Happy Friday! From a Columbia University student’s release from ICE and a federal judge in Texas blocking the Trump administration’s move to deport Venezuelans to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act to immigrant entrepreneurs pushing against adversity and a Minnesota church stepping up to support the well-being of its primarily Latino immigrant congregation, these are the are top stories impacting the well-being of immigrants this week. – Mia Portillo and Thomas J. Rachko, Jr.
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
Columbia student, Mohsen Mahdawi, is released from ICE after being detained for two weeks. He continues to speak out against the Trump administration.
‘I am not afraid of you,’ Columbia student says of Trump after release from ICE
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Three US citizen children, one with cancer, deported to Honduras, lawyers say
Two families deported to Honduras, among them is a four-year-old U.S. citizen with stage 4 cancer. Border Czar Tom Hofman defends the Trump administration’s actions.
More than 100 detained in Colorado Springs after federal agents raid underground nightclub
More than 100 undocumented individuals were detained after underground nightclub immigration raid in Colorado Springs with several active-duty military among them.
Feds reveal how immigration squad targeted thousands of foreign students
Questions and challenges to the Trump Administration’s attempts to target foreign students arise. Several judges across the country deem these efforts unlawful.
Federal judge blocks use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans in South Texas
A federal judge in Texas ruled that the Trump administration’s move to deport Venezuelans in South Texas to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act was “unlawful.” The decision issued by U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., appointed by President Trump, protects immigrants detained in the Southern District of Texas, which includes Brownsville, McAllen, and Houston, from being removed anywhere under the Alien Enemies Act.
Lawmakers demand answers after a Haitian woman dies at an ICE detention center
Marie Ange Blaise, 44, passed away in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida after two months in detention. Her cause of death is under investigation. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla, the only Haitian-American in Congress, is demanding answers following the death in custody urging a “full, independent investigation” into Blaise’s death.
SOS: Migrants held in Texas fear notorious El Salvador prison
People detained at the Bluebonnet immigration detention center in Anson, Texas were photographed by a Reuters drone forming the letters SOS with their bodies in a dirt yard.
Fears of racial profiling swirl as Haitians and other immigrants face new US registration policy
A new Trump administration policy requiring undocumented immigrants to register with the federal government and carry documentation is stirring fear and concern around racial profiling among immigrant communities, including the Haitian population in the U.S. As Guerline Jozef, executive director of the nonprofit Haitian Bridge Alliance, told AP News: “It is very hard to even communicate with the community members on what to do, telling them they need to know their rights, but they trample on their rights anyway. We are back in the ‘show me your papers’ era.”
Disappeared in America: The Faces of Trump’s Immigration Dragnet
On Trump’s 100th day in office, the Immigration Hub launched Disappeared in America, the first site mapping the human toll of the Trump administration’s mass deportations. So far, the website tracks 700+ stories of people detained, deported, or disappeared — including U.S. citizens.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
How Mark Carney’s Government Plans To Change Canada’s Immigration Policies
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wins recent election, promising new immigration policies. The party has proposed providing legal aid to asylum seekers and refugees.
Germany’s new interior minister highlights hard right turn on migration
Germany focuses on tougher immigration and border control stances. Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, expected to complicate Germany’s position in broader migration talks in the EU.
Smart Fortress Europe: How Greece uses tech to crack down on migration
New advances in technology crack down on migrants in Greece. Critics argue this adoption undermines human rights.
How Immigrants Sustain Canada’s Healthcare System
In Canada, immigrants are driving workforce renewal in the country’s aging healthcare sector. In 2021, almost one in four nurse aides, orderlies, and patient services associates aged 25 to 34 were newcomer immigrants (admitted between 2016 and 2021) to Canada.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
In a time of policy upheaval, immigrants of different backgrounds push forward
Science unions call on immigration authorities to grant visas to scientists
Altar acupuncture: A Minneapolis church brings well-being sessions to its migrant ministry
LAUSD says it is committed to protecting students amid immigration concerns
Thank you for reading the IWB Stories of the Week series! Stay tuned for next week’s edition.
Mia Portillo serves as the Communications Intern at the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative. She assists in creating public-facing communications and content.
Thomas J. Rachko, Jr. serves as the Policy Lead at the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative. He leads policy efforts alongside affiliate scholars to translate academic research in accessible ways for policymakers, advocates, and community based organizations to make evidence-informed change.