Immigration in the News

This month, we share news about the migrant experience and the immigration crisis from around the country and the world. There are encouraging stories, such as immigrant students seeking college educations and the sway of U.S. public opinion in favor of avenues to citizenship, as well as heartbreaking ones about family separation and the recent deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean. A couple highlight the work of the KBI. Please read on.

• From Human Rights Watch (4/25/16), an overview of human rights abuses during detention and deportation since the 1996 change in immigration policy: hrw.org/news/2016/04/25/us-20-years-immigrant-abuses.
• From The New York Times (4/20/18), the tragic news of more migrant deaths, 500 drowned when a boat sank in the Mediterranean: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/world/europe/500-may-have-died-in-sinking-of-migrant-boat-in-mediterranean-un-says.html?emc=edit_th_20160421&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=68564230.
• From The Tab (April 2016), an interview with an immigrant high school student accepted to six Ivy League universities: http://thetab.com/us/2016/04/13/high-school-senior-who-fled-el-salvador-as-a-child-got-accepted-to-six-ivies-3120.
• From The Arizona Republic (4/18/16), an op-ed piece about Arizona’s controversial SB 1070: http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2016/04/18/my-turn-we-dont-have-luxury-pick-battles/82798738/.
• From The New York Times (4/16/16), a profile of a mixed-status family who will be affected by the Supreme Court decision on immigration: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/us/family-of-immigrants-only-one-a-citizen-anxiously-awaits-supreme-court-ruling.html?_r=0.
• From The New York Times (4/16/16), a report on Pope Francis’s recent visit to Greece and his return to the Vatican with 12 refugees: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/world/europe/pope-francis-visits-lesbos-heart-of-europes-refugee-crisis.html?emc=edit_th_20160417&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=68564230.
• From PBS/Arizona Public Media (4/15/16), a video of the KBI’s response to the immigration crisis: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2016/04/15/catholics-immigration-deportation/29850/.
• From NowHumanity (4/3/16), a message beamed on the White Cliffs of Dover welcoming refugees: http://www.nowhumanity.com/#!RefugeesWelcome/cjds/570108070cf2c53596a7ac7e.
• From PBS/KQED San Francisco, an article about an app that helps undocumented students find scholarships: http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2016/04/03/new-app-helps-undocumented-immigrants-find-college-scholarships.
• From The Hoya (4/1/16), a reflection on a KBI immersion experience: http://www.thehoya.com/humanizing-the-u-s-mexican-border/.
• From The Atlantic (3/8/16), an analysis of strategies for immigration reform and the challenges faced: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/03/united-states-unauthorized-immigration/472626/.
• From Crux (2/18/16), a commentary by Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley about the importance of compassion in formulating immigration policy: http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2016/02/18/cardinal-us-immigration-policy-must-combine-compassion-and-safety/.
• From The Washington Post (4/25/16), a profile of the U.S. government official in charge of deportations: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/04/25/meet-the-man-the-white-house-has-honored-for-deporting-illegal-immigrants/.
• From NBC News (3/29/16), a survey of Americans revealing support for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/survey-wide-support-citizenship-path-immigrants-here-illegally-n547211.
• From The Guardian (3/29/16), an article and video about separated families meeting at the U.S.-Mexico border fence: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/29/us-mexico-border-wall-trump-cruz-immigration-friendship-park.
• From NBC News (4/21/16), a description of proposed legislation protecting immigrants who have served in the U.S. armed forced from deportation: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latino-lawmakers-others-push-stop-veterans-deportations-n559896.
• From the ACLU (4/5/16), a write-up about the complaint filed on behalf of individuals deported without their possessions; the KBI is a supporting organization in the complaint: https://www.aclu-nm.org/aclu-u-s-government-deports-people-into-harms-way/2016/04/.
• From The Guardian (4/4/16), an article on the consequences of increased Mexican immigration enforcement: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/04/mexico-torture-migrants-citizens-central-america.