[[link removed]] Your weekly summary from the Council.
LATEST ANALYSIS
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State, Federal Policies Escalate Attacks on Immigrant Children [[link removed]]
Federal and state policy efforts targeting immigrant kids are on the rise. The new wave of cruelty includes plans that plainly violate existing law. Many of these attacks seem designed to tee up court battles intended to weaken the rights and wellbeing of children in the United States.
H.R. 32 Would Empower President to Cut Essential Services in States and Cities [[link removed]]
Congress is considering a bill—H.R. 32, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act—that would hand any president the sweeping power to strip cities, counties, and states of critical federal funding. Specifically, the bill would define sanctuary jurisdictions and allow the federal government to withhold federal funds that these jurisdictions “intend” to use to benefit undocumented immigrants.
The Number of Immigrants in the US Increases Yearly – And That's a Good Thing [[link removed]]
This year, as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to deport millions of immigrants, it’s important to understand the contributions that immigrants make to our economy and social wellbeing.
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
On February 25, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the Trump administration will reanimate a provision of U.S. immigration law that has been dormant for decades: a requirement for all immigrants who did not enter with a visa to register with the federal government after their arrival, and carry proof of their registration with them.
The administration is using this registration process alongside federal criminal law—which makes it a crime for immigrants to fail to register or fail to carry proof of registration. In doing so, the Trump administration is giving itself another tool to use against immigrants: the threat of criminal prosecution.
The registration requirement will force many people in the United States—including those who entered without inspection and have had no contact with the federal government during their years living in American communities—to make a choice between two options that both carry serious risk. Many others, such as immigrants who are already deemed registered—which includes both many undocumented immigrants and many who have legal status in the United States—could face a risk of prosecution if they fail to carry registration papers with them at all times.
Read more: The Trump Administration’s Registration Requirement for Immigrants [[link removed]]
ACROSS THE NATION
Immigrants play a vital role in supporting the U.S. economy, even as the Trump administration and Congress push for a budget that includes unprecedented funding for mass detention and deportation.
New national and state-level data shows just how much immigrants contribute to the economy, paying hundreds of billions in taxes, strengthening key industries, and keeping social programs like Social Security and Medicare afloat. Immigrant households have injected trillions into the housing market, filled critical labor shortages, and started businesses at high rates.
You can explore the data for your state, county, or metro area using the American Immigration Council’s updated interactive tool.
Read more: Map the Impact of Immigration: U.S. Economic Data & Numbers [[link removed]]
TAKE ACTION
Take action to contact your U.S. Representative and Senators to urge them to vote NO on the "No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act."
H.R. 32 would grant any president broad authority to block federal funding for essential services that impact all members of our communities. We have already seen the consequences of executive overreach in recent attempts to freeze federal funding, creating unnecessary chaos and uncertainty.
Now, H.R. 32 seeks to codify similar harmful policies, granting the executive branch unprecedented power to withhold critical resources from our communities.
Take Action: Urge Congress to Vote Against H.R. 32, Which Gives the President the Power to Strip Cities and Counties of Federal Funding [[link removed]]
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“There are some real civil liberties issues here [with the new requirement that people who are undocumented register with the government]. It will end up ensnaring people based on law enforcement’s perceptions of their race... there’s real opportunity for abuse.”
– Michelle Lapointe, legal director at the American Immigration Council [[link removed]]
FURTHER READING
BBC: Trump administration to require undocumented migrants to register [[link removed]]
Forbes: Immigration and the economy: a conversation on the facts [[link removed]]
Voice of America: Trump $5 million 'gold card' plan sparks immigration confusion [[link removed]]
Roll Call: DHS signs up local agencies in immigration enforcement push [[link removed]]
Texas Observer: Local and state police are joining Trump’s deportation force [[link removed]]
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