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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh

@colleenputzelkav.bsky.social
219 followers 55 following 61 posts

Associate Policy Analyst, U.S. Immigration Policy Program at Migration Policy Institute. Follow all border developments and data closely. All views my own.

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
It has been one year since the Trump admin invoked the Alien Enemies Act and began targeting international students with a novel provision of the INA but thus far faced resistance in the courts with these and other policies. Read more here: www.migrationpolicy.org/article/trum...
migrationpolicy.org
The Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies Encounter Resistance in the Courts
Federal judges have provided significant opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies during its second term. The courts have halted or slowed a number of administration initiatives, ...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
A pleasure speaking with Ron at The Gaggle on E-Verify and worksite enforcement. Give it a listen where you listen to your podcasts!
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Julia Gelatt @juliagelatt.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
With news of ICE's focus on Maine, recommending my colleagues @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social & Valerie Lacarte's profile of ME's small immigrant population. ME's immigrants are a mix of long-settled, well-integrated folks, and newcomers from diverse origins, bolstering the workforce of an aging state
migrationpolicy.org
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Reshaping who is welcome and who belongs is the undertone of the first year of changes to the U.S. immigration system in the first year of the Trump administration Read our full report by @kathleenbush.bsky.social, Muz Chishti, and me here: www.migrationpolicy.org/article/trum...
migrationpolicy.org
Unleashing Power in New Ways: Immigration in the First Year of Trump 2.0
U.S. immigration policy, practice, and enforcement changed dramatically over the first year of President Donald Trump's second term, touching most corners of the immigration system. The government has...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
TOMORROW: Beyond Shock & Awe: Immigration Actions in the 1st year under Trump 2.0 Join @kathleenbush.bsky.social & @migrationpolicy.bsky.social colleagues Muz Chisti and Doris Meissner as we unravel the sweeping changes to immigration policy this last year www.migrationpolicy.org/events/immig...
migrationpolicy.org
Beyond “Shock and Awe”: Immigration Actions in the First Year under Trump 2.0
MPI analysts assess the immigration actions taken during President Trump's first year back in office, detail the legal state of play, and analyze the actual effects on the labor market, U.S. communiti...
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David J. Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
NEW data I've received: Just 5% of people detained by ICE since October 1 have had violent criminal convictions, 3/4 had no criminal convictions at all. Most "criminals" had immigration, traffic, and vice offenses. Not the "worst of the worst"...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Increased immigration enforcement, especially at workplaces, may bring the 30-year old E-Verify program back into the national conversation. But the administration remains amibavlent about the program-both touting its use and warning against reliance. Read more in MPI's latest bit.ly/MPIeverify
bit.ly
Employment Verification: The Next Front for U.S. Immigration Enforcement?
E-Verify has been heralded as a key way to control unauthorized immigration to the United States, but federal efforts to expand the system stalled. There has been movement at the state level over the ...
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Ariel G Ruiz Soto @ruizags.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
With a steep decrease in migrant arrivals at the US-MX border, the Trump administration has directed its focus to enforcement in the US interior. In a NEW @migrationpolicy.bsky.social short read, I describe key data trends using the latest FY25 data. ⬇️ www.migrationpolicy.org/news/new-era...
migrationpolicy.org
A New Era of Immigration Enforcement Unfolds in the U.S. Interior and at the Border under Trump 2.0
The transformation in U.S. immigration enforcement taking place at the U.S.-Mexico border and in communities across the United States during the second Trump term is tangibly captured in government da...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
"Maine offers an example of an important question facing policymakers nationwide how to manage broad policy challenges, such as housing and labor shortages, while simultaneously assisting communities in need of additional support immigrant and U.S. born alike" www.migrationpolicy.org/research/mai...
migrationpolicy.org
Maine’s Immigrant Communities: Diverse Origins, Characteristics, and Challenges
Maine’s immigrant population, though relatively small, is a notably diverse mix of long-settled residents and newcomers from many parts of the world. At a time when the U.S.-born workforce in Maine is...
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Julia Gelatt @juliagelatt.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Happy to share that MPI has updated its online data tool that profiles the country's unauthorized immigrant population at the national, state, and local level to use 2023 American Community Survey data. Check it out here:
migrationpolicy.org
Unauthorized Immigrant Population Profiles
Use this unique data tool to learn about unauthorized immigrant populations in the U.S. and by state and for top counties. Get detailed data profiles for the United States, 43 states (plus the Distric...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
The Trump administration continues to increase the use of U.S. military in immigration enforcement Coast Guard presence on the southern border has tripled since the start of the administration, and continues to grow
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
🔔 The Trump administration is ambitiously promoting "self-deportation" In my latest with Muzaffar Chishti, we look at the building of this enterprise and examine the components of past successes and failures in the U.S. and other countries bit.ly/SelfDeportat...
bit.ly
Can the Trump Administration’s “Self-Deportation” Campaign Succeed?
