August 25 Updates
Federal
Reports indicate that the US Economy has lost approx. 1.2 million foreign-born workers since Trump took office in January.
More from Latin Times here.
They estimate that the loss of labor in the agricultural industry in particular has contributed to a 7% rise in cost for meat and an 8% rise in cost for fresh vegetables.
Student Visa Updates:
From CBS News: State Dept revokes 6,000 student visas due to alleged “law breaking” and “overstays”
From Newsweek: A new regulation that has cleared the final review at the White House would replace the current practice (under which F-1 and J-1 visa holders are authorized to remain for the full length of an academic program) with fixed-term limits that could require renewals while students remained enrolled, creating potential procedural disruptions for campuses and visa applicants
DHS’s plan to double immigrant detention by next year:
An internal planning road map obtained by the Washington Post (or read for free here) shows for the first time exactly how immigration authorities plan to reach that goal, including by opening or expanding 125 facilities this year.
As of Jan ‘25 US detention facilities had a capacity of 50,000. Current reports (NY Times or free article at Axios) suggest over 60,000 people are currently being held in detention in the US. However, by Jan ‘26, ICE plans to have the capacity to hold more than 107,000 people, internal agency documents show.
USCIS Expands “Good Moral Character” Assessment for Citizenship Applications
Green Card applicants are now eligible for removal:
New USCIS policy update says that immigrants submitting a family or marriage based petition for a green card who do not already have legal status are eligible for removal.
NYC: Following allegations of squalid conditions, a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to ensure a so-called "holding facility" for detaining migrants in a New York City federal building is not overcrowded and that detainees are provided with hygiene products and confidential access to lawyers.
More from ABC News here
However – even after the federal judge’s order from August 12th prohibiting ICE from detaining people in spaces with fewer than 50 square feet per person, and calling for improved access to hygiene, providing sleeping mats and access to medical care– doctors attempting to access the facility to provide healthcare to those inside were denied entry on Aug 18.
Ground Avelo Airlines has a guide here for how to get involved with the campaign for the airline to discontinue their contract with ICE.
Avelo Airlines is the first commercial airline to sign a deportation charter contract with ICE. These flights are secretive and unmarked, with no guarantee of legal counsel or due process for the people being removed. Every day the contract continues, Avelo is profiting from tearing families apart — and gambling its business on mass deportations.
HUD has begun to enforce English-only Policy
All materials will now be available in English only, when they previously made materials available in over 200 languages.
Federal Judges weigh in on ICE Courthouse arrests:
Federal Judge Torres ruled in favor of due process and against ICE courthouse arrests in a case involving a 40 yr old Jamaican asylum seeker.
Federal Judge Ho released a 31 page opinion decrying the courthouse arrests by ICE saying they are a violation of constitutional rights.
Trump’s lawsuit against all 15 Federal Judges in Maryland will be ruled upon by Labor Day according to NBC News —* update * The case was thrown out! Read more about the final decision via AP News here.
State (IL)
Indiana detention center updates:
Backlash covered by AP News here
State Rep Greg Porter questions cost of IDOC’s “Speedway Slammer” (more here)
Congressman Carson’s statement against the use of Camp Atterbury for immigrant detention in Indiana can be read here.
Immigrant Justice Groups Across Indiana and the Country Decry Detention Expansion in the Midwest (more from Detention Watch Network here)
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.
Local (Chicago)
Reports have indicated that the Trump Admin is planning to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago starting on Labor Day.
Sergio Serna Ramirez, the son-in-law of one of TRP's most active leaders, is currently detained by ICE in Michigan and they are organizing for his release.
Please sign this petition for his release