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Your weekly summary from the Council LATEST ANALYSIS
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 » 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 »
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, 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 ACROSS THE NATION
As we commemorate the three-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd and the largest series of organized actions 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; Bemidji, MN; Niagara, NY; Ellsworth, ME; Port Clinton, OH; and CBP capabilities). 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 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.” FURTHER READING
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