Nicci
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION POLICY THIS WEEK
Here, we summarize some of the most important recent developments in immigration policy on the federal, legal, state, and local levels.
Federal
Trump Threatens to Invoke Insurrection Act in Minnesota Amid Intensified Immigration Operations
President Trump threatened on January 15 to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to ongoing protests in Minneapolis. The Trump administration announced on January 12 that it was deploying approximately 1,000 additional Customs and Border Protection officers to Minnesota, expanding federal law enforcement presence beyond the 2,000 agents and officers already sent to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has described the operation as its largest immigration enforcement action to date. The deployment follows the January 8 fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Response Team officer. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated the additional officers will ensure safe operations for federal agents and warned that individuals who engage in "violent activities against law enforcement" or obstruct operations will face consequences.
Faith communities across the Twin Cities have mobilized in response to intensified enforcement. Congregations have posted "ICE Free Zone" signs at churches and community centers. Volunteers have been blowing whistles and honking horns as alerts when enforcement operations are underway in neighborhoods. Community members are driving immigrants to work to help them avoid public transportation where enforcement actions have occurred. Several hundred people participated in a recent vigil that wound through south Minneapolis near the site where Good was killed, pausing at locations where federal agents had recently detained people. Tensions between protesters and federal agents have been heightened in recent days, with demonstrations occurring on January 14 and 15 outside federal buildings and in neighborhoods where ICE operations have taken place, leading the federal officers to deploy tear gas and other crowd control devices.
Administration Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing from 75 Countries Under Expanded Public Charge Policy
The State Department announced on January 14 that it will pause immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries beginning January 21, citing concerns that immigrants from these nations "utilize welfare resources from American taxpayers at unacceptable levels". The suspension affects countries including Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Thailand, though the department did not disclose the specific percentage of immigrants from these nations who rely on public assistance. The pause applies only to immigrant visas for permanent residency and does not affect nonimmigrant visas for tourists, students, or business travelers, which represent the majority of visa applications.
The suspension follows the administration's January 1 implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10998, which imposed visa restrictions on 39 countries, and represents a significant expansion of enforcement under the longstanding public charge inadmissibility provision. On November 19, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility," outlining major changes to how immigration officials assess whether certain immigrants are likely to become a "public charge". The proposed rule seeks to rescind the 2022 public charge regulations, which DHS argued were "overly restrictive" and prevented officers from considering all relevant factors in determining whether an applicant might rely on public benefits. The visa pause will continue indefinitely until the State Department completes a reassessment of visa processing protocols.
DHS Announces Termination of TPS for Somalia as ICE Arrests Dozens of Resettled Refugees in Minnesota
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on January 13 that it will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia, requiring approximately 2,400 Somali nationals with TPS to leave the United States by March 17, 2026, when the designation expires. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that "country conditions in Somalia have improved to the point that it no longer meets the law's requirement for Temporary Protected Status" and that allowing Somali nationals to remain is "contrary to our national interests". The termination comes as DHS continues large-scale immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, home to a significant Somali population, and as the administration has moved to end TPS for 11 countries total, affecting more than 1 million immigrants who will lose their protections by February.
Concurrently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested dozens of resettled refugees in Minnesota, many of them Somali, and transferred them to detention facilities in Texas. The arrests followed an administration announcement that it would reexamine thousands of refugee cases through new background checks, focusing on refugees who entered legally but have not yet obtained green cards. Immigration attorneys estimate at least 100 people have been detained, including families with children and individuals who had already applied for permanent residency. The detained refugees passed extensive security screenings by the State Department, DHS, and other agencies before receiving invitations to resettle in the United States under the Refugee Admissions Program. Advocates note that while refugees are required to apply for green cards within a year of arrival, some delayed the process due to cost and bureaucratic hurdles, and historically have not faced arrest or deportation for the delay.
