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As the day unfolds, we are delighted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your continued trust and partnership. In this newsletter, we're thrilled to share some exciting developments, exclusive news, and expert insights to keep you ahead in your endeavors.

State Department Advises All Americans Overseas ‘To Exercise Increased Caution’ In Worldwide Alert

The article reports that the US State Department issued a worldwide advisory for all US citizens, urging them to exercise increased caution due to heightened tensions, the potential for terrorist attacks, and demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests in various locations around the world. This advisory comes in the midst of protests in the Middle East related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with some demonstrators targeting US diplomatic compounds. The State Department has also elevated travel advisories for Lebanon and Israel, authorized the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and their families, and ordered emergency security reviews at diplomatic posts worldwide. The State Department is closely monitoring the situation, and there are concerns that the threat situation may not be confined to the Middle East but could potentially extend to Europe.

New York City to Limit Migrant Family Shelter Stays to 60 Days, Mayor Announces

According to a new rule announced by Mayor Adams on Monday, migrant families will be required to leave New York City shelters after 60 days an reapply for placement. A spokesperson for the Adams administration told CNN that the rule will come in to effect next week and that notices will be given out on a “rolling basis”, starting with families who have been in the shelters the longest. The rule is an attempt to appropriately distribute the currently limited resources to the estimated 64,000 migrants currently residing in the shelters. Nonetheless, advocates are concerned about the potential negative impacts of the rule change, and warn that litigation could follow. The policy change comes after a new rule last month that forces migrant adults to leave the shelter system after 30 days.

Judge Denies Bid to Prohibit U.S. Border Officials From Turning Back Asylum-Seekers at Land Crossing

A federal judge recently denied a bid by immigration advocates to prevent U.S. border officials from turning away asylum-seekers at border crossings if they don’t have appointments scheduled on the CPB One app. Over 263,000 have scheduled appointments on the app between January, when it was introduced, and August; the top nationalities of those scheduled include Haitian, Mexican, and Venezuelan. Interestingly, the app has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, being called too permissive by Republicans and too restrictive by Democrats. While U.S. District Judge Schopler, appointed by President Biden, said that his authority on immigration policy is limited by Supreme Court precedent, the plaintiffs are considering an appeal.

Biden Struggles to Find His Message On Immigration

With a recent announcement from the White House that they will be using executive authority to sidestep existing regulations in order to continue building segments of border wall in Texas, citing appropriations laws that are forcing their hand to use funds as directed by Congress, the Biden administration is struggling to find their message on immigration. Immigration advocates were further stunned by the administration’s announcement they would be resuming deportation flights to Venezuela. Both sides of the aisle are frustrated, as indicated by mockery from Republicans and accusations of callousness from Democrats. Reminiscent of the Obama-era immigration era phenomenon, the Biden administration is trying to strike a balance between strict enforcement and a humanitarian vision, but this has proven difficult. The article expands on the details and events underlying the difficulty.

Venezuelan Migrants Who Are Applying for Temporary Protected Status Say it Offers Some Relief

The article illustrates the story of Victor Macedo and his wife, who fled Venezuela after receiving death threats for opposing its socialist government. Their story is not totally unfamiliar to the several hundred thousand Venezuelans who have arrived in the U.S., many of whom have faced nearly identical persecution. Macedo and those like him and his wife have found solace in President Biden’s offering of Temporary Protected Status, which makes it easier to get work authorization in the U.S., providing some security and stability. According to Macedo, “We have 18 months of peace of mind, without the fear of being deported. That is the greatest benefit, and the greatest fear. We can now begin to earn income as God intended. We no longer depend on the relatives we have here.”

Biden Admin Reaches Deal with Migrants Separated From Their Families Under Trump

On Monday a legal settlement was reached between President Biden and the nearly 4,000 migrants who were separated from their families under former President Trump. The settlement allows the families to live and work for three years in the U.S. while receiving housing, mental health and legal assistance to apply for asylum, while also preventing the federal government from separating families for 8 years for just violating immigration laws. However, families can still be separated if the parents are considered a danger to the public or their children. The deal has a possibility of being derailed by Republicans, should the chose to challenge the court’s mandate to provide funds to reunify and provide services to the families. A subset of individual families are still seeking damages in civil court. According to an official, up to 3,000 families have been reunified, but hundreds remain separated.

Texas Senate Moves Border Bill that Allows State Police to Arrest Migrants at U.S.-Mexico Border

Last Thursday evening, the Texas Senate advanced two immigration-related bills, one of which would allow state police officers to arrest migrants who cross the southern border. Senate Bill 11 (SB11) would allow first-time offenders to be only convicted of a misdemeanor, but the penalty could be increased to a felony should the violator have a criminal record and have entered the country illegally on multiple occasions. SB11 has an initial approval vote of 19-11, and requires a final vote before moving to the house. Senate Bill 4 would increase the minimum sentence for smuggling migrants or operating a stash house from two years to eight years and has passed the Senate with bipartisan support, receiving a vote of 29-2. Concerns over the financial and logistical aspects of SB11 have risen, as well as the fact that it could face a legal challenge from the federal government.

Trump Again Uses Terror Abroad to Make Case for Hard-Line Immigration Policies

With the recent attacks by Hamas on Israel, former President Trump has returned to using terror abroad to justify his hardline immigration stance. At a rally on Monday in New Hampshire, Trump promised that if reelected he would reinstate the travel ban that targeted predominantly Muslim countries. Linking the current conflict between Gaza and Israel to U.S. border security, he asserted that the same people responsible for the attack were entering the country through the “totally open southern border”, further speculating they might be planning an attack on American soil. The rhetoric is reminiscent of Trump’s messaging during his 2016 presidential campaign and his term in the Oval Office. He is not the only GOP candidate using fear of terror attacks to clamp down the southern border, most notably of those being Governor DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Democratic Divide Over Immigration Spills Out Among Hispanic Lawmakers

The recent migrant crises leading cities across the country to be overwhelmed in their attempts to provide aid have caused a divide in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus over how best to respond to illegal immigration. The caucus recently held a 45-minute meeting in which Democratic Representative Escobar attempted to gain support for the bipartisan Dignity Act, primarily aimed at increasing border technology, infrastructure, and personnel. The pitch was not well-received by some members in attendance, arguing the priority should be on passing President Biden’s U.S. Citizenship Act first. Overall, however, “It was an amicable discussion - and an honest discussion - about some of the provisions in the bill that some members will have difficulty with,” according to bill cosponsor Representative Espaillat.

U.S. Reopening Facility Near Southern Border to House Unaccompanied Migrant Children

Last Thursday two U.S. officials told CBS that the Biden administration will be reopening a site near the U.S.-Mexico border to house migrant children who enter the country without their parents. The site, a former work camp located in Carrizo Springs, Texas, was equipped Friday in order to house the unaccompanied children. This the second time in two months that Health and Human Services (HHS) has had to reopen an “influx care facility” for migrant children. HHS is bound by law to take care of the children until the reach legal age, or until they can be placed with a U.S. sponsor, generally a relative. HHS has received over 13,000 migrant children in August, and 12,000 in September, up from around 9,400 in July.

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