The Trump administration has launched an ambitious campaign to encourage “self-deportation” as a complement to its muscular immigration enforcement operations. While a somewhat similar U.S. attempt in...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
📣New CBP data from May provide key insights into how migration has shifted under new policies. ‼️How and where people arrive to the border has changed though encounters remain low and trends of the previous months continue. 🧵Below on these changes and their implications
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
The enforcement-centric policies may have reduced migration to the U.S.-Mexico border, but migration does not stop. Smugglers adapt to changing policies and migration has now become more remote and more dangerous. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
nbcnews.com
Amid Trump's southern border clampdown, smugglers and migrants use deadlier routes into U.S.
The flow of migrants has dropped significantly, but thousands are still trying to cross, and smugglers are increasingly finding ways to send migrants alone through treacherous terrain.
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Since January, irregular arrivals to the U.S.-Mexico border have hit lows not seen since the 1960s. The real test will be whether these lows can be sustained absent key ingredients that led to them in the first place. Read my latest here: www.migrationpolicy.org/news/low-mig...
migrationpolicy.org
Can Near-Historic Low Migrant Encounter Levels at the U.S.-Mexico Border Be Sustained?
Migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have fallen to lows not seen since the 1960s. But can this trend continue amid a sharp policy shift to a deterrence-focused approach, setting aside a carro...
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Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Big news in a humanitarian parole court case: Yesterday, a lower court judge said USCIS needs to process parolees' applications for asylum & work permits Also certified a nationwide class covering certain Ukrainians, Afghans, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans & more
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
📣In my latest with Muzaffar Chishti we map out the administration's attempt to expand ICE's access to even more databases like IRS, USPS, and SSA. We also untangle the web of databases ICE already has access to, including its reliance on private data companies. Read ⬇️ bit.ly/ICE-data-col...
bit.ly
Seeking to Ramp Up Deportations, the Trump Administration Quietly Expands a Vast Web of Data
In its bid to ramp up deportations, the Trump administration is granting ICE access to a swath of government databases that were previously off limits for immigration enforcement, including sensitive ...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Judge dismisses nearly 100 trespassing charges in "National Defense Areas" along the border citing that intent to enter a military area must be proved. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/u...
nytimes.com
Judge Dismisses ‘Trespassing’ Charges Promoted by Trump in Border ‘Defense Area’
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Julia Gelatt @juliagelatt.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
New MPI estimates - with Demographer Jenny Van Hook - show that Pres. Trump's EO on birthright citizenship would grow the population of people without legal status in the U.S., not shrink it. Unauthorized population would be 5.4 million larger in 2075 than under current practice.
migrationpolicy.org
Repealing Birthright Citizenship Would Significantly Increase the Size of the U.S. Unauthorized Population
Repealing birthright citizenship for babies born on U.S. soil to unauthorized immigrants or temporary visa holders would have a contrary result from its stated aim of reducing the unauthorized immigra...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
📣NEW April CBP data shows a slight increase in encounters btwn POEs to 8K, primarily driven by an increase in Mexican nationals. It is the highest month of encounters so far in this term for the Trump administration. 🧵below by @migrationpolicy.bsky.social colleague @ruizags.bsky.social and me
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Dhruv Mehrotra @dmehro.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
CBP quietly revoked protections for at-risk people in custody—including pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and those with serious medical conditions—calling them “misaligned” with enforcement priorities. The rules required basics like diapers, formula, and water. www.wired.com/story/cbp-re...
wired.com
US Customs and Border Protection Quietly Revokes Protections for Pregnant Women and Infants
CBP's acting commissioner has rescinded four Biden-era policies that aimed to protect vulnerable people in the agency's custody, including mothers, infants, and the elderly.
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Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
There were 1.8 million asylum applications pending at the immigration courts, as of March 2025 In particular, asylum cases are a big impediment to Trump's mass deportation plans: --they take longer to adjudicate because --they're more complex & --they can result in protection from deportation
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Hablé con @citylimitsnews.bsky.social sobre los cambios en los primeros 100 días de la administración de Trump incluyendo deportaciones y los cambios en la frontera. Escucha aquí citylimits.org/podcast-que-...
citylimits.org
PODCAST: ¿Qué cambios ha realizado Trump en materia de inmigración durante los primeros 100 días de su segundo mandato? - City Limits
En este breve lapso, el presidente Trump ha adoptado 181 medidas en materia de inmigración, más que las 94 que tomó el expresidente Joe Biden en el mismo periodo y seis veces más que las que tomó Trum...
