Immigrant Issues / Public News Service

Some Washington state lawmakers want to act as a bulwark against the incoming Trump administration's threats to undocumented immigrants. (CrackerClips/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 16, 2025

As deportation threat looms, WA groups underscore importance of immigrants

As threats of deportation of illegal immigrants increase with the incoming Trump administration, groups in Washington say immigrants are an integral …

President-elect Trump has vowed to conduct a mass deportation of more than 13 million immigrants but Massachusetts officials, including Gov. Maura Healy and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said they will not cooperate with federal authorities, nor will state or local police. (Adobe Stock).<br /><br /><br />

Southeast Asian refugees in MA fear deportation, seek Biden pardon

Southeast Asian refugees at risk of deportation in Massachusetts are asking President Biden to pardon them before he leaves office. Deportations …

As of 2022, more than 978,000 foreign born people are living in Pennsylvania. More than 522,000 are naturalized U.S. citizens. (Tetiana/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Mass deportation threatens PA economy, workforce stability

With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on Monday, a Pennsylvania group is helping some residents prepare for possible deportation …

More than 2,000 bills have already been filed by Texas lawmakers for the 2025 session. Coming up with a balanced budget is the only task required by the Texas Constitution. (Brandon Seidel/Adobe Stock)

Vouchers, new speaker on TX lawmakers' to-do list

Members of the Texas Legislature are back in Austin for its 89th legislative session. After newly elected lawmakers are sworn in, members will vote …

Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump's border czar, said he will begin mass deportations in Chicago when Trump takes office. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Chicago’s sanctuary protections may end this week

A proposed amendment to strip Chicago of its sanctuary protections is scheduled to be voted on this week. The change to the Welcome City Ordinance …

According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants make up more than 22% of Florida's population, with undocumented residents comprising nearly 4%, contributing significantly to the state's economy and workforce. (Adobe Stock)

FL lawmakers, advocates push back on DeSantis’ immigration special session

Florida has been a key battleground in the national immigration debate, with past legislation banning sanctuary cities and requiring companies to use …

According to the Arkansas Department of Finance, the short-term outlook for the Arkansas economy indicates stable and moderate growth for total personal income from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2025. (diy13/Adobe Stock)

Economists cautiously optimistic about 2025 AR economy

Economists are optimistic about the Arkansas economy in 2025. According to the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state has outperformed …

According to the USDA, hired farmworkers represent less than 1% of all U.S. wage and salary workers, yet they are vital to the nation's agricultural industry. (Adobe Stock)

Farm workers rally as deportations threaten NC families, economy

Organizations supporting farm workers are ramping up efforts to protect immigrant laborers in light of looming mass-deportation threats. About 40% …

President Joe Biden made a campaign promise to deported veterans at an Iowa townhall in 2019 to

Deported veterans call for pardons from Biden

"Deported veterans" may sound like an oxymoron. But it is not, and those veterans are working to get pardons in the last days of President Joe …

In 2024, 13 people were pardoned, granted clemency or had their sentence commuted by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. (Adobe Stock)

New Yorker continues to seek pardon from Gov. Hochul

One New Yorker is redoubling efforts to get a pardon from Gov. Kathy Hochul. Pascal "Shakoure" Charpentier has called New York his home for 52 years …

The Hispanic Leadership Network works to equip faith leaders with skills so they can build healthy and strong churches to impact and serve effectively in their communities. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Hispanic pastors across TX, U.S. wanted for leadership network

The deadline to apply is approaching for pastors who want to participate in the 2025 Hispanic Leadership Network. The 10-month program teaches …

Immigration law experts say applying for asylum status can be very lengthy, and that programs such as Temporary Protected Status can fill the void for people fleeing violence elsewhere in the world. (Adobe Stock)

MN Latino advocates rally around temporary protections, health care access

With 2025 almost here, organizations assisting Minnesota's Latino populations say they're laser focused on a couple of areas - mental health-care …

Space for the Farmers Market, which includes an incubator commercial kitchen, will be located in Logansport, Ind. (Cass County Community Foundation)

IN grant boosts diversity through Logansport food hub

Communities around the state will be watching the progress of a unique project coming up for the north-central Indiana town of Logansport. The Cass …

The work of GreenLatinos Texas, centers around empowering frontline environmental justice and conservation advocates. Members are actively engaging with local communities to understand their campaign goals and identify areas where support is needed. (Photo courtesy of Green Latinos)

