Migrant Justice Newsletter - MAR 2024

Migrant Justice Newsletter and Urgent Actions – March 2024

Please consider supporting IRTF’s Migrant Justice work. Click HERE to donate. Thank you.

Welcome to IRTF’s March 2024 newsletter on Migrant Justice and the current situation at the US-Mexico border! After you’ve looked through the articles, we hope you can take a few minutes to see the TAKE ACTION items at the bottom.

In this newsletter, please read about 

1. Immigration Court in Cleveland, OH 

2. ICE Air: Update on Removal Flight Trends 

3. Racism in immigration Court: The System Works As Designed

4. At the Border: Recent Incidents at and around the US-Mexico Border 

5- Migrant Children Suffering in Open-Air Desert Camps

6- US House puts forth “Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act” HR7372

7- 800+ Faith Leaders Call for Welcoming Immigration Policy, Reject Anti-Asylum Deal

8- SB4 in Texas Still on Hold

9- Iowa Residents Organize and Defeat Anti-Immigrant Bills

TAKE ACTION NOW

Here is what you can do to take action this week and act in solidarity with migrants and their families. (See details at the bottom of this newsletter.)

A) Get Connected: NEO Friends of Immigrants 

B)  RE-Fund Refugee Resettlement 

C) Cut ICE Detention  

D) Volunteers Needed: Call for artists, writers (Ohio Immigrant Alliance)

1- Immigration Court in Cleveland, OH

New Deportations filed 

New Deportations ordered 

New Deportations ordered - Juvenile DOCKET

Source: TRAC at Syracuse University (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2- ICE Air: Update on Removal Flight Trends

The U.S. government’s COVID-19 public health emergency order expired on May 11, 2023 — this includes the Title 42 order that has expelled over 2.5 million migrants from the US-Mexico border. With the end of Title 42, the government started to ramp up Title 8 expedited removal deportations in June 2023.

Since the Biden Administration took office there have been:

·        A total of 23,166 ICE Air Flights

·        4,156 Removal Flights

ICE Air Flights

The number of observed removal flights to ten different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean continue. Over the last 12 months, there have been 8,094 ICE Air flights; 1,539 of those have been removal flights.  With an estimated average of 100 passengers per flight, this means that over the past 12 months, as many as 153,900 people could have been returned to Latin America, the Caribbean and a small number to Africa by air by the U.S.

Removal Flights, Lateral Flights, Domestic Shuffles:

In February 2024, there were 631 ICE Air flights, utilizing 27 different planes operated by 6 different charter carriers (IAero aka Swift, World Atlantic, GlobalX, Eastern, Gryphon (ATS) and OMNI); this is up 8 from January, but below the prior 6 month average (668) by 37. Border Patrol encounters at the southern border were down by 125,515 (50%) from 249,735 in December and 124,220 in January. 

Removal flights:

In February 2024, removal flights increased from 130 in January to 137 in February. The Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala (58), Honduras (29), and El Salvador (12) were destinations for 72% of all removal flights in February. 

In February, the proportion of removal flights to South America remained very low after T42 at only 11%, which is less than the 14% in January because of the suspension of flights to Venezuela. However, the estimated number of people returned to the Northern Triangle countries of Central America represented 32% of encounters from those countries. 

Lateral flights:

Lateral flights in February decreased from 37 in January to 24 in February. Of the 24 lateral flights 13 of them were in the last 9 days of the month. Tucson originated the most lateral flights with 18, El Paso had 2 and San Diego had 4. Laredo received 16 laterals, and McAllen received 8 flights. 

Laterals, both flights and buses, seem to only be used now for decompression, but also for moving specific nationalities to specific locations for deportation flights. 

Shuffle flights:

Shuffle flights decreased from January to 49 in February. This decrease is possibly due to the significant drop in encounters and reduced need to move people between interior detention centers. 

Detention

People in detention increased by 677 to 39,175 in February. 

Countries:

Venezuela (flights paused the last week of January after 4 flights in January. The pause followed an announcement by the US that some sanctions would be reinstated if Venezuela did not agree to allow candidates from the Unitary Party to compete in this year’s elections.)

