The Canadian government will end its funding for federally-funded hotel housing for asylum seekers by September 30, 2025, a measure that has cost approximately $1.1 billion since 2020. This decision impacts the 485 asylum seekers currently housed in Ontario and Quebec hotels. While the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will assist in finding alternative housing, advocates and experts express concerns about the limited availability of affordable housing and municipal shelter capacity, especially in cities. Additionally, the government has recently cancelled plans to revamp the asylum system and proposed border laws will likely create new challenges. Community organizations, many of whom are already stretched thin, fear the end of funding will lead to increased homelessness for asylum seekers.
Read More
Luis Leon, an 82-year-old Pennsylvania resident who was granted asylum in 1987, was deported to Guatemala after visiting an immigration office to replace his lost green card. Upon arrival, he was taken into custody by ICE officers and separated from his wife, and later, the family was falsely informed of his death. The family discovered Leon was alive but hospitalized in Guatemala, a country to which he has no connection. ICE confirmed they are investigating the matter, while Leon’s family prepares to travel to Guatemala.
Read More
Andry José Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan asylum seeker, was labeled a criminal and sent to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, a place known for inhumane conditions. Despite applying for asylum legally, his devotion to his family, expressed through tattoos, was used against him in what appears to be a propaganda campaign. After his disappearance, his family and legal team have had no contact with him for months and are unsure if he is still alive. Government officials refuse to confirm his whereabouts, highlighting the administration’s efforts to make seeking asylum a crime punishable by torture or even death.
Read More
A Honduran mother and her two children, who filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s courthouse arrest policy, have been released from detention. The family, identified as “Ms. Z” and her children, were arrested after an immigration court hearing in Los Angeles despite having entered the U.S. legally. The family’s lawyers stated the arrest violated the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. While the lawsuit is still pending, the family was released and plans to return to their lives after seeking asylum.
Read More
A 64-year-old Iranian woman living in the US for 47 years was detained by immigration agents in New Orleans, despite having no criminal record. Her asylum request was denied, but she was granted a stay of removal, which she reportedly complied with. Her arrest, which occurred shortly after US airstrikes in Iran, took place alongside the detentions of other Iranian nationals. Her family is currently struggling to secure legal representation due to the high volume of detainees and limited resources, while ICE has recently conducted multiple raids leading to additional arrests.
Read More
The United States and Guatemala and Honduras have reportedly signed agreements to potentially offer refuge to individuals seeking asylum, potentially expanding the U.S.’s ability to return migrants to third countries. According to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, these agreements aim to provide asylum-seekers with options beyond the United States, but both Guatemala and Honduras later denied signing safe third-country agreements. This move builds upon previous agreements and efforts by the U.S. to limit access to its asylum system. These agreements reflect broader efforts to manage migration, including the use of third-country agreements with other nations like El Salvador, Panama, and Costa Rica.
Read More
A Honduran mother and her two children are suing the Trump administration following their arrest at an immigration court in Los Angeles, marking the first legal challenge against courthouse arrests targeting children under a new ICE directive. The family, seeking asylum after fleeing violence, was detained by ICE agents upon exiting the courthouse and subsequently transported to a detention center in Texas. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, highlighting the 6-year-old son’s medical condition, leukemia, and missed appointments as a result of their detention. The plaintiffs, represented by the Immigrant Rights Clinic and The Texas Civil Rights Project, are seeking the family’s immediate release and argue the arrests violate due process.
Read More
Nineteen-year-old Emerson Colindres, a high-achieving student and soccer player, was deported to Honduras after being detained by ICE following a scheduled appointment. Despite having no criminal record and attending school regularly, a 2023 final removal order stemming from a denied asylum application led to his deportation. His family and community protested his detention, highlighting the increasing number of non-criminal individuals targeted under recent immigration enforcement policies. While officials claim only those with final removal orders are targeted, data suggests a rise in deportations of individuals without criminal histories.
Read More
Following the arrests of two asylum seekers outside San Francisco’s federal immigration courthouse, approximately 200 protesters gathered, prompting the court’s closure due to safety concerns. Videos circulated online depicting ICE agents apprehending the individuals amidst escalating protests, with afternoon hearings subsequently cancelled. One detainee, a Colombian national seeking asylum, expressed fear of deportation. This incident is part of a recent surge in post-hearing ICE arrests in the San Francisco area, sparking widespread demonstrations.
Read More
Following a terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, the family of suspect Mohammed Soliman—who is himself facing multiple charges including attempted murder and hate crimes—is in ICE custody. The family’s asylum application has been withdrawn, and they are being processed for expedited removal, potentially as early as Tuesday night. This rapid deportation process leaves limited legal recourse for the family, particularly given the terrorism connection. Soliman, who entered the U.S. illegally, allegedly used Molotov cocktails against demonstrators, resulting in twelve victims.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker