Immigrant Issues / Public News Service

Wildfires near farms in Whatcom and Skagit counties have made work in the fields hazardous for workers. (Alfredo Juarez)

Amid Wildfires, Heat, WA Farmworkers Call for Greater Protections

Washington state farmworkers are facing harsh conditions in the midst of wildfires and late-summer heat. They're calling for greater protections from …

According to a 2021 report, about 80% of residents in the mostly immigrant-populated city of Chelsea were deemed essential workers, meaning they had to continue working during the less knowledgeable early days of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

New Internship Program Focused on Immigrant Health

A new internship program is looking to investigate health disparities among Massachusetts' immigrant population. The Immigrant Scholar Internship …

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee won a collective-bargaining deal covering workers on tomato farms in Ohio in 1983, after an eight-year campaign and boycott. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Farm Workers Still Shut Out of Federal Labor Protections

An organization defending the rights of thousands of farmworkers in Ohio and other states is creating its road map for the future. The Farm Labor …

Residents of Bellingham, Wash., studied other cities' immigrant resource centers and have proposed one for Whatcom County. (CascadeCreatives/Adobe Stock)

Call for Immigrant Resource Center on Anniversary of WA Farmworker Death

People in northwest Washington are holding a vigil at Bellingham City Hall for an immigrant farmworker who died five years ago, and calling for a …

A shortage of good jobs makes the ladder to a middle-class lifestyle a steep climb for Latino workers, according to a study by the Center for American Progress. (GerdAltmann/Pixabay)

Economic Success Ladder a Harder Climb for U.S. Latinos

Hispanic and Latino workers have high employment rates in the U.S. but continue to experience a shortage of jobs paying enough to lift them into the …

Only 20% of Latinos with mental-health issues talk with a primary-care physician, according to a U.S. Surgeon General's report. (Adobe Stock)

NC Health Center Aims to Reduce Mental-Health Stigma Among Latinos

Stigma around mental health and a lack of resources available in Spanish means many individuals in North Carolina's Latino community are going without…

The Food4All Campaign began two years ago with the goal of eliminating hunger in California. (California Immigrant Policy Center)

Hunger Advocates Celebrate Progress; Vow to Continue Fight

California's new budget expands CalFresh benefits to low-income undocumented people age 55 and older, and now advocates are looking to build on their …

In 2018, undocumented immigrants in Arizona paid an estimated $228.5 million in state and local taxes, not including federal taxes. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Groups Push for In-State Tuition for Undocumented, DACA Graduates

A measure to provide in-state tuition to all Arizona high school graduates regardless of immigration status will be on the ballot this November…

Farmworker families in Apopka benefit from a food distribution hosted by the Farmworker Association of Florida. (Yesica Ramirez)

Grants Fund Emergency Supports for Florida Farmworker Families

Florida farmworkers are getting some much-needed support thanks to a grant from the Health, Environment, Agriculture, Labor Food Alliance (HEAL)…

This month, the Charter Review Committee in Multnomah County recommended a measure for November's ballot that would allow non-U.S. citizens to vote. (MyPhotoBuddy/Adobe Stock)

OR County to Decide on Voting for Undocumented; Some Aim Higher

In Multnomah County, voters will decide in November whether the right to vote should extend to people who are not citizens. Some say all of Oregon …

According to the Detention Watch Network, the U.S. detained nearly 250,000 immigrants in Fiscal Year 2021, in a network of about 200 facilities. (Gustavo Frazao/Adobe Stock)">

NY Law Regulates ‘Predatory’ Immigrant Bond Companies

A new law in New York State is expected to keep for-profit lenders from taking advantage of immigrants in detention facilities. Some people in the …

Maine residents can contact MaineCare Member Services to find a dental provider that accepts MaineCare. (satura_/Adobe Stock)

ME Groups Spotlight Improvements to MaineCare Coverage, Eligibility

MaineCare is seeing two big changes this month. Children under 21 and Mainers who are pregnant now are eligible for coverage regardless of their …

The Arizona District Attorney joined the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to bring a lawsuit against HB 2492. (bizoo_n/Adobe Stock)

AZ Groups Support DOJ Lawsuit to Block Registration Barrier

The U.S. Department of Justice wants to block an Arizona law that requires what its lawsuit calls "onerous documentary proof of citizenship" in order …

About 150,000 DACA program participants live and work in California. (Jesus/Adobe Stock)

Opening Statements Today in Appeal to Protect DACA

The fate of more than 600,000 so-called "dreamers" hangs in the balance as opening statements are heard today in a case that could make or break the D…

Recent years have seen a nearly 500% increase in the number of unaccompanied young immigrants, fleeing abuse in their home country, seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile status after settling in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

New MN Law Expands Immigration Protections for At-Risk Youth

Minnesota has joined several states in raising the age limit for young immigrants who have escaped trauma to receive legal protections in the United S…

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey shows many Latinos with mixed immigration status remain skeptical about giving personal information to health authorities offering COVID-19 vaccinations. (Diocese of Pennsylvania)<br />

Lagging in Vaccinations, TX Latinos Offered COVID Shots at Church

Promoting the theme "unity in community," the Hispanic Access Foundation has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to bring …

