Immigration and the Southern Border in the U.S.

[phkrause]

How those fleeing Ukraine inspired US border policies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, refugees from the threatened nation started showing up at Mexico’s border with the United States. Roughly 1,000 Ukrainians a day flew to Tijuana on tourist visas, desperate to reach U.S. soil.

https://apnews.com/article/biden-immigration-ukraine-border-af1fb374771da55b83d88a1598621a84?

[phkrause]

What is Title 42 and how has US used it to curb migration?

WASHINGTON (AP) — This week marks the end of coronavirus restrictions on asylum that have allowed the U.S. to quickly expel migrants at the southern border for the last three years.

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-border-title-42-mexico-asylum-be4e0b15b27adb9bede87b9bbefb798d?

[phkrause]

After bloodshed, Texas Democrats decry GOP’s anti-migrant climate

The state’s Democratic Party chair said Texas Republicans “are creating a powder keg of racial violence and are now handing the matches over to the people.”

https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/allen-texas-mall-shooting-brownsville-motorist-racism-rcna83407?

[phkrause]

House Republicans pass new asylum restrictions as Title 42 ends; Biden promises veto

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans passed a sweeping bill Thursday to build more U.S.-Mexico border wall and impose new restrictions on asylum seekers, creating a hard-line counter to President Joe Biden’s policies just as migrants are amassing along the border with the end of coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-immigration-bill-255921c69678468580d0d106282623f0

Title 42 is ending. Here’s what it has done, and how US immigration policy is changing

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is putting new restrictions into place at its southern border to try to to stop migrants from crossing illegally and encourage them instead to apply for asylum online through a new process.

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-border-title-42-mexico-asylum-be4e0b15b27adb9bede87b9bbefb798d

[phkrause]

Gov. DeSantis signs the most restrictive bill on illegal immigration in the country

The most ‘brutal, inhumane, and anti-American immigration legislation’

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/05/10/gov-desantis-signs-the-most-restrictive-bill-on-illegal-immigration-in-the-country/?

[phkrause]

As Title 42 ends, post falsely claims Biden has no plan for migrants at US-Mexico border | Fact check

The claim: The Biden administration has 'no plan' to stop migrants once Title 42 ends

"There are currently 700k migrants waiting to surge into the US southern border May 15th when title 42 ends," reads the post. "The Biden administration has no plan to stop them. He has totally abdicated his responsibility to follow the laws and constitution of this country."

Our rating: False

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2023/05/11/title-42-ending-what-to-know-abiden-administration-has-various-plans-after-title-42s-end-fact-check/70203246007/?

[phkrause]

Border appears calm after lifting of pandemic asylum restrictions

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — The border between the U.S. and Mexico was relatively calm Friday, offering few signs of the chaos that was feared following a rush by worried migrants to enter the U.S. before the end of pandemic-related immigration restrictions.

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-title-42-mexico-asylum-7a1c404c572e37c65710c96a1f67f2c0?

[phkrause]

In El Paso, pastors offer waiting migrants shelter and counsel

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — As changing policies, rampant misinformation and exasperated, fearful crowds converge in this desert city, faith leaders are striving to provide shelter and uplift.

https://apnews.com/article/migration-asylum-border-faith-title-42-05445ff3f5c3791903ee05384a70fd06?

[phkrause]

U.S. House passes bill to reinstate Trump-era immigration policies

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Thursday pushed through a border security package that mirrors Trump-era immigration policies, aiming criticism at the Biden administration for ending a pandemic-era public health measure used to expel millions of migrants from the country.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/05/12/u-s-house-passes-bill-to-reinstate-trump-era-immigration-policies/?

[phkrause]

DeSantis sends FL National Guard to Texas to help border security; claims Biden ignores the crisis

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that he’s sending the Florida National Guard, law enforcement officers, boats and planes and other personnel to the southern border to help “secure America’s border,” following a letter from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/05/16/desantis-sends-fl-national-guard-to-texas-to-help-border-security-claims-biden-ignores-the-crisis/?

