Legal marijuana work could imperil citizenship bids
Immigration authorities on Friday said that anyone with any involvement with marijuana, regardless of whether it's legal in the state where they live, can be denied citizenship because the drug is still illegal under federal law.The announcement comes weeks after officials in Colorado, where recreational marijuana is legal, began warning residents that working for a dispensary or manufacturing operation could jeopardize their citizenship bids — even if those jobs are state-sanctioned.The updated guidance from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services states that people who use marijuana or are involved with it in any way fail to have "good moral character," a prerequisite for people who have legal permanent residence to gain American citizenship.About two-thirds of states allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and 10 allow recreational use.
Immigration authorities on Friday said that anyone with any involvement with marijuana, regardless of whether it's legal in the state where they live, can be denied citizenship because the drug is still illegal under federal law.The announcement comes weeks after officials in Colorado, where recreational marijuana is legal, began warning residents that working for a dispensary or manufacturing operation could jeopardize their citizenship bids — even if those jobs are state-sanctioned.The updated guidance from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services states that people who use marijuana or are involved with it in any way fail to have "good moral character," a prerequisite for people who have legal permanent residence to gain American citizenship.About two-thirds of states allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and 10 allow recreational use.
Attorney general tightens restrictions on asylum-seekers
Detained asylum seekers who have shown they have a credible fear of returning to their country will no longer be able to ask a judge to grant them bond.
Detained asylum seekers who have shown they have a credible fear of returning to their country will no longer be able to ask a judge to grant them bond.
Court weighs whether immigrant children should have right to attorney
SEATTLE -- This week, a federal court is weighing whether children should have the right to an attorney in immigration court.Right now, from toddlers to teens, many immigrant children facing deportation are forced to go in front a judge alone and represent his or herself.While the U.S. is obligated to provide court-appointed attorneys for criminal defendants who do not have their own representation, the same does not apply for immigration courts.Last year, data from TRAC Immigration showed that three out of every four unaccompanied children did not have legal representation.
SEATTLE -- This week, a federal court is weighing whether children should have the right to an attorney in immigration court.Right now, from toddlers to teens, many immigrant children facing deportation are forced to go in front a judge alone and represent his or herself.While the U.S. is obligated to provide court-appointed attorneys for criminal defendants who do not have their own representation, the same does not apply for immigration courts.Last year, data from TRAC Immigration showed that three out of every four unaccompanied children did not have legal representation.
Federal judge orders release of immigrant held after Army base pizza delivery
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Tuesday ordered the immediate release of an Ecuadorean immigrant who was held for deportation after he delivered pizza to a Brooklyn Army installation."Although he stayed in the United States unlawfully and is currently subject to a final order of removal, he has otherwise been a model citizen," U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty wrote of Pablo Villavicencio.The Manhattan judge said Villavicencio, who was being held at a New Jersey lockup, can remain in the United States while he exhausts his right to try to gain legal status.
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Tuesday ordered the immediate release of an Ecuadorean immigrant who was held for deportation after he delivered pizza to a Brooklyn Army installation."Although he stayed in the United States unlawfully and is currently subject to a final order of removal, he has otherwise been a model citizen," U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty wrote of Pablo Villavicencio.The Manhattan judge said Villavicencio, who was being held at a New Jersey lockup, can remain in the United States while he exhausts his right to try to gain legal status.
Salvadoran mother separated from son to remain in custody in Tacoma
A Salvadoran woman who was separated from her 8-year-old son when she entered the United States must remain in custody, prolonging her reunification wait, under an immigration judge's ruling Monday.
A Salvadoran woman who was separated from her 8-year-old son when she entered the United States must remain in custody, prolonging her reunification wait, under an immigration judge's ruling Monday.
Mom reunited with son after being separated by immigration officials
Saturday morning a previously detained mom, separated from her six-year-old son at the U.S.-Mexico border, reunited with him at Sea-Tac International Airport after almost two months apart.
Saturday morning a previously detained mom, separated from her six-year-old son at the U.S.-Mexico border, reunited with him at Sea-Tac International Airport after almost two months apart.
Detaining immigrant kids is now a billion-dollar industry
Detaining immigrant children has morphed into a surging industry in the U.S. that now reaps $1 billion annually — a tenfold increase over the past decade, an Associated Press analysis finds.
