North American immigrant issues
Trump orders indefinite jailing of detained immigrant families, attacks birthright citizenship
By Eric London, 22 August 2019
Democrats have largely backed Trump’s attacks on immigrants, with the New York Times describing his concentration camps as “family detention centers.”
Trump administration refuses to vaccinate migrants in detention centers
By Alex González, 21 August 2019
The decision to run filthy and disease-ridden detention camps is part of a definite strategy by Trump’s fascistic advisers.
Protesters pepper-sprayed outside Rhode Island ICE facility after officer drives truck into crowd
By Trévon Austin, 16 August 2019
At least one demonstrator was seriously injured in the attack, suffering a broken leg, internal bleeding, and a back injury.
Trump imposes new class-based immigration restrictions
By Eric London, 13 August 2019
The draconian regulation change means immigrants will be denied permanent residency if they have a low credit score, for example.
“Some kids are hiding in their house, Anne Frank-style”
Residents compare trauma of Mississippi ICE Raid to Hurricane Katrina
By Norisa Diaz, 13 August 2019
Children are afraid to attend school or leave their parents’ side. Families are hiding in their homes.
“We can come together as a force:” Nashville resident who saw neighbors stop ICE speaks out
By our reporters, 13 August 2019
Rosheda Martin lives in the Hermitage neighborhood, where residents physically prevented ICE from snatching their neighbors.
Scores arrested in protests against ICE in New York City
By Owen Mullan, 13 August 2019
The demonstrations pointed to the collaboration between border police and US technology firms such as Amazon.
“I begged them! I said ‘Please, I’ve never seen this country!’”
Detroit man dies after ICE deports him to Iraq
By Zac Corrigan, 10 August 2019
Jimmy Aldaoud was born in Greece to Iraqi refugee parents and arrived in the US as an infant in 1979. He was deported to Iraq in June and died this week.
The Mississippi raid: Trump’s attack on immigrants and his Democratic enablers
By Patrick Martin, 9 August 2019
Hundreds of children have been traumatized by having their parents ripped away from them and, in many cases, shipped to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement prison 150 miles away.
While Trump cries crocodile tears over massacre victims
ICE rounds up nearly 700 immigrants in sweep through Mississippi poultry plants
By Norisa Diaz and Patrick Martin, 8 August 2019
The Trump administration has given its real response to the fascist massacre in El Paso, Texas by carrying out the largest immigration raid since Trump entered the White House.
US doctors’ group urges probe into child migrant deaths from influenza
By Kate Randall, 2 August 2019
According to autopsy results, at least three migrant children have died in US custody as a result of influenza and its complications since December 2018, a rate of death substantially higher than that among children in the general population.
“They opened fire as if we were animals”
AMLO’s police gun down immigrant near US border
By Andrea Lobo, 2 August 2019
A migrant was shot dead while running away from police with his eight-year-old daughter hours before Trump praised Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s government at a rally in Ohio.
More than 900 children taken from their families in the last year
Trump administration continuing family separations at US-Mexico border despite court order
By Julian James, 1 August 2019
Just over a year after a district court ordered Customs and Border Protection to cease its policy of family separations at the Mexico-US border, the ACLU reports that children continue to be wrenched from their families.
US Marines arrested for human trafficking and drug offenses
By Kevin Martinez, 30 July 2019
Nineteen active-duty soldiers stationed at Camp Pendleton Marine Corp base in Southern California were arrested following an earlier investigation that revealed Marines smuggling immigrants near the US-Mexico border.
As protesters cry: “Guatemala is not a concentration camp”
Guatemalan ruling class braces for repercussions of asylum deal imposed by Trump
By Andrea Lobo, 29 July 2019
The Guatemalan state is being turned into an extension of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with the militarization of borders and building of concentration camps.
Supreme Court approves construction of Trump’s border wall
By Eric London, 27 July 2019
The ruling is a political victory for Trump and a blow to the separation of powers, dramatically strengthening the power of the executive branch.
