Week of July 8–14, 2022

A group of 22 Democratic senators is pressuring the Biden administration to expand and extend temporary protections for Venezuelan exiles in the US. Officials are under pressure to offer Temporary Protection Status (TPS) to an estimated 250,000 Venezuelans currently ineligible because they arrived after the March 2021 eligibility date. However, officials in the White House are concerned that a TPS redesignation would incentivize more migration to the US southern border and prompt fresh criticism from Republicans on the president’s handling of immigration policy. The senators dismissed these concerns, saying that "denying access to TPS to more recent arrivals will not serve as an effective deterrent to future border crossings given the desperation of Venezuelans to flee unsustainable conditions." They want the administration to redesignate TPS to apply to more recently-arrived Venezuelans and extend TPS as the current protections are set to expire in September.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has released a study arguing against calls to increase record levels of immigration, which it claims would add to existing economic woes such as decreased labor force participation and growing income disparities while doing nothing to curb soaring inflation. The report finds that proposals being pushed by business groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce and far-left mass immigration advocates would further harm American workers struggling to cope with 40-year high inflation. The study concludes that an even greater influx of new immigrants would drive down their wages while prices continue to rise across the board. The FAIR argues that sound policymaking is needed to properly tame inflation while encouraging idled American workers to fill available jobs, instead of compounding these problems by putting already failed immigration policies on steroids.

African immigrants and African Americans are often thought of as two distinct groups in America. In some instances, immigrants from Africa are warned not to associate with African Americans because of stereotypes of them being stagnant, abrasive, and unapproachable. Conversely, some African Americans may view African immigrants as thinking they are superior. However, BIPOC communities in New Hampshire, made up of both groups, are thriving in every sector, including business and politics. Hamisi David Juma, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, believes that assimilation and adoption of American cultures should be done carefully, as some immigrant youth pick up on the sensationalism of street culture, which involves prison and crime. Hamisi runs a non-profit organization called Safari Youth Club, which empowers refugee and immigrant youth to reach their goals through arts and sports, and also helps immigrant families understand their environment and the systems in the US to make integration easier.

Three Canadian provinces released results of their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws during the first week of July. PNPs are operated by most Canadian provinces and territories, except for Quebec and Nunavut, which offer interested candidates the opportunity to apply for a provincial nomination. Although a provincial nomination does not guarantee permanent residence, it can increase the chances of obtaining it. For instance, PNP candidates who receive a nomination and have Express Entry profiles can get 600 additional points added to their score, making them eligible for a PNP-specific round of invitations. The PNP has been instrumental in increasing the number of admissions in Canada. The PNP was launched in 1998, welcoming only 400 immigrants, but due to its success, it now welcomes over 80,000 annually. The federal and provincial governments view the PNP as an effective tool to promote the country's economic development.

The tragic deaths of over 50 migrants who suffocated inside a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas, highlight the broken and politicized nature of the US immigration system, according to an editorial in the San Antonio Express-News. The op-ed argues that migrants from countries like Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras are often forced to take risks crossing the border because of deeply flawed policies like Title 42, which has led to the expulsion of around 2 million people since it was implemented in March 2020. The piece calls for comprehensive immigration reform that allows asylum-seekers to present themselves at ports of entry and offers legal pathways for workers. Until such reforms are made, the editorial concludes, the humanitarian crisis will continue, and further tragedies like the recent deaths in San Antonio will occur.

The US government's open borders policy is having disastrous effects, as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reveals that since Biden's inauguration in January 2021, 1.05 million migrants were apprehended on the southwestern border and then released into the US. DHS also reports that 2,200 migrants have been detained and released into the US daily under Biden's administration, four times the number apprehended and released during the eight fiscal years preceding Biden. These tallies exclude the numbers of unaccompanied minors and those who evaded capture. With the US immigration system overrun by illegality, it becomes challenging for newcomers to assimilate, particularly since the US federal government emphasizes immigrants' native language and culture over learning English and cultural assimilation. Furthermore, the Biden administration is seemingly more interested in transforming US society in the service of progressive goals than in transmitting the principles and mores that underlie, enrich, and perpetuate the traditional American way of life.

Human Rights Watch has called for the US to immediately stop funding agencies and counties involved in Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star border initiative, which targets suspected migrants for arrest, prosecution and incarceration on state misdemeanor offences. The initiative is said to be discriminatory and abusive, and risks escalating anti-immigrant sentiment and violence. Federal funds are currently distributed to the governor’s office and many of the agencies and sheriffs involved. The Justice Department is currently investigating the operation. On 7 July, Governor Abbott issued an executive order to authorise the Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety to unilaterally return asylum seekers and migrants to the US-Mexico border. The move has been criticised by Texas-based Human Rights Watch consultant Bob Libal as “unnecessary, racist and dangerous”.

‘Ambassadors’ will encourage naturalization applications

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has selected eight community leaders and advocates to encourage green card holders to apply for US citizenship, as part of an initiative to promote naturalization. The ambassadors, who will partner with local field offices to improve outreach to immigrant communities, will receive training on the citizenship process from USCIS, and will participate in agency-sponsored events and publish opinion pieces in foreign language publications. There are currently over nine million permanent residents in the US who may be eligible for citizenship, according to USCIS. The initiative follows President Joe Biden’s February 2021 executive order instructing officials to develop a “strategy to promote naturalization,” and the USCIS’s own “Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization,” which was released last summer.

The UK Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has announced the extension of the 2018 Standard Civil Contract until 31 August 2023 across all categories. This is a change to the previous announcement made in March 2022. The extension applies to all civil legal aid providers in England and Wales, including immigration contracts which will no longer be extended for shorter periods. The Ministry of Justice is currently consulting on immigration fees until 8 August 2022, after which representative bodies will be consulted on changes to the immigration contract due to the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. The LAA will then develop a tender allowing new providers to bid for immigration contacts. The Standard Civil Contract 2018 outlines the commercial relationship between the LAA and providers for face-to-face civil legal aid in England and Wales.

Scammers are pretending to be from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), attempting to trick people into giving them money or personal information. They may claim that the recipient has violated immigration law, that their identity information is incorrect or outdated, or that they owe fees or need to pay an immigration bond. The scammers may threaten to have people arrested or deported if they don't provide the requested information. However, ICE and USCIS never call out of the blue and demand money, nor do they accept payment using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. People who are unsure about whether a call or email is genuine should check with ICE or USCIS and avoid calling back numbers left in voicemails or emails, instead finding contact information through the agency's website.