This week in immigration news — September 30, 2020
Judge temporarily halts fee increases on immigration applications
A judge has issued a stay on fee increases that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency had planned to make. The fee changes included a new charge of $50 for filing an asylum application, when that filing had previously been free. There was also a proposed increase from $640 to $1,170 for those immigrants who are applying for U.S. citizenship.
While U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, who issued the stay, did so partially because of the impact that the fee changes could have on low-income immigrants, immigrant advocates have also explained that this ruling might force USCIS to issue furloughs, which could halt our country’s immigration system.
Mexican government looking into ICE allegations
After a whistleblower alleged that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been performing unnecessary hysterectomies on some of the women that were detained in a Georgia facility, the Mexican government has announced that they will also be looking into the allegations.
15-year-old girl facing deportation
The teenager has lived in the United States since she was a baby, and was arrested by Customs and Border Protection after she went to the hospital for gall bladder pain.
Trump plans pre-election immigration raids
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage throughout the United States, the Trump administration has reportedly planned pre-election ICE raids in so-called sanctuary cities as the country nears the November 3 election.
ICE detainees will be able to sue for-profit detention centers
While immigrants in ICE detention are able to sue the federal government, they have historically been unable to sue for-profit detention centers. This move will allow immigrants held in California to help hold these facilities accountable.