The mass drownings off Libya and the fight to defend refugees
By Alex Lantier, 27 July 2019
The ongoing wave of atrocities against refugees demonstrates that it is impossible to defend immigrants without a mass, international movement against capitalism.
Lessons of Nashville: The working class and the defense of immigrants
By Patrick Martin, 25 July 2019
On Monday, working class residents of Nashville, white and black, mobilized to defend a Hispanic immigrant family from ICE agents.
ICE agents attempting to arrest Tennessee man repelled by neighbors
By Matthew Taylor, 24 July 2019
While ICE was blocked by the brave actions of the man’s neighbors, a Texas born US citizen is being released from custody after having been illegally detained by immigration officials for the last month.
Reports expose Trump administration’s “Border Patrol to emergency room” pipeline
By Patrick Martin, 22 July 2019
Immigrant detainees are deliberately being subjected to conditions that spread disease in detention centers along the southern border.
US immigration agents use children to inflict terror on migrant families
By Joe Williams, 20 July 2019
Three recent incidents highlight the depravity of the US government’s bipartisan war on immigrants, spearheaded by the Trump administration.
US investigators identify 70 current and former immigration agents in far-right, racist Facebook groups
By Kevin Martinez, 19 July 2019
The announcement came after several Facebook groups connected to Customs and Border Protection agents were discovered to contain vulgar and sexually explicit posts.
Trump appeals to Democratic establishment and attacks the left
By Eric London, 19 July 2019
Trump’s praise for Democrats voting against impeachment was not mere bluster; he is operating according to a deliberate political strategy.
Trump abolishes right to asylum on US southern border
By Bill Van Auken, 16 July 2019
The White House order condemns many thousands of Central American men, women and children to be summarily returned to conditions of murderous violence.
The fascists in the White House
By Patrick Martin, 16 July 2019
Trump speaks openly as a fascist, demonizing people of different races and national origins, vilifying socialism, and declaring that those who oppose his administration’s policies are disloyal to the country and should leave it.
As Trump launches immigration raids
Democrats back mass deportations
By Eric London, 15 July 2019
Regardless of immigration status, all workers must understand that they are the ultimate target of the anti-democratic methods used against immigrants.
Thousands march in Chicago to demand end to US immigrant detention camps, raids and deportations
By Kristina Betinis, 15 July 2019
The event was aimed at containing the enormous social opposition to the extreme-right policies of the Trump administration and the Republicans, within the confines of the Democratic Party,
Voices from the protests against Trump’s attack on immigrants
By our reporters, 15 July 2019
The WSWS spoke with hundreds across the country, including Kare, a paralegal in New York City, who said, “Change certainly won’t be coming from the top. This has been going on too long, and now that people are aware of it, we have to stand up.”
Thousands protest immigrant concentration camps at vigils across the US
By our reporters, 13 July 2019
The vigils were an international event, with at least one event taking place in every US state and across five continents, expressing the broad popular opposition to the persecution of immigrants.
Trump’s raids and the stench of fascism
By Eric London, 12 July 2019
Beginning Sunday, the Trump administration plans to launch the largest immigration raids in US history, targeting 2,000 families for arrest and deportation.
A mounting attack on democratic rights
FBI and ICE scanning driver’s license photos with facial recognition technology
By Kevin Reed, 10 July 2019
Behind the backs of the public, integrated networks, databases and artificial intelligence technologies are being used to build up information in the form of digital profiles on every citizen.
UN human rights chief denounces “outrageous conditions” for immigrants in US concentration camps
By Josh Varlin, 10 July 2019
Indicating that the US government has no intention of heeding Bachelet’s statement, DHS has requested another 1,000 National Guard troops on the border between Texas and Mexico.
Trump’s threat to override Supreme Court on census: The march toward rule by decree
By Eric London, 10 July 2019
Trump’s greatest asset is the fecklessness of the Democratic Party, whose record is one of complete acquiescence to Trump’s escalating attack on basic democratic principles.