[phkrause]

8-year-old girl dies in Border Patrol custody in Texas, as agency struggles with overcrowding

MCALLEN, Texas (AP) — A little girl from Panama born with heart problems died in Border Patrol custody Wednesday, the second death of a child from Latin America in U.S. government custody in two weeks.

https://apnews.com/article/border-patrol-child-custody-death-harlingen-2e2b27eeb3da669ee17241b8b3ee9ee2?

[phkrause]

GOP's border one-upsmanship

Ambitious Republicans are trying to outdo each other in cracking down on undocumented migrants.

• Governors are sending National Guard troops to the southwest border, and 2024 presidential candidates are touting harsh policies.

Why it matters: The executive branch has immense power over immigration, which has become an increasingly visceral issue since Donald Trump started running back in 2015.

What's happening: At least five GOP governors this week announced National Guard deployments to the Texas-Mexico border — following the lead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who sent troops two weeks ago.

• This week's announcements came from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (a potential 2024 candidate) ... South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ... South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem ... Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ... and West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, who has announced for Sen. Joe Manchin's seat.

The governors cited a request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

• 13 Republican governors signed a statement backing Abbott's Operation Lone Star border-security mission.

Graphic: MSNBC's "Morning Joe"

🥊 Reality check: Border crossings have fallen dramatically in recent weeks under strict asylum rules just imposed by the Biden administration — making the latest deployments look more political than practical.

🐊 Zoom in: In Florida, DeSantis has signed a sweeping state law that limits access to social services for undocumented migrants and provides more funds for DeSantis’ efforts to move them elsewhere.

• DeSantis drew applause in Iowa this week when he said: "We have opposed illegal immigration by banning sanctuary cities, cracking down on human smuggling, deploying troops to help on the southern border and even sending illegal aliens to Martha's Vineyard."

DeSantis is even using immigration against Trump:

• The governor told reporters last week that a 2018 Trump-backed bill (which failed in Congress) was "like a pittance … in exchange for a massive amnesty."

Trump this week revisited a bombastic proposal idea he floated as president — ending birthright citizenship, a right that has long been considered guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

[phkrause]

Sheriff files criminal charges over FL’s transport of migrants from San Antonio to Massachusetts

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in Texas says it has completed its investigation into the transport of 49 migrants from San Antonio to Martha’s Vineyard last September by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and filed criminal charges with the local district attorney.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/06/06/sheriff-files-criminal-charges-over-fls-transport-of-migrants-from-san-antonio-to-massachusetts/?

[phkrause]

US halts online asylum appointments at Texas crossing after extortion warnings

LAREDO, Texas (AP) — The Biden administration has stopped taking mobile app appointments to admit asylum-seekers at a Texas border crossing that connects to a notoriously dangerous Mexican city after advocates warned U.S. authorities that migrants were being targeted there for extortion.

https://apnews.com/article/mexico-border-cbp-one-laredo-bfccf8c3f52d9cec2563b40da905a391?

Title 42 has ended. Here’s what it did, and how US immigration policy is changing

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is putting new restrictions into place at its southern border to try to to stop migrants from crossing illegally and encourage them instead to apply for asylum online through a new process.

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-border-title-42-mexico-asylum-be4e0b15b27adb9bede87b9bbefb798d?

[phkrause]

Truckers Boycott in Florida Due to Passage of Senate Bill 1718

Florida’s recent passage of Senate Bill 1718, a new immigration law targeting undocumented immigrants, has triggered widespread controversy. Truckers responded on social media by announcing a plan to boycott driving in Florida.

https://www.foodlogistics.com/transportation/trucking/news/22864778/jw-surety-bonds-truckers-boycott-in-florida-due-to-passage-of-senate-bill-1718

[phkrause]

Migrants bused from Texas to Los Angeles in move mayor calls ‘despicable stunt’

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A group of migrants who arrived by bus in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday were sent from Texas in a move the city’s mayor called a “despicable stunt” by a Republican governor.

https://apnews.com/article/migrants-los-angeles-california-texas-immigration-abbott-3fdb47985b34cd8301b61251b590778c?

