|
RACIST ‘UNDERBELLY’ — The Great Replacement Theory "is the dark underbelly of the immigration restriction movement, but its danger is not merely in stifling debate over necessary changes to our dysfunctional immigration system," Forum Senior Fellow Linda Chavez writes for The UnPopulist. "Without expanded immigration, declining birth rates coupled with an expanding population of elderly, dependent Americans puts the U.S. economy in long-term peril," notes Chavez. "But so long as right-wing media can make money pushing racial anxiety, we’re unlikely to see sensible changes to our immigration laws." Our recent paper dives deep into the theory’s origins and its relation to immigration. COVID IN DETENTION — The number of coronavirus infections in ICE detention centers has increased 520% since the new year, "prompting calls for increased vaccination efforts and detainee releases," reports Camilo Montoya-Galvez of CBS News. As of Thursday, 1,766 detainees were either being monitored or isolated for confirmed COVID-19 cases, compared to 285 cases reported Jan. 3, per government data. "Making vaccines available to detainees is essential but it must be coupled with effective education and counseling to overcome skepticism and confusion regarding COVID and vaccinations," said Scott Allen, a doctor who specializes in the medical treatment of migrants in U.S. custody. TEXAS ARRESTS — Travis County, Texas, district Judge Jan Soifer last Thursday dismissed a trespassing charge of an Ecuadorian man, Jesús Guzmán Curipoma, who was arrested while seeking asylum in the U.S., reports Jolie McCullough of The Texas Tribune. While the ruling may be appealed and applies only to Guzmán Curipoma, it has "opened the door to constitutional challenges" against Operation Lone Star (OLS), Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) "trouble-plagued border security initiative." Meanwhile, all of Texas’ congressional Democrats have co-signed a letter calling for a probe of "suicide attempts, abysmal conditions and delayed pay" among the Texas National Guard members deployed under OLS, reports The Tribune’s James Barragán and Military Times’ Davis Winkie. Finally, Matt Shuham of Talking Points Memo has a great breakdown of the operation’s mishaps and its implications for Texas Gov. Abbott (R).
‘THIS IS LIKE A DIVORCE’ — The federal government is asking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to set the record straight on whether the state will shut down shelters temporarily housing unaccompanied migrant children, Katie LaGrone reports for WFTS Tampa Bay. Florida’s new rules for shelters take effect in February, but their specific requirements for shelters remain unclear. "We oppose the executive order because we support children," Silvia Smith-Torres, executive director of His House Children’s Home in Miami Gardens, told the Miami Herald on Jan. 7. "This is like a divorce. DeSantis and Biden divorce. And who gets affected? The children." BREEDLOVE AND NOORI — For the Springfield News-Leader, Andrew Sullender tells the story of how U.S. Army veteran Tommy Breedlove helped Romal Noori’s family escape Afghanistan and start anew in the Missouri Ozarks. "We are so excited. We are going to start our new life here, so we are very happy," said Noori, who worked with the U.S. military in Afghanistan for nearly a decade. Breedlove and his wife are now sponsoring the Nooris, including their four children ranging from ten months to six years old. "I’m just overwhelmed with joy. There’s nothing better," said Sally Breedlove. Here’s today’s compilation of local stories:
Thanks for reading, Ali |
