Your weekly summary from the Council

 LATEST ANALYSIS 

• An Undocumented Women’s Complicated American Pride on the Fourth of July

My first Fourth of July was in the Texas country. Fireworks, lawn games, little American flags, burgers, and Old Navy tees—I got the full experience. As a young immigrant, I was slowly growing accustomed to the culture. I knew that the Fourth of July was a big deal because of cartoons, yet I didn’t speak a lick of English. I didn’t feel like an American. My first Fourth of July felt more like a costume party than a true celebration. I was happy to be there but felt nostalgic for the country that had raised me. Read More »

• Biden’s Asylum Transit Ban – Where Are We Now?

The asylum transit ban is a warmed-over version of a Trump policy that blocked asylum for anyone who traveled through a third country on their way to the United States without applying for and being denied asylum there first. Less than two months after the asylum transit ban’s implementation, we’re seeing the damage it’s causing to asylum seekers in real time. Read More »

• Supreme Court Allows Biden Administration to Reinstitute Its Immigration Enforcement Priorities

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in U.S. v. Texas, which allows the Biden administration to resume its implementation of guidelines for immigration enforcement within the interior of the United States, otherwise known as enforcement priorities. Read More »

 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW 

• A staggering 100 million individuals were displaced from their homes in 2022, a significant increase from 65 million in 2015, according to recent data. Out of the total number of displaced people, 32.5 million were refugees who were compelled to leave their countries due to fear of persecution or other compelling reasons. While the United States has set a refugee admission target of 125,000 for 2023, ongoing global crises are placing greater demands on this number. Additionally, apart from regular refugee admissions, the United States has granted humanitarian parole to nearly 180,000 individuals from Afghanistan and Ukraine since 2021.  
   
  A new report from the American Immigration Council highlights the substantial economic and social impact of refugees in the United States and provides compelling evidence that refugees have become an indispensable part of their local communities, revitalizing cities and towns across the nation
  
  Read more: Starting Anew: The Economic Impact of Refugees in America

 ACROSS THE NATION 

• The American Immigration Council, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and Mijente Support Committee released new data obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, shedding light on the enforcement activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the period when the Biden administration's enforcement priorities were initially in effect. The data analysis exposes how ICE frequently deviated from the established priorities, arresting and removing individuals who did not fall within the designated categories. 

Read more: ICE Didn’t Follow Federal Enforcement Priorities Set by Biden Administration

• The American Immigration Council joined a coalition of broad political spectrum stakeholders to urge the Department of Labor (DOL) to annually update its occupation list to better reflect the conditions facing the current labor markets.
  
  Read more: Coalition Urges Department of Labor to Update Schedule A Occupation List to Meet Current Labor Market Needs

 QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

“Florida’s anti-immigrant law perpetuates harmful stereotypes and fosters an atmosphere of fear and hostility. This misguided legislation not only targets immigrants and their families, but it also jeopardizes the fabric of Florida’s communities, as well as the state’s economy. Our lawsuit seeks to ensure the fundamental rights and dignity of every individual in the state — regardless of their immigration status. No one should live in fear or face discrimination based on their immigration status, their presumed immigration status or the immigration status of their family members.”

– Kate Melloy Goettel, legal director of litigation at the American Immigration Council

 BELONGING 

• In the third video in our Upworthy series, Sonia and Sumaia share their experience finding family and connection together.   

Watch: Powerful Bond

• The Norlanders have been walking alongside the Holiuks after they fled Ukraine and resettled in the U.S. In the fourth episode of our Upworthy series, we highlight what welcome looks like between two Mid-Western families.  

Watch: Leaving Home In Search of Safety

• Discover how Tin and Carole's deep friendship and shared passion for knitting fosters belonging within an entire community in the concluding chapter of our Upworthy series. 

Watch: Friendship and Love for Knitting 

 FURTHER READING 

• NPR Baltimore (LISTEN): Immigrant families impact on economy, labor in Baltimore County

• Inside Nova: Journeys to NOVA: When America saves your life but stalls your career

• Indiana Capital Chronicle: Recruit the parents. Deport their kids. This is the fate of 200,000 legal immigrants

• Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. restarts asylum appointments at Mexico border town despite extortion threat

• The Associated Press: Pedro Pascal and World Bank’s Ajay Banga among those named to Carnegie’s 2023 Great Immigrants list

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