American Immigration Weekly Recap – October 17th to 21st

Omar Abdullah faces immigration check at U.S. airport

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, was recently subject to a secondary immigration check upon landing in the U.S. He tweeted that this happened to him every time he has visited the country and that he has grown tiresome of these security checks. Abdullah had gone to the U.S. to speak at an event at the New York University.

DHS sued over environmental impact of immigration

Immigration Reform Law Institute intended to sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the negative impact of legal and illegal immigration on the environment. The watchdog group on immigration claims that the DHS has ignored the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970. Read on to know more.

Sharp increase in undocumented minor immigrants

Washington officials claim that the number of undocumented minors who entered the U.S. illegally via its southern border increased by 49 percent last year. DHS revealed that around 56,962 immigrant minors were apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border in FY 2015 which is more when compared to FY 2014, when only 39,970 unaccompanied minors were apprehended.

Significant rise in illegal immigration

Around 409,000 undocumented immigrants were held by immigration authorities at the U.S. border in FY 2016. Those trying to illegally immigrate to the U.S. with their families also has hit a new record. Read more.

Immigration raids target four Mexican restaurants

Several Mexican restaurants in and around Buffalo, suspected of employing undocumented workers, were raided by federal agents in an immigration investigation. Nine people were arrested and were charged with conspiracy to harbor undocumented immigrants.

Asylum claims on the increase

There is an increase in the number of asylum claims based on “credible fear,” according to a new report from the Center for Immigration Studies, based on the statistics on asylum seekers from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The number of those claiming asylum increased after the enactment of the “catch and release” policy in 2009.

Haitians desperate on border

Tijuana and Mexicali are currently housing around 5,000 Haitians desperate to get into the U.S. These Haitians are living in limbo and in dangerous border neighborhoods as immigrant shelters established in Mexico are unable to cope with the increasing number of arrivals. While some Haitians are pleading the U.S. border authorities to grant them asylum, some are trying to slip into the country illegally.

The US extends immigration status for citizens of Sierra Leone and Liberia

Secretary of DHS, Jeh Johnson has extended Temporary Protected Status of countries affected by the Ebola virus for six months. Read more.

Advocates want to see immigration addressed by Congress

The Christian group, Bread for the World, is trying to unite various Christian groups and organizations representing immigrants from Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. The group wants Christians living in the U.S. to welcome and appreciate immigrants. Christian faith leaders also want the lawmakers to address immigration within 100 days of U.S. Congress’ 2017 legislative session.