Immigrant Issues / Public News Service

U.S. border patrol agents have seen a 50% drop in the number of migrants crossing the border since Title 42 expired in mid May, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. (Mark Moran)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Title 42 Fallout in the Heartland

A public health measure known as Title 42 was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed for immigrants to be immediately expelled if they cross…

Research shows children who live in households that receive the Earned Income Tax Credit have better school performance, greater college enrollment and increased work and income in adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Advocates Push for 'Tax Fairness' with Expanded Child Tax Credits

As Massachusetts lawmakers work to finalize tax-relief measures, advocates for low-income families are calling for an expansion of tax credits proven …

Oregonians gathered to support a food assistance bill in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. (jpldesigns/Adobe Stock)

Oregonians Rally to Back Bill Providing Food Aid for All

A rally was held in Salem Thursday to urge passage of a bill to provide food assistance to Oregonians regardless of their immigration status…

Florida's newest elections law requires that third-party voter registration groups provide mandatory formal signature-matching training to specified persons by the Florida Secretary of State. (Pixabay)

Florida Faces Lawsuits Over Sweeping New Elections Law

The moment Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping elections bill into law last week, several voter-advocacy groups filed lawsuits against it…

One in three API women report experiencing sexual violence victimization, not including rape, in their lifetime, according to the Center at 909. (Adobe Stock)

Cultural Barriers May Prevent API Sexual Violence Survivors from Seeking Help

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, and according to the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, the number of Asian American …

The Oregon Legislature is required to end its session by June 25. (David Gn/Adobe Stock)

OR Senate Republican Walkout Endangers Anti-Hunger Policies

Three weeks into state Senate Republicans' walkout from the Oregon Legislature, concern is growing the move could sink action on important issues …

If passed, the Food for All Oregonians legislation would go into effect by 2025. (Oregon Food Bank)

OR Food Aid Expansion Bill Could Benefit Rural Immigrant Communities

Rural immigrant communities could benefit greatly from legislation known as Food for All Oregonians, anti-hunger groups say. Senate Bill 610 would …

Currently, DACA recipients, Temporary Protected Status holders and certain visa holders are also excluded from California food assistance programs. (Marilyn Barbone/Adobe Stock)<br />

Hunger-Fighting Groups Give Mixed Reviews to New CA Budget Proposal

Groups working to fight hunger in California are praising Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed changes to the state budget regarding food assistance for …

It is estimated about one-third of New Mexico's more than 120 threatened and endangered species occur in the Gila region, including the Mexican grey wolf, Gila trout and Mexican spotted owl. (Photo courtesy of Raquel Madrigal)

New Mexico Mural Art Features Endangered Species, Migration Themes

The Village of Doña Ana is New Mexico's oldest federally designated settlement, and about to be the newest destination for public art. The …

To stop the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, the public health order known as Title 42 was used nearly 3 million times to swiftly expel migrants at U.S. land borders. (AjdinKamber/AdobeStock)

Proposed Border Policing Unit Gains Traction in Texas

Legislation to create a "Border Protection Unit" is headed to the Texas Senate, while the governor said more needs to be done to secure the U.S.-…

Food for All Oregonians advocates have been meeting with legislators to get the bill passed. (Oregon Food Bank)

Lack of Food Assistance Has Health Consequences for Oregonians

Oregonians who have experienced food insecurity are pushing the state to ensure everyone has access to federal food assistance. The Supplemental …

The Food for All Oregonians bill has passed through the Senate Committee On Human Services. (Oregon Food Bank)

OR Bill Corrects Food-Aid Exclusion for Immigrant Communities

Legislation in Salem would extend food assistance to Oregonians in immigrant communities. Federal law excludes people who are undocumented from …

According to New York City's budget proposal, state and federal funding will need to help the city handle the influx of asylum seekers it's expected to face in the next year. In 2023, federal and state funding for this amounted to $1.6 Billion dollars.(Adobe Stock)

NYC Immigrant Rights Groups Seek Better Budget Provisions

Immigrant's rights advocates are displeased with the provisions for New York City's budget. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams budget …

Washington state implemented rules to prevent farmworkers from the hot summer weather. (Armstrong Photo/Adobe Stock)

WA Workers March Ahead of May Day

Workers in Washington state are holding a march this weekend ahead of May Day, which commemorates the workers' rights movement around the world…

There are roughly 30,000 people in Illinois in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.<br />(Molly Adams/Wikimedia Commons)

"Health Care is a Human Right"

The Biden administration is expanding access to health coverage under the Affordable Care Act to include young people in the Deferred Action for Child…

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 25% of lawfully present immigrants and almost half (46%) of undocumented immigrants were uninsured in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Affordable Care Act Access Expanded to DACA Recipients

The Biden administration is expanding access to health coverage under the Affordable Care Act to include young people in the Deferred Action for Child…

International students comprise 5% of all students in higher education. (Adobe Stock)

Undocumented NC Students Call for Tuition Fairness

Some North Carolina students are calling on legislators to propose a bill to allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at community colleges…

Child care workers have been forced out of the profession in some cases because of the low pay. (lordn/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Supports State's Strained Child Care System

This session, lawmakers in Olympia passed legislation designed to provide aid to the state's child care system. Senate Bill 5225 opens up access to …

The U.S. Census Bureau says Asian-Pacific Islanders make up a growing part of America's immigrant community. (Adobe Stock)

Community Group Helps Asian-Pacific Island Migrants Adjust to Life in U.S.

