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CMS Migration Update is a weekly digest of news and other information related to national and international migration.  It is designed to educate faith leaders regarding vulnerable immigrant populations, developments in the immigration field, pastoral resources and the religious touchstones of diverse faith traditions on migrants and newcomers. It should not be relied upon to provide advice or counsel in immigration cases. The publication is provided by the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS), an educational institute/think-tank devoted to the study of international migration, to the promotion of understanding between immigrants and receiving communities, and to public policies that safeguard the dignity and rights of migrants, refugees and newcomers. CMS is a member of the Scalabrini International Migration Network, an international network of shelters, welcoming centers, and other ministries for migrants.
Thomas J. Shea
Editor
Rachel Reyes
Director of Communications
May 17, 2016

Exclusive: US Plans New Wave of Immigrant Deportation Raids

Reuters (May 12, 2016)
 
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly plans to conduct a series of raids over a 30-day period between May and June. The raids will target Central American migrants and refugees – most of whom are mothers and children – who entered the United States without authorization and who have been ordered removed from the United States. Migrants who illegally entered the United States as unaccompanied minors but who have since turned 18 will also be targeted. An ICE spokeswoman did not confirm or deny the plans but said that immigrants who arrived after January 1, 2014 are priorities for removal. Immigration advocates have asked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to abandon these plans.
 
To read more, visit http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-deportation-exclusive-idUSKCN0Y32J1.

Dems Slam New Wave of Obama Deportations

The Hill (May 13, 2016)
 
Human rights advocates and Democrats in the US House of Representatives “are up in arms” after learning about the Obama administration’s plan to conduct raids over the next month to arrest and deport Central Americans who have been denied political asylum. They are concerned that the migrants have been denied basic legal protections in the United States and that their lives will be at risk if they are forced to return to their countries. House Democrats are also questioning the Obama administration decision to engage in controversial raids during an election year when the party is trying to attract Hispanic voters. The anti-immigrant rhetoric and restrictive immigration stance of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, should help Democrats in an election year. However, according to the author, carrying out raids against refugee women and children would diminish this political advantage.
 
To read more, visit http://thehill.com/homenews/news/279893-dems-hammer-white-house-over-deportation-reports.

Health Care at New Jersey Immigrant Jail Is Substandard, Watchdog Groups Say

The New York Times (May 11, 2016)
 
Two citizens’ coalitions that monitor conditions at US immigration detention facilities filed a complaint with the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties against the Hudson County Correctional Facility (Hudson) in Kearny, New Jersey. Citing 61 cases, the complaint alleges substandard medical care at the facility and claims that it is one of the top three worst detention facilities of 53 monitored sites. The complaint is the final effort of the coalitions to try to resolve the issue administratively before filing a lawsuit. The article discusses the case of Nelson Fernandez, a US lawful permanent resident for 26 years who received probation 24 years ago for a drug conviction. Although there were no new criminal charges against Mr. Fernandez, ICE arrested him in 2014 and placed him in Hudson. Mr. Fernandez suffers from an autoimmune disorder that requires him to take blood thinners to prevent fatal blood clots. Soon after his arrival at Hudson, Mr. Fernandez started bleeding internally for lack of medication. When he was finally brought to a hospital, a clot was discovered near his heart. When a complaint was filed, ICE expedited his deportation to the Dominican Republic where he now lives separated from his US citizen parents, brothers, and six children.
 
To read more, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/nyregion/health-care-at-new-jersey-immigrant-jail-prompts-claim.html?emc=edit_tnt_20160511&nlid=47251438&tntemail0=y&_r=0.

TheDream.US Launches Unprecedented Scholarship for DREAMers Denied College Access

Latin Post (May 10, 2016)
 
The privately funded TheDream.US is a national scholarship fund geared towards helping young people granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to attend college. Recently, the Dream.US launched the Opportunity Scholarship which will award financial aid to up to 500 DACA and TPS beneficiaries who are residents of one of 16 states that either prevent undocumented students from attending college or charge them out-of-state tuition rates. The 16 “locked out” states are Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Applications for the scholarships are due by Thursday, June 9, 2016.  Recipients will receive up to $80,000 to cover the costs of tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and meals. 
 
To read more, visit http://www.latinpost.com/articles/120359/20160510/thedream-us-launches-unprecedented-scholarship-for-dreamers-denied-college-access.htm.
 
To learn how to apply, visit http://www.thedream.us/opportunityscholarship/.

