Week of February 22–28, 2022

The US Supreme Court heard arguments on 3 March related to the Trump administration’s “public charge” immigration rule, which widened the definition of which immigrants can be denied green cards. The Arizona-led group of red states that supports the rule asked the court to allow them to defend it in federal court, even though the Biden administration had abandoned it. The 2019 rule redefined public charge, and made it harder for poor immigrants to gain residency, by including non-cash benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid in determining whether a non-US citizen is likely to become a public charge and ineligible for permanent residency. Civil rights groups called the policy a “racist wealth test on the immigration system”. Biden recently proposed a reversal of the Trump-era rule.

The US Department of Justice has reached a settlement with a Virginia-based insurance company over allegations that it engaged in immigration-related discrimination. The investigation found that representatives of the firm asked a non-citizen employee, who was a lawful permanent resident, to provide a Permanent Resident Card during the hiring process despite having provided legally satisfactory documentation that met the I-9 documentation requirement for new workers. The company also failed to consider or hire non-citizens for employment positions between June 2017 and August 2020. The settlement, which requires the company to pay $9,500 in civil penalties and up to $70,000 in back pay to affected workers, highlights the Biden administration's efforts to prosecute discriminatory practices in violation of US immigration law. The anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act prohibit discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in the hiring, firing, recruitment and referral of workers for a fee.

Immigrants' rights and humanitarian groups have released a blueprint of executive actions they want President Joe Biden to take to make the US immigration system more orderly and humane. The 2022 plan includes ending the use of public health authority Title 42, ensuring legal counsel at no cost to migrants without lawyers, offering Temporary Protected Status to nationals of more countries, and eliminating red tape in the legal immigration system. The groups also want to end immigration enforcement cooperation deals with local law enforcement agencies, review the current roster of immigration judges to ensure they are fair and qualified, and reach a regional migration accord to address root causes and shared responsibility for migration patterns and response in the Americas. Lawmakers have also ramped up calls for the Biden administration to act, as Democratic immigration measures have stalled in Congress.

The resettlement of Afghan refugees in the US is hampered by a complex and backlogged immigration system that could result in their deportation. The refugees are in the US because their work with the US military, government or contractors put them at risk of persecution by the Taliban. However, they must navigate a complex legal system to gain permanent residency, with a high burden of proof to show they fled for their lives. They also face a backlog of asylum requests in the US, where there are already not enough lawyers to help the refugees. Efforts by the State Bar of Wisconsin to recruit pro bono immigration attorneys are underway. Some advocates have called on Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act to allow refugees to apply for permanent residency directly.

Black male immigrants are less likely to be approved for US citizenship than white immigrants, according to a study by researchers at the University of Southern California. The research examined more than 2 million citizenship applications by US permanent residents made between October 2014 and March 2018. The study found that black immigrants were denied citizenship more often than any other racial or ethnic group, with an approval rating at or below 90%. In contrast, around 94% of white women and 92% of white men were approved for citizenship. The study did not include details about the reasons for each application's denial. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services said it does not consider race, nationality or other demographic factors in making determinations related to applications for naturalization.

New York activist Ravi Ragbir has secured a three-year reprieve from deportation in a settlement with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Ragbir had alleged that he was targeted for deportation due to his protected political speech criticising ICE and immigration enforcement. Ragbir is executive director of the New Sanctuary Coalition of New York City, which helps undocumented New Yorkers fight deportation and rallies public opinion against ICE and immigration policies. A policy put in place during the Obama administration had prioritised the deportation of undocumented people deemed to pose a danger to the public, but President Donald Trump lifted the restriction. There were indications that ICE was using the expanded mandate to target its most vocal critics.

Y-Axis, an accredited immigration consulting firm, has updated its Canada immigration services for 2022 in line with new immigration laws, higher targets, and more efficient processes already in place. Canada expects to take in more than 400,000 new immigrants in 2022, a higher level than ever targeted before, and immigration is a key component of Canada’s long-term economic strategy. To help applicants gain entry and secure residency in Canada, Y-Axis offers a comprehensive assistance program for study, work, and permanent residency applications. The company can now expedite work permit applications and manage study visa and spousal sponsorship applications. Moreover, the government is considering an additional increase to Canada’s immigration levels, as the number of job vacancies has increased by over 70% in Canada and close to 900,000 positions remain unfilled.

Saturday, February 26, 2022 Israel readying for 10,000 immigrants from Ukraine in coming weeks - exclusive

The Israeli government estimates that around 10,000 Ukrainian Jews will immigrate to Israel in the coming weeks due to the escalation in the security situation in Ukraine. The Ministry of Immigration and Absorption has prepared all sectors to assist and absorb any Jew seeking to immigrate to Israel, and is working to remove bureaucratic hurdles for potential immigrants and to issue immigration visas digitally. Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Minister of Immigration and Absorption Tamano-Shata have agreed to provide additional budgets to actualize the emergency immigration operation from Ukraine. The Ministry has urged the Jews of Ukraine to immigrate to Israel, offering free shelter and meals to fleeing Jews from Ukraine, and offering the option to stay in hotels for up to a month, with possibilities to extend this time further.

Georgia's state Legislature is making progress with House Bill 932 and Senate Bill 460, which would offer in-state tuition to immigrants, including refugees, special immigrants, humanitarian parolees, and those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. Currently, immigrants must wait one year after settling in Georgia to establish residency and qualify for the lower in-state tuition rates. Additionally, students with DACA and other undocumented students are barred from attending Georgia's top research universities and cannot receive HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarships or federal loans, and must pay out-of-state tuition rates. While these bills are not a comprehensive solution to education inequities, they are a step forward in making college more accessible and equitable for all. Immigrant students deserve the same access to education as anyone else, and expanding access to in-state tuition brings us closer to a more diverse, inclusive Georgia where all can thrive.

A report by Statistics Canada has shown that graduates of Canadian universities earn more in their first two years after immigration compared to those who completed their education elsewhere. This is due to better language ability and pre-immigration Canadian work experience. In addition to cheaper tuition fees and welcoming immigration policies, international students are increasingly choosing Canada for education due to higher earnings potential. International students in Canada are entitled to work off-campus for up to 20 hours weekly during regular academic sessions and can be employed full-time during scheduled academic breaks. The report cites language fluency as a major factor that boosts employability and earnings among Canadian-taught immigrants. Spending time as a student in Canada gives ample opportunity to hone fluency and communication skills in English and to develop cultural awareness and sensitivity. A survey has shown a positive correlation between workplace diversity and productivity. In 2019, over 58,000 graduates successfully gained permanent resident status in Canada.