Immigration News Today: ICE Arrests, Courts & Green Cards

What if ICE is already in your neighborhood — and you don't know your rights? That question became urgent this week as advocates in New York City reported that ICE agents have started stopping drivers with out-of-state license plates, with the College Point area hit especially hard. At the same time, a federal judge struck down the Trump administration's suspension of visa processing from 75 countries, calling the policy an "exercise in Orwellian logic." These two developments — one in the streets, one in the courts — show how fast the ground is shifting for immigrants right now.

In court: visa ban blocked, children face hearings alone

The federal court ruling against the visa processing suspension is a significant win for people waiting on family reunification visas, work visas, and other immigrant benefits from those 75 countries. The administration can appeal, so the situation may still change. Separately, a judge in Arizona told a 1-year-old child — with no lawyer present — to file an asylum claim in court. That case is part of a growing pattern: more unaccompanied migrant children are now facing immigration court hearings without any legal representation. A District Court judge also ordered a full review of grand jury materials tied to dozens of people charged after an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church in January, including journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort.

Green card holders become citizens after lawsuit

Twelve green card holders — originally from Haiti, Venezuela, and Côte d'Ivoire — became U.S. citizens this month after suing the federal government over being denied naturalization. Their case shows that the naturalization process can be challenged in court when USCIS wrongly denies or delays an application. Meanwhile, a report found that immigration enforcement is causing serious workforce shortages in Texas restaurants, with 36% of operators saying they lost staff because of the crackdown. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill to protect the home addresses of immigrant nonprofit workers, responding to fears of doxxing and privacy violations.

On the detention side, The Geo Group — the country's largest private detention operator — donated $1.4 million to a Trump-aligned PAC (a political action committee that raises money to support candidates). That donation came weeks after the company won ICE contracts worth roughly $165 million a year, including a new five-year deal for an 1,320-bed facility in Winton, North Carolina. Democratic lawmakers are separately calling for the closure of Georgia's Stewart Detention Center, where at least two people have died this year.

What to do

• If you have an out-of-state license plate and live in or near NYC, be aware that ICE has been stopping drivers in that area. You have the right to remain silent and do not have to answer questions about your immigration status during a traffic stop.
• If you or a family member received a visa denial or delay from a consulate in one of the 75 affected countries, talk to an immigration lawyer about whether the court ruling reopens your case — the administration may still appeal.
• If USCIS has denied or delayed your naturalization application without a clear legal reason, the case of the 12 green card holders shows that a federal lawsuit may be an option. Consult an immigration attorney to review your record.
• If you are an unaccompanied child or know one facing immigration court, contact a nonprofit legal organization immediately — appearing in court without a lawyer puts children at serious risk of a removal order.