As we close out this week, the Collaborative is back with another Stories of the Week recap. From a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas, to how a student won the NPR podcast challenge by focusing on the stories of her family’s Indian heritage – here are the top stories impacting the well-being of im/migrants this week.
– Rick Tzompa Chimal
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
One person who was detained at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Dallas was killed while two other people were critically wounded. Officials say there’s no public evidence yet pointing to a political, ideological, or terrorist motivation, and investigators are still examining the suspect’s background.
Man who fired on ICE facility hated US government, sought to kill federal agents, officials say
NATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
Georgia senators demand answers on more than a dozen deaths in immigration detention
Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have formally asked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to explain how over a dozen people died while in U.S. immigration detention. DHS said in an email to NPR: “All in-custody deaths are tragic, taken seriously, and are thoroughly investigated by law enforcement.”
US judge blocks Trump from tying states’ disaster aid to immigration enforcement
A federal judge in Rhode Island struck down a Trump administration rule that tied states’ access to federal disaster and emergency aid to their cooperation with immigration enforcement. The court found the policy unconstitutional and overly broad, forcing states into an unfair choice between enforcing federal immigration policies or losing critical funds. The ruling blocks the administration from imposing immigration-related conditions on all DHS grants.
INTERNATIONAL STORIES OF THE WEEK
11 migrants deported by US to Ghana were sent home despite safety concerns, their lawyer says
Eleven people deported from the U.S. to Ghana were returned despite concerns over their safety, including risks tied to political instability and health issues. Ghanaian officials and human rights advocates raised alarm that some deportees were vulnerable due to conditions in the areas they were sent back to. The U.S. stated that deportations followed legal procedures but has faced scrutiny over whether more should have been done to assess risks before removal.
Trump slams ‘uncontrolled migration’ — and blames the U.N.
At the United Nations General Assembly, Trump warned of “uncontrolled migration,” calling it a major global problem. He accused the U.N. of fueling the crisis by spending money on shelter and transportation that aid migrants heading to the U.S. Trump also criticized European countries, arguing their open migration policies and “political correctness” threaten their cultural heritage and security.
HEART-WARMERS OF THE WEEK
A student’s winning podcast looks back to a way of life she never knew
New Class-Action Lawsuit Challenges Widespread Denial of Due Process in Immigration Courts
Thank you for reading the IWB Stories of the Week series! Stay tuned for next week’s edition.
Rick Tzompa Chimal is a Communications & Policy Intern at the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative. He contributes by writing blog posts, translating materials, and assisting with research.