TX group works to give Latinos seat at table in fight against methane

Members of the environmental nonprofit GreenLatinos are involved in a push to get more Latinos across Texas involved in the fight against methane gas…

Families looking to spread some holiday cheer are encouraged to write holiday cards welcoming new refugee families as part of the

'Hope for the Holidays' campaign welcomes refugee families

This holiday season, a nonprofit campaign is asking Americans to write holiday cards to welcome newly arrived refugee families. The 10th annual …

The U.S. is home to more than 408,000 undocumented students enrolled in higher education. Less than 1,000 undocumented students graduate from New Hampshire high schools each year, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. (Adobe Stock)

Mass deportations could spur economic losses on par with Great Recession

New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte says she will support President-elect Donald Trump's plan to deport the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrant…

Each year, immigrants add $54 billion to Colorado's economy. (Adobe Stock)

Economic damage of mass deportation on par with Great Recession

As President-elect Donald Trump doubles down on promises to round up and deport the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants, the city of Castle …

Virginia is one of the top 10 states in the nation for Christmas tree production. (jannoon028/Freepik)

Behind the Joy: Untold labor of Christmas tree production

As families across the country prepare to celebrate the holiday season, the joy of decorating a Christmas tree is a time-honored tradition. But the …

Federal data show North Dakota has emerged as one of the states with a higher number of refugees per capita. (Adobe Stock)

Human Rights Day spotlights need for welcoming refugees in ND

Today is International Human Rights Day, and much attention has been paid to North Dakota's growing refugee population and an assistance group …

Undocumented immigrants make up an estimated 4% of Oregon's workforce. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)<br />

OR sanctuary laws protect migrants, with caveats

As word has spread about President-elect Donald Trump's mass deportation plans, advocates for immigrants in Oregon are working to educate people …

The ACLU of Arkansas says immigrant workers are an integral part of the Arkansas economy. (F Armstrong Photo/Adobe Stock)

ACLU: Mass deportations would be setback for AR economy

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas predicts if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with his campaign promise of mass deportations…

New Mexico immigrant advocacy groups said mass deportations promised by the next Trump administration would destabilize local economies. (LRafael/AdobeStock)

NM human rights groups promise to defend immigrants against deportation

New Mexico immigrant-based and immigrant-serving organizations are developing strategies to defend those workers and their families in the new year…

Immigrants made up 4.7% of Wyoming's workforce in 2022, according to the American Immigration Council, and paid $151 million in taxes. (Adobe Stock)

Immigrants’ rights training in Jackson this weekend

Immigrants and the agencies that help them are preparing for what could happen when President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. In Wyoming…

Mass deportations would cause significant labor shocks across multiple key industries, with especially acute impacts on the construction, agriculture and hospitality sectors, according to the American Immigration Council. (Adobe Stock)

NV progressive groups warn of fallout from 2nd Trump presidency

The presidential vote was close in Nevada and with the results in, local organizations leaning more progressive believe the re-election of Donald …

After immigrating to the U.S. many immigrants and their families encounter challenges, including low-paying jobs, language barriers and navigating complex systems. (artiom.photo/Adobe Stock)

Immigrant families in northwest AR struggle to make ends meet

By Antoinette Grajeda for The Arkansas Advocate.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Advocate-Winthrop…

Coalition forms to reaffirm 'California values' in 2nd Trump era

This weekend, a new coalition called "We Are California" is holding meetings up and down the state, preparing to resist what it sees as anticipated …

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem in January offered support to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's border control initiatives, including personally delivering razor wire. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Immigrants' advocates strategize as Noem could head DHS

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to confirm his choice of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Department of Homeland Security and …

The California Undocumented Coalition for Higher Education took part in an advocacy day in Sacramento in January 2020. (California Campaign for College Opportunity)

CA undocumented student groups worry about incoming Trump administration

As President-elect Donald Trump announces immigration hard-liners as his deputy chief of staff and border czar this week, groups supporting …

More than one million Latinos live in Minnesota and surrounding states, and advocacy groups say it shows how this population is having an influence on elections. (Adobe Stock)

MN organizers: Latino voting power is here to stay

The impact Latino voters had in this year's election has caught the public's attention. Minnesota organizers found success in connecting with this …

President-elect Donald Trump's plan for mass deportation of immigrants means the U.S. loses out on $22.6 billion and $5.7 billion in Social Security and Medicare contributions, respectively. (Adobe Stock)

