As we conclude this week, the Collaborative is back with another Stories of the Week recap. From a new poll on how immigration enforcement impacts everyday lives to shifting immigration policies in the United Kingdom, here are the top stories impacting im/migrant well-being this week.
– Sophia Benavente, Law and Policy Intern
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
A new poll of over 2,500 U.S. adults finds that about 6 in 10 Americans say the U.S. used to be a great place for Immigrants but no longer is. Roughly a third of those polled report that they or someone they know has been directly impacted by the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement. Impacts include carrying proof of citizenship, changing travel plans, and avoiding work or school—with Hispanic adults reporting feeling the effects at a higher rate than Black or white adults.
How Trump’s immigration crackdown is affecting everyday Americans, according to a new AP-NORC poll
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
New York Bars ICE Agents From Wearing Masks in Broad Immigration Deal
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a sweeping immigration deal as part of the state budget that bans law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, from wearing masks on duty and prohibits state and local officials from entering into formal agreements with ICE.
Immigrants are giving up their cases and leaving the U.S. in soaring numbers
Immigration judges issued over 80,000 “voluntary departure” orders in the first 15 months of Trump’s second term as immigrants in detention increasingly give up their asylum claims to escape prolonged or indefinite imprisonment.
Migrant Data Extractivism: Tech and Borders at the Limit of Rights
The Collaborative released a new policy memo by Dr. Marianna Poyares, PhD, on her concept, “migrant data extractivism,” based on her August 2025 article published in the International Migration Journal and its important policy implications. In the memo, Dr. Poyares calls on policymakers to discontinue DHS’s migrant DNA collection program. She also urges humanitarian agencies to institute a complete inversion of the expertise workflow, prioritizing displaced communities first, then humanitarian expertise, and finally, technosystems.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Sudanese asylum seekers challenge Home Office rule changes for refugees
Two Sudanese asylum seekers are legally challenging the UK’s new policy, that halves refugees’ leave to remain in the country from five years to 30 months and requires them to wait 20 years before qualifying for permanent settlement. The claimants argue the policy is discriminatory, and would not deter asylum seekers.
Reform UK plan to set up migrant detention centres in Green-voting areas condemned by other parties – as it happened
Reform UK sparked cross-party backlash with a proposal to deliberately build migrant detention centers in areas represented by Green Party MPs or councils, while promising Reform-voting constituencies would be exempt.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
Inspired by family’s immigration journey, first-gen grad earns 2 degrees
Pope appoints former undocumented immigrant as bishop of West Virginia
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.