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.
A Venezuelan man is missing. The U.S. deported him. But to where?
The Venezuelan man does not appear on a list of people sent to a prison in El Salvador, and his family and friends have no idea of his whereabouts. — The New York Times
Explosion of visa terminations:
As of April 22, over 265 colleges and universities have identified 1,700-plus international students and recent graduates who have had their legal status changed by the State Department. — Inside Higher Ed
Detained Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi says he’s ‘in good hands:’
Mahdawi’s case is scheduled for a status conference on Wednesday. The Justice Department has not said why he’s being detained. — Al Jazeera
Universities told students to leave the country. ICE just said they didn’t actually have to:
In their haste to comply with apparent directives from Trump, universities became unwitting handmaidens of the deportation machine. — The Intercept
Homestead, Florida, to deputize its police for immigration enforcement:
Officials in Homestead, home to large population of migrant farmworkers, said their decision to partner with ICE was “prompted by Florida Statutes.” But no state law requires cities to participate in the 287(g) program. — Miami New Times
New images could change cancer diagnostics, but ICE detained the Harvard scientist who analyzes them:
Scientist Kseniia Petrova has been in an immigration detention center for two months. Without her, no one can fully unlock her cancer data’s potential. — NBC News
The terrorism suspect Trump sent back to Bukele:
An MS-13 leader knew key details of a secret deal that his gang allegedly made with the Salvadoran President. Then the White House put him on a flight to El Salvador. — The New Yorker
They crossed the world to reach the U.S. Now deported under Trump, they’re stuck in Panama:
Within days of arrival, about 300 migrants from all over the world were were detained and put on military aircraft to Panama as Trump sought to accelerate deportations to more complicated destinations. — AP News
ICE raids in California — how to sort fact from rumor online:
KQED spoke to immigration experts and advocates about what to know about current ICE operations in California and how to avoid sharing misinformation about ICE raids yourself — even with the best of intentions. — Read more here
New York
Trump cuts leave thousands of immigrant children to face immigration court alone:
After slashing funding for a program that gave legal representation to 26,000 immigrant children across the country, the Trump administration is forcing kids — some just toddlers — to represent themselves in deportation proceedings. — Documented
Merwil Gutiérrez’s deportation ignites political firestorm among NY elected officials:
Leaders, including state Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, issued strong condemnations about Merwil Gutiérrez’s case. — Documented
DHS performing “Wellness Checks” on unaccompanied children in New Jersey:
These “wellness checks” are purportedly part of a nationwide campaign to find missing unaccompanied children and prevent human trafficking. However, recent memoranda show that ICE will “take necessary steps for immigration enforcement,” as part of these checks. — The New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children (NJCIC)
Mahmoud Khalil’s wife gives birth after ICE denied him temporary release to attend the delivery:
About 30 minutes after the email request for Khalil’s temporary release was sent, Mellissa Harper, director of the ICE field office in New Orleans, responded with a two-sentence denial. — CNN
Migrants speak out after experiencing bed bug infestation at Bronx shelter:
After reporting bed bug bites, one migrant residing at the Bronx shelter says he was kicked out and denied re-entry multiple times for not following shelter policy, before eventually being re-admitted. — Documented
Three more prosecutors on Eric Adams case resign after suspensions, saying they did nothing wrong:
“We will not confess wrongdoing when there was none,” they wrote in a joint letter. Ten attorneys have now left the Justice Department over the handling of the case. — NBC News
ICE arrests 206 people during New York City-area sweep:
According to ICE, “121 of the 206 people apprehended had significant criminal convictions or are currently facing charges for crimes such as murder, assault, arson, sex crimes, drug crimes and firearms crimes.” — CBS News
Pope Francis, champion of migrants and a voice in a divided world, dies at 88:
Organizations focused on immigrant and refugee services in New York, react to the pope’s passing: “I will always admire the way he moved to the margins in his ministry.” — Documented
Judge temporarily blocks ICE’s return to Rikers Island:
State Supreme Court Judge Mary Rosado barred City Hall from moving ahead with any agreement with federal agencies to operate on Rikers until she hears from both parties. — THE CITY