Trump aide threatens one million immigrants with deportation
By Patrick Martin, 8 July 2019
While the White House escalates its attacks on immigrants, congressional Democrats are deepening their collaboration with Trump.
Protest in New Zealand against US brutality towards refugees
By Tom Peters, 8 July 2019
The July 4 rally outside the US embassy in Wellington demonstrated the growing international outrage at the Trump administration’s concentration camps for migrants and refugees.
“We can definitely unite with Central American workers!”
Detroiters oppose Trump’s war on immigrants at Fourth of July protest
By Zac Corrigan, 5 July 2019
Over 150 people gathered in front of the ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations Field Office in downtown Detroit Thursday to register their opposition to the most recent wave of horrific attacks on immigrants by the Trump administration.
Latest Office of Inspector General report reveals inhumane conditions at US immigrant detention centers
By Matthew Taylor, 4 July 2019
Children are being detained without access to showers or hot meals and in one instance adult immigrants were held in standing room only conditions for a full week.
Mexico deploys National Guard, detains immigrants at record levels
By Alex González, 4 July 2019
Mexico launched its 70,000-member National Guard as immigrant detentions rose by a third since May.
American Independence Day 2019: From the “asylum for mankind” to the land of concentration camps
By Tom Mackaman, 4 July 2019
The principles of 1776 of open immigration and birthright citizenship are under attack.
Amid revelations of fascist network at Customs and Border Protection
Ocasio-Cortez, other Congress members threatened by border police
By Barry Grey, 3 July 2019
The promotion of fascist elements in the immigration agencies is being directed from the White House.
US Border Patrol agents joke about immigrant deaths in secret Facebook group with 9,500 members
By George Marlowe, 2 July 2019
A report by ProPublica revealed that Border Patrol agents used a secret Facebook group to make sadistic and violent jokes about immigrants as well as members of Congress.
Video of Obama-appointed lawyer defending the denial of child detainees soap, toothpaste sparks outrage
By Joe Williams, 29 June 2019
Justice Department attorney Sarah Fabian argued that it is legal to deny immigrant children in detention soap, toothpaste, blankets, and a place to sleep for days or weeks on end.
House Democrats give $4.6 billion for Trump’s concentration camps
Ocasio-Cortez plays critical role in ensuring passage
By Eric London, 28 June 2019
House Democrats voted for a Senate bill that exposes the critical role of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other “progressive” Democrats in facilitating Trump’s crackdown on immigrants.
As Democrats give Trump billions more for border war
Image of drowned father and daughter sparks global outrage against US anti-immigrant rampage
By Barry Grey, 27 June 2019
The Democratic Party has voted overwhelmingly to grant another $4.5 billion dollars for Trump’s Gestapo-like anti-immigrant agencies.
Boston: Hundreds protest Wayfair’s profiting from sales to immigrant detention centers
By Kate Randall, 27 June 2019
Employees learned last week that a $200,000 order of bedroom furniture from Wayfair was placed by a private contractor for a detention facility.
No to concentration camps in America!
By Eric London, 26 June 2019
Hundreds of millions of people around the world are sickened by Trump’s sadistic crimes against immigrants, which have exposed the rot at the core of American capitalism.
Horror across US-Mexico border with multiple parents, infants dead
By Eric London, 25 June 2019
Over the weekend, two young parents and four young children died crossing the desert in separate instances while Mexican police shot a young migrant in the head.
Trump, Democrats seek anti-immigrant deal
By Patrick Martin, 24 June 2019
The postponement of mass raids set for Sunday morning sets the stage for the passage of bipartisan legislation to provide billions more to arrest and imprison immigrants.
Trump to launch military-style immigration raids nationwide this weekend
By Eric London, 22 June 2019
The raids are a sign that Trump is propping up his crisis-ridden administration with police terror and appeals to his fascist base.