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Charlie Savage @charliesavage.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
In response to @freedom.press FOIA request, ODNI declassified & released an intel memo contradicting a key claim Trump made to invoke the Alien Enemies Act Confirms reporting the Trump admin characterized as false & used to justify weakening limits on leak inquiries www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/u...
nytimes.com
Spy Agencies Do Not Think Venezuela Directs Gang, Declassified Memo Shows
The release of the memo further undercuts the Trump administration’s rationale for using the Alien Enemies Act to deport scores of Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador.
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Nick Miroff @nickmiroff.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Inbox: ICE says it has deported 65,682 and made 66,463 arrests during Trump's first 100 days. The agency says it now has 579 signed or pending 287(g) agreements with police and sheriff's departments -- 444 of them since Jan. 20.
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
In the first 100 days, the Trump administration has taken 175 immigration related actions drastically shaking up the U.S. immigration system. My @migrationpolicy.bsky.social colleagues @kathleenbush.bsky.social and Muzaffar Chishti unpack these changes in their latest, link below.
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Migration Policy Institute @migrationpolicy.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Repealing birthright citizenship would mean: 🔹swelling the size of the existing unauthorized population 🔹creating a multigenerational class of US-born residents deprived of full rights Our Senior Fellow Michael Fix explains what's at stake, in new op-ed👇 riponsociety.org/article/shou...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
📣New CBP data from March show 7K encounters between ports of entry, the lowest since 1967 when border encounters averaged 6K per month. 💡Rather than an isolated event, this low is part of a years long three-phased story 🧵Below with @migrationpolicy.bsky.social colleague @ruizags.bsky.social
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
This Friday @kathleenbush.bsky.social and I will be presenting on the Trump administration's actions thus far including an update on the promise of mass deportations, border enforcement efforts, and the dramatic shifts in the U.S. government. Register at the link in comments
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Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
On 4/4, @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social & I are going to talk about the Trump admin's initial immigration actions @georgetown-sfs.bsky.social We will talk about ICE arrests, deportations, litigation & more Register to watch online: cisneros.columbian.gwu.edu/trump-admini...
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Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
DEPORTATIONS DATA--sources say ICE & CBP have made 113,000 arrests & 100,000+ deportations since Trump's inauguration Puts the admin on pace to deport a little over 500,000 people per year from interior & at the border nypost.com/2025/03/31/u...
nypost.com
Exclusive | Trump administration has arrested 113K migrants, deported over 100K since taking office
“He’s doing what he was voted in to do. Point blank!” an ICE source told The Post Monday.
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
📣The Trump administration is digging deep into the history books and dusting off legal authorities typically reserved for times of war or civil unrest We unpack this new chapter of Alien Registration and Alien Enemies Act in my latest with Muzaffar Chishti bit.ly/TrumpWartime...
bit.ly
Tapping Ancient Wartime and Security Laws, Trump Administration Dramatically Expands Immigration Powers
The Trump administration is tapping ancient war-time and national security laws, including the 1798 Alien Enemies Act and 1940 Alien Registration Act, in unprecedented ways for general immigration enf...
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
📣The Trump administration is seeking another avenue to gather information on migrants, this time launching an investigation into organizations who received FEMA Funds, on the grounds of alleged smuggling connections. apnews.com/article/bord... 🧵 below on this vital funding and its role and rules
apnews.com
FEMA launches review of migrant shelter aid, suggesting smuggling laws were violated
The Trump administration has launched a review of organizations that provide temporary housing and other aid to migrants, suggesting they may have violated a law used to prosecute smugglers.
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Ariel G Ruiz Soto @ruizags.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
📌 Migrant encounters at and between POEs along the U.S.-Mexico border dropped to 12,000 in February, the first full month of the Trump administration. That’s the lowest monthly total since at least 2014 and the lowest BP encounters since April 2017. Analyses w/ @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social 🔽
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
📣CBP is launching a new app CBP Home, which appears to be a rebranding of the CBP One app. New feature includes an option for unauthorized immigrants to notify the government of their intent to voluntary depart while old features like checking border wait times and submitting an I-94 remain.
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
"Governments cannot solve the problems of disease, drugs, and illegal immigration by simply battening down the hatches." Excellent piece by @edwardalden.bsky.social and Laurie Trautman www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
foreignaffairs.com
The Myth of the Hardened Border
Crude restrictions can’t stop migrants, drugs, or disease.
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Reporting confirms suspicions that Border Patrol facilities are holding people well beyond the 72 hour period, with serious impacts on health and wellness. Current guidelines limit releases but these facilities were not built for long term detention. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
US Tent Facility is Holding Migrant Families Longer Than Recommended
They're being kept far more than 72 hours, despite a plunge in border crossings, according to an immigration advocate and a person familiar with the matter.
