News Round Up In-Brief

U.S. News

• A coalition of Texas immigrant advocacy groups called on the U.S. Congress to reject the appropriation of $25,865,000 to fund 1,000 new beds in private prisons around the state.
• New research out of Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology found that low-income children of immigrants have much poorer health than low-income children of citizens.
• Several news outlets reported that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol planned to end its seven-year practice of repatriating Mexican deportees into the interior of Mexico using air flights. The Department of Homeland Security clarified these reports by stating that officials are currently working on a “more robust program,” which will have the same aim: to disrupt the migration cycle by deporting migrants far from the border.

News Round Up In-Brief

U.S. News

• A recent New York Times article highlights the many vulnerabilities faced by U.S. im/migrants, even those who are long-term permanent residents, that can ultimately lead in deportation. Among the deported are an increasing number of children, some as young as six years old, many of whom lack counsel to represent them in immigration hearings.
• In preparing for Hurricane Isaac, many people from affected Gulf Coast areas will evacuate their homes, but unauthorized im/migrants may be unwilling to leave disaster areas due to fears of encountering immigration enforcement officials.  Many unauthorized immigrants may also avoid seeking emergency services in disaster settings.