• A Shortage of Immigration Lawyers Is Another Barrier to Integration for Immigrants 
  
  Immigrants are now far more likely to face the complexities of the immigration court system alone, without an attorney. As of December 2023, only 30% of immigrants with pending cases have secured representation, down from 65% just four years ago. 

• ICE Subjected Immigrants in Detention to Unnecessary Surgeries, Report Finds
  
  The government watchdog report found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement improperly authorized 32% of major surgeries performed on individuals in detention. The report also suggests that the forced hysterectomies performed by medical staff to women detained at the Irwin Detention Center in Georgia were not isolated incidents. 

• The backlog of cases pending in U.S. immigration courts continues to grow. According to new data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), over three million cases are backlogged right now. Florida, Texas, and California currently have the highest number of backlogged cases.  
   
  A variety of factors are worsening the backlog, including a shortage of immigration judges and attorneys.  
   
  Access to counsel in immigration court remains incredibly important for a functioning system. Higher representation rates of immigrants would not only increase fairness in the immigration system but also help move cases along more efficiently. 
   
  This special report from the American Immigration Council provides information about the scope and impact of attorney representation in U.S. immigration courts. 
    
  Read more: Access to Counsel in Immigration Court 

• Bipartisan negotiations focused on changes to border policies continued this week on Capitol Hill.
  
  The Council and other experts held a press call to outline the several Trump-era policies under consideration in the Senate. The proposals include policies that will make it easier to deport families at the border, raise the standard to seek asylum, and create a new expulsion authority to block asylum seekers.
  
  You can listen to the full call to hear alternative proposals from immigrant rights advocates and policy experts. 
  
  Listen: Immigration Experts Underscore Why the Extremist GOP Immigration Demands Under Consideration in Congress Should be Rejected Out of Hand
  

• Immigrants play a crucial role in addressing critical workforce shortages in healthcare at the state-level. As the country grapples with meeting growing healthcare needs, especially in rural counties, states have the opportunity to introduce innovative policies that attract and retain immigrant talent and build career pathways for immigrants who already call the U.S. home. 
   
  This new research series from the American Immigration Council examines the growing demand for healthcare workers in the United States from 2017 to 2021.  
   
  Read more: The Growing Demand for Healthcare Workers
  

Newsweek: Republican Officials Warn Biden Against Taking Control of Texas Military 

Washington Post: House Republicans keep fumbling immigration. Maybe they’re just incompetent? 

Fox News: Biden vs. Johnson border standoff: Experts split on who has the authority to solve crisis 

Albuquerque Journal: OPINION: I’m a psychiatrist treating underserved patients – but my immigration status almost stopped me from doing this work 

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