Latino leaders and advocates criticized Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts for failing to fund a state count committee, a commonly used tool for reaching historically hard-to-count communities in census surveys. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Outperforms National Census in Tally of Latinos

Nebraska did a better job counting the state's Latino residents in the 2020 Census than new national undercount data suggests. According to analysis …

The Food4All Campaign is a coalition of more than 50 groups fighting to eliminate hunger in California. (Haylee Burgess/CIPC)

Food4All Campaign Ramps Up as Gov, Lawmakers Finalize Budget

The Food4All campaign is calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand access to food assistance to all undocumented Californians when he submits his final …

The Census Bureau is reporting both population undercounts and overcounts, were likely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, natural disasters and decisions by the Trump administration that disrupted normal counting efforts. (GerdAltmann/Pixabay)

TX One of Six States that Undercounted Population in 2020 Census

A new report found Texas likely undercounted the number of people who actually live in the state when gathering information for the 2020 census…

Staff prepare to vaccinate North Carolina residents at a pop-up clinic run by the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO. (Christiana Wagner/FLOC)

Mobile COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Gears Up for Influx of NC Migrant Workers

An all-volunteer vaccine clinic run by a farmworkers' union says it's expecting an increase in demand from seasonal migrant workers who want to be vac…

As baby boomers age, demand for health-care support workers is expected to rise substantially by 2030, according to the American Immigration Council. (Adobe Stock/F Armstrong Photo)

Report: Immigrant Workers Answer to Ohio, US Labor Shortages

As the country reels with the highest levels of inflation seen since the 1980s, experts say without adding more workers, wage increases could drive …

California may grow much of the nation's fresh produce, but new research estimates a half-million undocumented California residents, ages 27 to 49, are affected by food insecurity. (Olga Lyubkin/Adobe Stock)

Groups Press to Include Undocumented in CA Food Assistance

New research on hunger shows 45% of undocumented immigrants in California are affected by food insecurity, and 60% of undocumented children live in …

Immigration, Labor Groups to March Sunday for May Day

This Sunday night, immigration and labor groups are marching for May Day on the Vegas strip, speaking out on the need for immigration reform and …

Expanding professional nursing licenses to DACA recipients and Temporary Protected Status holders could help alleviate Tennessee's nursing shortage. (Adobe Stock)

TN Gov. Expected to Sign 'Historic' Expansion of Immigrant Workers’ Rights

A bill on Gov. Bill Lee's desk would expand eligibility for certain types of work licenses to Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) recipients…

Nationwide, more than 9 million permanent residents are potentially eligible for United States citizenship, according to the National Partnership for New Americans. (Adobe Stock)

Groups, Nevada Government Work to Naturalize Millions

A coalition of cities, counties and more than 50 immigrant and refugee advocacy groups around the country, with a strong Nevada base, are celebrating …

People new to Nebraska interested in starting their own business are frequently not familiar with how things such as zoning, employment law, tax codes and accounting practices can impact daily operations. (Adobe Stock)

Latina Women’s Business Conference Coming to South Sioux City

Registration is open for the Empowerment for Latina Women in Business Conference, set for May 3 in South Sioux City. Jessica Campos, director of the …

The number of Ukrainians arriving in Washington state has increased since conflict in the eastern part of the country began in 2014. (aviavlad/Adobe Stock)

Ukrainians New to WA Face Barriers to Work

The number of Ukrainians arriving in Washington state has increased since the Russian invasion in February. Already, the Evergreen State is home to …

To kick off this week of action, the Husky 4 Immigrants coalition held a rally in front of the State Capitol in Hartford. (Husky 4 Immigrants)

CT Week of Action Calls for Health Coverage for Undocumented Residents

Connecticut advocates are hosting a week of action, asking Gov. Ned Lamont and legislators to expand HUSKY Health, the state's Medicaid program…

Owned by Fort Bliss, Castner Range has significant ancient rock imagery, cultural deposits and historic military sites. (flickr.com/https://bit.ly/3ie8TEL)

Groups Advocate for Historic Latino Monuments in Texas

Every 30 seconds in the U.S. a Latino citizen turns 18, and it is Latino Advocacy Week, the second annual initiative where community leaders champion …

Fifty-nine percent of Black domestic-violence survivors surveyed said they avoided calling the police out of fear of further violence from their abuser. (Adobe Stock)

Marginalized Survivors Report Bias When Seeking Help in Ohio

A new survey reveals instances of bias in the ways police, courts and social services respond to domestic-violence survivors in Ohio in times of …

877 Ukrainian refugees arrived in Pennsylvania between 2009 and 2019, according to the Department of Human Services. (Adobe Stock)

PA Refugee-Resettlement Group Calls for Support of Ukrainian Families

The Department of Homeland Security says the 30,000 Ukrainians temporarily living in the U.S. can now stay for 18 months under Temporary Protected …

Massachusetts residents stood in solidarity with Ukraine last Friday at the State House. (Emma Friedlander)

MA Groups Call for Protections from Deportation for Ukrainian Residents

The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition is among the groups urging the U.S. to take in as many Ukrainian refugees as possible…

