As we conclude this week, the Collaborative returns with another Stories of the Week recap. From a U.S. citizen hospitalized after an ICE encounter to a newly opened legal aid and healthcare center, here are the top stories affecting immigrant and migrant well-being this week.
– Mia Portillo, Communications and Policy Intern
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
United States citizen Ricardo Gonzalez was stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in an unmarked vehicle while riding his bicycle. Gonzalez was subjected to Taser use and forcibly pinned to the ground, sustaining significant injuries that sent him to the hospital.
US citizen injured during ICE detainment in Long Beach, California, officials say
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Judge rules against DHS’s policy of knocking on doors to track down possible noncitizen voters
A U.S. District Judge has ruled the Voting Rights Act prevents ICE’s practice of approaching homes to ask about the occupant’s immigration status. The practice itself stems from the Trump Administration’s claims of voter fraud being conducted by voting by noncitizens.
Activist Mahmoud Khalil asks Supreme Court to let judges quickly reverse immigration detentions
Formerly detained by immigration officials due to his participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil has called for the U.S Supreme Court to hear a case regarding immigration detention. Khalil has urged that SCOTUS rule in favor of letting federal judges quickly determine immigration detention to prevent individuals from being held for extended periods of time without judicial oversight.
Edward Nalwamba, a 78 year-old priest, was released from Aurora, Colorado’s ICE facility after a year in detention. Nalwamba claims that ICE failed to provide adequate medical treatment during his time detained, in which he contracted pneumonia.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Europe’s far right seizes on protest violence to push authoritarian anti-immigration agenda
In wake of France’s recent protests calling for governmental reform, European far-right political leaders have taken advantage of the unrest to further advance anti-immigration rhetoric. The use of this rhetoric has shifted public attention away from protesters’ concerns over the cost of living, housing affordability, and public services toward stricter immigration policies.
Gyeonggi Province plans to abolish immigration bureau
South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province has announced plans to remove its dedicated Bureau of Immigrant Society due to cost-cutting initiatives and reorganization claims. Labor unions and civic organizations have warned that eliminating the department may weaken immigrant integration programs and leave migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
| Richmond officials roll out ‘trust policy’ to boost protection for immigrants The Richmonder Manhattan Immigration Welcome Center opens in West Harlem The Richmonder |
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.