Immigrant NYers fear what lies ahead in 2nd Trump term

As the dust settles from the 2024 election, immigrant New Yorkers fear how Donald Trump's second term will impact them. Many still recall the …

Some pro-Palestinian first-time student voters said they had a hard time grappling with casting a ballot for any candidate in the election given the U.S. military support for the war in Gaza. <br />(Adobe Stock)

WI protest on Gaza war planned in downtown Milwaukee

pro-Palestinian groups are hosting a demonstration today starting at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. The groups Students for a Democratic …

Since 2002, there has been a single case of voter fraud in Wyoming, in which a convicted felon from Alaska managed to cast votes. He was sentenced to two to four years in prison. (Adobe Stock)

Lacking proof, WY official warns of noncitizens voting

Wyoming's secretary of state is asking county clerks to report non-citizens who try to vote, although cases of that - or any other - kind of election …

More than half of the 46 million immigrants living in the United States are naturalized citizens, according to the United States Census Bureau. (AdobeStock AI enhanced/ChaoticMind)

Legal immigrants in NM, elsewhere, ensnared in voting allegations

New Mexico has a sizable immigrant community - making up 11% of the state's labor force. But during contentious U.S. elections, they can suffer a …

Currently, election officials and voters in Wisconsin can challenge someone's eligibility to vote but claims based on a person's ethnicity, spoken language or accent are prohibited by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Despite the hype, noncitizens aren't voting in Wisconsin

By Alexander Shur for Votebeat Wisconsin.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Rural News Network-Pu…

The estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in 2022 was below the peak of 12.2 million in 2007. (Gretchen/Adobe Stock)

Mass deportation of immigrants opposed by most U.S. voters

A strong majority of voters across party lines want lawmakers to create a path to citizenship for America's 11 million undocumented immigrants…

A screenshot from a Donald Trump for President advertisement includes a claim fact-checkers have found misleading. Therapists said such rhetoric has taken a toll on undocumented immigrants' mental health. (Photo courtesy of MinnPost)<br />

As identity politics flood the airwaves, MN therapists help affected clients cope

By Deanna Pistono for MinnPost.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Rural News Network-Public News Service C…

Latino anglers bait their hooks in Imperial Beach, Calif. (Hispanic Access Foundation)

Report: CA Latinos fishing for subsistence eat twice the legal limit of mercury

Hispanic families who fish to put food on the table are disproportionately affected by mercury, which accumulates in seafood in Southern California…

About three in 10 Hispanic Republicans identify as evangelical Protestants, a far higher share than the 10% of Hispanic Democrats who say the same, according to Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Pastor highlights complexity of Hispanic evangelical vote

Roughly 10 million Hispanics identify as evangelical or Protestant, and one pastor contends there has been what he calls "an awakening" regarding the …

In 2023, North Dakota created a new Office of Legal Immigration as a way to help businesses around the state overcome labor shortages and recruit and retain foreign labor. (Adobe Stock)

Even in a red state, politics takes a back seat to welcoming new Americans

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held a rally Sunday that his critics say reinforced a hateful tone felt by Puerto Ricans and foreign-born…

Experts warn that mass deportation would lead to steep price hikes in supermarkets across the nation, given the large share of farmworkers who are undocumented. (Adobe Stock)

Majority of voters oppose mass deportation of immigrants

A strong majority of voters across party lines want lawmakers to create a path to citizenship for America's 11 million undocumented immigrants…

Over 55,000 immigrant business owners accounted for 10% of self-employed Pennsylvania residents in 2018 and generated $1.2 billion in business income. (Vesperstock/Adobe Stock)

Online forum debunks immigration myths before election

Today's virtual "Ask Me Anything" program will address debunking immigration myths and tackle complex questions. About one in 14 Pennsylvanians is …

New York City is closing the Randall's Island Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center in February because of declining capacity. About 16 other such centers remain open. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: NYC needs to close other relief centers housing migrants

With the Randall's Island Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center closing, immigrant advocates want the other such centers closed, too…

Because of their remote nature and limited capacity to access financial help, many of New Mexico's colonias rely on water wells not built to code. (GAO)

NM's colonias need oversight to improve water, wastewater systems

Federal funding for infrastructure improvements in colonias, predominately rural, Hispanic communities near the U.S.-Mexico border, including 150 in …