Report highlights mistreatment of refugee children in US internment camps
By Fred Mazelis, 22 June 2019
A team of lawyers interviewed 60 young detainees being held outside El Paso, Texas, who reported neglect as well as the provision of inadequate food, water and sanitation.
‘Severe form of human trafficking’: Five charged in federal indictment over scheme that spread from Georgia to Wisconsin
By Jacob Crosse, 22 June 2019
The charges stem from a multi-year investigation between various federal agencies and the Racine Police Department located in southeastern Wisconsin.
Whitewashing Canadian capitalism’s crimes:
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s inquiry issues final report
By Roger Jordan and Keith Jones, 21 June 2019
The MMIW report shifts the blame for the oppression of the native people from Canadian capitalism and its state to a racist “colonialist” mindset and “white society.”
Trump announces operation to deport “millions” of immigrants from the US
By Niles Niemuth, 19 June 2019
The arrest of millions would require effective martial law in every major city, in a military-style mobilization without precedent in American history.
US to jail 1,400 immigrant children at WWII Japanese internment site
By Eric London, 13 June 2019
The government is reviving the worst crimes in US history as official state policy.
Mistrial in case against “No More Deaths” volunteer charged with aiding immigrants
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 13 June 2019
Scott Warren was arrested for providing food, water and shelter to two undocumented immigrants.
Trump expands network of immigrant concentration camps
By Eric London, 11 June 2019
The Democratic Party is facilitating Trump’s escalation of attacks on immigrant workers as well as his moves toward unchecked presidential power.
Democrats, Mexican president collaborate with Trump’s anti-immigrant crackdown
By Eric London, 10 June 2019
The US also announced it will house 3,000 to 4,000 immigrant children at army base internment camps.
Mexico to deploy 6,000 troops to southern border as Trump postpones tariffs
By Alex González, 8 June 2019
No faction of the American or Mexican ruling class offers any genuine opposition to the assault on immigrants and democratic rights.
Trump administration cuts education and recreation funding for immigrant children in detention centers
By Shelley Connor, 7 June 2019
The Office of Refugee Settlement has halted the flow of funding for any activities they consider “not directly necessary for the protection of life and safety,” including legal aid and recreation.
Three immigrants die in US custody in three days
By Niles Niemuth, 6 June 2019
Immigrants are being subjected to inhumane treatment all along the line, guaranteeing that there will be more deaths in federal detention centers across the US.
Lutheran student pastor Betty Rendón deported back to Colombia less than a month after being detained by ICE
By Jacob Crosse, 6 June 2019
Pleas from community members and family fell on deaf ears as the Trump administration escalates its war on immigrants.
US requiring visa applicants to reveal social media information
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 5 June 2019
The implementation of the new “extreme vetting” policy is another step in the Trump administration’s war against immigrants.
“It’s immoral. It’s unethical. It’s torture”
US uses solitary confinement as weapon against detained immigrants
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 1 June 2019
An International Consortium of Investigative Journalists report documents the widespread use of solitary confinement by the US government against detained immigrants.
Knock Down the House and the Democratic Party politics of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
By Genevieve Leigh, 25 May 2019
Knock Down the House reviews the election campaigns of several Democratic Party primary candidates in the 2018 congressional elections, focused on Ocasio-Cortez in New York City.
Six immigrant children dead in US custody since September
By Eric London, 24 May 2019
Protecting the lives and democratic rights of immigrants requires a fight against imperialist war and the capitalist system.
After sixth death of a migrant child
Flu outbreak leads to quarantine at Texas immigrant detention center
By Alex González, 23 May 2019
The death of a migrant teenager on Monday has highlighted the inhumane conditions at one of the largest immigration detention centers in the US.
Trump administration shipping immigrants to sanctuary cities as fifth child dies in ICE custody
By Norisa Diaz, 21 May 2019
Trump is seeking to further inundate processing centers and jails to justify the border wall as the fifth Guatemalan child has died in ICE custody since December.
