Immigration, Migration Archives

ICE Detentions Hit Record Levels as Deaths and Medical Failures Mount

2Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Human rights, Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Analysis

ICE Detentions Hit Record Levels as Deaths and Medical Failures Mount

Private Firms Profit, Prisoners Beg for Medical Help, and DHS Investigates Deaths Aug. 26, 2026 ICE announced its agents detained 1,328 people in Virginia and Maryland over a two-week period. September 2, 2026—As the number of people taken and held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement soared this Summer amid reports of “abysmal” conditions at the detention centers. Since President Donald Trump started his second term in office in January 2025, 57 people have died in ICE custody. Last week, a Chinese national by the name of Lianyong Wei died hours after ICE arrested him in Saipan, a U.S. commonwealth in the Western Pacific. Meanwhile, thousands of others have suffered medical emergencies, such as head injuries, dehydration, strokes, and malnutrition, while in ICE custody, ac...

The Human Rights Case Against Nicolás Maduro

2Jun

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Human rights, Immigration, Migration, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

The Human Rights Case Against Nicolás Maduro

A Venezuelan Expat Makes A Case for Justice That Can Bring About Real Democratic Change Editor’s Note: Venezuelan expat Ernesto Rodriguez reflects on the U.S. military’s Jan. 3, 2026 capture of Nicolás Maduro, recounts the authoritarian leader’s grip on power from 2013-2026, makes a case against the years of torture and political corruption, and calls for justice. Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are facing U.S. federal charges in New York for narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses. Let's picture the scene. I'm sleeping back home in Madrid, and I get woken up by a call from Caracas, where the time is around 3 o'clock in the morning. As anyone knows, calls at those hours are usually some form of bad—or at the very least urgent—news. This wasn't an except...

America on the Brink of Turmoil, Tyranny and Perhaps Even Civil Conflict

26Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Domestic Politics: United States, Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Analysis

America on the Brink of Turmoil, Tyranny and Perhaps Even Civil Conflict

Photo pulled from YouTube video by NYT photographer David Guttenfelder about Jan. 24, 2026 the Minneapolis shooting. Federal Immigration Crackdown Incites Fear, Killings, and Civil Protests January 26, 2026—The United States is on the brink of a national crisis and a government shutdown after the second killing by gunfire of an American citizen by federal forces. Conflict over immigration in the United States is adding to the pressures of growing inequality, corruption, and a national debt above $38 trillion. Tensions are rising due to the deployment of federal forces in U.S. cities who are now targeting U.S. citizens as well as immigrants. ‘Under Siege and Occupation’ Citizens in some cities and states report across social media that they feel under siege or occupation by U.S...

Judge Orders ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ to Close on Environmental Concerns

29Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Analysis

Judge Orders ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ to Close on Environmental Concerns

Florida Spent $245 Million on the Now-Closed Facility August 29, 2025—One of the most notorious migrant detention centers in the United States, located in the Florida Everglades, is closing over environmental concerns. The mass detention center, known as "Alligator Alcatraz," is the center of multiple lawsuits and widespread controversy due to its inhumane conditions and location. The roughly 336 detainees who had been held there have reportedly been moved. In June, President Donald Trump dubbed the massive facility “Alligator Alcatraz” because the surrounding swamp is “not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon.” “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation,” Trump said in June at the announced opening. Deplorable Cond...

Exporting Criminals: U.S. Ships Noncitizen Inmates to Third Countries

20Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Foreign Aid, International Development, Human rights, Immigration, Migration, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Analysis

Exporting Criminals: U.S. Ships Noncitizen Inmates to Third Countries

Eswatini Joins El Salvador and South Sudan for Importing Detainees U.S. ships noncitizens abroad, including convicted criminals July 20, 2025—In undisclosed deals with third countries, the U.S. government is shipping noncitizens abroad to be locked up in detention centers. The latest shipment to the Kingdom of Eswatini included five people who had been previously convicted in U.S. courts of murder, child rape, robbery, and homicide, according to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS released photos of the detainees, along with their convictions, but not their names. DHS says the home countries of Vietnam, Laos, Jamaica, Cuba, and Yemen “refused to take them back.” Notably, neither country disclosed details of the deal or revealed information about the financial ...

