Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi suggests that Donald Trump’s new immigration policies, particularly the rate of deportations, are contributing to rising inflation, potentially reaching nearly 4% early next year. According to Zandi, the decline in the foreign-born labor force is creating tightness in the labor market, driving up costs and inflation, as evidenced by the recent increase in the Producer Price Index. While the White House frames the policies as aimed at protecting the domestic workforce, Zandi and other economists argue that restrictive immigration is a significant factor in rising prices, especially in sectors relying on immigrant labor. This economic shift may force the Federal Reserve to hold steady on interest rates, unable to solve the supply-side issue.
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On August 15th, approximately 120,000 Ukrainian refugees in the U.S. will begin losing their legal status due to the lapse of a protection program initiated by the Biden administration. This program, Uniting for Ukraine, allowed Ukrainians who arrived before August 16, 2023, to stay legally in the U.S. with work authorization and access to healthcare. However, the Trump administration has decided to let the program lapse, potentially exposing refugees to arrest and deportation despite earlier signals of leniency towards those fleeing the war. As a result, these refugees will begin losing their humanitarian protection.
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A divided appeals court panel overturned a contempt finding against the Trump administration regarding deportations to an El Salvador prison, deeming the lower court judge had overstepped his authority. The decision followed the arrival of Venezuelan migrants at the prison despite a judge’s order for their return to the U.S. The majority opinion, written by judges nominated by Trump, argued the lower court intruded on executive branch foreign affairs powers. This ruling came after the Attorney General celebrated the win on social media.
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The United States, as part of Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign, has reached an agreement with Rwanda to deport up to 250 migrants and asylum seekers. Rwanda has confirmed that it will accept these deportations, with the African nation’s government stating that they will provide workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation support to the incoming individuals. This agreement follows similar arrangements with South Sudan and Eswatini, raising concerns about human rights and the potential for deported individuals to be sent to countries with which they have no personal connections. Critics have expressed worries about the safety of deported migrants, as well as the U.S. using African nations as a “dumping ground” for migrants with criminal records.
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Air Marshals moved to Deportation Duty, that’s the new reality we’re facing, apparently. The whole thing just feels… off, doesn’t it? Like a bad remix of a familiar song, where the rhythm is just a bit… wrong. The news is filled with these stories, and you start to wonder what’s really happening and why.
It seems that the Air Marshal National Council, the group representing the rank-and-file marshals, has already sent a cease-and-desist letter to both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Their argument is that these new assignments could potentially be contract fraud, while also placing personnel in unsafe or even inappropriate working conditions.… Continue reading
In response to a Supreme Court decision, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a memo outlining plans to revoke citizenship from children born to immigrants, including those with temporary legal status. The memo envisions federal review of parents’ documentation, potentially in hospitals, to determine a newborn’s citizenship status. The plan would deny citizenship to children of immigrants who are “unlawfully present,” potentially rendering them deportable, and also includes children of those with lawful but temporary presence, such as visa holders and Dreamers. This policy change would necessitate intrusive federal involvement and create a caste-based system, putting ICE agents in maternity wards and potentially deporting babies.
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This man is a U.S. citizen by birth. Why did ICE mark him for deportation — again? Well, it’s a question that cuts right to the core, doesn’t it? The case of Miguel Silvestre, a man born in the U.S., targeted not once, but multiple times for deportation, highlights a worrying trend. The story is a real head-scratcher, especially when you consider the fundamental truth: U.S. citizens cannot legally be deported.
The obvious, yet deeply troubling, reason for this repeated targeting seems to be the color of his skin and his last name, and his appearance. This isn’t exactly a secret, is it?… Continue reading
The Trump administration’s recent budget bill allocated a staggering $170 billion over four years to fund mass deportation efforts, including significant expansions for detention facilities, ICE operations, and border wall construction. This unprecedented level of funding has made ICE the highest-funded law enforcement agency in the country, fueling concerns about the potential for increased human rights abuses and the rapid expansion of detention centers. To meet the administration’s aggressive deportation goals, ICE is embarking on a massive hiring spree, seeking to add thousands of new agents despite warnings that rushing the hiring process will likely lead to lowered standards and increased misconduct. This situation mirrors past instances where rapid expansion of law enforcement has resulted in a deterioration of quality and an increase in problematic behavior.
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Contrary to reports, U.S. immigration authorities have denied detaining or deporting a Chilean man holding a green card. The Morning Call of Allentown, Pennsylvania, initially reported that 82-year-old Luis Leon was deported to Guatemala after visiting a Philadelphia immigration office to replace his lost green card. However, the Department of Homeland Security stated it has no record of Leon attending an appointment and that he entered the U.S. legally in 2015. Furthermore, the Guatemalan Migration Institute confirmed that no one matching Leon’s details was deported from the United States.
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Following an increase in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside immigration court hearings, volunteers are taking action to assist those at risk of deportation. These volunteers, including faith leaders, students, and retirees, provide moral and logistical support to immigrants and families, often helping them prepare for potential detention. Legal aid groups are also adapting to the changing landscape, as government officials are asking judges to dismiss cases, which leads to immediate arrests. Despite facing challenges and potential legal consequences, volunteers are recording detentions and aiding families in navigating the immigration system.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood