Immigration News Today: ICE Arrests, Birthright Citizenship Fight
ICE arrested 10,000 people in just five days — and authorities have been told to keep arresting 2,000 people every single day. At the same time, the Trump administration is already looking for new ways to limit birthright citizenship after the Supreme Court blocked its first attempt. For immigrants across the US, the stakes have never felt higher.
Trump looks for new ways to limit birthright citizenship
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 this week that Trump's executive order denying birthright citizenship — the right to US citizenship for people born on US soil — is unconstitutional. But the administration is not stopping there. Top officials are now exploring other routes to limit the Fourteenth Amendment's birthright clause. One idea being discussed: banning pregnant foreign nationals from entering the US at all. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin suggested this approach publicly, and former DHS deputy Ken Cuccinelli said the administration may use a legal tool called Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act — which gives the president power to bar certain groups of foreigners — to carry this out. The Justice Department also released a memo urging prosecutors to investigate so-called "birth tourism" schemes.
ICE arrests surge — including at courthouses and a church
Immigration authorities have been told to arrest at least 2,000 people per day. In just five days, ICE arrested 10,000 people across the country. In New York City, ICE continued making arrests at the Manhattan immigration courthouse even after a court order told them to stop. Civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit challenging those arrests. In South Texas, ICE arrested Sister Leticia "Letty" Ugboaja, a Nigerian nun, on a Sunday while she was on her way to church. The arrest drew sharp criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. She was released hours later.
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Immigrants feel the pressure across the country
The wave of enforcement is hitting everyday life hard. In Chicago, a corner where day laborers once gathered for work has gone quiet — both workers and customers have stayed away out of fear of raids. In Oregon, Latino-owned businesses say World Cup soccer matches are giving them a boost after months of lost business caused by immigration enforcement fears. Meanwhile, a New Mexico town called Estancia declared a water emergency, partly because an ICE detention facility there is its biggest water user. And records show that Geraldo Lunas Campos, an ICE detainee with bipolar disorder and anxiety, asked for mental health care before dying in a struggle with guards. His family is now suing the detention operator and the guards involved.
What to do
- Know your rights if ICE approaches you. You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to open your door unless ICE has a signed judicial warrant. Lawyers recommend keeping a Know Your Rights card with you at all times.
- If you have a court date, still go. Missing an immigration court hearing (a scheduled appearance before a judge in removal proceedings) can result in a deportation order issued in your absence. Talk to an immigration lawyer before skipping any hearing, even if you hear about courthouse arrests.
- If you are detained, ask for a bond hearing. A bond hearing is a court proceeding where a judge decides if you can be released while your case continues. You have the right to request one.
- If you are pregnant and traveling to the US, monitor policy changes closely. The administration is actively exploring new entry restrictions. Check official government sources and consult an immigration lawyer before making travel plans.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
If ICE arrests you at or near an immigration courthouse, that arrest may be challengeable in court — civil rights groups are already litigating this issue, and a judge may order your release if the arrest violated a standing court order. Anyone detained should immediately invoke their right to remain silent and request to speak with an attorney before answering any questions about their immigration status. Given how fast enforcement is moving right now, do not wait — contact an immigration attorney the same day.