There is a refugee emergency in Central America, and, to deal with it effectively, we need to treat it as a refugee emergency.  Central American kids and families are fleeing horrific violence, gangs and rape. El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala are among the most murderous countries in the world. Today,... Continue »
Over the holiday weekend, the New York Times published a powerful editorial criticizing the Obama Administration’s approach to the ongoing refugee emergency in Central America. The administration’s emphasis, heavy on deterrence and detention, stands in stark contrast to the Senate Democrats’ humane and practical approach to the refugee emergency (unveiled in late June and praised... Continue »
An immigration judge has ruled that a North Carolina teenager arrested by ICE nearly six months ago can be released from detention — but only if his family can pay up thousands of dollars first. 19-year-old Yefri Sorto was one of the six North Carolina teens arrested by ICE... Continue »
In a searing new TIME op-ed, “Orange Is The New Black” star Diane Guerrero slammed Obama Administration deportation raids targeting Central American women and children fleeing violence. Guerrero’s op-ed comes as immigration advocates eagerly wait the Supreme Court’s decision on DAPA and expanded DACA, which would allow some five... Continue »
The American Federation of Teachers has penned a letter to the Department of Homeland Security urging an end to immigration raids targeting Central American students. “The increased policing and enforcement raids have had a chilling effect on our schools and immigrant communities,” reads the letter from the group, “jeopardizing... Continue »
Advocates Call Approach Morally Wrong, Politically Stupid A front page story in the New York Times highlights growing criticism of the Obama Administration for the slow pace in resettling Syrian refugees in America and for its planned raids against Central American refugees. The Times story, by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and titled, “As U.S.... Continue »
Que Pasa Mi Gente: “The capture of the mother and the two children is the first confirmed detention as part of the raids against Central American mothers with children” In January, the Obama Administration began targeting recently arrived Central American teenagers for deportation. Despite an outcry from the community... Continue »
While some leaders have attempted to sell news of upcoming ICE arrests not as “raids” but as acts of “discrete enforcement,” the fear is very real for the undocumented immigrant community across the nation. These are indeed raids to Kimberly Pineda-Chavez, Wildin Guillen-Acosta and Pedro Salmeron — all Central... Continue »
At a press briefing yesterday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest addressed the Obama Administration’s plan to initiate a new surge of raids targeting young mothers and unaccompanied children from Central America. In his latest piece, David Leopold, an immigration attorney and former president of the American Immigration Lawyers... Continue »
A new report from the American Immigration Council features harrowing quotes from eight women who fled horror and violence in Central America to the US, but were eventually deported back to their home countries. “First-hand accounts from Central American women and their family members…reveal the dangerous and bleak circumstances... Continue »