Flights were suspended all of February after they paused the last week of January. 

OCT = 3 flights

NOV = 3

DEC = 5

JAN = 4

FEB = 0

Mexico

Flights under the PRIM (Procedure for the Repatriation to the Interior of Mexico) restarted with 1 flight from San Antonio to El Paso to Morelia, Mexico on January 30. The flights reportedly included over 100 people. PRIM flights continued in February with 10 flights: 4 to Morelia, 4 to Guadalajara and 2 to Mexico City. The first flight to Morelia consisted of 120 people. 

Guatemala

ICE Air flights to Guatemala increased by 5 from 53 in January to 58 in February, the highest level in at least 38 months. ICE Air returned 6,972 Guatemalans by air.  Mexico operated 5 deportation flights to Guatemala. Mexico returned 612 Guatemalans in the 5 fights and another 1,872 by land at Tecún Úman. About 9,456 Guatemalans were returned via flights from the U.S. and Mexico.

OCT = 52

NOV = 45

DEC = 47

JAN = 52

FEB = 58

Honduras

Flights to Honduras decreased by 8 from 37 in January to 29 in February. Encounters on Hondurans decreased by 12,048 to 20,946 in December to 8,899 in January. ICE returned an estimated 2,155 Hondurans by air in February from 3,325 in January. 

OCT = 34 flights

NOV = 40

DEC = 40

JAN = 37

FEB = 29

Mexico had 3 deportation flights to Honduras returning 325 people in addition to 585 people by land. Mexico and the U.S. returned about 3,065 Hondurans.  

El Salvador

Flights to El Salvador increased by 1 from 11 to 12 in February.

OCT = 20 flights

NOV = 14

DEC = 9

JAN = 11

FEB = 12

Ecuador

Ice Air Flights to Ecuador decreased by 1 from 5 in January to 4 in February. 

OCT = 6 flights

NOV = 4

DEC = 3

JAN = 5

FEB = 4

Peru

Flights increased by 1 from 2 in January to 3 in February.

OCT = 4 flights

NOV = 3

DEC = 2

JAN = 2

FEB = 3

Colombia

ICE Air Flights to Colombia increased by 1 from 6 in January to 7 in February. Encounters of Colombians by CPB at the US southern border fell by 11,290 from 18,689 to 7,399. 

OCT = 5 flights

NOV = 5

DEC = 4

JAN = 6

FEB = 7

Other destinations:

Dominican Republic:

Flights remained steady at 2 for the last 6 months. 

OCT = 2 flights

NOV = 2

DEC = 2

JAN = 2

FEB = 2

 Haiti: 

Did not receive any flights in February. 

OCT = 1 flight

NOV = 1

DEC = 1

JAN = 1

FEB = 0

Brazil:

Flights remained at 1 over the last 6 months. 

OCT = 1 flight

NOV = 1

DEC = 1

JAN = 1

FEB = 1

Cuba:

Experienced the first return flight since December 2020 on April 24, 2023. Followed by 1 in each of the following months, including February 2024

Sources: Witness At the Border

3 - Racism in Immigration Court: the System Works As Designed  

The report titled “the System Works as Designed” by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance sheds light on the racist structures within the U.S. Immigration system, exposing its roots in white supremacy and highlighting its failure to protect human dignity and lives. It discusses how immigration laws, historically built on racial stereotypes, continue to perpetuate injustice, despites attempts at reform. The report outlines systemic issues within immigration courts, such as the lack of independence from the Executive Branch, power imbalances favoring government attorneys, and subjective credibility determination prone to bias. It also points out legal hurdles, inaccuracies in interpretation, and gaps in hearing transcripts that affect immigrant’s ability to present their cases accurately. Examples from real cases illustrate how these flaws lead to unjust outcomes, with errors often perpetuated through the appeals process, compounding the injustices faced by immigrants.    