Thousands of immigrants arrive in the United States every year, knowing very little about the language, culture and civic ways of their new homeland…

From 2008 to 2021, Maine saw a sharp decline in the number of licensed child care providers operating in the state, with Lincoln County alone experiencing a 61% decrease. (Adobe Stock)

Training Underway to Eliminate 'Child Care Deserts' in Maine

A community-development nonprofit is helping to counter the sharp decline in child care providers in Maine by offering the training needed to start an…

A recent survey found that 65% of parents think their school has done an

New Survey Spotlights Parents’ Mindsets in 2022-2023 School Year

More than half of parents in Colorado and across the nation continue to be concerned about children's mental health, according to the latest survey …

Immigrants make up 3% of Maine's total population and 4% of Maine's workforce, including more than 2% of Maine's self-employed business owners, according to the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Lawmakers Consider Expansion of MaineCare to All Immigrant Adults

Lawmakers in Maine are considering a bill to expand MaineCare to all low-income residents, regardless of immigration status. LD 199 would ensure …

Illinois advocacy groups say they are educating policymakers on the benefits of hospital screening as a solution to prevent medical debt, both for low-income patients and the hospital. (volgariver/Adobe Stock)

IL Legislation Would Help People Avoid Medical Debt

A new report finds thousands of low-income or uninsured people in Illinois face medical debt that is depleting their savings and, in some cases…

Many of the nation's more than 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States do not have access to any form of identification, according to the Center for American Progress. (Adobe Stock)

NC’s Anti-Community ID Bill Could Harm Immigrant Families

Providers of community IDs for North Carolina's immigrant communities say proposed legislation banning police officers and local governments from reco…

The Tennessee House passed House Bill 2106 last year, which requires that Black history be taught to 5th through 8th graders. It takes effect July 1, 2025. (Adobe Stock)

TN Group Heads to State Capitol for 'Day On The Hill'

Advocates and leaders are headed to the state capitol next week to voice their concerns over issues affecting Black communities in Tennessee…

California is one of 12 states that offers financial aid to undocumented students, who are barred from receiving federal assistance. (S Fanti/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Few Undocumented CA College Students Receive State Aid

Just 14% of California's 94,000 undocumented college students receive some form of state financial aid, according to a new report. Researchers from …

According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Nebraska resettled more than three times the number of refugees per capita than the nation did as a whole in 2016. (Adobe Stock)

NE Attorney: Proposed Immigration Changes Violate U.S. Laws, Treaties

Nebraska welcomed more than 10,000 refugees between 2002 and 2016, and some are still hoping to bring family members to the U.S. Under the …

The proportion of Hispanic K-12 students in U.S. schools has increased threefold, from 9%<br />in 1984 to 28% today, according to UnidosUS. (Adobe Stock)

NC Latino Leaders Call for More Bilingual, Cultural Support

North Carolina's Latino education leaders see a need for more bilingual and cultural sensitivity training in the state's classrooms. The group …

North Carolina is one of the largest users of a type of temporary agricultural visa with between 14,000 and 17,000 H-2A visa workers annually, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (Adobe Stock)

Unionized Farmworkers Reach Pact with Hundreds of NC Farms

Unionized farmworkers recently signed a collective-bargaining agreement with the North Carolina Growers Association. The new agreement protects the …

A 2019 protest in Palo Alto worked to raise awareness of immigration issues. Statistics show less than 1% of philanthropic foundation dollars support immigrant organizations. (Sundry Photography/Adobestock)

'Immigrants Are Essential' Fund to Support CA Immigration Nonprofits

California is home to 10.5 million immigrants, and the nonprofits serving them said they have been stretched to the limit over the past few years…

Roughly 30,000 individuals across the Commonwealth access the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, resulting in $60 million in tax credits for taxpayers each year. (Adobe Stock)

Bill to Expand Tax Credits Draws on Children's Health Data

A bill to increase tax credits in the Commonwealth is backed up by research showing the credits lead to better nutrition for working families and bett…

Nearly 24% of households in Massachusetts reported speaking something other than English at home as their primary shared language, which is higher than the national average of nearly 22%. (Adobe Stock)

MA Legislation Aims to Improve Language Access for All

Lawmakers and immigrants-rights activists in the Commonwealth are hoping to pass the Language Access and Inclusion Act, which would dramatically …

SNAP helps hundreds of thousands of Oregonians but excludes people with undocumented immigration statuses. (jetcityimage/Adobe Stock)

Bill Extends Food Aid to All Oregonians Regardless of Immigration Status

A big gap exists in who can receive food assistance in Oregon, and some lawmakers want to bridge the divide this session. Federal law excludes …

