Today in Immigration

Kristi Noem’s posturing on ‘illegal’ immigration spotlights a common misrepresentation
Philip Bump, The Washington Post
South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem (R) is ambitious. She’s leaned into her hands-off approach to the coronavirus pandemic, earning her outsize media attention given the size of her state, though at some obvious cost to South Dakotans. She embraced former president Donald Trump, endearing herself to his base. And she’s been eager to leverage right-wing cultural fights to raise her profile. On Wednesday, that instinct led to this bit of posturing. Republicans have been eager to use the increase in migrants apprehended at the border with Mexico to pressure the Biden administration for several weeks. Noem’s statement goes a bit further, claiming that she will object to any attempts by the federal government to relocate undocumented migrants in her state. Even beyond the immediate irony of the White governor of a state in which 1 in 11 residents are Native American proclaiming who is American enough to reside there, there are obvious flaws in the line Noem is drawing.

Biden resists raising refugee cap over political optics, sources say
Priscilla Alvarez, Kylie Atwood, Lauren Fox and Jeremy Diamond, CNN
President Joe Biden has resisted signing off on raising the Trump-era refugee cap because of political optics, sources have told CNN. The President's hesitation comes as the administration faces heat from Republicans and Democrats for its handling of an influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border. But the situation at the US southern border is separate from the refugee program, which dates back decades and has a thorough vetting process in place for refugees overseas to resettle in the US. One Democratic aide described what is unfolding as "vintage Biden" in terms of preserving his options so that he can maintain decision-making space for the one that best suits him politically.

Lansing expected to welcome 105 refugees this year. So far, 6 have arrived.
Kaisha Young, WSYM-TV
Lansing expected to welcome at least 105 refugees this year under President Joe Biden’s promised immigration reform. So far, six have arrived, leaving some advocates feeling frustrated. Biden promised to welcome 125,000 refugees into the U.S. during his first year in office. Right now, he’s on track to admit the lowest number of refugees since the resettlement program’s creation. In February, the Biden administration announced its plan to eliminate discriminatory refugee eligibility requirements left behind from the Trump administration.

Dems to DeSantis: Ease COVID-19 vaccine requirements for undocumented immigrants
Chris Persaud, Palm Beach Post
Florida should relax a requirement meant to stop “vaccine tourism” so that immigrants face fewer restrictions getting COVID-19 shots, four congressional Democrats wrote Wednesday in a letter to Gov. Ron. DeSantis. A Florida health department order requiring vaccine seekers to prove they live in the state is too onerous on the nearly 1 million undocumented immigrants and seasonal farmworkers in the state, the letter led by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said, because they lack documents such as state ID cards. Immigrants living in Florida without proper paperwork are ineligible for those IDs. Florida’s requirements, issued in January by State Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, were meant to stop wealthy out-of-staters from getting vaccinated here. ID criteria for the coronavirus vaccine are the same for residents seeking medical marijuana. Documents such as utility bills and mail with the vaccine seeker’s name on it can prove residency.

Fewer Migrant Children Held In Border Detention Facilities, But Challenges Remain
Joel Rose, NPR
The Biden administration has been scrambling to care for hundreds of migrant children and teenagers crossing the Southern border alone daily — opening a dozen emergency influx shelters and moving thousands out of jail-like holding cells and tents that have stoked public outrage. Still, the administration faces big challenges as it deals with the record-breaking surge of unaccompanied minors. The number of migrant teens and children in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection fell to 2,853 this week — less than half the number who were held in overcrowded facilities near the border in late March. Another 19,000 unaccompanied minors were in the custody of U.S. Health and Human Services as of Tuesday, according to the agency.

Indianapolis wants to help immigrants seeking asylum, citizenship. This grant could do it
Natalia E. Contreras, Indianapolis Star
The city of Indianapolis wants to gather the money needed to help immigrant families in Marion County. An Indianapolis fiscal ordinance introduced Monday seeks to use $100,000 to pilot a legal protection fund that would help immigrants seeking asylum, pursuing citizenship, or those at risk of deportation with legal information, consultations and representation. The proposal was passed by the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday and will be considered for approval by City Council on May 10. Indianapolis council members Crista Carlino and Jessica McCormick sponsored and introduced the proposal. They said the City Council, Mayor Joe Hogsett's administration, and community stakeholders had been looking for ways to help Indianapolis' immigrant communities for some time.

Veterans and lawmakers aiding Afghan widow's family after husband killed while awaiting US visa
J.P. Lawrence, Stars and Stripes
Lawmakers and veterans are asking Washington to give refuge to the family of an Afghan man who aided American forces and was slain by the Taliban while waiting for a U.S. visa. The man, known by the pseudonym “Mohammad” to protect his family, received constant threats after working for the U.S. Embassy and military in Afghanistan for more than 12 years, family members and his lawyer said. Mohammad was one of tens of thousands of Afghans since 2009 who have applied to the Special Immigrant Visa program, which allows those who aided the U.S. to immigrate with their families, separate from regular refugee limits. The SIV program has suffered from years long application delays, understaffing, lack of coordination and outdated technology, a State Department Inspector General report last year said.

Somali father reunites with family in Ohio after years of separation due to 'Muslim ban'
Danae King, The Columbus Dispatch
The first thing Mohamed Salem Ali did when he arrived at John Glenn Columbus International Airport was play a trick on his grandson, Rashed. The 61-year-old Somali man walked slowly past the 7-year-old, grinning at him from behind his mask and waiting for the boy to notice it was his grandfather strolling past. When the boy did realize who he was, he went to give his grandfather a big hug. Ali was joining his family in Columbus, Ohio, after 11 years of separation, due in part to the Trump administration’s “Muslim Ban."