[phkrause]

🇺🇸 11 years of DREAMers

Data: U.S. Census bureau and Department of Homeland Security. Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals More than 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children have grown up across the country even as their protection under an Obama-era program is threatened by the courts, Axios' Stef Kight reports. Why it matters: It's been 11 years since the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program launched in June of 2012 to provide work permits and protection from deportation for these so-called "Dreamers." The program survived efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle it, but Congress has yet to provide the population any certainty about their future legal status. The Biden administration has tried to fortify the policy against legal challenges, but a Texas judge could soon end DACA's protections for more than half a million beneficiaries. Between the lines: Polling shows that Americans widely support providing Dreamers legal status. That included more than half of Republicans in a 2020 Pew Research Center survey.

[bonnie1962]

On 6/15/2023 at 8:02 PM, phkrause said:

Migrants bused from Texas to Los Angeles in move mayor calls ‘despicable stunt’

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A group of migrants who arrived by bus in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday were sent from Texas in a move the city’s mayor called a “despicable stunt” by a Republican governor.

https://apnews.com/article/migrants-los-angeles-california-texas-immigration-abbott-3fdb47985b34cd8301b61251b590778c?

Isn't Los Angels a sanctuary city? If they mean what they say, why should sending migrants to a place that promises sanctuary be considered despicable?

[phkrause]

‘We’re just trying to live our lives’: DACA hits 11-year mark still mired in the courts

WASHINGTON — Thursday marks the 11th anniversary of a program that was created during the Obama administration to temporarily protect undocumented children from deportation.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/06/15/were-just-trying-to-live-our-lives-daca-hits-11-year-mark-still-mired-in-the-courts/?

[phkrause]

Eric Adams sent migrants to Florida, Texas, abroad: reports

New York City sent migrants all over the country and the world, months after Mayor Eric Adams chastised red-state governors Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott for similar trips.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4064871-eric-adams-sent-migrants-to-florida-texas-abroad-reports/

[phkrause]

⚖️ Biden's immigration breakthrough

A Supreme Court's decision yesterday, allowing the Biden administration to target certain undocumented migrants for deportation, plus new data on illegal crossings are signs of a breakthrough for President Biden.

Why it matters: Immigration has been one of Biden's biggest logistical and political challenges, Axios' Stef Kight reports.

• The court decision comes as Republicans in Congress plot to impeach him over his border policies.

🖼️ The big picture: The new data signal that Biden's new border policies are continuing to keep illegal crossings at lower levels.

• Early this week, the Border Patrol was averaging 3,300 migrant arrests a day. That's down from the 10,000-plus migrants about six weeks ago.

🔎 Between the lines: Biden's new asylum restrictions automatically reject most migrants who illegally cross into the U.S. without first seeking protection in a country they traveled through to get to the southwest border.

• The rule has resulted in a significant uptick in migrants being rejected in the initial screening step for seeking asylum, according to government data.

Go deeper.

[phkrause]

New immigration law sparks fear and worker exodus from Florida

On a June afternoon in Quincy, Florida, hundreds of gloved hands move 3,000 pounds of green tomatoes by-the-minute from plastic bins to conveyor belts to boxes to be sold across the country. 

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/06/20/florida-immigration-law-business-owners-fear-exodus-of-workers-construction-landscaping/70322473007/?

[phkrause]

DeSantis unveils an aggressive immigration and border security policy that largely mirrors Trump’s

EAGLE PASS, Texas (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis promised to end birthright citizenship, finish building the southern border wall and send U.S. forces into Mexico to combat drug cartels as part of an aggressive — and familiar — immigration policy proposal he laid out Monday in a Texas border city.

https://apnews.com/article/desantis-border-immigration-republican-president-policy-33e73877fe029705ca6c8246f97a560d?

[phkrause]

Trump adviser suggested blowing up migrants’ boats with drones, book says

Book by Miles Taylor says Stephen Miller made argument people onboard ship heading to US were not protected by constitution

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/27/trump-stephen-miller-migrants-boats-drone-attacks-book?

[phkrause]

With FL’s immigration law set to start July 1, critics say it will impact non-immigrants as well

Nearly 400,000 undocumented immigrants work in six key statewide industries, study says

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/06/28/with-fls-immigration-law-set-to-start-july-1-critics-say-it-will-impact-non-immigrants-as-well/?