Migration News

$2.1 Billion for Undocumented Workers Signals New York’s Progressive Shift
Annie Correal and Luis Ferré-Sadurní, The New York Times
When the coronavirus arrived in New York City a year ago, it hit enclaves of undocumented immigrants with a fury, killing thousands and wiping out the service and construction jobs that kept many families afloat. Lifelines like unemployment insurance and federal stimulus checks were out of reach because undocumented people are ineligible for most government aid. Instead, they have relied on food pantries, lenient landlords and loans from friends. But after a sweeping move by lawmakers this week, New York will now offer one-time payments of up to $15,600 to undocumented immigrants who lost work during the pandemic. The effort — a $2.1 billion fund in the state budget — is by far the biggest of its kind in the country and a sign of the state’s shift toward policies championed by progressive Democrats.

U.S. scours files for more Trump-era migrant family separations than previously known
Ted Hesson and Mica Rosenberg, Reuters
The Biden administration said on Wednesday it is examining 5,600 previously unreviewed cases of migrant children to see whether they were separated from parents at the U.S.-Mexico border under former President Donald Trump. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official told reporters the review seeks to find any separated children beyond those already identified through litigation. The official said the aim is ultimately to reunite any families who remain apart.

Lawyers find the parents of 61 more separated migrant children
Julia Ainsley and Jacob Soboroff, NBC
Lawyers tasked with reuniting migrant families separated during the Trump administration said in a federal court filing late Wednesday that they have recently contacted the parents of 61 more children. The filing in the Southern District of California shows that the number of known separated children whose parents have yet to be reached by the pro bono attorneys, known as the steering committee, has dropped from 506 to 445. The committee issues periodic reports on its progress to the federal judge overseeing the reunification process.

The Biden Administration Is Sending Undocumented Migrant Children To Military Bases Including The National Guard’s Obscure Camp Roberts
Eric Tegler, Forbes
In the wake of a decades-high surge of foreign nationals to the U.S. southern border, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has requested and received approval from the Pentagon to temporarily house unaccompanied children at Camp Roberts, California. As the Washington Post noted, the Biden administration has reversed a number of Trump administration policies including some expulsion practices by accepting unaccompanied children into the country, a change that has given rise to an increase in the number of minors in government facilities. That increase is part of a widely documented spike in migration which the Biden administration denies having inspired.

N.J. undocumented workers begin hunger strike after 13 months of no COVID relief
Sophie Nieto-Munoz, NJ.com
Undocumented immigrants and their family members have been largely excluded from any aid from the state or federal government during the pandemic. After more than a year of desperate calls to Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Legislature for funds, Buitrago and 20 other undocumented workers and allies will be fasting for days, with some hoping to hold out all week to make a statement about the much-needed relief. “This is sending a message — people who have been hungry for over a year are willing to do this and go without food for multiple days to show how much this is a life or death situation without relief,” said Sara Cullinane, director of Elizabeth-based immigrant advocacy group Make the Road NJ, which is helping organize the fast.

Long Beach approves plan for Convention Center to shelter migrant children
ABC7.com, KABC
The Long Beach City Council has approved a plan to temporarily house up to 1,000 unaccompanied migrant children at the city's convention center. The council unanimously voted Tuesday night on a plan to to work with the federal government to establish a shelter at the sprawling facility. The contract with the federal government would start within days and end Aug. 2 at the latest. Under the plan, the Long Beach Convention Center would temporarily house up to 1,000 children for a period of 90 to 120 days. The children wouldn't necessarily all be housed at once in the facility. They will receive three meals a day, medical and health evaluations, recreational opportunities and educational services. While Long Beach is providing the facility, the federal government would be responsible for providing and funding those services.

Two bills that would limit Maryland’s role in immigration enforcement get final push by advocates
Patricia Zapor, Catholic Standard
With just five days to go in the Maryland legislative session, advocates for immigrants are pushing hard for the state Senate to approve two bills: one would require warrants for federal immigration enforcement agents to obtain information from state databases and the other would prohibit state and local governments from being in the business of immigration detention. The bills have both been approved by the House of Delegates, but as of April 7 they were being held in the Maryland Senate’s Judicial Proceedings Committee.

Increasing Future Immigration Grows the U.S.' Competitive Advantage
FWD.us
The U.S. needs to increase the number of immigrants entering our country each year substantially to grow its competitive advantage and expand our future workforce, according to immigration scenarios prepared by researchers at George Mason University in a study commissioned by FWD.us1. Without boosting legal immigration significantly now, the U.S. will sacrifice its position as the world’s largest economy by 20302 and leave the reserves of vital programs—like Social Security—depleted by 2034.3

Further Reading

Their Lawsuit Prevented 400,000 Deportations. Now It’s Biden’s Call.
The New York Times Magazine

State immigrant policies and preterm births
EurekAlert

Russian LGBTQ asylum seekers stranded in Guam
Los Angeles Blade

Don’t Let the Humanitarian Crisis at the Border Excuse Congressional Inaction on Immigration
Morning Consult