Immigrant Issues / Public News Service

Across the United States, 46 states have laws allowing for harsher punishment for crimes based on bias. (Ludk/Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah Could Improve Its Hate-Crime Laws

SALT LAKE CITY - With rising numbers of people targeted in hate crimes and related violence, a new report analyzes the hate-crime laws in each state…

It's estimated that more than 241,000 DACA-eligible students are enrolled in college, according to the Migration Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)

After DACA Court Ruling, Advocates Call on Congress for Immigration Overhaul

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- In a recent ruling, a federal judge in Texas blocked new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program…

Massachusetts is home to more than 5,000 DACA recipients. (Scott Maxwell/Adobe Stock)

More Calls for Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants

BOSTON -- Immigrants' rights advocates are calling on Congress to pave the way to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented people in the U.S…

DACA has been granted to more than 4,600 people in Ohio since 2012. (AdobeStock)

DACA Legal Limbo 'Exhausting' for Ohio Dreamers

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In light of a new federal court ruling on DACA, immigration advocates in Ohio say Congress must take action to create a roadmap to …

Senate Bill 5194 turns 200 part-time faculty positions at community and technical colleges into full-time positions. (paulaphoto/Adobe Stock)

WA Law Aims to Make Comm, Technical Colleges More Inclusive

SEATTLE -- Washington state community and technical college staff members are excited about a measure aimed at improving the success of students of co…

Immigration law experts say a significant percentage of U-visas go to victims of domestic violence. (Adobe Stock)

MN Enhances Efforts to Protect Immigrant Survivors of Crime

ST PAUL, Minn. - For an immigrant who is a victim of a crime, seeking justice can be especially difficult. Minnesota lawmakers are making that …

Demonstrators rallied at California's State Capitol in June to expand health coverage for income-eligible undocumented seniors. (Yvonne Vasquez/Health4All)

Final CA Budget Opens Medi-Cal to Undocumented, Low-Income Seniors

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California State Assembly is set to approve a budget bill tomorrow to make California the first state in the nation to …

Immigration policy experts say the recent wave of migrant crossings at the U.S./Mexico border might by partly the result of seasonal trends, not solely Biden administration policies. (Adobe Stock)

IA Latinos to Governor: Don't Play Politics with Immigration

DES MOINES, Iowa - Debate continues over the severity of the migrant situation at the U.S./Mexico border, and advocates for Iowa Latinos say Gov…

Vice President Kamala Harris addresses immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso today, one week ahead of a promised visit by former President Donald Trump. (famouspeople.wiki)

VP Harris Visits El Paso Today in First U.S.-Mexico Border Trip

EL PASO, Texas -- Vice President Kamala Harris visits the southern border for the first time today as the Biden administration aims to stem the flow …

Since 2011, Minnesota's Hmong American Farmers Association has helped producers with access issues, including financial tools. (Photo courtesy of HAFA)

Hmong Farmers in MN Part of Grant Effort to End Health Disparities

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Hmong farmers in Minnesota are playing a role in trying to end health disparities for marginalized residents. They're getting help …

Roughly 18,500 households in Massachusetts are excluded from the Earned Income Tax Credit because at least one member can't get a Social Security number. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Report: MA Should Open Earned Income Tax Credit to Working Immigrants

BOSTON -- Groups are calling on Massachusetts to open up the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to working residents who pay taxes but may not qual…

Lawmakers have introduced bills to grant access to ID cards and driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants multiple times in recent years, but the proposals have not been granted a hearing or vote. (Michigan.gov)

Bills Would Allow Driver’s License, ID Cards for the Undocumented

LANSING, Mich. -- Undocumented people in Michigan would regain the right to apply for a driver's license or ID card, if two bills introduced Tuesday …

A bill to teach more Asian American history in schools has gained traction in the wake of an uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans in the United States. (Sam Cheng/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Add Asian American History to IL School Code

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Racial-justice advocates are urging the state Senate to pass a bill called the TEAACH Act, making Illinois the first state to …

If passed, the Food4All legislation would expand food assistance to low-income Californians regardless of their immigration status, starting in January 2023. (Ladyheart/Morguefile)

Lawmakers Consider Food Assistance for Undocumented Californians

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Today, lawmakers in Sacramento consider funding for a bill to open up the state food assistance program to all needy …

A measure passed in Olympia this session means the GEO Group-owned Northwest Detention Center will shut down when its contract expires. (Common Language Project/Flickr)

Caravan to Immigration Center Supports Detained Mothers

TACOMA, Wash. -- A Northwest car caravan is heading to an immigration detention center this weekend to support mothers who've been detained there…

A car caravan to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, WA is supporting moms separated from their children. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

OR Groups Support Immigrant Moms Detained in NW

SALEM, Ore. -- A Northwest car caravan is heading to an immigration detention center this weekend to support mothers who've been detained there…

In recent months, record numbers of teenagers and children traveling without their parents and in need of shelter have arrived at the U.S. border with Mexico. (U.S. Border Patrol via Twitter)

