Courts block ‘public charge’; New displacement in north Syria

U.S. (Im)migration News

Courts block ‘public charge’ rule: Last Friday, federal judges in three states — New York, Washington and California — issued injunctions temporarily blocking the Trump administration’s “public charge” rule, which would have denied visas or permanent residency for immigrants who used benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP and housing programs (The New York Times). The regulation, one the Trump administration’s signature policies, was set to go into effect Oct. 15. At issue in the courts is how the definition of “public charge” should be interpreted. Advocates had argued the sweeping policy was overly broad and would discriminate against low-income immigrants. But it’s not the end of the road for the regulation: Appeals are highly likely. And in the meantime, the policy is already having the desired effect. Immigrants confused and scared about how the policy could eventually affect them are declining to renew their benefits (Texas Observer).

What we’re watching:

Who will lead Homeland Security next?: Kevin McAleenan, the Trump administration’s fourth secretary of Homeland Security, resigned last week after six months on the job. McAleenan passed as a moderate in the Trump administration, but his policies — such as the Migrant Protection Protocols, “asylum ban” and a series of “safe third-country” agreements — have wreaked havoc on the lives of migrants (New Yorker). McAleenan’s resignation came days after he told the Washington Post he had lost control of the “tone, the message, the public face and approval of the department” at an “increasingly polarized time.” It is unclear who Trump will tap next for the job. Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, is rumored to be in the running, as is Acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan.
Trump to deny visas to immigrants without healthcare coverage: Earlier this month, Trump issued a proclamation that will require all immigrants to prove they can acquire health insurance in the U.S. before they are issued a visa. The insurance can be long or short-term, but cannot be procured under the Affordable Care Act's subsidies or Medicaid (Politico). The regulation would particularly impact low-income immigrants, experts say, and could keep out up to two-thirds of future immigrants (Vox). The Trump administration said the measure is meant to prevent immigrants from “financially burdening” the U.S. (USA Today). Officials who oversee the nation’s health insurance markets have expressed concerns the new mandate would be impossible and perhaps even illegal to implement (Politico). It is set to take effect Nov. 3.

What we’re reading:

KBPS: A new trove of documents obtained by the ACLU sheds light on years of alleged abuse of detained minors by Border Patrol agents.
The Intercept: The ACLU is suing border agencies for the harassment of journalists and advocates.
The Washington Post: Trump says he will unfreeze security aid to Central American countries.
Wall Street Journal: The Supreme Court this week explored whether states can prosecute undocumented immigrants for identity theft when applying for jobs.
Los Angeles Times: Identical twins, identical asylum claims — but totally different outcomes at the border.
Zora: How a black trans asylum seeker is fighting for her freedom.
The World: Legal status for thousands of Liberians in U.S. hangs on court case.
Associated Press: Louisiana becomes hub for immigrant detention under Trump.
NPR: How the Trump administration uses “workarounds” to reshape legal immigration.
The Intercept: The U.S. asylum ban has not deterred Honduran women.
Reuters: California bans private prisons and immigration detention centers.
Univision: ICE in New York has a spy tool to hunt undocumented immigrants via their cell phones.
Reuters: U.S. migrant policy sends thousands of children, including babies, back to Mexico.
CNN: Why one area along the U.S.-Mexico border saw drownings triple and water rescues skyrocket more than 1,000%.
Time: The Trump administration is ramping up deportations to Cuba.
Christian Science Monitor: The cost of a guest worker visa? For some scam victims, years of debt.
CityLab: The foreign-born population has declined in U.S. states that voted Democratic in 2016, and increased in states and metros that voted for Trump.
Dallas News: Attorney of U.S. citizen facing deportation fears federal government is building a case to question his client’s citizenship.