The immigration thread

[Rewind]

If, as expected, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rules that DACA violates federal immigration laws, the issue of its legality will likely wind up before the Supreme Court – which, unfortunately, Donald Trump packed with right-wing, pro-Trump, anti-immigrant Justices.

Biden administration moves to formalize DACA and shield it from legal challenges
CBS News, Aug 24 2022 5:02 PM ET

The Biden administration today finalized a rule to transform the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration policy into a federal regulation, a move aimed at protecting the program from legal challenges that imperil its existence. The 453-page rule by the Department of Homeland Security is set to take effect on October 31 and will codify the Obama-era program, which has been governed by a 2012 memo for a decade, into the federal government's code of regulations.

Since its inception, DACA has allowed hundreds of thousands of unauthorized immigrants who arrived in the US as children to live and work in the country legally without fear of deportation. While technical in nature, the change announced today is designed to address some of the Republican-led legal challenges against DACA, which a federal judge in Texas last year closed to new applicants.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/immigra...tion-dreamers/

[Rewind]

The so-called Dreamers are probably wondering when their nightmare will finally end and they will finally be protected from possible deportation.

Federal appeals court rules 2012 DACA memo unlawful, sends case back to district court
CNN Oct 5 2022 7:35 PM EDT

A federal appeals court has largely upheld a district court ruling finding that the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is unlawful but sent the case back to the lower court to decide the legality of a new rule fortifying the program. DACA, created in 2012, was intended to provide temporary reprieve to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, a group often described as "Dreamers." Many of them are now adults. More than 611,000 immigrants have enrolled in the program. Today’s ruling will not affect those currently in the program but it will continue to block new applications.

Judge Andrew Hanen of the Southern District of Texas ruled in July 2021 that DACA was unlawful and blocked the government from approving new applications for the program. Hanen’s order, however, allowed the program to continue for current enrollees while the case is litigated. The appeals court today preserved the stay in its ruling. The Biden administration released a rule in August to "preserve and fortify" the DACA program, largely maintaining the criteria for the program. The federal appeals court acknowledged the new regulation in its ruling, saying the lower court should consider it.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/05/polit...ful/index.html

[Rewind]

The Trump administration and the Biden adinistration have insisted enforcement of the Title 42 policy reduces the number of coronavirus outbreaks in border holding facilities. What it actually does is reduce the number of immigrants and asylum seekers.

Judge gives US 5 weeks to stop expelling migrants under Title 42 policy
CBS News, Nov 16 2022 11:!8 AM

Judge Emmet Sullivan of the US District Court for the District of Columbia today gave federal immigration authorities five weeks to stop using a public health authority known as Title 42 to swiftly expel migrants, a ruling that could block the main tool the Biden administration has used to manage an unprecedented migration wave along the US-Mexico border.

First issued in 2020 by the Trump administration at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Title 42 policy relies on a late 19th century law designed to stop the "introduction" of contagious diseases in the United States. Migrants processed under Title 42 are not allowed to request asylum and are instead summarily expelled from the country. A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union argued that Title 42 places migrants in harm's way and violates US asylum law. Migrants on US soil, including those who cross the border illegally, are permitted to request humanitarian protection.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/title-4...mexico-border/

[Rewind]

Among other provisions, Title 42 of the United States Code allows the government to protect "public health" by banning people from designated foreign countries from entering the United States. Since 2020, the CDC has used Title 42 to expel nearly two and a half million migrants over fears they might be spreading COVID. The CDC directive was set to expire earlier this month but anti-immigrant Retrumplican leaders in 19 states asked the Supreme Court to keep the directive in place. Not surprisingly, the pro-Trump, right-wing Supreme Court sided with the anti-immigrant Retrumplicans.

Supreme Court says Trump-era border restriction will remain in effect while legal challenges play out

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/27/polit...-42/index.html

[Rewind]

These proposed fee increases would apply to applications for citizenship, applications for green cards and employment-based visas but not to applications for asylum. If enacted, the fee increases will enable US Citizenship & Immigration Services to hire more adjudicators to process asylum claims. Millions of cases are pending.

DHS proposes higher fees on immigrants applying for work-based visas

https://thehill.com/latino/3797171-d...k-based-visas/

[Rewind]

While running for President in 2015-16, Donald Trump promised to build a "big beautiful wall" along the U.S.-Mexico border to keep migrants out and make Mexico pay for it. Same as all his other promises, it was a lie. During a CNN town hall on May 10, 2023, Trump bragged, "I did finish the wall. I built the wall." That, of course, is another lie. The length of the border is 1,954 miles and only 52 miles of new fencing was erected while Trump was in his office.

If Trump 'finished' his wall like he claims, how are so many migrants still crossing?
The coup-attempting former President lies as a matter of course, but his lie about the wall he promised he would build in 2016 may wind up costing him in 2024.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump...b0355739361123

[Rewind]

In May, Title 42 of the United States Code expired. Fear of the spread of COVID can no longer be used as justification for barring migrants from entering the United States. Also in May, the Biden administration imposed a rule that disqualifies migrants from seeking asylum if they cross the southern border unlawfully after failing to request refuge in a third country, such as Mexico or Guatemala, on their journey north.

Supreme Court revives Biden immigration enforcement plan
NBC News, Jun 23 2023 3:49 PM PDT

The Supreme Court today breathed new life into a Biden administration policy that will set immigration enforcement priorities by focusing on public safety threats. The Justices, in an 8-1 vote, overturned a Texas-based federal judge’s ruling in June of last year that blocked the policy nationwide. It had previously been in effect for less than a year. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas welcomed the decision, saying the policy allows immigration officers "to focus limited resources and enforcement actions on those who pose a threat to our national security, public safety and border security."

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...plan-rcna68400

[Rewind]

Judge Andrew Hanen sided with anti-Obama, anti-Biden, anti-immigrant, white nationalist Retrumplicans in nine states who had sued to stop the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program.

Federal judge again declares that DACA is illegal with issue likely to be decided by Supreme Court

https://apnews.com/article/immigrati...1251aef84b0284

[Rewind]

I wonder if Greg Abbott really considered the consquences of this measure. If migrants quit coming to Texas, he will no longer have the fun of putting thousands of people on buses and planes and sending them to other states in an effort to score political points.

Justice Department sues Texas over state law allowing police to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally
Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed the measure into law last month. It is set to take effect in March.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...ant-rcna125028

[Rewind]

Retrumplicans say they want to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and halt the influx of undocumented immigrants – but they refuse to support a bipartisan bill which would do exactly that. Donald Trump opposes the bill and Retrumplicans don't dare vote for anything that their leader opposes. They also don't want to pass any legislation which would make President Biden look good. As Senator Chris Murphy points out, there is no difference between House Republicans and Senate Republicans. They are "dysfunctional" and "tied to Trump."

'They are a disaster': Democrats 'disgusted' by GOP reversal on securing border
“They don’t have the backbone, the guts, the spine to resist the blandishments of Trump even when they know he’s wrong," Senator Chuck Schumer said.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/borde...b069b665dce357