Read the full report here: https://tinyurl.com/276atx8j 

4 - At the Border: Recent Incidents at and around the US-Mexico Border 

This is a space where we share current incidents from the US southern border to show that these issues that we write about do, in fact, immediately affect people at the border and in detention, and the horrible things many migrants have to experience while seeking refuge in the U.S.

MAR 1 - A 29-year-old Mexican man died after falling from a 30-foot-tall Trump-era segment of the border wall east of San Diego on February 27. Mexico’s consulate, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, recorded 29 deaths and 120 injuries at the San Diego-area border in 2023 alone, down slightly from 42 and 124 in 2022 (not all were wall-related).

MAR 8 - Leaked data points to a 13 percent increase in Border Patrol migrant apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border from January to February. Last month’s unofficial total is high for a typical February, but lower than most months during the past three years. The top two sectors for migrant arrivals were in Arizona and California. Mexico broke its single-month migrant apprehensions record in January, capturing nearly as many people that month as the U.S. Border Patrol did. Migration through Honduras illustrates many migrants’ use of a route that involves flights to Nicaragua.

MAR 8 - At least 11 migrants were injured, 3 of them parents who were traveling with children, after falling from the border wall in San Diego on March 2. On February 27, a man from Mexico had died from a fall off the wall elsewhere in San Diego County, in Otay Mesa. Authorities in Tijuana count four migrant deaths along the border with San Diego so far in 2024: two drownings, a hypothermia case, and a February 27 fall from the border wall.

MAR 8 - Citing “authorities in Mexico,” Breitbart reported that 50 migrants have died so far in 2024, mainly of drownings in the Rio Grande, along the border between Coahuila, Mexico and mid-Texas. The number includes two men whose remains authorities recovered from the river this week in Eagle Pass. “The drownings come as rising water levels of the Rio Grande result in swifter, more dangerous currents.”

 SOURCES 

1. https://www.wola.org/2024/03/weekly-u-s-mexico-border-update-biden-and-trump-visit-migrant-crime-narratives-shelters-in-peril/
2. https://www.wola.org/2024/03/weekly-u-s-mexico-border-update-spring-migration-increase-darien-gap-drug-seizure-data-points-to-less-fentanyl/ 
3. https://www.wola.org/2024/03/weekly-u-s-mexico-border-update-spring-migration-increase-darien-gap-drug-seizure-data-points-to-less-fentanyl/
4. https://www.wola.org/2024/03/weekly-u-s-mexico-border-update-spring-migration-increase-darien-gap-drug-seizure-data-points-to-less-fentanyl/ 

Want to find out more about the conditions at the southern US border? Sign up for the weekly Border Update from WOLA. https://www.wola.org/tag/weekly-border-update/ 

5- Migrant Children Suffering in Open-Air Desert Camps

After Border Patrol agents directed a family to a temporary camp to await making their asylum claims, which did not provide any shelter from the conditions outside, a young girl began convulsing. The father wrapped his daughter in a blanket he had found in the mud and called 911. When the ambulance finally arrived, he was informed by a Border Patrol agent that he would lose his chance at asylum if he left the camp and accompanied his family. 

 This story is only one of many highlighted in a court filing that takes aim at the living conditions at open-air camps near the US-Mexico border in California. Federal immigration officials have directed migrants to these camps but have failed to provide basic needs such as adequate foods, water, shelter, and medical services. Attorneys are now asking a judge to rule that the federal government is legally required to move children to safe and sanitary facilities quickly. 

 “For at least a year now, children have been held in these egregious conditions for varying lengths of time, and there is no reason to believe that the situation will resolve on its own,” Neha Desai, senior director of Immigration at the National Center for Youth Law, one of the law firms behind the legal action. 

 The declarations in the new legal actions came from aid workers, attorneys, and a doctor, as well as a child and two fathers who were at the camps this month. These declarations allege that children have gone days without eating. Children are not being given adequate basic human rights at these open-air camps. They are in need of food, water, and medical attention. 

