Friend,
As always, the Trump Administration continues to spend its time demonizing immigrants and finding ways to make America a less diverse nation. Here’s an update on some of the latest immigration policies the White House is pushing.
Last week, the New York Times reported that President Trump will be sending military-style tactical units to track down immigrants in so-called “sanctuary cities”. In other words, he will be sending Border Patrol SWAT-like teams to cities that refuse to allow local law enforcement officers to act as ICE agents. This is just the latest retaliatory effort from Trump to attack cities that support and protect their citizens regardless of immigration status. Immigration experts and advocates quickly condemned the announcement. Check out what they said here.
In the last few weeks, Trump has also announced not one, but two new travel bans. Last month, the Trump Administration created new visa restrictions that may end up banning all female travelers of child-bearing age. Millions of women from around the world could be denied entry to our country simply because a consular officer thinks they are pregnant or could become pregnant. The ban is based on the false pretext of national security and crime prevention. And, it impacts mostly female travelers of color because it does not apply to citizens of Western nations who are eligible to travel to the U.S. without a visitor visa. Click here for more info on the ban.
Meanwhile, three years after the Trump Administration implemented the Muslim Ban, the president decided to commemorate the occasion by expanding it even further. The new African Ban expands the Muslim Ban and specifically targets six new countries, most of them in Africa. The affected countries are Sudan, Eritrea, Tanzania, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, and Nigeria (Africa’s most populated country). There is no reasonable national security or immigration control justification for this policy. The rationale for this announcement is only unapologetic bigotry. Learn more about the new African Ban here.
Starting this month, some would-be immigrants to the U.S. may find it harder to obtain a visa, due to Trump’s new “public charge” rule. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s public charge rule change could proceed, and it is scheduled to go into effect next week. Under the new rule, would-be immigrants may be denied green cards if they have used food stamps, housing assistance, Medicaid, and other government programs. This unfortunately, sends the message to immigrant families that if you’re not white and rich, you are not welcome in this country. Learn more about the public charge rule here.
It has officially been a year since the Trump Administration implemented the Remain in Mexico (MPP) policy as an effort to keep out migrants seeking asylum at our southern border. Remain in Mexico, which forces migrants to wait for months or years in camps in Mexico while their asylum case is considered, is inhumane and must end. Last month, immigrants and immigration advocates across the country called for a restoration of the U.S. asylum system as they filled up courts and tent courts in cities along the border to witness asylum hearings. Rallies and vigils across the nation also called attention to how Trump has decimated our asylum system. Check out photos and tweets from the day here.
In Election 2020 news, the primary season is officially underway. Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire have cast their votes in the last couple of weeks, while Nevada and South Carolina are set to do so before the month ends. We were at the Iowa Caucus in Des Moines, where we talked to Iowa Latinos and other voters about why immigration matters this primary season. You can see our interviews here.
Find out when your state votes here and make sure your voter registration is up to date here.
Those are all of the updates for now. Stay tuned for more information on all things immigration and ways you can get involved.
In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
In solidarity,
Juana
You received this email because you are subscribed to important email alerts from America's Voice. To cancel your subscription, please
click here.