Opponents of U.S. Immigration Policies March in El Paso

EL PASO, Texas - A group that opposes U.S. immigration policies and holding children at military bases is protesting today by walking to Fort Bliss …

A vaccine clinic in Seattle is offering education and assistance in people's native language. (fotoduets/Adobe Stock)

Vaccine Clinic Offers 'Low-Pressure Environment' for WA Immigrants

SEATTLE - Unions are hosting a vaccine clinic for immigrant workers and their families this weekend. The Service Employees International Union …

Many cycling groups aim to make biking more accessible to communities of color. (SF Bicycle Coalition)

CA Cycling Groups Promote Community During Pandemic

By Marianne Dhenin for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Only 2,050 refugees have made it into the United States this fiscal year, according to the latest report by the International Rescue Committee. (Adobe Stock)

CT Advocates Join Demands for Higher Refugee Cap in U.S.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Advocates for refugees in Connecticut are calling on President Joe Biden to increase the new cap on refugees entering the country…

A team of community-based organizations across North Carolina recently interviewed dozens of parents of young children for their views about the state's social-emotional health ecosystem. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — A team of community-based organizations across North Carolina recently interviewed dozens of parents of young children for their views about the state's social-emotional health ecosystem. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Resources Scarce for NC Parents of Young Kids

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A new survey of more than 200 North Carolina parents of young children finds a lot of concern - and at times, panic and even …

Washington state has classified farm and agriculture workers as essential during the pandemic. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Farmworker Groups Concerned Citizenship Bill Favors Growers

SEATTLE -- The U.S. House has passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, setting up a path to citizenship for immigrant farmworkers, but some …

Just like Black Americans, Black immigrants are more likely to be arrested, convicted and imprisoned than the immigrant population as a whole. (Pixabay)

Groups Launch Immigrants' Rights Guide for Demonstrations

LINCOLN, Neb. -- As President Joe Biden works to make good on promises to overhaul federal immigration policy, a new guide released this week aims to …

In the most recent National Agricultural Workers Survey, 23% percent of farmworkers said they haven't sought medical care because the cost is too high. With economic hardship of COVID-19, that number has likely increased. (Adobe Stock)

DeSantis Urged to Prioritize FL Farmworkers in COVID Vaccine Rollout

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Florida farmworkers' rights groups say it is urgent farmworkers be deemed "essential" in Gov. Ron DeSantis' COVID-19 vaccine …

H.R. 6 would give DACA recipients immediate green-card status. (AdobeStock)

New Hope for Citizenship for Ohio's Dreamers

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's roughly 4,400 "Dreamers" are a step closer to the chance to become American citizens. The U.S. House approved the American …

President Joe Biden's COVID relief package includes $160 billion to fund speedier vaccine distribution. (CBS4)

Colorado Children's Groups Urge U.S. Senate to Pass COVID Relief

DENVER -- Colorado advocates for children, low-income workers and other vulnerable populations are urging Congress to pass President Joe Biden's …

A bill to increase diversity at Washington state community and technical colleges would bring more mental-health resources to campuses. (Davide Angelini/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Aims for Greater Diversity at Community, Technical Colleges

OLYMPIA, Wash. - A measure in Olympia could make Washington state's community and technical colleges more diverse. Senate Bill 5194 aims to …

The Biden administration is trying to remove barriers to the reunification of families separated at the border by the prior administration. (Rico Best/Adobestock)

Feds to Allow Some Separated Immigrant Families to Reunite in U.S.

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Human-rights advocates are applauding a new Biden administration policy to allow children who remain in U.S. custody after being …

Legislative maps of areas such as Charlotte are changing because of a surge in population growth. (Adobe Stock)

Census Delay Could Pose Problems for Fair NC Redistricting

RALEIGH, N.C. - Every ten years, states use the census to redraw congressional and state legislative districts, but delays in the release of 2020 …

California's eugenics program is believed to have sterilized 20,000 women behind bars between 1909 and 1979. (Kconnors/Morguefile)

Movement Gains Steam to Compensate Victims of Prison Medical Abuse

By Ray Levy Ureda for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

More than 300 meatpacking and processing workers in the United States have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. (Adobe Stock)

One Year Later, Many Poultry Workers Haven’t Seen COVID Protections

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Workers say Tyson Foods and other poultry-processing plants haven't done enough to prevent Arkansas workers from getting sick as …

In 2020, the Chicago area saw an employment drop of more than 30%. Thousands of the city's hospitality workers were laid off. (Unite Here Local 1)

Chicago Ordinance Would Bring Laid-Off Workers Back When Hotels Reopen

CHICAGO - Legislation pending before the Chicago City Council would require hotels to reinstate workers who were laid off because of the pandemic to t…

A total of five public school districts in Iowa, including Davenport, Des Moines and Waterloo, have adopted diversity plans to shield against too many students leaving for other districts. (Adobe Stock)

