Migration News

Biden’s delay on refugees baffles and frustrates allies
Sean Sullivan and Seung Min Kim, The Washington Post
President Biden sent a stark message in February to foreigners fleeing oppression, persecution and danger: The United States stands ready to help them once again. He pledged an eightfold-plus increase in the annual cap on refugees set during the Trump administration, saying he would aim for a “down payment” on that promise “as soon as possible.” More than two months later, Biden has not made good on his vow. He has yet to sign a directive that would lift the cap for the next fiscal year or enact more-immediate changes to the Trump limits. His advisers have provided little public clarity on why, angering many human rights advocates who say the delay is inflicting growing harm on refugees desperate to take flight to the United States.

Border Democrats seek asylum revamp, more help from feds
Stef W. Kight and Russell Contreras, Axios
Two border-district Democrats in Congress are pressing the Biden administration to revamp the asylum process, saying the current migrant surge is highlighting significant flaws in the system. Why it matters: These lawmakers say the administration needs to start making concrete changes by summer. "If it's this bad in 90 days, it's hard to have excuses," Rep. Vicente Gonzalez told Axios. Driving the news: Axios met with Gonzalez and Rep. Veronica Escobar last week in their Texas districts, which include the border cities of McAllen and El Paso.

Mexican child protection law gilds allure of U.S. border
Lizbeth Diaz, Reuters
A sharp jump in the number of minors caught trying to enter the United States unlawfully has been partly fueled by a new Mexican law that curbs detentions of children headed to the U.S. border, according to migrants and an internal government assessment. More than two dozen adults or unaccompanied minors in Mexico who spoke to Reuters said they believed the new measures would help them or their offspring get to the United States and escape the poverty and violence blighting much of Central America.

Florida lawmakers call on DeSantis to loosen vaccine requirements for the undocumented
Monique O. Madan, Miami Herald
A handful of Florida Democrats are calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to loosen state residency requirements that have made it difficult for many undocumented immigrants to access the vaccine. The members of Congress— Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ted Deutch, Darren Soto and Lois Frankel— sent letters to the governor’s office Wednesday, citing a Miami Herald article that chronicled how undocumented migrants are being turned away at vaccination sites. “We write with serious concerns about the lack of access to COVID-19 vaccinations for several key vulnerable populations in Florida, especially undocumented immigrants and migrant and seasonal farmworkers,” the lawmakers wrote. “These particular populations are among the most vulnerable and hardest-hit, and they are part of our communities.”

Texas sues Biden administration in effort to reinstate Trump-era “remain in Mexico” immigration policy
Shawn Mulcahy, The Texas Tribune
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Biden administration Tuesday in an attempt to restore a policy put in place by former President Donald Trump that forced migrants seeking asylum in the United States to wait in Mexico while their claims are processed. Paxton and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt argue in the suit that the Biden administration’s move to suspend the so-called “remain in Mexico” policy was an “arbitrary and capricious decision.” The attorneys general are asking the court to reinstate the enforcement of the program nationwide and to award Texas and Missouri “the costs of this action and reasonable attorney’s fees.”

Here’s What the Top Mayoral Candidates Say They’ll Do for Immigrant New Yorkers
Natasha Ishak, Documented
In New York City, one of the world’s leading magnets for immigration, foreign-born residents make up 37% or a little more than 3.1 million of its total population. As of 2018, immigrants contributed $232 billion to the city’s GDP and accounted for 45% of its workforce. But the inequities experienced by immigrant New Yorkers, which go far beyond just immigration issues, remain largely unaddressed. According to the city’s official Government Poverty Measure, which includes factors like eligibility for social safety-net benefits, New York City’s 2017 poverty rate was 19%. But after adjusting for conditions such as undocumented immigrants being ineligible for unemployment insurance, the city found that 22.1% of foreign-born residents and 28.8% of undocumented New Yorkers live in or near poverty.

March and rally held in support of immigrant essential workers
News8000.com - WKBT
Dozens of people marched and rallied in our area Tuesday calling for immigration reform. They took part in a torch-passing event where essential workers from Minnesota passed off the torch to Wisconsin workers on the Cass Street Bridge. It’s part of the Relay Across America. A program was then held in Riverside Park to advocate for immigrant essential workers. According to speakers at the event, there are about 52,000 undocumented immigrants living in Wisconsin and 35,000 of those are considered essential workers.

Lawsuit Accuses Custodial Company of Exploiting Immigrant Workers
CMM
A custodial services company that is the focus of lawsuit for allegedly exploiting immigrant workers could face civil penalties. Attorney General Bob Ferguson of Washington state filed a consumer protection lawsuit last week in King County Superior Court against National Maintenance Contractors for taking advantage of immigrants with limited English proficiency and falsely promising them the independence of business ownership. The company had allegedly locked 250 Washington franchisees into contracts which left them earning less than minimum wage and paying exorbitant fees with limited ability to advocate for themselves.