|
FEEDBACK — The Biden administration issued an open request for comments to help prevent the government from using the "zero tolerance" family separation policy in the future, reports Geneva Sands of CNN. "It’s our hope that they take this feedback, and they listen to what they hear from the public and the advocacy community," said Larry Benenson, the Forum’s vice president of policy and advocacy. But for parents deported under "zero tolerance," the journey to reunification is still a long, tough road, reports Jasmine Aguilera of TIME Magazine. Separately, as the Migrant Protection Protocols (aka "Remain in Mexico") are reimplemented, the effects of the original policy are still playing out: See part two of Honduran Carolina Carranza Silva’s powerful story from Border Report’s Sandra Sanchez. Meanwhile, 83 Catholic organizations, including El Paso’s Hope Border Institute, "sent letters to the presidents of Mexico and the United States urging them to end the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy," per Border Report’s Julian Resendiz. A FAILED MISSION — In an investigation for Army Times, Davis Winkie sheds light on how the National Guard’s U.S.-Mexico border mission went to shambles. The Army Times interviewed seven Guard troops, some speaking under the condition of anonymity, who cited a combination of "equipping, staffing and misconduct" challenges. More than 4,000 Guard personnel from 20 states were deployed to monitor the border with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel for much of this year. But without proper training, the mission has resulted in numerous reports of alcohol abuse, misconduct and even death.
AFGHAN EFFORTS — In an op-ed for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Afghan American emergency physician Maria Aini reflects on her own immigration journey to Philly in the 1980s, and makes the case that Afghans in the U.S. under humanitarian parole, which provides only temporary reprieve, need the most aid: "Congress could offer them an enormous amount of relief by passing the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would ensure a path to permanent residency for Afghan allies." Here’s today’s local stories (plus news from Canada for good measure):
VIETNAMESE AMERICAN OFFICER — On Nov. 15, Vu Nguyen was sworn in as the first Vietnamese American officer in the Storm Lake, Iowa Police Department, reports Nick Hytrek for the Sioux City Journal. Drawing from his own experience with some immigrant communities’ fear of police, Nguyen is helping to bridge gaps between Storm Lake’s Vietnamese community and its police officers. "It’s easy for them to make the call, and if they need to report something, they know I speak Vietnamese and can understand them," Vu said. "It makes Vietnamese people feel comfortable to talk with any officer." Thanks for reading, Ali |
