As we conclude this week, the Collaborative is back with another Stories of the Week recap. From a rise in deaths in immigration detention to the changing migration landscape in Latin America, here are the top stories impacting im/migrant well-being this week.
– Sophia Benavente, Law and Policy Intern
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
ICE has significantly reduced the level of detail it publicly releases about immigrant deaths in custody, despite the fact that deaths in detention have sharply increased. Lawmakers have expressed concern, as deaths initially labeled “under investigation” or suspected suicides have not received final determinations event months later. DHS defends conditions, stating death rates remain low relative to the total detained population.
As immigrant deaths in custody grow, ICE reduces what details are made public
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
House defies Trump on immigration with move to shield Haitians
In a rare bipartisan move on immigration, six House Republicans joined Democrats to advance a bill that would restore Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 350,000 Haitians in the U.S for about three years. The bill’s chances in the Senate remain unclear, however the vote has broader implications for Republican willingness to push back on the Trump administration.
Mom of 5 in immigration detention in Texas was taken to ER, sparking urgent calls for her release
Hayman El Gamal, a mother of five detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, was taken to the ER after delays in receiving adequate medical care. Her attorneys argue that officials and the facility operator, CoreCivic, failed to properly treat her putting her health at risk. The case has sparked urgent calls for her release, and raises broader concerns about medical care and prolonged family detention in immigration facilities.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Spanish government approves amnesty programme for undocumented immigrants
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s administration passed the major ”extraordinary regularization” program that will allow up to about 500,000 undocumented migrants already living in the country to apply for legal residency and work permits. The measure will open for applications on April 16th.
Chile carries out first deportation flight as part of new migration plan
Chile’s new government under President José Antonio Kast conducted its first deportation flight as part of a tougher immigration policy rollout. Kast campaigned on cracking down on undocumented immigration and linking it to crime. While the government did not specify how often such flights would occur, the country is also seeing reports of voluntary departures.
1 in 3 Venezuelan Migrants in Latin America Consider Returning Home but Few Plan Immediate Move, Report Finds
A survey conducted across six countries in Latin America reflects that while millions of Venezuelans remain abroad, many are not ready to return due to access to jobs, healthcare, and stability in host countries. For those who do consider returning, the main motivation is family reunification, while major barriers include insecurity, economic collapse, and lack of reliable information.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
Massachusetts legal aid program helps immigrants in immigration court
The anti-ICE resistance is working
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.