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.
Washington D.C.
Trump freezes immigration benefits for Ukrainians who fled to U.S.:
A DHS spokesperson said the agency paused all pending benefit requests from participants in the Uniting for Ukraine program, as well as a similar program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. — Bloomberg Law
Trump admin. halts legal representation for 26,000 immigrant children:
The Interior Department on Tuesday ordered the Acacia Center for Justice, which coordinates the federally funded program that paid immigration attorneys, “to stop work.” — Los Angeles Times
U.S. halts immigration applications for migrants under Biden-era parole programs:
Migrants from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Ukraine could be more vulnerable to deportation and unable to apply for immigration benefits. — Documented
Trump rolls back protections for Haitian migrants:
Trump is pushing forward the expiration date for Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status to August, which could cost up to 500,000 Haitians their deportation protections and work permits by summer. — The Wall Street Journal
New York
U.S. judge considers ‘unusual’ request by Trump official to drop charges against NYC mayor:
The acting deputy attorney general and the mayor’s lawyer said Adams’ indictment stripped him of his security clearance, so he was unable to participate in a federal task force on immigration ‘in a full, candid, complete way’. — France 24, AFP, and Reuters
Hochul won’t remove Adams ‘right now,’ considers oversight laws to restrict his power:
Sources say the governor’s team is developing legislation to rein in Adams’ power, which would need City Council and state legislative approval. One source said removing the mayor is not off the table. — Spectrum News NY 1
FEMA did not use disaster relief money to house immigrants in New York luxury hotels:
Elon Musk claimed his team found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was illegally spending disaster relief money to house migrants. That’s misleading. — Poynter
Refugee resettlement organizations persevere despite Trump’s suspension order:
Trump’s executive order halted the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program on Jan. 27, but other programs say they’ve committed to continue supporting refugees. — Documented
Immigrants advised to always carry these documents:
It is recommended that immigrants and migrants carry with them original documents or paper copies that affirm their identity and status in the U.S. Make sure to store extra copies at home and with a trusted representative. — Documented
Around the U.S.
One month later, Trump’s threats remain unfulfilled as Mexican shelters sit empty along border:
The scenes in border cities underscore the setbacks thus far of the president’s promise to launch the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. — El Pais
U.S. firm running Guantánamo migrant jail accused over rights abuses:
Akima is managing the Guantánamo Bay migrant detention center under a $163.4 million contract, despite previous allegations of rights abuses at other facilities. — The Guardian
