Immigration News Weekly

March 27th - April 2nd

​Immigrants are in the Same Boat with the Rest of Us in this Pandemic. The Administration Doesn't Care.
Washington Post | J. Larry Brown | April 2
"As the global pandemic ramps up, few of us would imagine that our government would unnecessarily expose people to the novel coronavirsus. Yet the Trump administration has repeatedly shown it is willing to do just that to immigrant communities in the United States...Across the country, the Department of Homeland Security operates 137 of these facilities where many immigrant men and women are incarcerated simply because they overstayed a visa or need to file more paperwork. Many have no charge against them at all but are being held after appearing at the border to request asylum, as is their lawful right."

Most USCIS Services Have Been Halted due to Coronavirus. Here's What Immigrants Can Do
Miami Herald | Daniel Shoer Roth | April 1
"Most immigration regular services in the United States have been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) temporarily suspended all in person-services at its field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security agency extended the offices closure until at least May 3. The temporary office closure affects tens of thousands of individuals awaiting immigration benefits such as extensions of status, work permits, green cards and U.S. citizenship through naturalization — including those who have interview appointments, biometric services and naturalization ceremonies."

'Sanctuary' Laws are Latest Immigration Battle to Draw Supreme Court's Attention
Washington Post | Robert Barnes | March 28
"The Trump administration’s efforts to force state and local authorities to abandon “sanctuary” policies and cooperate with federal immigration agents have mostly been panned by lower courts, and the Supreme Court soon may weigh in. One justice — albeit one no longer on the high court — already has. Retired justice David H. Souter last week joined a unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit ruling that the Justice Department lacks the legal authority to withhold federal crime-fighting grants from local law enforcement agencies to compel such cooperation."
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