Monthly Archives: May 2017

In its first immigration case of the year, the Supreme Court overturned the deportation of Juan Esquivel-Quintana. The unanimous decision was written by Justice Clarence Thomas. This was an Obama-era deportation, but the Supreme Court’s unanimous willingness to set limits on immigration … Continue reading →

  Without fanfare, the State Department lifted one restriction on the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States. That restriction was a weekly quota of 830 people, based on Congressional restrictions on funding. Even with this weekly quota … Continue reading →

On Mother’s Day, Ricardo Levins Morales filmed an MTC officer asking Ariel Vences-Lopez about his immigration status. That’s not supposed to happen, but it did. Later, Vences-Lopez was arrested and tasered, then held in custody by the Hennepin County Sheriff, then … Continue reading →

The Fourth Circuit’s decision upheld the district court that blocked Trump’s Muslim ban. This was a big deal — not just because of the length of the 205-page decision, not just because the court heard the appeal en banc, but because of … Continue reading →

Three local actions lead today’s news: California’s sanctuary legislation, Clarkston’s welcome to refugees, and Denver’s prosecution strategy. 

  In a last-minute deal, Governor Mark Dayton and DFLers agreed to keep the anti-immigrant drivers license language fin the Public Safety Omnibus bill in exchange for Republican concessions on penalties for protesters. After a session-long battle to keep the anti-immigrant … Continue reading →

At the last minute, the Trump administration extended Temporary Protected Status for Haitians for six months – until January 17, 2018. DHS officials claimed that Haitian officials assured them the country is ready and willing to receive the 58,000 Haitians … Continue reading →

As the person who produces this blog, I’m starting with some self-promotion today – YES! Magazine published my latest article on sanctuary. I’ve written about sanctuary for more than a decade, and have another article coming in the June edition of … Continue reading →

While U.S. political attention focuses on the unfolding Flynn / Russia / Turkey / Trump debacle and the consequent special counsel / Congressional committee investigations, Republicans are trying to push through (anti)immigration legislation. The Intercept summarizes the “little noticed bills, marked … Continue reading →

The conference committee agreed on a REAL ID bill on Tuesday night, and the House and Senate passed it on Wednesday  — a “clean” REAL ID with none of the anti-immigrant language that had been in the House version. The … Continue reading →