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Per @washingtonpost.com the Pentagon is sending more troops and military combat vehicles to the southern border. This deployment of resources is occurring after DHS touted a 15 year low in border encounters. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
washingtonpost.com
Pentagon orders up to 3,000 troops, Stryker combat vehicles to border
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved orders on Friday to further militarize the U.S. southern border with Mexico, officials said.
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Ben D’Avanzo @bendavanzo.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Some thoughts on the Executive Order making English the national language. First, the White House has no authority to do this. There have been bills in Congress introduced and not passed for many years. The White House cannot do something for which there is not law granting the power to do so
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
In its first month the Trump admin has bent multiple agencies of the U.S. government towards a singular purpose: immigration enforcement. This extraordinary shift lacks foundation, invoking an invasion that is not matched by reality. Read my latest with Muzaffar Chishti bit.ly/TrumpDeporta...
bit.ly
Trump Administration Bends U.S. Government in Extraordinary Ways towards Aim of Mass Deportations
In making immigration enforcement its top priority, the Trump administration has bent a broad swath of the federal government to the mission of arresting, deporting, and barring the entry of noncitize...
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Ariel G Ruiz Soto @ruizags.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
As of mid-Feb, daily migrant encounters *at & between* POEs along US border fell to about 370. The significant drop in arrivals is partially explained by the cancellation of #CBPOne parole appointments by the Trump administration. Follow @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social + I for border stat analyses
The daily number of migrants encountered at the US-MX border fell sharply after the Trump administration ended the CBP One application's access to schedule parole appointments at ports of entry
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Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Immigrant advocates ask court to block Trump's border invasion declaration @aclu.org & others filed request for classwide injunction & emergency request to block the deportation of individuals Say they're at risk of immediate removal w/ 1 being processed for deportation last night
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
🚨First CBP Data released under the new administration shows a large drop in border encounters, but few changes in processing. The 38% drop in irregular encounters is likely driven by the wait and see period for migrants already in Mexico
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
The Trump admin is attempting to increase resources for their mass deportation campaign, in part, by compelling sanctuary jurisdictions to aid in immigration enforcement. The lawsuit in Chicago is just the latest attempt. This follows funding threats, DOJ investigative directives, and more.
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
DHS immigration components have long struggled with hiring and retention, but having enough agents is critical to the Trump administration's plans for mass deportation. The workaround is to reprioritize other government agencies and get support at the state and local level.
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Ariel G Ruiz Soto @ruizags.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Of the nearly 1.5 million unauthorized immigrants with final removal orders as of Nov 2024, over 2/3 were from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala & El Salvador. Though they are enforcement targets under the Trump admin, many may be pursuing forms of relief of protection from removal.
Unauthorized immigrants from Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, and El Salvador make up over two-thirds of the 1.5 million immigrants who have a final removal order of removal.
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Ariel G Ruiz Soto @ruizags.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
MX Pres Sheinbaum today reported receiving ~5,600 migrants returned from the US between Jan 20-27. About 79 percent of those have been Mexican nationals, the rest of multiple nationalities. An additional 435 migrants were returned on Jan 28. That is a daily average of 670 returns from Jan 20-28.
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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
The latest by colleagues @kathleenbush.bsky.social and Muz Chishti looking at the "Shock and Awe" effect of Trump's first days in office Actions to sow fear and create chaos have been taken, read below for a smart look at the hurdles ahead for this agenda www.migrationpolicy.org/article/trum...
migrationpolicy.org
With “Shock and Awe,” the Second Trump Term Opens with a Bid to Strongly Reshape Immigration
Within hours of his second inauguration, President Donald Trump moved to dramatically reshape U.S. immigration enforcement and policy. The changes set the stage for mass deportations, all but foreclos...
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Julia Gelatt @juliagelatt.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Two big announcements out of DHS so far today: The ICE & CBP sensitive locations policies -- prohibiting immigration enforcement actions in schools, hospitals, and churches, etc. -- are gone. And MPP (Remain in Mexico) is back. www.dhs.gov/news/2025/01... AND www.dhs.gov/news/2025/01...
dhs.gov
DHS Reinstates Migrant Protection Protocols | Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Benjamine Huffman reinstated the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) effective immediately.
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Sergio Martínez-Beltrán @sergiomarbel.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
The CBP One app, which allows asylum seekers to schedule an appointment at a port of entry, seems to have been shut down, per CBP website. Migrants waiting in Mexico were worried this was going to happen: www.npr.org/2024/12/19/n...
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