Editor’s note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: [email protected].
Justice Department Sues Texas, Says Immigration Law Unconstitutional
The Justice Department on Wednesday sued Texas over a new law that would allow police to arrest migrants who enter the U.S. illegally, taking Republican Governor Greg Abbott to court again over his escalating response to border crossers arriving from Mexico. The Associated Press reports.
Chinese Migration Up at Border as US Marks Anniversary of Repeal of Exclusion Act
As the U.S marks the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act, thousands of Chinese immigrants are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, mostly for the same reasons as their countrymen did more than a century ago. VOA’s immigration reporter Aline Barros has more.
Huge Number of Migrants Highlights Border Crisis
U.S. officials processed an estimated 300,000 people at the U.S. border with Mexico in December, which would be the highest number ever recorded, according to multiple news organizations. VOA’s Rob Garver reports.
US, Mexico Discuss Options to Slow Surge of Migrants at Border
U.S. and Mexican officials met December 27 in Mexico City to discuss how to slow the surge of migrants at their shared border, where there have been as many as 10,000 illegal crossings into the United States daily in December. The two sides, led by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, met for about two hours. VOANews reports.
US Reopens Border Crossings as Illegal Immigration Drops
The U.S. is resuming operations at an international bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas, two crossings in Arizona and another near San Diego, California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release that it will continue to prioritize border security "as necessary." Reuters reports.
Democratic Mayors Renew Pleas for Federal Help Over Migrant Crisis
The mayors of Chicago, New York City and Denver last week renewed pleas for more federal help and coordination with Texas over the growing number of asylum-seekers arriving in their cities by bus and plane. The Associated Press reports.
Remittances from Nicaraguan Migrants Mark New Record, Passing $4 Billion
Nicaraguan migrants sent relatives back home record remittances this year through November, data from the country’s central bank showed, fueled by massive waves of migration leaving the Central American nation in recent years. In a statement, the bank noted a record of about $4.24 billion in remittances for the 11-month period, 47% more than the amount sent home during the same period last year. Reuters reports.
California Expands Health Care for Low-Income Immigrants in 2024
More than 700,000 immigrants living illegally in California gained access to free health care on January 1 under one of the state’s most ambitious coverage expansions in a decade. It’s an effort that will eventually cost the state about $3.1 billion per year and inches California closer to Democrats’ goal of providing universal health care to its roughly 39 million residents. The Associated Press reports.
House Speaker Wants US ‘Border Closed’ Before Passing Ukraine, Israel Aid
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson led about 60 fellow Republicans in Congress on a visit Wednesday to the Mexican border to demand hard-line immigration policies in exchange for backing President Joe Biden’s emergency wartime funding request for Ukraine. The Associated Press reports.
Immigrants Add Twist to Traditional US Christmas Dinner
The United States broke free from Britain more than two centuries ago — except, maybe, when it comes to the traditional Christmas dinner.
Immigration around the world
African, Asian Migrants Seek Nicaragua Shortcut to US
Nicaragua has become a hot spot for migrants from around the world seeking to avoid a brutal trek through the Darien Gap jungle. … However, analysts say that the government of Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega, a longtime nemesis of the United States, has deliberately made it easier for migrants to bypass the Darien Gap by flying straight into his country and then heading north overland. Agence France-Presse reports.
China Eases Visa Requirements for US Travelers to Boost Tourism
China is easing visa restrictions for people visiting from the United States, the country’s latest effort to attract foreign travelers since reopening its borders last year. As of January 1, American tourists no longer need to submit round-trip air tickets, proof of hotel reservations, itineraries or invitations to China, according to a notice posted online by the Chinese Embassy in Washington. The Associated Press reports.
Nearly 30,000 Migrants Crossed Channel to UK Last Year
Nearly 30,000 migrants crossed the Channel to Britain from mainland Europe in small boats in 2023, an annual drop of more than a third, government figures released Monday showed. However, the unauthorized arrivals of 29,437 people on the southeast English coast remains the second-largest yearly tally since officials began publishing the numbers in 2018. Agence France-Presse reports.
Mexico, Venezuela Restart Repatriation Flights to Help Curb Migration to US
Mexico and Venezuela announced December 30 that they have restarted repatriation flights of Venezuelan migrants in Mexico, the latest move by countries in the region to take on a flood of people traveling north to the United States. The Associated Press reports.
Returning Migrants Fight Irregular Migration in Gambia
Gambia’s Immigration Department has launched a manhunt for immigration smugglers after an increase in the death toll of Gambians attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean into Europe. Some returnees are holding workshops to tell about the dangers of trying to flee the country. Senanu Tord reports from the capital, Banjul.
Despite Denials, Pakistan Deported Afghan Refugees Waiting for US Resettlement
On December 26, The Times of India reported that Pakistan has been deporting Afghan refugees who had been granted resettlement in the United States. Pakistan has denied targeting Afghan refugees for deportation. In October, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the country’s deportation policy affects all "illegal" refugees "no matter their nationality," and that reports "associating" the deportations with Afghan refugees are the result of "misunderstanding or misrepresentation." Polygraph.info reports.
