New research conducted by Progressive Think Tank Keystone Research Center, announced in May, revealed that naturalizing undocumented immigrants in Pennsylvania would substantially benefit the state’s budget. Pennsylvania is home to 900,000 individuals who have an immigrant background, accounting for 7% of Pennsylvania’s population. Among them, 160,000 are undocumented. Naturalizing Undocumented Immigrants Muhammed Maisum Murtaza of the Keystone Research Center conducted the study, called – “The economic contribution READ MORE READ MORE

On November 17, 2019, Carlos Rios was arrested by the Washington State Patrol in Pierce County, Washington, allegedly for driving his motorcycle under the influence. Rios was imprisoned in Pierce County Jail, and his belongings were confiscated. Upon his release two days later, he was taken into custody by two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Rios repeatedly told the officers that he was a U.S. READ MORE READ MORE

Banning New Prison Contracts with ICE After being stalled for months, a bill that prohibits entering new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracts at private detention centers or renewing existing ICE prison contracts is now advancing through the New Jersey State Legislature. On Monday, the bill passed the Assembly by a margin of 46 to 24. It has now also been passed by the New Jersey State READ MORE READ MORE

The Immigration Court System is heavily backlogged with 1.3 million asylum cases. With the historic increase in the influx of immigrants entering the United States, immigration judges fear the system will experience a further slowdown. Customs and Border Protection reported that agents encountered more than 180,000 migrants at the southern border in May alone, the largest number in the last two decades. Syracuse University has estimated that READ MORE READ MORE

On May 27, U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) issued a memo that elaborated on the power of prosecutors to dismiss cases of immigrants with certain special concerns or situations. Unlike the previous government, the Biden administration has given the prosecutors the liberty to pursue or drop cases. Prosecutors had limited decision-making powers during the previous administration. The memo directs ICE prosecutors to consider dismissing cases for READ MORE READ MORE