As we conclude this week, the Collaborative returns with another Stories of the Week recap. From protests at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey to a new resource for parents and caregivers facing the impacts of family separation, here are the top stories impacting im/migrant well-being this week.
– Thomas J. Rachko, Jr., Policy Lead
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
Protests emerged outside of Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, as 300 people who are detained at the facility engaged in a hunger strike. Some of the protestors were subjected to violence by ICE agents including Senator Andy Kim who was pepper-sprayed after visiting the facility.
‘We won’t stop until they’re free’: protesters outside a New Jersey ICE facility in their own words
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
ICE detainees dying by suicide at ‘alarming’ rate, AP investigation finds
At least ten people detained in immigration in the United States have died by suicide since the start of the second Trump administration in January 2025. These deaths account for about a fifth of the total number of 51 deaths in ICE custody since January 2025.
Revealed: huge climate cost of harmful emissions from US immigration flights
A new data analysis shared with the Guardian shows the environmental impacts of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. According to the analysis, “US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) air operations pumped into the air an estimated 335,876 tonnes (370,240 US tons) of carbon emissions in 2025, up 88% from the year before.” These emissions are likely to exacerbate the climate crisis impacting the well-being of all people across the globe.
Más Que Nervios: The Latino Mental Health Crisis in the United States
In light of Mental Health Awareness Month, Cisneros Scholar and Collaborative Law and Policy Intern Sophia Benavente writes about the burgeoning mental health crisis facing Latinos in the United States. As she argues to conclude the piece – awareness is critical: “Increasing awareness of systemic barriers to care for Latino communities in the United States is key to stopping and undoing the damage of the deepening mental health crisis facing Latino communities.”
Explainer for Parents and Their Helpers Seeking Family Reunification
A new explainer by the Family Separation Working Group of the Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues at Georgetown University shares resources for and explains the rights of parents and caregivers who are facing the impacts of family separation. Created in partnership with trusted national and international organizations, the explainer is also available in Spanish.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Ghana begins repatriating citizens from South Africa due to anti-immigration tensions
Around 300 Ghanian nationals returned to their country from South Africa this past week. The repatriation is a sign of rising anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa.
Costa Rica Named Latin America Leader for Immigrant Well-Being
Costa Rica remains one of Latin America’s main receiving countries for migrants and refugees. According to the 2026 Remitly Immigration Index, the country was among the top 50 countries for immigrant well-being.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
Thank you for reading the IWB Stories of the Week series! Stay tuned for next week’s edition.
Thomas J. Rachko, Jr., serves as the Policy Lead at the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative where he works alongside affiliate scholars to translate academic research in accessible ways for policymakers, advocates, and activists to make change.