Immigration News Today: Immigration Policy Changes Push Away Foreign Researchers

Julia Malleck

May 06, 2026

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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.

U.S. immigration policy changes push away foreign researchers:

Recent surveys show that labs are losing scientists, postdocs and students due to both immigration policies and funding changes at the National Institutes of Health. —STAT

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About half of Americans say Trump admin. is doing “too much” on deportations:

Agreement with that sentiment is highly partisan, with 84% of Democrats and 19% of Republicans in agreement, according to a new poll. —Pew Research Center

Use of force widespread in ICE detention centers, internal documents show:

There have been at least 780 incidents, according to documentation, in which ICE staff used chemical agents or physical force on detainees since Trump entered office for a second term. —The Washington Post

ICE offering local police unprecedented financial incentives to collaborate on immigration enforcement:

DHS is promising hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds to purchase new vehicles and equipment, and to reimburse officers’ salaries and benefits. —NPR

New York

Alan Marrero is freed from ICE detention five months after arrest:

Marrero and his husband were joined by politicians and supporters in Manhattan to celebrate his freedom. He had been arrested at his interview for a marriage-based green card. – Documented

Border czar Tom Homan sees ICE surge in New York as Hochul pushes for curbs on local cooperation:

In comments at the Border Security Expo in Phoenix yesterday, Homan said to expect increased enforcement activity in neighborhoods. —Bloomberg [Paywall], POLITICO 

Clash between ICE, protesters over weekend raid raises questions around NYPD collaboration:

At least eight people were arrested during a protest outside a hospital in Bushwick late Saturday after ICE detained Chidozie Wilson Okeke, a Nigerian immigrant, who was seeking medical attention. —Documented

Mamdani condemns ICE following Brooklyn hospital raid, denies “prior” NYPD collaboration with federal agents:

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has stated that the police helped ICE to open and close the hospital doors during the operation. Local officials called for the upholding of sanctuary laws during a Monday rally. —New12, BK Reader

Washington, D.C.

Trump admin. shuts watchdog for immigration detention abuses:

The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman is ending its investigations, according to an internal email. —HuffPost   

Senate GOP unveils $72 billion reconciliation plan to fund DHS through 2029, bypassing Democratic filibuster:

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said Democrats will go through the bills’ language to find potential violations of the Senate’s Byrd Rule, which prevents some provisions from passing with a simple majority. —The Hill

Julia Malleck

Julia Malleck is a journalist based in NYC. She writes Documented's flagship newsletter, Early Arrival, which tracks national and local developments in immigration policy. (And my handle on X/Twitter is @txt_julia)

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