As we conclude this week, the Collaborative is back with another Stories of the Week recap. From a looming healthcare crisis to concerns about new European Union deportation policies, here are the top stories impacting im/migrant well-being this week.
– Sophia Benavente
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
A new memo from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allows the government to detain refugees who have been in the U.S. for more than a year if they have not obtained a green card or presented themselves for inspection. DHS says the policy is intended to prevent immigration fraud and address national security concerns. Critics argue it is another effort to restrict legal immigration pathways and could lead to the detention or deportation of people who were lawfully admitted.
Refugees in the U.S. could be arrested under a new immigration memo
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Trump’s immigration crackdown is brewing a health care crisis in the US, doctors warn
As the Trump administration expands immigration enforcement nationwide, health care providers say the presence of ICE in and around hospitals and clinics is deterring vulnerable communities from seeking care, and disrupting medical settings. DHS disputes allegations of misconduct, blaming disruptions on protests, while doctors warn the chilling effect could have lasting public health consequences.
HUD moves to end assistance for families with mixed immigration status
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has proposed a new rule which would limit federal housing assistance for families with mixed immigration statuses. Currently, such families can receive partial aid based on eligible members. The proposal comes as local housing agencies face a federal deadline to re-verify tenants’ immigration and citizenship status.
Judge Condemns ‘Terror Against Noncitizens’ and Orders Hearings for Detainees
A federal judge in California issued a 22-page ruling ordering DHS to notify immigrants detained nationwide that they may be eligible to join a class-action lawsuit challenging their detention. If they qualify, they must either receive a bond hearing or be released. The ruling presents a significant obstacle to the Trump administration’s mass deportation strategy.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
EU’s deportations plan risks ICE-style enforcement, rights groups warn
More than 70 organizations are urging the European Union to reject a proposal, aimed at increasing deportations of undocumented migrants, warning of ICE-style immigration enforcement tactics. The European Commission’s plan to includes sending migrants to detention centers in non-EU countries and expanding authorities’ power to search private and public spaces.
Canada revises express entry immigration rules, adds military roles
Canada has introduced new immigration priority categories under its Express Entry system to recruit skilled workers, including doctors, nurses, and pilots, and senior transport-sector managers. The changes aim to strengthen defense capacity, address labor shortages in critical sectors, and restore immigration levels to what officials describe as sustainable targets.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
Communities Enact Protective Immigration Policies, Despite State and National Roadblocks
Defending immigrants and their families today
Thank you for reading the IWB Stories of the Week series! Stay tuned for next week’s edition.
Sophia Benavente serves as a Law and Policy Intern at the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative. She contributes by writing blog posts, translating materials, and assisting with research.