As we close out this week, the Collaborative is back with another Stories of the Week recap. From concerns over what mass deportation means for the U.S. economy to conditions in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, here are the top stories impacting the well-being of im/migrants this week.
– Sophia Benavente
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
U.S. factories are grappling with the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, as veteran workers from overseas are being forced to leave their jobs. Economists predict that the increase in deportations could cost millions of jobs, including in the food, hospitality, construction, transportation, and care sectors.
US workers say Trump’s immigration crackdown is causing labor shortages: ‘A strain on everybody’
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Immigrants in the US illegally fight the Trump administration’s new no-bail policy
A class action lawsuit has been filed challenging the Trump administration’s policy requiring immigrants in the U.S. arrested by ICE to remain in detention while fighting their deportation. The new policy has been called a “misinterpretation of the law,” with disastrous effects for noncitizens and their families, who could face years in detention before their case is resolved.
House Democrats Sue ICE for Barring Them From Detention Facilities
On Wednesday, a dozen House Democrats filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that a new policy restricting lawmakers’ access to immigrant detention sites unlawfully interfered with their oversight responsibilities. All twelve had previously been denied entry to the facilities.
‘Welcome to hell’: Inside the megaprison where the U.S. deported migrants
Interviews with 16 former detainees of El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center reveals the inhumane conditions inside the prison where over 250 Venezuelan immigrants to the United States were sent earlier this year.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Refugee and migrant crossings to UK hit record high by end of July
Over 25,000 people have crossed the English Channel to the UK in 2025, the highest total recorded so far. The record high is predicted to intensify scrutiny over Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s handling of undocumented migration, while far-right demonstrations have been held outside a hotel housing asylum seekers located north of London.
Migration Fears Turn Europe’s Borderless Dreams Into Traffic Nightmares
Despite a slowing of border crossings, Germany’s new government has implemented border checks to demonstrate toughness on migration. These border checks have worsened traffic conditions and annoyed commuters. Despite protests, other neighboring EU countries have followed suit.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
“Declared Intention”: My Immigration Story, and Ours
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 Scholar Collaborative. She contributes by writing blog posts, translating materials, and assisting with research.