suspension impacts tens of thousands of individuals who fled their home countries out of fear of persecution […]
Read MoreChallenging Tennessee’s Unconstitutional Anti-Immigrant Law
This lawsuit challenges Section 5 of Tennessee’s new anti-immigrant law, Senate Bill 392, on behalf of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, a local landlord, and a long-time Tennessean who shares his home with his son-in-law who is seeking asylum. Section 5, which takes effect on July 1, 2025, creates a new state […]
Read MoreThe Council Received Data on City-Level Refugee Resettlement From the Department of State
Background Through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, the United States accepts tens of thousands of refugees each year. Before coming to the United States as refugees, individuals undergo a long and arduous process: they must prove they either have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution based on their political opinion, race, nationality, […]
Read MoreLawsuit Challenges Tennessee “Anti-Harboring” Law that Criminalizes Providing Shelter to People who are Undocumented
WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2025 — On June 20, a coalition including a religious organization and two individuals filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a newly enacted Tennessee law that criminalizes providing shelter to people who are undocumented, even when there is no intent to conceal them. The Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection […]
Read MoreReconciliation Spending Bill: Reckless Immigration Enforcement Funding and Cuts to Legal Immigration
On May 21, 2025, the House passed a massive spending bill that will fundamentally transform American society. This bill is part of a budget process called “reconciliation,” where only majorities in both chambers are needed for passage (avoiding the possibility of a 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate). The bill is now being considered by the […]
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