August 11 Updates
Federal
Federal Judge Jia M Cobb ruled on Aug 1 in the case of CHIRLA v Noem that the administration’s use of expedited removal for people who entered the country under Humanitarian Parole (or other types of Parole) is unlawful. Read more here.
Unsurprisingly, it’s been confirmed that U.S. immigration authorities are actively colluding with far-right private groups like Canary Mission and Betar to suppress political dissent, particularly when that dissent centers on Palestinian liberation.
ICE has reportedly been separating families if the parents refuse to board a deportation flight.
From the San Juan Star: Trump’s new family separation policy
From Immigration Policy Tracking: ICE is using a new tactic, "interior separation," to pressure noncitizen families to leave the United States. The Times found nine cases in which ICE has detained parents and separated them from their children—taking the children into federal custody or sending them to foster homes—after the parents refused to board commercial deportation flights. Agency records note in one case that "interior separation is approved;" other records show an ICE official concluded that an interior separation had no "implications/requirements" with respect to the court-ordered settlement agreement in the Ms. L family separation lawsuit that involved border separations.
DHS announced a partnership with the state of Indiana to expand ICE detention space by using 1,000 beds at the Miami Correctional Center, a state prison which the press release nicknames the "Speedway Slammer." Use of the state prison for immigration detention is funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Indiana Governor Mike Braun states that Indiana is "proud" to partner with DHS and that Indiana "will continue to lead the way among states" on immigration enforcement.
Keep up with all the litigation against the Trump admin and all updates about the cases here
Faith leaders rallied to secure the release of Yeonsoo Go (a Purdue student from S.K. here on a Visa based on her mother’s employment as a religious official). She has finally been released!
State (IL)
Many advocates are fighting to save Head Start programs and keep vulnerable families eligible for their services. Please see the following resources from Start Early:
Webinar Series: Champions and Changemakers - Together for Head Start
Webinar #4 highlights how to submit public comment, why it matters, and some templates you can use.
Information on data sharing between Medicaid and DHS:
Shriver Center: Factsheet for Enrollment Assisters
PIF: Medicaid and SNAP data sharing - What Advocates Need to Know
IDHS Information on Health Benefits for Immigrants in IL can be found here (regarding VTTC eligibility, applications, and FAQs)
Find your state legislators here(this is an interactive map – you can select any district on the map and see who the state senator and state rep are for that place) to let them know what is important to you.