Since the start of the pandemic, at least 30,000 immigrant families in New Mexico were excluded from stimulus rebate checks, unemployment benefits and other safety-net programs. (SomosUnPuebloUnido)

Statewide "Guaranteed Basic Income" Launches in New Mexico

In the next few days, more than 300 undocumented or mixed-immigration-status New Mexico families will begin receiving $500 monthly for the next year…

New York immigrant groups say the United States needs to protect undocumented Ukrainians from deportation. (golicin/Adobe Stock)

NY Immigration Coalition Urges U.S. to Welcome Ukrainian Refugees

The New York Immigration Coalition is among the groups urging the U.S. to take in as many Ukrainian refugees as possible, as Ukraine faces an ongoing …

Radio Tierra has been on the air in the Columbia River Gorge since 2004. (yooranpark/Adobe Stock)

Bilingual Station Keeps Columbia Gorge Farmworkers Up to Date

A unique radio station in the Columbia River Gorge provides information in English and Spanish, on topics ranging from the environment to immigration…

Many of the farmworkers in Oregon near the Columbia River Gorge work in orchards. (Kirk/Adobe Stock)

Radio Station Shares Bilingual News with Gorge Farmworkers

A unique radio station in the Columbia River Gorge provides information in English and Spanish, on topics ranging from the environment to immigration…

Michigan would join 16 other states in making sure immigration status isn't a barrier to getting a driver's license if state lawmakers pass a couple of bills they're now considering. (Elroi/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Dropping Barriers to Drivers Licenses for MI Immigrants

A coalition of immigrants and allies in Michigan has kicked off a week of action, urging the Legislature to take up bills to restore the ability of …

Facility Suspected of Holding Immigrants En Route to WA Detention Center

Protesters are staging weekly vigils around a facility in a northwest Washington town that they say is a short-term holding facility for immigration l…

With the expiration of the federal Child Tax Credit, the Recovery For All Coalition is calling for a state-level child tax credit of $600 per child for families earning less than $210,000 a year. (Adobe Stock)

CT Coalition Calls for Public Investments Ahead of Legislative Session

A coalition of Connecticut's labor and community organizations has sent a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont and lawmakers outlining public investments they …

Nearly a quarter of New York residents are immigrants, while almost one-fifth are native-born U.S. citizens with at least one immigrant parent, according to the American Immigration Council. (G. Lonmbardo/Adobe Stock)

Immigrant Communities 'Left Out' of NY Redistricting Plan

The State Assembly is proposing a new set of redistricting maps this week, but members of several New York immigrant communities say they've been …

New voter maps can impact how public schools operate through school board elections. (Adobe Stock)

WY Panel to Deliver New Voter District Maps to Legislature

Advocates for Wyoming's Latino communities welcomed the latest voter redistricting maps advanced last week. The 62-31 plan, which is expected to be …

Experts say expanding Essential Plan coverage to undocumented New Yorkers would cost $350 million, but would lead to savings on emergency medical care for people who can't get less expensive, preventive care. (nilsversemann/Adobe Stock)

Immigrant NYers: Time is Now to Pass "Coverage for All"

Advocates for immigrant New Yorkers are urging the State Legislature to pass a bill to extend health coverage to undocumented New Yorkers earning up t…

Farmworkers suffer from higher blood pressure compared with the general public, putting them at increased risk for heart disease and diabetes; yet many face challenges accessing health care. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Rural NC Farmworker Clinics Rely on APRNs

Volunteer Advanced Practice Registered Nurses serve North Carolina's most vulnerable communities, yet many say the state's supervising physician …

If Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget plan is adopted, Cal Fresh would start planning in order to introduce food assistance to undocumented Californians age 55 and older. (Stanislau_V/Adobestock)

Governor’s Budget Would Begin to Open Cal Fresh to the Undocumented 55+

Advocates for the Food for All campaign are praising Gov. Gavin Newsom's new budget proposal, which would begin the process of expanding the Cal …

In Texas, 16% of residents say the COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe financial suffering. (islandworks/Pixabay)

TX Survey: Hispanics Suffer Greatest Financial Hardship from COVID-19

Half of Texas residents say COVID-19 has caused them financial hardship, and Hispanic families faced the most severe consequences, according to a new …

Diing Manyang, from the South Sudan and Kakuma refugee camp, is currently studying at George Washington University. (Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration)

State Department to Pilot New Program for Refugees to Attend College

By next fall, refugee students may be able to apply to attend American colleges and universities. The State Department said it plans to pilot a new …

South Dakota's redistricting effort involves redrawing 35 legislative districts. Because it has only one seat in Congress, no federal maps are involved. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Advocates: SD's Redistricting Needs to Catch Up with Diversity

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - When South Dakota voters head to the polls next year, they'll decide on candidates hoping to serve newly drawn legislative …

North Carolina ranks sixth in the nation for the number of migrant farmworkers employed on agricultural farms. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Leaders to Meet with Reynolds Tobacco on Farmworkers’ Rights

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Faith leaders are urging tobacco companies to support migrant workers employed by their contract farms. A group of clergy will meet …

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