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Your weekly summary from the Council
LATEST ANALYSIS
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New Report Uncovers CBP’s Role in Policing Racial Justice Protests in Summer 2020 [[link removed]]
In the summer of 2020, after George Floyd’s murder, racial justice protests took hold in cities throughout the country. The massive mobilization reflected a nationwide groundswell of opposition to abusive and deadly policing. As we continue to recognize the important galvanizing work of racial justice movements such as the Black Lives Matter movement, we must be confident that our own government will not try to suppress these protests – which starts with transparency regarding the use and tactics of federal law enforcement. Read More » [[link removed]]
Communities Celebrate Their Commitment to Welcoming and Belonging During Welcoming Week [[link removed]]
Last week, communities across the United States participated in Welcoming America’s Welcoming Week. The annual campaign has rapidly expanded over the years to include more than 650 local events that showcase each community’s commitment to fostering welcoming and belonging for all their residents, including their immigrant neighbors. Since its inception in 2012, Welcoming Week has concluded on Citizenship Day, September 17. This year, with more than 130 naturalization ceremonies across the nation, over 6,900 individuals became new U.S. citizens . Read More » [[link removed]]
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
On Sept. 20, 2023, the Biden Administration announced it will be extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an estimated 472,000 Venezuelans who arrived in the United States before July 31, 2023. On Sept. 21, 2023, an announcement followed extending and redesignating TPS for an estimated 14,600 Afghans who arrived before September 20, 2023.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a crucial program in the United States that provides a lifeline to individuals hailing from countries facing severe temporary conditions, such as armed conflicts or natural disasters. As of March 2023, over 610,000 immigrants benefited from TPS, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. It offers TPS holders a reprieve in increments of six, 12, or 18 months, with the possibility of extension, alongside work authorization and protection from deportation. Beyond humanitarian reasons, the program carries economic significance. As new research we published this week shows [[link removed]] , TPS holders in 2021 contributed over $2.2 billion in taxes, nearly $1 billion to state and local governments, and had $8 billion in spending power, bolstering U.S. businesses when they spent on daily essentials like groceries, haircuts, or rent.
The economic impact of TPS is substantial, highlighting the interconnectedness of immigrant communities with the nation's prosperity. Hence, TPS not only serves as a humanitarian shield but also as a vital economic engine, sustaining both individuals and the U.S. economy as a whole.
Read more: Temporary Protective Status: An Overview [[link removed]]
ACROSS THE NATION
New documents published by the American Immigration Council and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration and partners, confirm U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) presence at racial justice protests in the summer of 2020.
As we commemorate the three-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd and the largest series of organized actions [[link removed]] for racial justice in U.S. history, it’s clear that CBP—an agency many believed was confined to border enforcement—deployed personnel, aerial surveillance, and other federal law enforcement resources to cities around the country. ( Pearland, TX; [[link removed]] Bemidji, MN; [[link removed]] Niagara, NY; [[link removed]] Ellsworth, ME; [[link removed]] Port Clinton, OH; [[link removed]] and CBP capabilities). [[link removed]] In at least one documented instance, CBP personnel utilized unmarked vehicles to remove and detain protestors without identifying the agency.
This new interactive data report from the American Immigration Council compiles and discusses publicly available documents. The documents show that CBP often got involved in policing protests without being asked by city or state officials, and that its actions went beyond its supposed mandate to protect federal property.
Read more: CBP Deployment Interactive Web Report [[link removed]]
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The United States is a nation of immigrants, one which has achieved its status as the richest and most powerful nation in the world in large part through the contributions of people who chose to make this country their home. Throughout our history, immigrants have fueled economic growth, built thriving businesses, and contributed to the health and wellbeing of our communities... Immigration is this country’s “secret sauce.”
– Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Policy Director at the American Immigration Council, testifying to the Homeland Security Committee at “The Financial Costs of Mayorkas’ Open Border” Hearing on September 20, 2023 [[link removed]]
FURTHER READING
The Intercept: Uninvited and unaccountable: how CBP policed George Floyd Protests [[link removed]]
Politico: They Thought Their Sick Little Girl Would Be Safe in America. Then It Denied Her Family Entry. [[link removed].]
San Jose Spotlight: Immigrants put billions of dollars into Santa Clara County [[link removed]]
NBC Bay Area: Study details immigrants' contributions to South Bay economy [[link removed]]
Maine Morning Star : Maine aims to boost workforce with Office of New Americans, but questions remain about urgent needs [[link removed]]
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