Migration News 

Texas family detention centers expected to transform into rapid-processing hubs 

Maria Sacchetti, Nick Miroff and Silvia Foster-Frau, The Washington Post 

The Biden administration is preparing to convert its immigrant family detention centers in South Texas into Ellis Island-style rapid-processing hubs that will screen migrant parents and children with a goal of releasing them into the United States within 72 hours, according to Department of Homeland Security draft plans obtained by The Washington Post. The plans show the Biden administration is racing to absorb a growing number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border amid shortages of bed space and personnel. Republicans and some Democrats fear that relaxing detention policies will exacerbate a surge that is already straining the Biden administration. 

Data show growing backlog of unaccompanied migrant children in Border Patrol custody 

Julia Ainsley and Jacob Soboroff, NBC News 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection had 1,763 unaccompanied migrant children in its custody as of Tuesday, 625 of whom had been held more than 72 hours, the legal limit for holding children in CBP's border processing facilities, according to internal CBP data obtained by NBC News. The data also showed that 95 of the 625 who had been waiting more than 72 hours for transfer to custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, were under 13 years old. 

Food, agricultural workers prioritized for vaccine, including some refugees, migrants in Michigan 

Christian Martinez, Lansing State Journal 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services moved last month to prioritize those workers to "help ensure the health and safety of Michigan’s essential food and agriculture workers and keep the state’s food supply chain moving," the department said in the announcement. Mortuary workers also were moved up in priority. The move doesn't just allow workers in high-risk industries such as meatpacking and farm work to become vaccinated. It paves the way for some of Michigan's most vulnerable residents who work in those industries – refugees and undocumented migrant workers – to receive shots. 

ACLU of Maine, immigrant rights organizations sue ICE to obtain information about detention actions in Maine 

Beth Brogan, News Center MAINE 

The ACLU of Maine and two Portland-based immigrant rights groups filed suit Wednesday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeking information about ICE activities in Maine -- information the groups say they requested in multiple Freedom of Information Act requests that as of Wednesday remained unanswered. Qainat Khan of the ACLU of Maine said Wednesday that the plaintiffs -- also including the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project and the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic at the University of Maine School of Law -- seek information about immigrants from other New England states who are in ICE custody being detained temporarily at the Cumberland County Jail until they are transferred to holding facilities in the southern part of the United States. 

Philadelphia needs ‘sanctuary schools,’ immigrant rights group demands 

Kristen A. Graham and Jeff Gammage, The Philadelphia Inquirer 

The Philadelphia School District must commit to “sanctuary schools” where immigrant students and their families feel safe, activists say. Though the school system has policies in place directing staff not to release any information about students if approached by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, most staffers are unaware of them, the immigrant rights group Juntos said. This week, the South Philadelphia-based advocate launched a campaign calling for stronger policies and more supports for immigrant students. 

Fighting to reunite refugee children, 7-year-old Grapevine girl makes room in her own home 

Sean Giggy, WFAA.com 

As she unrolls a large tent in her front yard, 7-year-old Paisley Elliott insists she’s not camping out. Rather, by putting her tent up she’s putting her foot down. “I’m just gonna sit here and protest,” Elliott said. Every Tuesday since October, she has slept in her front yard in Grapevine and will continue doing so until her demands are met. 

California to pay for quarantine of refugees seeking asylum at Mexico border 

Kim Bojórquez, The Sacramento Bee 

California plans to spend $28 million to aid asylum seekers entering the country through the U.S.-Mexico border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry to await their court dates. The state funding comes after the Biden administration announced in February that it would begin allowing immigrants with credible asylum claims, who were previously waiting in Mexico under former President Donald Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols program, to continue their immigration proceedings on U.S. territory. 

City Council Supports Immigration Relief During the Pandemic 

Deanna Garcia, Documented  

The New York City Council voted to adopt legislation that would provide immigration relief for undocumented immigrant families of frontline workers who died of COVID-19. Councilor Francisco Moya, who introduced this resolution, represents East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Corona — the “epicenter of the epicenter” during the pandemic’s early days. 

Further Reading 

Opinion: Psychological study explains our strong feelings around immigration 

MarketWatch 

After The Apocalypse: US Refugee Policy 

Inkstick 

Gay asylum seeker in Mexico enters U.S. 

Washington Blade 

President Biden’s Immigration Executive Actions: A Recap 

Lawfare