Immigration
New bipartisan immigration legislation proposed in U.S. House
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of six U.S. House lawmakers on Tuesday described details of proposed legislation that would create a legal pathway for citizenship for undocumented people through work requirements, and would also fund border security measures. The two Latinas who spearheaded the bill, Reps. Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat, and María Elvira Salazar, Republican of Florida, […]
U.S. House passes bill to reinstate Trump-era immigration policies
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Thursday pushed through a border security package that mirrors Trump-era immigration policies, aiming criticism at the Biden administration for ending a pandemic-era public health measure used to expel millions of migrants from the country. The House passed the measure in a 219-213 vote. Only two Republicans voted in opposition, Reps. […]
Title 42 nears an end, marking a shift in U.S. immigration policy at the border
WASHINGTON — A pandemic-era measure that allowed for the swift expulsion of millions of migrants at the Southwest border is set to end Thursday, and the Biden administration and state officials across the U.S. are bracing for a potential increase in asylum seekers. At the same time, House Republicans this week are pushing through a […]
Biden administration to use processing centers in Latin America to handle migration
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration Thursday announced the use of processing centers in Colombia and Guatemala to create legal pathways for migrants, in preparation for the ending of a pandemic-era tool used to expel migrants that is expected to cease in May. The migrant processing centers will open shortly and be run by international organizations. […]
University of Michigan graduate workers protest during commencement weekend
Updated, 8:12 a.m., 4/29/23, 8:06 a.m. 5/2/23 It has been six months since bargaining began between the University of Michigan and its unionized graduate student workers. And still, on a Friday afternoon in April, workers are picketing on the street in freezing rain — days before their contract expires. Negotiations with the university are “frustrating” […]
Judge recommends U of M grad student strike be halted, union says it will appeal
A state administrative law judge ruled Monday that the University of Michigan Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) AFT Local 3550 violated the no-strike clause in its current contract when they walked off the job on March 29. The union is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and represents almost 2,300 Graduate Student Instructors […]
DACA recipients to gain health coverage under new plan from Biden administration
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he will direct his administration to allow undocumented people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to enroll in Medicaid or private insurance provided under the Affordable Care Act. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will issue a proposed rule on the policy by […]
Michigan Dems reintroduce legislation allowing driver licenses regardless of immigration status
After failing to get a hearing last session when Republicans controlled the Legislature, bills were reintroduced Wednesday by majority Democrats allowing Michigan residents to obtain state identification cards or driver licenses regardless of their immigration status. At a press conference to announce the Drive SAFE (Safety, Access, Freedom and the Economy) bill package, House Majority […]
In Michigan, DeSantis describes his enemies: The ‘legacy’ media and the ‘woke’ left
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had a long list of people, groups and ideas he took issue with during a visit to Hillsdale College in southern Michigan Thursday night. The Republican went after the “woke” left; the concept of “diversity, equity and inclusion,” which he liked to deem “division, exclusion and indoctrination;” a public education system […]
Scholten says she’s found a ‘strong sisterhood in Congress’
As U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) witnessed vote after vote for House speaker during her first days in office, she thought more than once: “Put a couple of working moms in charge, and we’ll solve this in half the time.” Eventually, U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) became speaker in January — after the most […]
Scholten bill would increase fines for child labor violations
As record numbers of migrant children enter the United States without parents, many of them end up being forced into dangerous, exploitative jobs at companies flouting child labor laws — including at factories and farms across Michigan. In an attempt to hold these companies responsible for endangering vulnerable children, U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) […]
U of M graduate instructors hit the picket line
Members of the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) AFT Local 3550 went out on strike Wednesday, with economic issues the main point of contention. The union, which is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), represents Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) and Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSAs) at the University of Michigan. Union members said […]