Happy Friday! From the intersection of gender identity and immigration in the wake of the Trump administration’s most recent executive orders to churches working to keep their congregations safe, these are the top stories impacting the well-being of immigrants this week. – Sophia Benavente
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
Guantanamo Bay was cleared of migrants since Thursday when 177 were sent to Venezuela and one to the U.S. On Sunday, the military transported 17 detainees from Texas to the base for deportation.
Trump Administration Moves More Migrants to Guantánamo Bay
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Trump’s policies on gender identity and immigration have trans immigrants worried about their future
Recent executive orders by President Trump targeting transgender individuals and immigration have raised concerns among transgender immigrants. Advocacy groups provide support and legal assistance, highlighting the unique vulnerabilities this community faces under these policies.
Trump floats $5 million ‘gold card’ as a route to US citizenship
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday proposed replacing a visa program for foreign investors with a “gold card” that could be purchased for $5 million as a path to American citizenship.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
The US lines up Latin American cooperation for migrant deportations
The U.S. is redirecting Venezuelan migrants to Mexico and repatriating Central Asian families through Panama and Costa Rica. Additionally, Venezuelans in Guantanamo Bay are returned to Caracas via Honduras. These actions reflect efforts by the Trump administration to discourage reaching the U.S. border and reverse regional migration flows.
Q&A: How Trump’s Executive Orders Could Affect Latin America’s Energy Integration with the US
Many Latin American countries have maintained a longstanding and close energy trade relationship with the United States. However, some executive orders from the Trump administration could potentially disrupt this decades-long energy integration in the Americas.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
How Spain’s radically different approach to migration helped its economy soar
White House broadcasts immigration raids, but are arrests really up?
How churches are trying to keep their congregations safe as threats of ICE raids loom
Thank you for reading the IWB Stories of the Week series! Stay tuned for next week’s edition.
Sophia Benavente is a Law & Policy Intern at the Im/migrant Well- Being Collaborative. She contributes by writing blog posts, translating materials, and assisting with research.