On June 15, 2021, the Department of Justice announced that it had reached a settlement with Tecon Services Inc. (Tecon), an industrial fireproofing, painting, and insulation contractor from Texas. A naturalized U.S. citizen of Venezuelan origin raised an immigration-related discrimination complaint with the Civil Rights Division, claiming Tecon refused to accept her U.S. passport for verification of U.S. citizenship. The Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim The Department’s investigation revealed READ MORE READ MORE

Immigrant Detainees in Newark Transferred, Protestors Demand Pandemic Relief for NJ Undocumented Workers Immigration was a big issue this week in New Jersey. First, as the state government continues to consider a bill ending the detention of immigrants in New Jersey, a group of around 30 immigrant detainees in Newark was transferred to an unknown location. Several of these people were men who had in fact been READ MORE READ MORE

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