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Weekly Immigration Bulletin: October 21, 2024

Florida Sues Feds for Migrant Voting Data Amid GOP Trend 


Florida has joined a growing trend of Republican-led states litigating concerns over migrant voting, filing a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for allegedly withholding data needed to verify the citizenship of registered voters. The state claims that without access to special identifiers for immigrants, it cannot fulfill its statutory duties to ensure election integrity and maintain accurate voter registration records. The lawsuit comes despite a federal "quiet period" prohibiting mass purging of voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election. 


The case is Florida v. Dep't Homeland Sec., N.D. Fla., No. 3:24-cv-00509.


 

US Grants Temporary Protected Status to Lebanese Nationals Amid Conflict 


The Department of Homeland Security has designated Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, allowing certain Lebanese nationals already in the US to remain in the country due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary conditions in Lebanon. The designation, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, applies to Lebanese nationals who cannot safely return to Lebanon. Those approved for TPS will be eligible to remain in the US and obtain work permits. The move comes after pressure from lawmakers and Lebanese American advocates, who are also urging the administration to implement humanitarian parole for Lebanese citizens.


 

Trump Proposes Hiring 10,000 Additional Border Patrol Agents 


Former President Donald Trump has proposed hiring 10,000 additional Border Patrol agents and offering them a $10,000 retention and signing bonus. The proposal comes after Trump derailed a bipartisan bill earlier this year that included funding for more border personnel, including 1,500 personnel at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trump has made illegal immigration a key focus of his campaign, vowing to stage the largest deportation operation in American history if elected president again. The proposal is part of Trump's broader immigration plan, which includes completing a border wall, a project that was initially promised to be funded by Mexico but was ultimately funded by the U.S. government.


 


NYC Honors ICE Detainer Request, Hands Over Migrant Teen Convicted of Assaulting Cops


In a move contrary to New York City's sanctuary city policies, the city's Department of Corrections has honored a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer request and handed over 19-year-old Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, a migrant teen convicted of assaulting two NYPD officers. Gomez-Izquiel, who was sentenced to 364 days in jail for the assault, was arrested by ICE upon his release from local custody and remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings. The move marks a rare instance of the city cooperating with federal immigration authorities despite its sanctuary city status.


 

EU to Increase Migrant Deportations, Considers Offshore Processing


European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to increase migrant deportations, citing a current return rate of only 20% of irregular migrants from EU countries. The EU will present a new proposal for legislation to boost deportations, while some member states, including Italy and the Netherlands, are considering offshore processing of migrants in third countries, such as Albania and Uganda. The move comes amid growing pressure on migration from across Europe, with several countries, including Germany, France, and Poland, hardening their rhetoric and approach to migration.

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