A recent Quinnipiac University poll indicates that a growing number of Americans now favor offering undocumented migrants a pathway to legal status over deportation, with 64% supporting this option. This represents an increase since before the Trump administration, which has implemented a strong anti-immigration agenda. The poll also revealed widespread disapproval of the president’s handling of deportations and of ICE’s performance, especially among Democrats. Concurrently, immigration detention numbers have reached record highs, exceeding 56,000 individuals as of June 2019.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported the death of 49-year-old Canadian citizen Johnny Noviello while in custody at the Federal Detention Center in Miami, Florida. Noviello, a lawful permanent U.S. resident convicted of drug trafficking and racketeering, was awaiting removal after being arrested last month. Despite ICE’s assertion of providing comprehensive medical care to detainees, the cause of Noviello’s death remains under investigation. This incident adds to a concerning number of deaths in ICE custody since January 2020.
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During an immigration raid in downtown Los Angeles, 32-year-old US citizen Andrea Velez was arrested, prompting her family to call it a “kidnapping.” According to witnesses, agents apprehended Velez without asking for identification, leading her mother to believe she was targeted due to her skin color. Despite family members, including attorneys, searching for hours, they were unable to locate Velez. While the exact charges are unknown, a Department of Homeland Security official stated Velez was arrested for assaulting an ICE officer.
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On June 26, Canada amended its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility, removing 178 non-degree programs while adding 119 new fields of study aligned with sectors facing labor shortages. This update brings the total eligible fields of study for PGWPs to 920. The government has also stated that graduates who applied for a study permit before June 25, 2025, will still be eligible for a PGWP if their field of study was on the list when they applied. This is the latest in a series of changes, as last year the IRCC updated the eligibility criteria for PGWPs, and also announced the new 2025 Express Entry categories.
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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.
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A Canadian citizen and U.S. permanent resident, Johnny Noviello, died while in ICE custody in Miami, Florida, awaiting removal from the United States. Medical staff attempted resuscitation after finding Noviello unresponsive, but he was pronounced dead on Monday. The cause of death is under investigation and a more comprehensive report will be released within 90 days. Noviello, convicted of drug charges in 2023, was facing removal due to his conviction.
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During a recent House hearing, Representative Jasmine Crockett scrutinized Melania Trump’s “Einstein visa,” designed for individuals with extraordinary abilities. Crockett questioned the former First Lady’s eligibility for the visa, pointing out that it’s typically awarded to Nobel laureates, Olympic medalists, or those with significant achievements in various fields, which Melania Trump did not have. Crockett argued that Melania Trump, a model, did not possess the qualifications and therefore should not have been granted the visa. A witness at the hearing offered a defense of the First Lady, suggesting her marriage to Donald Trump was an achievement in itself.
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During a Wednesday congressional hearing, Representative Jasmine Crockett questioned Melania Trump’s eligibility for an EB-1 visa, typically granted to individuals with “extraordinary ability”. Crockett criticized what she perceived as a double standard in visa enforcement, particularly regarding the former model’s immigration history. Crockett pointed out that Melania Trump obtained this visa despite not having the typical achievements associated with the program. Alex Nowrasteh of the Cato Institute, who also testified, defended Melania Trump by making a quip, and it was noted that Melania had obtained her green card legally.
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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.
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During a House Judiciary Committee hearing addressing visa integrity, Representative Jasmine Crockett questioned the basis for Melania Trump’s EB1 visa, also known as the “Einstein visa,” given the requirements of significant achievements. Crockett highlighted Melania’s modeling career, which she argued didn’t align with the visa’s stipulations. A Cato Institute representative humorously defended Melania, stating her marriage to Donald Trump was an accomplishment, sparking a back-and-forth with Crockett. The hearing occurred amid Melania Trump’s recent public appearances and subsequent absence from the public eye.
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John Q. Hosedrinker