Tennessee readers might be interested to learn that President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Oct. 4 requiring people immigrating to the U.S. to acquire health insurance. The document states that immigrants should no longer be allowed to "saddle" the U.S. healthcare system.
Lawsuit alleges unfair denial of asylum
Florida residents who have been following immigration developments may have seen that a lawsuit filed on Sept.16th involves mothers and children from nearly 60 families who are suing the Trump Administration over changes in asylum laws. This suit claims that the Trump administration enacted changes to the asylum rule without warning and that, as a result, asylum seekers have been barred entry to the country unfairly. Asylum seekers were allegedly not told which standards would apply to their individual cases, which led to higher rates of rejection.
Judge reinstitutes nationwide asylum rule injunction
Legal experts in Tennessee and around the country have been closely following a case brought by a coalition of civil rights groups on behalf of undocumented immigrants over one of President Trump's controversial asylum rules. The rule, which requires asylum seekers to make their claims in the first safe country they enter, contradicts established U.S. immigration law, and the case is seen as an attempt to place limits on the scope of executive powers.
Can victims of domestic violence get a U visa?
Domestic violence can affect anybody. Victims come from all walks of life, speak any language and live in any country. That includes immigrants living in the United States, who face many challenges when it comes to reporting these types of crimes.
Is birthright citizenship at risk?
Many people in Tennessee have been concerned about President Donald Trump's controversial approach to immigration. People who are immigrants themselves have become worried about their status, even if everything seems to be in place. The Trump administration is now floating a new trial balloon, although experts say it would be impossible to implement. In a press conference, Trump told reporters that his administration was examining the possibility for ending birthright citizenship. In the United States, the children of non-citizens born in the country automatically receive citizenship at birth. Despite birthright citizenship being part of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Trump labeled it "frankly ridiculous".
New policy could impact legal immigrants
Some Tennessee residents who came from another country may find it harder to get a green card or visa. A new Trump administration rule would make it possible to reject applications from those who have used public assistance. It might also result in visa or permanent resident requests being denied if applicants don't have sufficient levels of income or education. These individuals could be seen as more likely to need public assistance in the future.
Asylum-seeking families face clerical errors, other obstacles
Some Tennessee residents may be aware that immigrants who are seeking asylum in the U.S. may have their situation complicated by clerical errors. This was the case for a woman from Honduras who was seeking asylum for herself and her two sons after they fled from violence related to her political organizing. They crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and were released on the grounds that they appear in court when summoned.
Trump administration imposes new asylum bar
People in Tennessee and across the country are deeply concerned about the changes taking place at the U.S. southern border. In the latest development, the Trump administration has issued a rule claiming that all people who pass through another country before coming to the U.S. are ineligible for asylum. The rule aims to exclude Central American refugees in particular from making asylum claims at the border as they must generally pass through Mexico in order to do so. The rule was published in the Federal Register and will apply both to adult refugee claimants as well as children traveling alone to seek asylum.
Visa applicants must now provide social media identifiers
The United States Department of State updated its online visa applications. The applications now require social media identifiers for both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants.
Children's health could suffer due to immigration law changes
A proposal being supported by the Trump administration could risk access to health care and food for nearly 2 million children in Tennessee and across the country. According to one study, up to 1.9 million kids can be expected to drop out of federal programs providing children's health care and nutrition benefits if the administration pursues its plan to change immigration law. In particular, the Trump administration is proposing a redefinition of the term "public charge."