A report by the Immigration Research Initiative, Economic Policy Institute and The Commonwealth Institute showed nearly 29% of Main Street business owners in Virginia, such as those operating grocery stores, restaurants and dry cleaners, are immigrants. (Pixabay)

New report highlights immigrants' vital role in Virginia's economy

Amid the ongoing debate on immigration, a new report showed how much immigrants boost Virginia's economy. The report, "Immigrants Are a Vital Part …

UA Little Rock students celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month in the Trojan Cafe during the Hispanic/Latin Initiative's Por La Cultura Kickoff event. (Photo Courtesy UA-Little Rock)

UA Little Rock sees growth in Hispanic/Latin Initiative

During this National Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of Arkansas in Little Rock is celebrating an increased enrollment of Hispanic and Latino …

Federal officials said by embracing energy-efficient upgrades, such as a smart thermostat, a single eligible household can enjoy savings of up to $14,000. (Adobe Stock)

With the help of navigators, MN Latinos take the clean energy plunge

Summerlike temperatures are still around but winter is lurking and Minnesotans will soon have to crank up their thermostats. Now, there is outreach …

More than a half-million immigrants reside in Colorado, working as nursing assistants, cooks and software developers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Immigrants boost Colorado and U.S. economy, create jobs

Immigration boosts the economy - in Colorado and across the U.S. But new policies are needed to maximize gains and make it harder for employers to …

Health care workers and community members work to share factual information about vaccines as we approach the cold and flu season. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

TX Hispanic leaders dispel immunization myths, encourage vaccinations

Medical professionals and advocates in the Latino community are using National Hispanic Heritage Month to encourage residents to prepare for the upcom…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - January 17, 2025

2025Talks - January 17, 2025

The Yonder Report - January 16, 2025

Immigration

As deportation threat looms, WA groups underscore importance of immigrants

Southeast Asian refugees in MA fear deportation, seek Biden pardon

Mass deportation threatens PA economy, workforce stability

Vouchers, new speaker on TX lawmakers' to-do list

Chicago’s sanctuary protections may end this week

FL lawmakers, advocates push back on DeSantis’ immigration special session

Economists cautiously optimistic about 2025 AR economy

Farm workers rally as deportations threaten NC families, economy

Deported veterans call for pardons from Biden

New Yorker continues to seek pardon from Gov. Hochul

Hispanic pastors across TX, U.S. wanted for leadership network

MN Latino advocates rally around temporary protections, health care access

IN grant boosts diversity through Logansport food hub

TX group works to give Latinos seat at table in fight against methane

'Hope for the Holidays' campaign welcomes refugee families

Mass deportations could spur economic losses on par with Great Recession

Economic damage of mass deportation on par with Great Recession

Behind the Joy: Untold labor of Christmas tree production

Human Rights Day spotlights need for welcoming refugees in ND

OR sanctuary laws protect migrants, with caveats

ACLU: Mass deportations would be setback for AR economy

NM human rights groups promise to defend immigrants against deportation

Immigrants’ rights training in Jackson this weekend

NV progressive groups warn of fallout from 2nd Trump presidency

Immigrant families in northwest AR struggle to make ends meet

Coalition forms to reaffirm 'California values' in 2nd Trump era

Immigrants' advocates strategize as Noem could head DHS

CA undocumented student groups worry about incoming Trump administration

MN organizers: Latino voting power is here to stay

Immigrant NYers fear what lies ahead in 2nd Trump term

WI protest on Gaza war planned in downtown Milwaukee

Lacking proof, WY official warns of noncitizens voting

Legal immigrants in NM, elsewhere, ensnared in voting allegations

Despite the hype, noncitizens aren't voting in Wisconsin

Mass deportation of immigrants opposed by most U.S. voters

As identity politics flood the airwaves, MN therapists help affected clients cope

Report: CA Latinos fishing for subsistence eat twice the legal limit of mercury

Pastor highlights complexity of Hispanic evangelical vote

Even in a red state, politics takes a back seat to welcoming new Americans

Majority of voters oppose mass deportation of immigrants

Online forum debunks immigration myths before election

Advocates: NYC needs to close other relief centers housing migrants

NM's colonias need oversight to improve water, wastewater systems

New report highlights immigrants' vital role in Virginia's economy

UA Little Rock sees growth in Hispanic/Latin Initiative

With the help of navigators, MN Latinos take the clean energy plunge

Report: Immigrants boost Colorado and U.S. economy, create jobs

TX Hispanic leaders dispel immunization myths, encourage vaccinations