In just six months, the Trump administration has terminated thousands of federal workers and eliminated billions of dollars from America’s social safety net with its recent Big Beautiful Bill. But in this new age of federal slashes and cuts, the Trump administration has been equally unabashed in its efforts to transform the federal government into a cross-agency federal detention and deportation operation.
The story that Donald Trump and his allies tell about immigrants – that most of them are criminals who pose a public safety threat to American families – has never changed, and it’s never been anywhere near true. But when they have the reins of federal policymaking, they can take actions to reinforce that story.
States across the country are facing tougher-than-ever challenges to advance immigrant integration, from a rapidly shifting federal immigration landscape to strained state budgets. The Office of New Americans (ONA) State Network, convened by the American Immigration Council and World Education Services, provides a forum for state policy leaders from 24 red, blue, and purple states to share best practices and help with efforts to integrate immigrants into their communities and the local economy.
Facts You Should Know
The American Immigration Council and AILA obtained an email from USCIS confirming that the agency has lifted the temporary hold on green card applications filed by asylees and refugees in place since March 21. The document was obtained through the organizations’ lawsuit under FOIA for information about the suspension in processing these applications. The email referenced instructions about certain cases where the agency will be required to interview applicants as part of their green card application process. The Council and AILA are continuing to litigate this FOIA case to obtain more information about these instructions and the development of the temporary pause.
The Council and Welcoming America are thrilled to announce that applications are now open for Round VI of the Gateways for Growth Challenge (G4G), a year-long opportunity to strengthen local communities’ immigrant inclusion efforts.
Selected communities will receive tailored local research, customized technical assistance, and access to a peer learning community. Applications are due on Tuesday, 9/30/2025, at 5pm local time. Sign up to join a FAQ webinar or office hours.
[On plans by the Trump administration to detain people in tents]: “All the reasons why you and I live not in tents but in homes are going to inevitably come up in a facility that doesn’t offer people walls and floors and insulation. It’s very hard to imagine how soft-sided facilities could satisfy even the low detention standards that are reflected in ICE’s most recent standards.”