Commentary: The Ironic Case of the ICE Agent Avenger Anti-Hero

24Mar

By Guest WriterNo Comments

Immigration, Migration, Type of Post: Essays & Travel Writing, Types of News: Analysis

Commentary: The Ironic Case of the ICE Agent Avenger Anti-Hero

Editor’s Note: On Saturday, March 8, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University and a lead negotiator on behalf of student activists who protested during the 2023-2024 school year. The controversial detention of Khalil, a green card holder and legal resident, is at the center of attention in the United States as the Trump Administration challenges foreign students based on speech. The commentary below examines the incident from a more profound human-interest perspective. Writer Matt Mikalatos notes the irony that the lead ICE agent is wearing a T-shirt promoting superheroes from the Marvel Pictures Avengers series. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hxC_LpyW4Gc By Matt Mikalatos One of the odd and ironic things about th...

Biden Wades Into Immigration Debate On Visit To Border

9Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Analysis

Biden Wades Into Immigration Debate On Visit To Border

El Paso prepared for the president's Jan. 8 visit. January 9, 2023—The immigration issue is about the largest hot-button political issue in U.S. politics today. It is one of the most emotionally charged issues generating the highest level of noise and legitimate criticism. Moreover, it's about as difficult to enter the political discourse as any. The battle is fierce, and it's nearly impossible to find a consensus. It involves the question of care for humanity as well as the legitimate right of a nation-state to define its borders. Any pragmatic solution is likely to be attacked from multiple sides. Also, it's hard to find common ground for even a debate. But there are some things people can't argue about. Migrants On The Streets Here's a basic fact of the immigration proble...

After Two Years In Office, Biden Acts On Border Crisis

5Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Brief

After Two Years In Office, Biden Acts On Border Crisis

President Biden announced he is taking a number of administrative steps today on the border crisis. Jan. 5, 2023 Biden Announces New App For Asylum Seekers, Cracks Down On Smugglers January 5, 2023—With the number of migrants continuing to swell at the U.S. border and the U.S. Supreme Court saying illegal immigration itself is a crisis, President Joe Biden is taking notice and acting—as some would say, “finally.” The White House announced today it is taking a series of new steps to curb illegal immigration to the United States while opening lawful means to seek refuge in the country. Biden and his administration face immense pressure to address the border crisis. Since he took office in January 2021, the number of migrants crossing into the United States illegally hit record nu...

Migrant Workers At U.S. Military Bases Face Forced To Stay By Private Contractors

31Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Arms Sales, Military Industry, Human rights, Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Brief

Migrant Workers At U.S. Military Bases Face Forced To Stay By Private Contractors

Photo NBC Complaints Of Forced Labor Linger While Private Firms Continue To Win U.S. Contracts October 31, 2022—In an irony of ironies, the U.S. government opposes to human trafficking and forced labor at the same time that its Defense Department hires private contractors that routinely conducting those practices. Migrant civilians working on U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf are subject to trafficking and abusive labor practices, according to a groundbreaking investigation conducted by a team of international journalists. The team included investigative reporters from the Washington Post, NBC News, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalists to uncover the story. Their findings came to light late last...

Biden Announces Plan For Stabilizing Migration In The Americas

10Jun

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Brief

Biden Announces Plan For Stabilizing Migration In The Americas

Source: Jill Biden via Twitter June 10, 2022—Hosting the Summit of the Americas this week, U.S. President Joe Biden is coming away with some outcomes. Primarily, the White House announced plans coordinated with countries in Central America, South America, Canada and Spain. Since Biden took office in 2021, illegal immigration across the U.S.-Mexican border has skyrocketed. U.S. border patrol encounters grew from 405,036 in 2020 to 1.2 million by 2022, according to statistics by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Source: CBP.gov Here are a few takeaways from the White House fact sheet: The United States promised to provide guidance for temporary migrant workers, resettle 20,000 refugees from the Americas in 2023 and 2024 and increase resettlement of Haitians, and provide ...