Administration Accelerates Installation of Migrant-Deterring Buoy Barriers in Texas
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began installing a 500-mile barrier of large floating buoys in the Rio Grande on January 7, expanding on a controversial Texas strategy that Governor Greg Abbott first deployed in 2023. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced during a January 8 visit to the Rio Grande Valley that 130 miles of the water barrier were already under contract and installation began that day. The floating barriers are part of President Trump's "Smart Wall" strategy combining steel barriers, waterborne barriers, patrol roads, lights, cameras, and detection technology, funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025.
The buoys are anchored deep in the soil beneath the river to prevent people from swimming under them and include tamper devices to alert agents if someone breaches the barrier. Noem stated the barriers would deter illegal crossings and "save the lives of illegal aliens by deterring them from daring to attempt to cross through this treacherous water." The expansion has drawn criticism from environmental activists concerned about access to nature along the Rio Grande, while Mexico previously complained that Texas's original buoy deployment violated water treaties between the two countries. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed Texas's existing buoys to remain in place while litigation over the Biden administration’s lawsuit against the state moves forward in a lower court.
Senate Hearing Addresses Screening Processes for Afghan Parolees Following D.C. Shooting
On January 14, the Senate Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration and the Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism held a joint hearing examining the Biden Administration’s Afghan parolee program. Inspectors General from the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), State (DoS), and Defense (DoD) testified and identified systemic weaknesses in evacuee vetting, tracking, and post-entry monitoring, noting that many audit recommendations remain open. The hearing also referenced 50 Afghan nationals already in the United States whose records indicated significant security concerns, such as latent fingerprints linked to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or suspected terrorist associations, though the government has not publicly disclosed the current status of those individuals. In addition, DHS acknowledged difficulties tracking approximately 11,700 evacuees who departed military base safe havens without formal coordination.
Despite these concerns, several committee members emphasized that criminal activity among the roughly 77,000 Afghan parolees has been very low overall and reiterated that Afghan US allies should not be punished for the actions of a single individual. The recent shooting of two National Guardsmen was discussed but remains under active investigation, limiting public comment; it was noted that the alleged shooter entered through the parole program and was later granted asylum, and displayed possible indicators of declining mental health. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) also raised allegations that more than $16 million in federal resettlement funds were directed to organizations alleged to have ties to terrorist groups and were not used for their intended purposes; those allegations remain subject to further review but were not substantively challenged during the hearing.
Legal
Minnesota and Illinois File Federal Lawsuits as Prosecutors Resign Over Response to Minneapolis Shooting
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, filed a federal lawsuit on January 12 against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), asserting that the mass deployment of federal immigration officers violated the First and Tenth Amendments and the Administrative Procedure Act. The lawsuit claims the surge of agents has undermined public safety, strained municipal resources, and exceeded constitutional limits on federal power. Illinois and the city of Chicago filed a separate lawsuit the same day alleging dangerous tactics and unlawful use of force by ICE and Border Patrol agents. A federal judge denied Minnesota's request for an immediate temporary restraining order during the first hearing in the case.
Separately, at least six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned on January 13 amid pressure from Justice Department leadership to investigate Renee Good's widow for alleged ties to activist groups. These resignations followed separate resignations by four top officials in the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division's criminal section, including the chief, principal deputy chief, deputy chief, and acting deputy chief, after division leadership announced it would not investigate the shooting. The resignations come amid reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also examining Good's possible ties to activist groups as part of its own inquiry into the shooting.