More migrant deaths as Trump unveils class-based immigration quota
By Eric London, 17 May 2019
Trump announced the new plan as the military agreed to build six new internment camps along the US-Mexico border.
ICE conducts armed raid on student pastor’s home in Chicago, abducts three
By Jacob Crosse, 16 May 2019
Betty Rendón had been preaching at Emaus Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin while studying for her doctorate degree in Chicago when she, her husband and cousin were snatched by federal agents last week.
Trump planning nationwide military round-up of 10,000 immigrants
By Eric London, 15 May 2019
The unprecedented scope of the raid would require de facto martial law and serve as a test run for the mass arrest and detention of political dissidents.
Trump rally roars approval for call to “shoot” immigrants
By Eric London, 10 May 2019
When an audience member at a Trump rally Wednesday yelled that the US should “shoot” immigrants, Trump laughed. Meanwhile, the government is arresting record numbers of families at the border.
“We want him to come to graduation!”
Arizona students demand release of classmate detained by immigration agents
By Norisa Diaz, 8 May 2019
Over 200 high school students in Tucson, Arizona walked out of school Monday to protest the detention and deportation of their classmate, Thomas Torres.
Former Trump chief of staff John Kelly joins board of migrant detention firm
By Genevieve Leigh, 8 May 2019
The retired general and anti-immigrant demagogue is profiting from the draconian policies he helped implement while working in the Trump administration.
Democrats line up behind Trump’s war on immigrants
NY Times demands: “Give Trump his border money”
By Kevin Martinez, 7 May 2019
With death and misery mounting along the southern US border,the Democratic party is signaling its support for further repression.
Guatemalan boy detained by US Border Patrol dies after succumbing to illness
By Kevin Martinez, 3 May 2019
The 16 year old, who has not been named, is the third immigrant child to die in government custody in just five months.
In violation of international law
Trump orders new attacks on rights of refugees, asylum seekers
By Norisa Diaz, 1 May 2019
Trump has directed that his top officials to impose a fee on asylum seekers, give border patrol cops authority to determine credible fear claims and place restrictions on work permits.
US government tries to distance itself from border militia
By Trévon Austin, 30 April 2019
The arrest of Larry Hopkins was carried out to mask the fact that militia groups act as auxiliary arms of Border Patrol.
US military set to loosen rules for troops operating along southern border
By Genevieve Leigh, 27 April 2019
The Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security are clearing the way for Trump to escalate his anti-immigrant program amidst silence from Democrats.
Massachusetts judge and court officer charged with helping immigrant evade ICE officer
By Kevin Martinez, 27 April 2019
Newton District Court Judge Shelley Richmond Joseph and former trial court officer, Wesley MacGregor both face up to 20 years if found guilty of obstructing ICE.
Mexican police detain hundreds of Central American migrants during mass raid
By Alex González, 26 April 2019
The arrest of over 370 migrants, the largest in recent years, shows that the Mexican ruling class is subserviently implementing the Trump administration’s fascistic attacks on immigrants.
Hillary Clinton’s McCarthyite rant
By Joseph Kishore, 26 April 2019
In a column published Wednesday in the Washington Post, the former Democratic Party presidential candidate resurrects the conspiracy theories that were the staple of Cold War anticommunism.
Responding to public outrage, FBI arrests leader of border militia which detained hundreds of migrants
By Norisa Diaz, 23 April 2019
The arrest of border vigilante leader Larry Hopkins on Saturday is an effort by federal agents and CBP to publicly distance themselves from the right-wing militia groups with whom they routinely collaborate.
Armed militia detaining asylum seekers at gunpoint along US-Mexico border
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan and Niles Niemuth, 20 April 2019
An armed militia calling itself the United Constitutional Patriots posted videos of its members detaining hundreds of migrants at the New Mexico border, in actions seemingly coordinated with the Border Patrol.