Source: 

CNN News  https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/29/politics/migrant-children-sheltering-in-porta-potties-court-filing-alleges-invs/index.html 

6- US House puts forth “Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act” HR7372

This is a dangerous bill initially put forth by 10 US House members, five from each of the two main parties. The bill permits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to suspend the entry of migrants deemed inadmissible at a land or maritime U.S. border to achieve “operational control” over that border. Some of its controversial border provisions: (1) A one-year DHS authority to shut the border to all undocumented migrants without regard to asylum needs, presumably requiring expulsion to Mexico; (2) A one-year authority to expel, into Mexico or alternative countries, all migrants deemed to be “inadmissible” who do not specifically ask for protection; (3) A higher standard of fear that asylum seekers would have to meet in screening interviews; (4) A prohibition on transporting migrants for any purpose other than adjudicating their status; and (5) A one-year restart of the “Remain in Mexico” policy.

 The bill now has 14 co-sponsors (both Democrats and Republicans) from 12 different states.

 The National Immigration Forum published an overview explaining this list of the bill’s provisions in more detail.

Source:

https://www.wola.org/2024/02/weekly-u-s-mexico-border-update-migration-drops-border-deal-fallout-impeachment/#note2

7- 800+ Faith Leaders Call for Welcoming Immigration Policy, Reject Anti-Asylum Deal

The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter/X @interfaithimm.

 More than 650 faith leaders and 155 faith-based organizations and congregations have sent a letter urging Congress to uphold our moral and legal responsibility to welcome people seeking safety.  Congress must pursue effective, fair, and compassionate alternatives that respect the sacred dignity of all people. As some of the letter signatories express:

 “We call on Congress to pursue legislation that can build the type of welcome infrastructure necessary as more people throughout the globe are facing perilous conditions that force people to migrate.” -Rev. Noel Andersen, IIC Co-Chair and National Field Director at Church World Service. 

 “… the policies of exclusion and expulsion detailed in the bill are too great and run in direct opposition to the moral obligation we hold as faith communities to welcome people with dignity.” -Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

  “Any policy that fails to acknowledge the complex realities of migration and prioritizes enforcement over compassion is fundamentally flawed. We call on policymakers to reject these harmful provisions and instead work towards comprehensive solutions that honor our nation’s commitment to human dignity and justice.” - Dylan Corbett, Executive Director of Hope Border Institute. 

 “…we believe in a divine power that hears and is moved by the cries of the migrant. A total disregard for their well-being is unacceptable…” -Rev. Kendal L. McBroom, Director of Civil and Human Rights, The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society.

  “If signed, [this bill] would create an expedited removal program that would send people to detention and deportation, separate more families, and force people into dangerous areas that would lead to more migrant deaths. We cannot play politics with people’s lives.” -Rev. Michael Neuroth (he/him), Director of the Washington D.C. Office for the United Church of Christ, National Ministries. 

 “When thousands of people come to you seeking protection from danger, the moral response is not to slam the door in their faces.” - Susan Krehbiel, Associate for Migration Accompaniment Ministries at Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

The complete letter and list of signatories is available here.

 Sources

https://www.interfaithimmigration.org/2024/02/06/faith-leaders-groups-reject-anti-asylum-deal-call-for-welcome/

https://cwsglobal.org/press-releases/border-bill-would-pit-the-persecuted-against-the-persecuted-benefiting-some-at-the-expense-of-moral-leadership/

https://www.ucc.org/with-asylum-under-threat-from-congress-ucc-joins-interfaith-vigil-action-in-d-c/?inf_contact_key=2564b0bff6c860ff322c02c7e1cb0f7d842e902fbefb79ab9abae13bfcb46658

8- SB4 in Texas Still on Hold

It’s been a back-and-forth game of ping pong in the courts.

 On March 19, a divided Supreme Court had allowed Texas to begin enforcing a law that gives police broad powers to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the border illegally. Later that same day, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order that again prevents Texas authorities from arresting migrants suspected of entering the U.S. illegally.

 The law is considered by opponents to be the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since an Arizona law more than a decade ago, portions of which were struck down by the Supreme Court. Critics have also said the Texas law could lead to civil rights violations and racial profiling.