State and Local
ICE Detains New York City Council Employee at Routine Immigration Appointment
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, a data analyst for the New York City Council, on January 12 while he attended a routine immigration appointment in Bethpage, Long Island. City Council Speaker Julie Menin stated that Rubio Bohorquez had legal authorization to remain and work in the United States until October, cleared standard background checks for city employment, and was doing everything required of him by appearing at his scheduled appointment. The New York Legal Assistance Group filed an emergency habeas petition challenging his detention, which prevented his removal from New York State pending court review.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputed the city's characterization, with spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stating that Rubio Bohorquez entered the United States on a B visa in 2017 which required him to depart by July 22, 2017, had no legal right to remain in the country, was not authorized to work, and had a prior arrest for assault. Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY) countered that the employee had Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and subsequently obtained work authorization, calling DHS's statement "a bald-faced lie". City officials stated the employee provided documentation showing he was authorized under TPS and extended his work authorization even after President Trump terminated TPS for Venezuelans.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED
A bill to establish clear standards, training requirements, and reporting relating to immigration enforcement personnel
Sponsored by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) (1 cosponsor)
01/15/2026 Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Kelly
01/15/2026 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
A bill to provide for continuing appropriations for certain employees and contractors of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the event of a Government shutdown
Sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) (1 cosponsor)
01/15/2026 Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Scott
01/15/2026 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict visa issuance to individuals who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom
Sponsored by Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) (7 cosponsors)
01/15/2026 Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Budd
01/15/2026 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
ICE Protection Act
The bill would amend title 18 of the United States Code to increase criminal penalties for assaulting, resisting, or interfering with ICE agents and other federal law enforcement officers, doubling the maximum sentence for using deadly weapons from 20 to 40 years and adding mandatory minimum sentences of 5, 7, or 10 years for using vehicles as weapons depending on injury severity.
Sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) (6 cosponsors)
01/15/2026 Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Cornyn
01/15/2026 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
A bill to prohibit the use of funds to provide benefits to refugees, asylees, and illegal immigrants
Sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (2 cosponsors)
01/15/2026 Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Paul
01/15/2026 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance
A bill to enhance criminal penalties for welfare fraud, to provide adequate immigration consequences for fraud convictions, to establish a welfare fraud recovery task force, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) (0 cosponsors)
01/15/2026 Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Cotton
01/15/2026 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
A bill to improve the efficiency of the removal process by enhancing cooperation between government entities and by expanding the grounds for deportation for any alien to include any felony or any 2 misdemeanors
Sponsored by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) (0 cosponsors)
01/14/2026 Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Cotton
01/14/2026 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
A bill to revoke the visas of, and impose visa restrictions on, certain individuals located in the United States and abroad who are associated with regimes in Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) (1 cosponsor)
01/14/2026 Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Scott
01/14/2026 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Abolish ICE Act
The bill would dismantle U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and end its current enforcement authority.
Sponsored by Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) (0 cosponsors)
01/15/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Thanedar
01/15/2026 Referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Homeland Security
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide authority to suspend entry and immigration benefits during a declared invasion at the southern border of the United States, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) (0 cosponsors)
01/15/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Hunt
01/15/2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
A bill to repeal certain funding increases provided under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to Immigrations and Custom Enforcement, and to reallocate those funds to extend certain healthcare tax credits
Sponsored by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) (3 cosponsors)
01/14/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Moulton
01/14/2026 Referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, and Homeland Security
A bill to improve student and exchange visitor visa programs
Sponsored by Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) (2 cosponsors)
01/14/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Gill
01/14/2026 Referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary and Education and the Workforce
A bill to establish in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security an EB-5 Regional Center Program Advisory Committee
Sponsored by Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) (3 cosponsors)
01/09/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Stanton
01/09/2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify the definition of "public charge" and "likely at any time to become a public charge," to establish requirements for affidavits of support and public charge bonds, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-TX) (10 cosponsors)
01/08/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Nehls
01/08/2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
A resolution impeaching Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors
Sponsored by Rep. Robin L. Kelly (D-IL) (86 cosponsors)
01/14/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Kelly
01/14/2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of Defense should review section 504 of title 10, United States Code, for purposes related to enlisting certain aliens in the Armed Forces
Sponsored by Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) (4 cosponsors)
01/13/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Foster
01/13/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services
LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are not scheduled to be in session Monday, January 19, through Friday, January 23, for a state work period.
SPOTLIGHT ON FORUM RESOURCES
The Forum is constantly publishing new policy-focused resources that engage with some of the most topical issues around immigration today. Here are a few that are particularly relevant this week:
*As of publication (1/16/26 at 1:30PM EST)
This Bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive. Please contact Nicci Mattey, Senior Policy & Advocacy Associate at the Forum, with questions, comments, and suggestions for additional items to be included. Nicci can be reached at [email protected]. Thank you.