US attorney general orders denial of bond, indefinite detention of asylum seekers
By Patrick Martin, 18 April 2019
The action by William Barr overturns more than a decade of legal precedent and sets the stage for the criminalization of refugees seeking asylum.
Canada’s Liberal government attacks refugee rights
By Laurent Lafrance, 18 April 2019
The Trudeau government is pursuing anti-refugee policies and collaborating with Washington in its anti-immigrant witch hunt.
Trump officials discussed using troops to run migrant detention camps
By Barry Grey, 13 April 2019
Trump has been able to carry through his anti-immigrant program, despite popular opposition, because the Democrats have done nothing to seriously oppose it.
White House to intensify anti-immigrant rampage
By Patrick Martin, 11 April 2019
Multiple media reports say that the Trump administration is pushing for new anti-immigrant measures, including forcible separation of asylum seekers from their children.
The dictatorial impulse behind Trump’s political purge
By Patrick Martin, 9 April 2019
The abrupt firing of the DHS secretary and Secret Service chief are part of an effort to surround Trump with a loyal praetorian guard.
Bernie Sanders joins Trump’s attack on “open borders”
By Tom Hall, 9 April 2019
Sanders echoed the right-wing fraud that a nation with nearly 600 billionaires, whose net worth totals over $3 trillion, cannot afford to welcome people emigrating to the US to work.
University of Arizona students arrested for protesting Border Patrol agents
By Shuvvu Batta, 8 April 2019
In Arizona, a Class 1 misdemeanor is punishable by up to six months in jail and three years’ probation, along with a $2,500 fine plus surcharges.
US Homeland Security chief forced out as anti-immigrant crackdown looms
By Eric London, 8 April 2019
Trump advisor Stephen Miller is orchestrating a right-wing takeover of the federal deportation apparatus with the support of a network of fascist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and border patrol officers.
Trump visits border to step up attack on immigrants
By Dan Conway, 6 April 2019
Trump’s visit took place two days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 280 immigrant workers in a raid on an electronics plant in Texas.
Massive ICE workplace raid jails 280 immigrant workers in Texas
By Matthew Taylor, 5 April 2019
The mass raid, the largest in the US in over a decade, has devastating consequences for immigrant workers and US-born workers alike.
Trump threatens to shut US-Mexico border, cuts aid to Central America
By Patrick Martin, 1 April 2019
The Trump administration is cutting off $600 million in aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, while threatening to devastate the economy of Mexico by closing the US-Mexico border.
Trump administration ordered jails to hold thousands of US citizens for deportation
By Norisa Diaz, 30 March 2019
ICE sent the Miami-Dade County jails 420 detainer requests for US citizens over a two-year period, but across the country the numbers are in the unknown thousands.
US detaining immigrants under highway overpass in Texas amid renewed crackdown
By Eric London, 29 March 2019
Amidst a media blackout, the Trump administration is arresting unprecedented numbers of immigrants at the border while demanding the expansion of internment camps.
Outrage grows over leaked government database targeting journalists, activists at US-Mexico border
By Kevin Martinez, 29 March 2019
Congressional committees are now seeking information on repression of journalists and civil rights activists by the Trump administration.
Pentagon announces transfer of $1 billion for border wall construction
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 28 March 2019
The Pentagon announcement came as Congress failed to override Trump’s veto supporting his declaration of a national emergency on the US-Mexico border.
US Supreme Court rules government can indefinitely detain immigrants years after release from criminal custody
By Niles Niemuth, 20 March 2019
The ruling emboldens the Trump administration in its fascistic war on immigrants, giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement a free hand to detain any migrant who has served time for an offense.
US Senate votes to overturn Trump emergency decree
By Patrick Martin, 15 March 2019
The resolution has no immediate practical effect, because Trump will veto it and there is little prospect of an override by Congress, which requires a two-thirds vote.
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