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Your weekly summary from the Council
LATEST ANALYSIS
- Expansion of Central American Minors Program Offers New Opportunities for Families to Reunite
“Addressing the ongoing challenges caused by migration requires thinking outside the ‘enforcement-only’ box. Immigration isn’t just about ‘homeland security’—it’s about American leadership and identity. The U.S. State Department must collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security, as well as international organizations and civil society, to make the Western Hemisphere safe for everyone. Good intentions must be matched with a commitment to provide staffing and resources. This effort won’t produce real results unless both departments take their responsibility seriously.” Read More »
- ICE Is Shifting Bond Payments to an Electronic System
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the launch of CeBONDS, a new system people can use to pay bonds and secure the release of individuals in immigration detention. The new system allows people paying the bond—referred to as obligors—to go through most of the process online without having to make the payment at a local ICE office. Read More »
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
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This week, the Departments of State and Homeland Security jointly announced that regional processing centers will be established in Colombia and Guatemala, where individuals can be screened to see whether they are eligible for refugee status or any other form of lawful status. The goal of the centers will be twofold: address the growing refugee crisis across the Western Hemisphere and curb migration to the United States by offering people alternate pathways to the United States.
The announcement comes just weeks before Title 42–an obscure public health law the United States has used to expel asylum seekers during the pandemic—is set to expire. In preparation, the Biden administration has indicated that it plans to limit pathways to asylum through a series of crackdowns at the border but is also opening new legal pathways through parole and the creation of these regional processing centers.
This fact sheet from the American Immigration Council examines the definition of a refugee and contextualizes the crisis that has left some 90 million people displaced worldwide.
Read more: An Overview of U.S. Refugee Law and Policy
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Addressing the ongoing challenges caused by migration requires thinking outside the ‘enforcement-only’ box. Immigration isn’t just about ‘homeland security’—it’s about American leadership and identity. The U.S. State Department must collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security, as well as international organizations and civil society, to make the Western Hemisphere safe for everyone. Good intentions must be matched with a commitment to provide staffing and resources. This effort won’t produce real results unless both departments take their responsibility seriously.”
– Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Director of Policy at the American Immigration Council
FURTHER READING
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Don’t Miss the Largest Annual Gathering of Immigration Practitioners
The year’s biggest event in immigration law, the 2023 AILA Annual Conference and Webcast on Immigration Law (AC23), is taking place this June in Orlando, Florida.
Grab your sunglasses and join the immigration law community for four days of boosting your skills while also earning most—if not all—of the CLE credits you need for the whole year, connecting with the AILA community, and learning from the nation’s foremost immigration law experts. Early-bird discounted rates expire on May 17, so make your plans today to ensure you access the lowest registration rates available.
Learn more: 2023 AILA Annual Conference
*If you're a member of the press and interested in attending AC23, contact [email protected]. If you are interested in becoming an exhibitor or sponsor, contact [email protected].
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