As we conclude this week, the Collaborative is back with another Stories of the Week recap. From reports of pregnant women stuck in ICE custody being detained without access to adequate prenatal care to Argentina’s shift in immigration policy, here are the top stories impacting im/migrant well-being this week.
– Sophia Benavente, Law and Policy Intern
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
Despite broader efforts to reduce immigration, the Trump administration has modified the H-2A visa program to address a growing farm labor shortage. As stricter immigration enforcement and deportations have reduced the available farm workforce, the administration has made it cheaper and easier for farmers to hire temporary foreign workers. Economists suggest lowering wages is unlikely to attract more American workers, and increase will result in deeper reliance on foreign labor or automation.
To Address Farm Labor Shortage, Trump Administration Turns to Migrant Workers
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Immigration judge denies asylum claim for Liam Conejo Ramos and his family
A federal immigration has denied asylum to Liam Conejo Ramos and his family, who became widely known across the U.S. after Liam was detained with his father during a large immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. Their attorney is appealing the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Abused and neglected youths granted immigration protections are being detained and deported
Hundreds of immigrant youths with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status have been detained and deported by ICE despite being on a pathway to legal residency. Advocates and lawmakers have raised the alarm about due process concerns surrounding recent enforcement practices, which are putting already vulnerable immigrant youth at risk and stripping away the protections intended to help them safely remain in the country while awaiting green cards.
Pregnant in ICE Detention: Handcuffs and Pleas for Medical Care
Pregnant women in ICE detention are allegedly being subjected to unsafe and inhumane conditions, often in violation of long-standing DHS guidelines, including: being detained late into their pregnancies without adequate prenatal care, nutrition, or timely medical attention.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Immigration Wasn’t an Issue in Argentina. Until It Became One.
Argentina has long been known for its welcoming and open immigration policies, but under President Javier Milei, the country is shifting toward a stricter, enforcement-focused approach. Recent large-scale immigration raids in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods show this practice, and new policies have made it harder to gain residency and easier to deport people who have been accessed of crimes. This signals a broader cultural and political shift in the country that had begun to affect the everyday lives of immigrants.
As Iran War Drags On, Europe Wants to Avoid a New Migration Crisis
European leaders are increasingly worried the ongoing war in Iran could trigger yet another refugee crisis similar to the one caused by the Syrian Civil War. The EU has begun to take proactive measures, including coordinating with Turkey, a key transit country, to prevent large numbers of migrants from reaching Europe.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
Venezuelan Student Freed After Months In US Immigration Custody
Seattle and nearby cities move to block ICE detention centers
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. He contributes by writing blog posts, translating materials, and assisting with research.