September 4, 2026
As we conclude this week, the Collaborative returns with another Stories of the Week recap. From the Department of Justice issuing a new legal interpretation requiring states to report known undocumented immigrants to Spain and Morocco’s escalating tensions over the Ceuta border crisis, here are the top stories impacting im/migrant well-being this week.
– Mia Portillo, Communications and Policy Intern
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
In line with the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda, the Department of Justice has declared that states risk losing federal funding if they fail to report undocumented immigrants to federal authorities, extending the requirement beyond agencies that administer welfare programs.
DOJ says states have to report undocumented immigrants to get federal funding
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
ICE detainee dies just hours after he was admitted into detention
Chinese immigrant Lianyong Wei was found dead hours after being taken into custody by ICE agents. His death marks the rising number of detainee deaths under the Trump administration, with at least 57 people having died in ICE custody since Trump’s return to office in January 2025.
U.S. Announces Thousands of Arrests in New York Immigration Operation
The Trump Administration has intensified crackdowns in New York City, with federal officials claiming the arrest of more the 2,197 civilians during a month-long operation coined “Rotten Apple”. State and city leaders challenge how many detainees were actually arrested on criminal matters, noting that ICE has increasingly toed the line of legality.
Haitian who just graduated high school dies by suicide after losing TPS status, advocacy group says
20-year-old Pierre Damas Bel had just graduated high school when he lost his Temporary Protected Status after the Trump Administration terminated TPS for Haitian nationals. Following the loss of status, Bel was fitted with an ankle monitor by ICE— something his family said led to his eventual suicide.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Namibia: Drought displaced Angolans face human rights abuses
Environmental refugees by drought from Angola into Namibia face extreme human rights abuses. Global actors urge Nambian authorities to establish more legal and safe migration pathways with access to basic rights, including registration and documentation.
Morocco not to blame for Ceuta border breach, says Spanish PM
More than a month after a mass influx of about 70,000 Moroccan men, women and children crossed into Cueta, the Spanish government has stated that there is no evidence of Morocco orchestrating the political crisis. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has instead pointed to criminal gangs and online disinformation.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
Thank you for reading the IWB Stories of the Week series! Stay tuned for next week’s edition.
Mia Portillo, serves as the Communications and Policy Intern at the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative. She contributes by writing blog posts, translating materials, and assisting with research.