updates and ILD’s analysis on current topics in immigration law and policy
ILD blog
Supreme Court Hears Challenge to Biden's Immigration Enforcement Priorities
The Supreme Court is set to hear the first major immigration case of this term, U.S. v. Texas, focused on whether the President of the United States has power to prioritize the deportation of certain immigrants in the United States over others. A ruling in the case could have sweeping implications for the issue of immigration enforcement generally, as well as the ability for states to present legal challenges to immigration policies put forth by Presidential administrations.
9th Circuit Rules Against California's Ban on Private Immigration Detention
The United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a new ruling on AB 32, a California law that banned the use of for-profit prisons, jails and immigration detention facilities. The ruling is a setback for legislators who had supported the ban on private facilities as part of a broader campaign to protect the health and safety of California residents.
Despite Tens of Thousands of Applications, Afghans Have No Clear Path to the United States
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is facing renewed criticism over the treatment of Afghans seeking refuge after reports that fewer than 2% of Afghans who applied for humanitarian parole were approved by the agency. Advocates have not only pointed to the abysmal grant rate, but the disparate treatment afforded to Ukrainians by the same agency.
Despite Supreme Court Ruling, Biden Administration Slow to End "Remain in Mexico" Policy
The Biden administration is facing renewed criticism for failing to terminate the notorious Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), despite a Supreme Court decision authorizing the administration to end the program. The MPP, also known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, is a program enacted by the Trump administration designed to prevent migrants from crossing into the United States while they apply for asylum, effectively forcing them to remain in Mexico while their claims are adjudicated in the United States. More than one month has passed since the Supreme Court issued its ruling, yet the administration has been slow to cease the policy. The policy has been slammed by advocates who note that requiring migrants to remain in Mexico forces them to remain in unhealthy camps and shelters, often becoming the target of violence or exploitation in dangerous cities along the border.