Stories of the Week: July 8

Happy Friday! From new data backing up claims that immigrants bolster US labor to a family reunion story from Denver, these are the top stories impacting the well-being of immigrants this week. —Márko Sanchez

The mainstream myth that immigration is “poisoning” the US continues to be dispelled by empirical research, which concludes that migrants nourish the country through increased productivity, diversified skill sets, and complementary labor fulfillment.

Immigrants Do Not Displace US Workers or Reduce Wages

New GOP Party Platform Echoes Xenophobic Rhetoric  

The new party platform uses terms like “migrant invasion” as it seeks to halt immigration from the southern border and eliminate sanctuary cities, among other proposals.

Judge Terminates Protection For Unaccompanied Minors 

A judge grants the Biden administration’s request to overturn a precedent requiring “least restrictive” holding and prompt release of child migrants in detention.

IN Attorney General Sues East Chicago Over Sanctuary City Status 

AG Todd Rokita alleges that the city of East Chicago’s ordinance violates Indiana law by restricting the enforcement of federal immigration law.

Australia Defends Discriminatory Immigration Policy 

Current Australian law rejects visa applications from migrants whose medical costs exceed 57,000 USD per year. In 2022, officials rejected 1,779 applications despite stating that 99% of applicants meet the requirements. 

UK to End Rwanda Immigrant Restrictions  

Prime Minister Starmer is scrapping the plan under the Tory government, declaring it an ineffective deterrent to immigration. The plan previously deported migrants to Rwanda in an attempt to end small boat crossings. 

As Birth Rates Fall, Taiwan Loosens Immigration  

As the Taiwanese population ages and birth rates fall, officials are attempting to curb a population crisis. By loosening immigration policies, migrant workers will fill the roles of in-home caretakers and help increase the population.   

Thank you for reading the IWB Stories of the Week series! Stay tuned for next week’s edition.

Marko Sánchez serves as the Communications Intern at the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative. They assist in creating public-facing communications and content such as social media posts, website blogs, and press releases.