BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Miles de inmigrantes indocumentados están preocupados de que la información que dieron al inscribirse en el Programa “Dreamers” (Soñadores) del Presidente Obama, ahora pueda llevarlos a la deportación. La decisión de la Suprema Corte del mes pasado tira golpes bajos a algunas partes de la acción ejecutiva del Presidente. Eso significa que la orden que emitió el juez federal basado en Texas, para entregar nombres y domicilios de 50 mil inmigrantes, sigue siendo una amenaza, aunque que podría ser detenida hasta la audiencia del 22 de agosto.

Thomas Sáenz, de MALDEF, dice que la orden sólo afecta a una parte de los millones que se registraron para la Acción Diferida para el programa de la Llegadas en la Infancia, conocido como DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).

“Una de las cosas que anunció el presidente en noviembre del 2014 fue que, en vez de plazos de dos años para la acción diferida del DACA, habría plazos de tres años. O sea que se refiere a quienes recibieron concesiones de tres años.”

El Juez de Distrito de la Corte de los Estados Unidos Andrew Hanen, de Brownsville, ordenó entregar los datos como una de varias sanciones contra los abogados del Departamento de Justicia de los EE.UU., en una demanda encabezada por Texas contra el programa de Obama. Los defensores de los derechos del inmigrante dicen que la decisión que tomó la Suprema Corte el pasado 23 de junio incrementó el riesgo de deportación para todos los que están en la lista.

Sáenz dice que los inmigrantes que se registraron para el DACA tuvieron expectativas razonables de que sus nombres y domicilios se mantuvieran confidenciales. Añade que la demanda del juez tiene muy poco qué ver con el caso que está ante la corte.

“Tiene la intención de ser un castigo por lo que el Juez Hanen creyó que era una mala conducta de los abogados del gobierno federal. Así que la pregunta es si es una sanción apropiada para los abogados, y claramente no lo es.”

Sáenz dice que forzar a los abogados del Departamento de Justicia a que entreguen la información es inconstitucional. Agrega que si la orden es retenida, MALDEF planea apelar inmediatamente, para bloquear cualquier daño potencial para los inmigrantes que aparecen en la lista.


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Advocates for immigrants are pushing back on a bill signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in the last few days of the legislative session, modeled on a recent, controversial Texas law.

Senate File 2340 gives local law enforcement officers and judges the authority to deport undocumented immigrants.

Erica Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, argued the bill is an overreach, and said Iowa law enforcement officers are not authorized to enforce it.

"This is a pretty clear intervention into federal territory," Johnson pointed out. "U.S. immigration law is governed by federal law."

Much like the author of the Texas bill, supporters in Iowa blame the Biden administration for failing to slow illegal immigration, so the state has decided to take matters into its own hands.

Johnson contended the bill and other anti-immigrant sentiment during the just-completed legislative session target the very people Iowa, with its dwindling population, will depend on for its future workforce.

"What we need is communities that are safe, where workers have access to dignified, safe workplaces," Johnson emphasized. "The truth of what Iowa's future could be depends on immigrants and immigrant workers in our state, and unfortunately, this law could take us back, away from that possible future. "

Johnson added her organization will pursue legal ways to block the bill from taking effect in July.


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The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing the border. But groups are speaking out about the impact of "Operation Lone Star" on the youngest migrants. Governor Greg Abbott continues to bus migrant families to other states, many with young children - more than 100,000 families so far.

Robert Sanborn, CEO of Children at Risk, works to improve the quality of life for boys and girls in Texas, and contends the policy has put trauma on top of trauma.

"We never want children to be political pawns. We don't want maximum chaos on the backs of children. We want children to grow up and be assets for our community," he contended.

Sanborn points out that 2.2 million children in Texas are immigrants, and said it would be less stressful for kids if families were not bused in the middle of the night, and if they were allowed to pick their destination.

When immigrants arrive at the border, they are evaluated to determine if they're eligible for asylum.

Beatriz Zavala, clinical coordinator at El Paso-based Humanitarian Outreach for Migrant Emotional Health, or "HOME," said the children in this situation are at higher risk for mental health disorders.

"What is particularly troubling is the profound disregard for the stability and protection these families need. The impact on their mental health is undeniable. These are not just statistics. These are children, real children," she said.

As part of Operation Lone Star, families have been bused to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The governor has said the practice is needed to keep the Texas-Mexico border safe.


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Legislation in Albany would create the first right to counsel for people in immigration court.

The Access to Representation Act would provide immigrants the right to an attorney in their New York immigration cases, ending the tendency to represent themselves if they cannot afford one.

Estimates show a backlog of more than 330,000 immigration court cases, and fewer than half have attorneys. Studies show without legal counsel, migrants are less likely to remain in the U.S.

Marlene Galaz, director of immigrant rights policy for the New York Immigration Coalition, described what the bill would do.

"It has a six-year ramp-up to start implementing and building infrastructure," Galaz outlined. "Having a pipeline between law schools for law students to go into immigration practice, and getting to nonprofits and so on."

Galaz noted most opposition centers around the $150 million to fund the program but pointed out the total expenditure is less than 1% of the state's $229 billion budget. She added anti-immigrant rhetoric has also damaged support for the bill. Currently, it is in the state Senate Finance Committee.

The New York City Comptroller's office said enacting the bill would benefit the state financially. It could keep about 53,000 people from being deported, which would result in almost $8.5 billion in local, state and federal taxes over the next 30 years.

Galaz emphasized the influx of migrants has saturated the court system, leading to what could have been an avoidable backlog.

"I firmly believe that if these investments had been made when we first asked for them, I believe, like, three years ago, then we wouldn't be struggling," Galaz contended. "We would have had the infrastructure built to address an increase in welcoming our newest neighbors."

A Vera Institute survey showed 93% of New Yorkers across party lines and regions support access to attorneys for all people, including those in immigration court, and government-funded attorneys for them.


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