 The Department of Homeland Security said the federal government would continue the court challenge to Senate Bill 4 that will “further complicate” the job of its “already strained” workforce. The agency won't assist in any efforts to enforce the law.

 Mexico’s government said it would not "under any circumstances" accept the return of any migrants to its territory from the state of Texas. Mexico is not required to accept deportations of anyone except Mexican citizens.

 The court battle continues.

Source

https://www.yahoo.com/news/supreme-court-lifts-stay-texas-182603732.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&uh_test=1_04

9- Iowa Residents Organize and Defeat Anti-Immigrant Bills
On March 12, seventeen members of Escucha Mi Voz members and Catholic Workers joined Iowa Legal Aid and other migrant justice advocates at the Iowa State Capitol to testify against HF2608. Hundreds of people wrote letters and emails in recent weeks opposing this and three other anti-immigrant bills.

The following day, HF2608 was taken off the Senate Judiciary Committee Agenda without the possibility of advancing further this legislative session. HF2608 was an anti-charity, anti-immigrant law to prohibit immigrants from accessing public benefits and criminalize anyone who transports undocumented immigrants.

Immigrant and migrant workers and people of faith came together at meetings, wrote letters, and traveled to Des Moines. Together they stopped three of the four anti-immigrant proposals this year. Only one proposal is still being considered this session.

Source:

Iowa City Catholic Worker

TAKE ACTION NOW

Now that you are up to date on the issues at and around the southern border of the U.S., here is what you can do to take action this week and act in solidarity with migrants and their families.

(A) GET CONNECTED – NEO Friends of Immigrants

NEO Friends of Immigrants supports migrants and refugees locally in NE Ohio. Join us to learn about various initiatives in defense and support of migrants here in NE Ohio and updates on what’s happening at  the US/Mexico Border and immigration detention.

Next meeting: Tue, April 2, 7pm via Zoom. In addition to updates from committees, each month features a guest speaker. On April 2, we’ll hear from Dr. John H. Flores, an immigration and labor historian at CWRU. Dr. Flores specializes in Mexican American history, and his research interests include the history of deportation and citizenship, transnational labor movements, and the formation of racial and national identities. He will focus his remarks on Mexico, Caribbean and Central American immigration.

TAKE ACTION

Click here to join the NEO Friends of Immigrants meeting on Tue., April 9, 2024

(B) RE-FUND REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

As Congress negotiates spending amounts, urge them to prioritize: (1) Robustly Funding the Refugee Resettlement Program: (2) Providing Ongoing Humanitarian Protection and Support for Arriving Ukrainians and Afghans Parolees, (3) Investing in Communities and Organizations Welcoming Refugees and Asylum Seekers, (4) Rejecting Anti-Asylum Proposals and Protecting the Rights of Those Seeking Safety at the Border

TAKE ACTION

Click here to send a letter to your US representative and US senators.

(C) CUT ICE DETENTION

ICE's detention system has documented abuses, unsafe conditions, and a lack of oversight. Last year, ICE itself identified at least nine facilities that require immediate closure or downsizing due to egregious violations. Expanding this system would endanger the lives and safety of thousands of immigrants and cost taxpayers millions.

TAKE ACTION

Click here to send a letter to your US representative and US senators: “I urge you to oppose an increase in ICE funding, and instead to pursue humane alternatives to detention.”

 (D) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Call for artists, writers

Ohio Immigrant Alliance is looking for artists who may want to see their work on the cover of forthcoming publications. We are also looking for a project manager. This is an unpaid position but a great opportunity to gain hands on experience with book publication and marketing and build your resume. 

 If you are an artist interested in seeing your work on the cover of a future OHIA publication, please email ltramonte@ohioimmigrant.org with some information and examples. If selected, we will pay you a small fee for licensing your work.

 TAKE ACTION

Click here to learn more about Ohio Migration Anthology, Vol. 3 and how you can help.

  —-------------

Thank you for reading IRTF’s Migrant Justice Newsletter!

Read the full IRTF Migrant Justice Newsletter each month at https://www.irtfcleveland.org/blog .