A program in Colorado gives undocumented workers who are laid off access to unemployment benefits for up to 13 weeks. (Mr Doomits/Adobe Stock)

Undocumented Workers Could Get Access to Unemployment Under WA Bill

Undocumented workers in Washington state do not have access to unemployment insurance, but some state lawmakers aim to change it this session…

One of the provisions in a proposed Minnesota bill to restore driving privileges to undocumented people is data protection, so that agencies wouldn't be able to share a person's immigration status. (Adobe Stock)

MN Debates Drivers' Licenses for Undocumented People

It's been two decades since Minnesota stopped allowing undocumented people to apply for a driver's license. But there's renewed momentum in the …

According to a report from the Rand Corporation, almost 60% of Connecticut's 113,000 undocumented immigrants lack access to health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Seek Expansion of CT Public Health for Immigrants

Connecticut lawmakers are being asked to expand HUSKY - the state's Medicaid program - to include immigrants, regardless of their status. Two years …

Midterm voter turnout declined in Ohio from around 55% in 2018 to around 51.1% in 2022, according to data from the Ohio Secretary of State's Office. (Adobe Stock)">

Ohio Governor Signs Citizenship-Status Voter ID Bill

In a few months, Ohio voters will no longer be allowed to vote with utility bills or other non-photo documents as proof of identification, when a new …

An estimated 52% of immigrant-owned businesses were started by people using their personal savings, according to the Immigration Research Library. (Adobe Stock)

A Taste of Home: How Ethnic Grocery Stores Create Community

Michelle Chen wrote the original version of this story for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for California News Service reporting for …

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee was founded in 1968 to defend the rights and basic human dignity of farm workers regardless of immigration status. (Adobe Stock)

In Ohio, Push to Expand Rights for Migrant Workers

A labor union representing agricultural workers in Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia says it isn't waiting around for federal immigration reform to …

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., supports the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, which would apply to any airport receiving any of the $11 billion in airport funding each year, including $3.2 billion in Airport Improvement Program grants, $3.5 billion airports receive from passenger facility charges, and $4 billion in funds under the bipartisan infrastructure law. (32BJ SEIU)

Sen. Markey Rallies with Unions, Airport Workers in D.C.

Airport service workers rallied in Washington, D.C., Thursday to demand Congress pass legislation ensuring they receive a livable wage with stronger …

FLOC was founded in 1968 to defend the rights and basic human dignity of farm workers regardless of immigration status. (Heather Craig / Adobe Stock)

FLOC Convention Resolves to Make Common Cause with Small Farmers

Leaders of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee want to change the narrative about agriculture in America. FLOC members who gathered in Toledo, Ohio…

An average hotel room costs municipalities roughly $240 per night for one family and with families often scattered at various locations, social services can be difficult to administer. Transitional housing units would alleviate both costs and service gaps. (Adobe Stock)

More Transitional Housing Needed for Increased Asylum Seekers in Maine

The growing number of asylum-seekers in Maine has spurred cities and towns to join forces and build more transitional housing for families in need…

One of the acceptable required documents for U.S. citizenship is an official birth certificate issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction or territory, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. (Mehaniq41/Adobe Stock)

TN Writer: True Love, Green Cards and Immigration

By Jordan Arellano for YES! Media. Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Tennessee News Service, reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Homero Jose speaks to a crowd gathered at Bellingham City Hall in support of a center that would serve the community's immigrant populations. (Brenda Bentley)

Rally Decries Council 'No' Vote on Bellingham's Immigrant Center

People rallied outside of Bellingham City Hall on Thursday to show support for a city-funded immigrant resource center. It's a response to a City …

Supporters of Question 4 say granting licenses to drivers without legal status in the United States would reduce unnecessary arrests and reduce the time police spent when an immigrant without status gets pulled over. (Adobe Photo)

MA Advocates Laud Increased Resources for Non-English Speakers

On the heels of the midterm election, and passage of Question 4, which upheld a law allowing immigrants without legal status in the U.S. to receive …

The average premiums for Colorado consumers are predicted to increase 11.3% next year, but all insurers must offer Colorado Option plans with premiums 5% lower than 2021 levels. (Adobe Stock)

DACA, Undocumented People Eligible for Coverage Under Colorado Option

For the first time, Coloradans without documentation will be able to purchase Colorado Option health insurance plans through the state's individual …

Research has shown that social media messaging from apps such as WhatsApp, from trusted sources, can increase the spread of disinformation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Messenger Apps Driving Exposure to Disinformation Among Latino Voters

Recent polling shows more than 60% of Latino voters report exposure to false or unverified about politics, the COVID vaccine and abortion, and …

State leaders want Maine to be known by new Americans as the most effective state to<br />find a meaningful job through effective transitional supports. (Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center)

New Mainers Learn about Democracy at Immigrant Welcome Center

Understanding the rules about elections can be confusing for anyone, and for immigrants who are eligible to vote, the process can often be unnerving…

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