Stop Transfer of Immigration Detainees with Health Problems to Jails, Lawyer Urges CBSA

CBC News (May 11, 2016)
 
During an interview with CBC News, Anthony Navaneelan, a staff attorney with Refugee Law Office at Legal Aid Ontario in Toronto, claimed that Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is transferring sick and mentally ill immigrants from immigration detention centers to provincial jails for medical or psychiatric treatment. According to the article, the transfers occur because of limited medical services available at the detention centers to treat serious physical or mental problems. Mr. Navaneelan stated, "Prisons are meant for punishment...That's what they are designed for. Immigration detainees who are sick should not be there." Dr. Michaela Beder, a psychiatrist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, said that immigration detainees with medical or psychiatric problems should be transferred to hospitals because that is where they will receive the proper care.
 
To read more, visit http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/prison-immigration-detainees-illness-cbsa-1.3573454.

Non-Syrians Denied Asylum Claims under EU-Turkey Deal - MEPs

The Guardian (May 10, 2016)
 
Three Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) claim that deportations from Greece to Turkey carried out under the agreement made in March between the European Union (EU) and Turkey violate international law. The March agreement calls for Greece to deport to Turkey migrants who illegally enter the country, after the migrants have been advised of their right to apply for asylum and given the opportunity to present their asylum claims. Migrants in Turkey are also supposed to be given the opportunity to apply for asylum. After interviews with 40 deportees in Turkey, the MEPs determined that migrants in both Greece and Turkey were not advised of their rights to pursue asylum. The EU maintains that all deportations are conducted in accordance with international law and that all deportees to Turkey had been advised of their right to apply for asylum and given an opportunity to apply.
 
To read more, visit http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/10/non-syrians-denied-asylum-claims-under-eu-turkey-deal-meps.

Pope Rebukes 'weary' Europe, Says Migrants Not Criminals

Reuters (May 6, 2016)
 
In remarks given during his acceptance of the Charlemagne Prize which is awarded annually by the German City of Aachen to the person who has “contributed most to the ideals of post-war Europe,” Pope Francis lamented the “malaise at the heart of the European Union” in responding the large influx of migrants and refugees into Europe. The Holy Father said that Europe was “increasingly entrenched, rather than open to initiating new social processes capable of engaging all individuals and groups in the search for new and productive solutions to current problem.” He added, "I dream of a Europe that cares for children, that offers fraternal help to the poor and those newcomers seeking acceptance because they have lost everything and need shelter...I dream of a Europe where being a migrant is not a crime.”
 
To read more, visit http://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-pope-idUSKCN0XX107.

100 Years Ago, Americans Talked about Catholics the Way They Talk about Muslims Today

Vox (December 9, 2015)
 
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, has called for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States. This article asserts that anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric is not a new phenomenon. It uses as an example the belief among many Americans 100 years ago that Catholics were gathering a massive arsenal of weapons to take over the United States. Such fears led to violence against Catholics. Xenophobic and restrictionist policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and the detainment of Japanese Americans during World War II have historically targeted the “outsider.”
 
To read more, visit http://www.vox.com/2015/12/9/9880942/islamophobia-catholics.

WASHINGTON UPDATE

H.R. 5207, the Freedom of Religion Act, was introduced by Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) and 98 co-sponsors, including one Republican, on May 12. The bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide that an alien cannot be denied admission to the United States because of the individual’s religion. Scholars are mixed as to whether Congress can restrict an Administration from considering religion as a possible bar to entry. 
 
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest will hold a hearing on Thursday, May 19, 2016, entitled, “Declining Deportations and Increasing Criminal Alien Releases – the Lawless Immigration Policies of the Obama Administration.” The hearing was likely prompted by reports that undocumented immigrants were being released by the Obama Administration for budgetary reasons. 
 
Two competing amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4909) would ban and permit the participation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) beneficiaries from joining the military. An amendment by Representative Tony Cardenas (D-CA) would allow such participation, while an amendment filed by Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) would bar such participation. Current law permits the Secretary of Defense to admit any individual who is “vital to the national interest.”

NEW FROM CMS


VIDEO | Migration Experts Series: Loren Landau

 
The CMS Migration Experts Series features video interviews with academics, researchers and experts at the forefront of international migration scholarship and practice. In the third video in the series, CMS interviews Dr. Loren Landau, the South African research chair on mobility and the politics of difference at the African Centre for Migration and Society of the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in South Africa. In this video, Dr. Landau discusses his recent research into urban “estuaries” and “archipelagos” that challenge how scholars traditionally view human mobility and governance.
 
To read more, visit http://cmsny.org/mes-loren-landau/.

If you are a migrant or pastoral worker and wish to submit an article or reflection to the CMS Migration Update, please email Tom Shea at tshea@cmsny.org
Copyright © 2016 Center for Migration Studies, New York, All rights reserved.


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