Filter
2021 Mid-Year Report
Dear Friends and Supporters, In the past six months, we have witnessed a sea change on immigration: The American Dream and Promise Act and Farm Workforce Modernization Act passed the House with bipartisan support; the Muslim ban, Public Charge rule, and major cuts to refugee resettlement have been reversed; and proposals to create a path […]
Read MoreThe COVID-19 Pandemic Made USCIS Backlogs Go from Bad to Worse
Backlogs, processing delays, and revenue shortfalls are nothing new at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The agency has long suffered from severe structural problems that hurt people who depend on it for work authorization, adjustment of status, naturalization, and many other immigration benefits. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on agency operations has […]
Read MoreCongress 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 have failed to address the […]
Read MoreCouncil Sues Immigration Agencies for Records of Enforcement Databases
This Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeks to uncover information about the databases and systems that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies use in immigration enforcement.
Read MoreLetter Urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to Vacate Matter of A-B, Matter of L-E-A, and Matter of A-C-A-A
The Council joined 356 other organizations, law school clinics, professors, law firms, and practitioners in urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to vacate Matter of A-B, Matter of L-E-A, and Matter of A-C-A-A. These Trump-administrative decisions limit the circumstances under which an asylum seeker can win protection due to persecution on account of a particular social […]
Read MoreCollecting DNA From Asylum Seekers at the Border Raises Privacy Concerns
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is collecting DNA from asylum seekers at the border, recent media reports confirm. This is the latest expansion of DNA collection as part of a program initiated under the Trump administration that targets nearly all immigrants in government custody. A growing number of noncitizens are being subjected to this invasive […]
Read MoreBiden’s First Budget Is A Missed Opportunity to Overhaul Immigration Enforcement
President Biden released the first budget proposal of his presidency on May 29, a landmark for any new president. A presidential budget generally reflects the goals of the administration and can provide an important roadmap for the future. Unfortunately, despite calls for a serious rethinking of the role of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) […]
Read MoreContributions of U.S.-Born Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Key Findings There are more than 6.7 million U.S.-Born Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Today, U.S.-born Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing segment of the fastest growing minority group in the United States. Between 2010 and 2019 the U.S.-born AAPI population increased by more than 1.4 million, or […]
Read MoreBiden Administration Revokes Trump’s Health Insurance Visa Ban
President Biden revoked a proclamation issued by former President Trump in 2019 that required nearly all prospective immigrants to demonstrate that they would be covered by private health insurance or were wealthy enough not to need it. Those needing health insurance would have to be covered within 30 days of entering the United States. This […]
Read MoreAdvocates Seek Answers to Reports of Discriminatory Treatment of Black Immigrants in ICE Detention
The Council and Black Alliance for Just Immigration filed 10 FOIA requests to uncover what is happening inside immigration detention facilities and how ICE treats incarcerated Black immigrants in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Read MoreMake a contribution
Make a direct impact on the lives of immigrants.