IA Bill Decried as Attack on School Diversity Plans

DES MOINES, Iowa - Several Iowa school districts have plans in place to help keep their student populations diverse. Supporters of those plans say a …

On January 2020, according to an ACLU report, 81% of ICE detainees were being held in privately owned or managed facilities. (Jason/Adobe Stock)

Executive Order Leaves Immigrants in Private Prisons

NEW YORK -- Immigrant advocates say President Joe Biden's executive order to end the use of private prisons is an important first step, but more …

Groups are pushing for guest worker visa reforms that would prevent farm labor contractors from exploiting workers brought to the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Labor Group Calls for End to Farm Contractor Abuses

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A legal victory in North Carolina could open the door to reforms that would protect farm workers in the Buckeye State as well…

Members of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee filed a class-action lawsuit against a North Carolina farm labor contractor over stolen wages.(FLOC)

"Stolen" Back Wages Paid to NC Farmworkers in Class-Action Lawsuit

RALEIGH, N.C. - Several major North Carolina growers have agreed to compensate a group of seasonal farmworkers for stolen wages and other expenses in …

After major wins by Democrats in 2020, Republicans in the Arizona Legislature have filed several dozen bills designed to change the way Arizonans vote. (Wikimedia Commons)

AZ Democrats: GOP Legislation Aimed at Voter Suppression

PHOENIX, Ariz. - After Donald Trump's defeat at the polls last year, Republicans in the Arizona Legislature began filing a flurry of bills that could …

The new administration will review former President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" family-separation policy, to encourage decisions on a case-by-case basis instead. (Riko Best/Adobe Stock)

Biden Orders Review of Trump Immigration Policies

HARTFORD, Conn. - Several hardline Trump-era immigration policies appear headed for the chopping block, after President Joe Biden issued more …

Don Pedro Montes Vargas is one of an estimated 27,000 undocumented seniors who could benefit from an expansion of Medi-Cal. (Health-Access CA)

Health Groups Press to Include Undocumented Seniors in Medi-Cal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The push is on to expand Medi-Cal to include more undocumented residents. The Health4All coalition kicked off its 2021 efforts …

Last year, the national group Stop AAPI Hate reported it received a total of 2,583 incidents of discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. (Adobe Stock)

While Hopeful, MN Asian Americans Want Details on Anti-Hate Efforts

MINNEAPOLIS -- A key advocacy group for Asian Americans in Minnesota hopes the country is turning the corner on reducing hateful rhetoric toward commu…

About four in five people in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody were in privately run facilities as of January 2020. (Common Language Project/Flickr)

Private Immigration Prisons Not Included in Biden Ban

TACOMA, Wash. -- President Joe Biden signed an executive order this week ending the federal use of private prisons, but the order does not include …

The majority of new immigrants in Ohio arrive from India, the Philippines, Mexico, China and Somalia. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Immigrant Groups Voice Cautious Optimism about Biden Reforms

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Immigrants in Ohio are celebrating proposed reforms to the nation's immigration system, but some are calling it cautious optimism…

Florida's coastlines have been hit hard in recent years by sea-level rise and the increased intensity and frequency of tropical storms. (Selcuk/Adobe Stock)

From FL to Central America, Climate Change Forces Migration

MIAMI -- As Florida faces the consequences of climate change -- from rising sea levels to more frequent and more severe hurricanes -- experts predict …

Climate change could result in the displacement of more than 140 million people - particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America - before 2050, according to a 2018 World Bank Group report. (Adobe Stock)

As NC Temps Rise, Climate Migrants Expected to Increase

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Experts say food shortages, housing insecurity and other hardships many North Carolinians are experiencing from the pandemic could …

Maryam Nasar, alongside her mentor above, was born in Iraq and arrived in Idaho as a refugee in 2010. (Madeline Rose Scott)

ID Project Prepares Young Refugee Women for Workforce

BOISE, Idaho -- A Treasure Valley program is helping young women from refugee communities into the workforce, and hopefully to narrow the state's …

California could gain 2 million new citizens if the Biden administration's immigration proposal makes it through Congress. (Rico Best/Adobe Stock)

Groups “Floored” by Biden Immigration Proposal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - On his first day in office, President Joe Biden will press for bold immigration reform, proposing a path to citizenship for an …

The Women's March that began in 2017 aims to be more inclusive in Idaho this year. (Idaho Womxn's March)

Four Years On, Youth Leading ID Women's March

BOISE, Idaho -- Four years after the original Women's March, the day after the last presidential inauguration, young women in Idaho are taking the …

About 1,000 protesters, some of them armed, were in Phoenix on Wednesday while rioters broke into the U.S. Capitol. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Human Rights Group: AZ No Stranger to Extremism

PHOENIX -- The attack on the U.S. Capitol last week has shocked and angered many Americans, but some in Arizona see its roots in the extreme rhetoric …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2020Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2020Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play Two-Thousand-Twenty Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

PNS Daily Newscast - August 4, 2021

2021Talks - August 4, 2021

Immigrant