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| LATEST ANALYSIS Texas Dream Act Survives—Because Texans Showed Up In a legislative session marked by political division and increasingly polarized rhetoric, the Texas Dream Act endured. The win affirms that all Texas high school graduates—regardless of immigration status—will continue to have access to higher education. A Week of Immigration ‘Red Flags’ From the Trump Administration As the Trump administration continued to ramp up immigration enforcement measures across the United States last week, new “red flags” emerged: policy measures that dramatically impact the basic rights of immigrants in this country or that erode basic legal protections and good governance. FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW Last Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed U.S. embassies worldwide to pause scheduling new F, M, and J visa interview appointments. These visa categories allow foreign students and exchange visitors to come to U.S. institutions for their studies, work, and training. This is not a ban on programs supported by J, F, and M visas. This pause is expected to be temporary and be lifted as soon as the Department of State develops a new social media vetting guidance (“within days”). Already-scheduled visa appointments will be held and program operations continue as usual. Learn more: Important Update Regarding F, M, and J Visa Interview Appointments | American Immigration Council ACROSS THE NATION In January, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary declared that “an actual or imminent mass influx” of noncitizens is arriving along the entire southern border of the United States—even though border crossings are down. This declaration—the first of its kind—allows the secretary to ask state and local governments for help in immigration enforcement by designating state and local law enforcement officials as immigration officers. Since then, Border Patrol has deputized 300 national guardsmen to conduct immigration arrests under a newly executed agreement with the Texas National Guard. On March 25, 2025, the DHS Secretary renewed the agency’s mass influx declaration. To find out more information about how the Trump administration made the decision to renew the “mass influx” declaration, the Council and the ACLU of Michigan filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Access to these records is crucial for the public to understand the Trump administration’s use of long-dormant provisions of U.S. immigration law and its unprecedented use of state and local law enforcement officers in immigration enforcement. Read more: Seeking Records about DHS’s Unprecedent Mass Influx Declaration and Associated Agreements With State and Local Law Enforcement JOIN US If you’re attending the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s annual conference in Denver, Colorado, you don’t want to miss the Council’s Immigration Impact Reception. Join us for a night of celebration honoring the positive impact immigrants have on our country and communities. RSVP Now: Immigration Impact Reception 2025 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Nayna Gupta, policy director with the American Immigration Council, said the high fees for asylum and other humanitarian statuses ‘effectively put those legal pathways out of reach for thousands of people who would otherwise legally qualify.’” – Nayna Gupta, policy director, for Reuters FURTHER READING The Guardian: Trump administration sets quota to arrest 3,000 people a day in anti-immigration agenda Miami Herald: Court blocks Trump, for now, in another case of a questionably detained immigrant Next City: Trump Is Targeting Sanctuary Cities. But What Is a Sanctuary City, Anyway? EFE: Grupos se movilizan contra una de las mayores leyes antiinmigrantes de EEUU en Florida Salon: The “money for Texas” amendment: GOP budget could reward Greg Abbott for MAGA border stunts MAKE A CONTRIBUTION |
