Your weekly summary from the Council

Dear John,

Creating a welcoming society—where all can participate in the democratic process—drives the work of the American Immigration Council.

But on Wednesday, we witnessed an attack on those principles by a mob at our nation’s Capitol. More than ever, we must reject misinformation and divisiveness that fueled this chaos. 

The Council remains committed to truth and liberty for all—no exceptions.

Sincerely,


Royce Bernstein Murray
Managing Director of Programs

 LATEST ANALYSIS 

• The United States Needs a New Approach to Visas and Immigration Benefits
  
  Applicants for visas and immigration benefits must be treated with respect—not simply as potential security threats to be vetted. Read More »
   
• It’s Time to Fix the Immigration Court System
  
  The backbone of a functioning justice system is due process. Yet over 1.25 million immigrants are fighting for a fair day in court in a system that is anything but fair. Read More »
   
• How Biden Can Restore Humanitarian Protection at the Border
  
  Both the Obama and Trump administrations have viewed asylum seekers as an immigration crisis to prevent and not a humanitarian challenge to solve. Now, we have the chance to make a clear break from the past and create a truly welcoming process at the border. Read More »
   
• Why Immigrants With Strong Ties to the US Should Be Allowed to Stay
  
  Our nation includes millions of noncitizens with deep ties to the United States who are at risk of deportation. President–elect Biden must use all available tools to provide stability and protection for long-residing immigrants and their families. Read More »
   
• How Biden Can Reform Immigration Enforcement and Detention
  
  Legislative change remains critically important, but the Biden administration can take significant immediate steps on its own to reduce the harsh impact of immigration enforcement. Read More »

 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW  

• Charleston, South Carolina will end its collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the 287(g) agreement out of concern of racial profiling. Multiple investigations have shown that these agreements have resulted in a pattern and practice of constitutional violations by unlawfully detaining and arresting Latinos.
  
  Read more: 287(g) Program: An Overview

 ACROSS THE NATION 

• The American Immigration Council and partners filed an emergency motion to protect asylum seekers subject to the government’s metering policy from the latest attempt by the Trump administration to deny them eligibility for asylum. This lawsuit aims to restore access to the asylum process for those seeking protection at the southern border.

Read More: Challenging Customs and Border Protection's Unlawful Practice of Turning Away Asylum Seekers

 QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

“A federal court has ordered relief for those asylum seekers who were turned back at the border. The government may not rip those protections from asylum seekers simply because it does not agree with the ruling. The emergency motion seeks to protect those asylum seekers from this latest attempt to deny them access to the U.S. asylum process.”

– Karolina Walters, staff attorney at the American Immigration Council

 FURTHER READING 

• Bloomberg Government: Mayorkas to Balance Calls to Abolish ICE With Securing Borders
   
• Attorney at Law Magazine: Nightingale: Major Shake-up of Immigration Agency FOIA Programs
   
• San Antonio Express-News: US citizens with deported parents still separated during the holidays 
   
• Common Dreams: As Trump Extends Visa Ban and Court Upholds Insurance Mandate, Advocates Urge Biden to Quickly Reverse Anti-Immigrant Policies

  MAKE A CONTRIBUTION 

         

Immigration Impact | ImmigrationCouncil.org | unsubscribe
1331 G St. NW Suite 200, Washington, D.C., xxxxxx