Contrary to its restrictive policies, the administration has painted a rosy picture of legal immigration and asylum during the Trump presidency, even going so far as to air a prerecorded naturalization ceremony for five immigrants broadcasted during the Republican National Convention. At this halfway point of the convention, it’s worth checking the facts: Stuart Anderson notes in Forbes that legal immigration has been cut in half under President Trump, with “even the most highly skilled individuals” denied visas at high rates and the asylum process nearly halted.

As for naturalizations, ceremonies have stopped for many applicants, and in 2019 military naturalizations were denied at a rate of 17% — a jump of 143% since 2016. Adding even more irony to yesterday’s ceremony: “the same day a naturalization ceremony was held at the White House, a federal court ruled against the Trump administration’s efforts to make it more difficult for active-duty service members to become American citizens.”

And, as we explain in our naturalization fee infographic, fees are due to increase an average of 21% — with some increasing by more than 50% — on Oct. 2.

Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of Noorani’s Notes. Have a story you’d like us to include? Email me at [email protected].

BEATING THE ODDS – In the Mexican town of Matamoros near the U.S.-Mexico border, a camp of around 1,500 asylum seekers has staved off the rapid spread of COVID-19 thanks to the efforts of a “relatively tiny American NGO,” Global Response Management (GRM). “Fearing the worst and knowing they had a vulnerable, malnourished population to care for, the GRM team prepared extensively for COVID-19,” writes Amita Sudhir, associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Virginia, for Slate. Nevertheless, the major immigration delays and restrictions under the pandemic prove that “for the world’s desperate, it is not necessarily COVID-19 itself that is most frightening, but the downstream effects of COVID-19 on the reality they were living in already.”

MILAN, MN – I loved this article. Thirty years ago, Milan, Minnesota, had “virtually no minority residents.” Now, Pew Stateline’s April Simpson writes, “it’s estimated that more than half the town’s 360 residents are native Pacific Islanders or their children. Without them, Milan might have dried up and blown away.” As Milan Mayor Ron Anderson said the town’s Micronesian population has “saved our community … They’ve also made us more vibrant.” Now, the question is whether they will be counted in the 2020 Census: “In Milan, Micronesians are unfamiliar with the census. They’re unsure whether they need to fill out the forms as non-U.S. citizens. They lack internet access. The census asks people to complete the form based on their home on April 1. But it’s confusing for Micronesian families who often move between homes.”

NO GUARANTEE – After planning to furlough nearly 70% of its staff at the end of this month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reversed course and cancelled the furloughs yesterday, reports Hamed Aleaziz for BuzzFeed News. However, the move does not mean the agency is out of financial trouble — nor does it promise a return to normal operations. Said acting head of USCIS Joseph Edlow: “I want to be clear though: Our problems are not yet solved. We still need Congress to act on the assurances they continue to provide.” He added that “averting this furlough comes at a severe operational cost that will increase backlogs and wait times across the board, with no guarantee we can avoid future furloughs.”

BACKBONE – Immigrants — including those who are undocumented — are the backbone of the New York City restaurant industry. But when restaurant doors shuttered in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, these essential workers weren’t eligible for federal government benefits, reports Stephanie Simon for NY1. “David,” the executive chef at a Greenwich Village restaurant who is undocumented, struggled to get by: “I also pay taxes and I don’t get my tax return. I don’t get the benefits. But I contribute to social security and everything else that’s here.” Said restaurant owner and Indian immigrant Roni Mazumdar: “The truth is, for one day, if the immigrant workforce doesn’t show up, not a single restaurant, or maybe two percent, will actually open their doors. And that’s a testament to what kind of contribution immigrants have to this industry.”

LOCKED OUT – Another new decree from the Trump administration took effect yesterday, preventing asylum seekers from applying for work permits until one year after they file their petitions, reports Camilo Montoya-Galvez for CBS News. Said Conchita Cruz, co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project: “It does not make sense to put hurdles in the way of asylum applicants getting work authorization and being able to work legally and being able to support their family — especially during a global pandemic.” The rule is being challenged in court in Maryland on grounds including violation of federal administrative law.

Thanks for reading,

Ali