Immigration News Today: Haitian Americans in Springfield Tell Their Own Stories

Fisayo Okare

Mar 12, 2025

Credit: Cindy Funk/Flickr

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Just have a minute? Here are the top stories you need to know about immigration. This summary was featured in Documented’s Early Arrival newsletter. You can subscribe to receive it in your inbox three times per week here.

Around the U.S. 

In new series, Haitian Americans in Springfield tell their own stories:

The “Haitians in the Heartland” series helps listeners and readers better understand the Haitian community in southwest Ohio and beyond and lets Haitian Americans tell their own stories. — WYSO

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He escaped the cartel that kidnapped him. Then he learned there’s ‘no more asylum:’

Lawyers fear that in Trump’s rush to end undocumented immigration, people with legitimate asylum claims are being turned away. — The Washington Post

New report details tax contributions of documented and undocumented immigrants:

The country’s 47.8 million immigrants paid nearly $652 billion in taxes in 2023, per a recent analysis from American Immigration Council, with undocumented immigrants paying nearly $90 billion of that total. — Axios

Panama releases 65 detained migrants from U.S. amid criticism:

Authorities said the people released on Saturday will have the option of extending their stay in Panama up to 90 days if needed. — Al Jazeera

U.S. rebrands immigration app to CBP Home with ‘self-deport’ function:

The Department of Homeland Security said that the app’s “self-deportation functionality is part of a larger $200 million domestic and international ad campaign.” — The Guardian

New York

Protests in New York over attempt to deport pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil:

Several people were arrested during a march through New York to protest ICE’s detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist. — The Guardian

NYC immigration activist sees familiar Trump playbook with Columbia student’s arrest:

Like Mahmoud Khalil, Ravi Ragbir had a green card and was married to a U.S. citizen when he was arrested by ICE. An appeals court ruled in 2019 that ICE likely targeted him because of his immigration activism. — Gothamist

OMNY card account — login, reload and reduce fares on MTA public transit:

With an account, you can check your balance, monitor your progress toward earning free rides, and enable automatic refills to top off your card. — Documented

Arrest and potential deportation of Mahmoud Khalil shocks U.S. and international communities:

A federal judge blocked Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation pending further action on a habeas petition, and called for a conference. — Documented

It’s illegal for a boss, landlord to threaten to report immigrants to ICE:

If your boss or landlord threatens to report you to ICE, you have rights regardless of your immigration status. — Documented

Washington D.C.

Border czar on Columbia arrest — ‘Absolutely we can’ deport a legal immigrant:

“Absolutely, we can,” Tom Homan told a Fox Business host after he was asked if ICE can deport someone who is in the country legally. — THE HILL

House Republicans set to cut visa increase for Afghan allies who fought alongside U.S. troops:The spending bill amendment specifically strips a slated increase in the Afghan SIV visa cap, from 70,500 back down to 50,500. — POLITICO

Fisayo Okare

Fisayo writes Documented's "Early Arrival" newsletter, and has led other projects at Documented including an interview column "Our City," and a radio show, “Documented.” She is an award-winning multimedia journalist with degrees in Journalism and Mass Communication.

@fisvyo

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