Weekly Roundup of Immigration News
Report by Jenna Ramiskal, edited by Kate Morrissey
Welcome to another edition of Beyond the Border, your weekly source for immigration-related news from across the nation. If there’s something we missed, feel free to reach out via email at kate@daylightsandiego.org or connect with us on Instagram.
Deaths in ICE Facilities
The Texas Tribune has reported that a recent death of a Mexican national, attributed to natural causes, marks the fifth fatality in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Texas this year, bringing the total number of deaths in ICE custody to twenty. In another case, the Dallas County coroner classified the passing of an Afghan asylum seeker in March as an accident. As reported by Houston Public Media, the family of Nazir Pakhtiawar, including his wife and son, are still awaiting the release of the coroner’s autopsy results.
The United Nations recently shared a video on Instagram featuring Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has called for an independent inquiry into these deaths at ICE facilities.
ICE Detention Trends
According to the New York Times, ICE has detained more than 10,000 individuals in just the past five days. In a recent livestream titled “Talk with the People,” Alan D’Abrio Marrero discussed his experience of being arrested by ICE after a routine green card interview, where he was detained at both Delaney Hall and Alligator Alcatraz Island.
Univision reported an incident where ICE allegedly mocked a young mariachi musician for his attire at the time of his arrest. In a thought-provoking commentary published by the Los Angeles Times, Brady Tillett, who has spent two years in ICE custody at California’s largest detention center, highlighted the ongoing mistreatment and violations of rights that detainees face.
A recent NBC News video on Instagram captured the moment when Sister Leticia Ugboaja was arrested by ICE while walking to mass near the border, only to have her rosary confiscated, a request for its return remains unfulfilled. Additionally, journalist Ricardo Quintana Chavez has written a book detailing his experiences in detention at Alligator Alcatraz Island and Camp East Montana, where detainees report human rights abuses.
Protests and Legal Developments
CBS News has reported an incident in which an ICE facility employee at Delaney Hall allegedly drove into a demonstrator. In a relevant legal update, an immigration attorney involved in a successful class-action lawsuit preventing ICE from arresting immigrants during court hearings experienced increased scrutiny by TSA officials at the San Francisco airport, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Supreme Court Rulings
The Supreme Court has affirmed the principle of birthright citizenship, ensuring that all children born on U.S. soil are granted citizenship regardless of their parents’ immigration status, as reported by the New York Times. Moreover, a judge in Texas has prohibited federal officials from accessing immigration databases to verify voter eligibility, citing significant errors in the database that inaccurately classified citizens as non-citizens, as noted by the Texas Tribune.
Community Initiatives
A recent report by the Sahan Journal highlights the efforts of Annunciation House, an immigrant shelter in El Paso, which is assisting immigrants detained during Operation Metro Surge in returning to Minnesota. In a significant gathering, Catholic leaders convened for Border Mass 250, commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary while honoring the vital contributions of immigrants, as covered by The Arizona Republic.
Noteworthy Developments
NPR announced President Donald Trump’s nomination of former state trooper Lance Schroyer as the new director of ICE. The New York Times has also reported that the federal government intends to provide welcome packages to white South African refugees, including materials critiquing civil rights laws and promoting the concept of “reverse racism.”
In political developments, three Republican members of a Congressional committee are demanding documentation from the Travis County District Attorney regarding the prosecution of noncitizens and communications with immigration authorities, reports the Texas Tribune. Additionally, Trump’s border wall construction in Texas’ Lower Pecos Canyonlands raises concerns about the potential destruction of sacred Native American sites and rock art, according to the Border Chronicle.
After spending a month in ICE custody, a mother was able to attend her daughter’s graduation from the University of California, San Diego. ineSOURCE reports that during the first 14 months of President Trump’s second term, ICE has made approximately 10,500 arrests in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Thank you for reading and stay informed.
— Jenna