Detaining immigrant children has morphed into a surging industry in the U.S. that now reaps $1 billion annually — a tenfold increase over the past decade, an Associated Press analysis finds.
Detained mothers beginning to be released in Washington
SEATTLE (AP) — Some asylum-seeking parents who have been detained in Washington state after being separated from their children have started to be released from custody, advocates said Wednesday, but it remains unclear when they might see their sons or daughters again.The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle said it knows of 55 people detained at the U.S.-Mexico border before being separated from their children and transferred to Washington under President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance policy.An immigration judge released one, Yolany Padilla, a 24-year-old from Honduras, on $8,000 bond from the Northwest Detention Center, a private immigration jail in Tacoma, on Friday — seven weeks after she crossed the border illegally in Hidalgo, Texas.
SEATTLE (AP) — Some asylum-seeking parents who have been detained in Washington state after being separated from their children have started to be released from custody, advocates said Wednesday, but it remains unclear when they might see their sons or daughters again.The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle said it knows of 55 people detained at the U.S.-Mexico border before being separated from their children and transferred to Washington under President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance policy.An immigration judge released one, Yolany Padilla, a 24-year-old from Honduras, on $8,000 bond from the Northwest Detention Center, a private immigration jail in Tacoma, on Friday — seven weeks after she crossed the border illegally in Hidalgo, Texas.
Protesters voice complaints to Tacoma City Council over Northwest Detention Center
TACOMA, Wash. -- The noise outside Tacoma City Hall resonated within Tuesday night."No justice, no peace ...
TACOMA, Wash. -- The noise outside Tacoma City Hall resonated within Tuesday night."No justice, no peace ...
Washington Rep. Adam Smith talks "abolish ICE," Trump, immigration reform
SEATTLE -- Calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement are getting louder and Washington's representatives are taking the lead.Rep.
SEATTLE -- Calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement are getting louder and Washington's representatives are taking the lead.Rep.
Trump blasts calls to abolish ICE, but could it really happen?
The "Abolish ICE" movement is gaining ground and getting the attention of some Democrats in Congress, including Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
The "Abolish ICE" movement is gaining ground and getting the attention of some Democrats in Congress, including Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
Federal court blocks ICE treatment of asylum seekers
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday determined the U.S. government is violating its own rules regarding the treatment of people seeking asylum.Judge James Boasberg issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to stop what opponents called the arbitrary detention of legitimate asylum seekers.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday determined the U.S. government is violating its own rules regarding the treatment of people seeking asylum.Judge James Boasberg issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to stop what opponents called the arbitrary detention of legitimate asylum seekers.
Thousands Protest Trump Immigration Polices, SCOTUS Travel Ban Ruling
SEATAC, Wash. – People across Western Washington joined the rest of the nation in rallies against the Trump Administration’s zero-tolerance immigration policy specifically citing the separation of children from their parents who arrive at the southern border seeking asylum.
SEATAC, Wash. – People across Western Washington joined the rest of the nation in rallies against the Trump Administration’s zero-tolerance immigration policy specifically citing the separation of children from their parents who arrive at the southern border seeking asylum.
Tacoma police arrest 10 protesters outside Northwest Detention Center
TACOMA, Wash. -- Ten protesters of the government's immigration policy were arrested outside the Northwest Detention Center Tuesday night, including one who jumped on a police officer's back as he attempted to detain a demonstrator, police said.About 120 people were outside the facility when an officer told about 30 of them to move out of a roadway.
TACOMA, Wash. -- Ten protesters of the government's immigration policy were arrested outside the Northwest Detention Center Tuesday night, including one who jumped on a police officer's back as he attempted to detain a demonstrator, police said.About 120 people were outside the facility when an officer told about 30 of them to move out of a roadway.
Federal judge orders government to reunite separated families within 30 days
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A judge in California on Tuesday ordered U.S. border authorities to reunite separated families within 30 days, setting a hard deadline in a process that has so far yielded uncertainty about when children might again see their parents.If children are younger than 5, they must be reunified within 14 days of the order issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw in San Diego.
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A judge in California on Tuesday ordered U.S. border authorities to reunite separated families within 30 days, setting a hard deadline in a process that has so far yielded uncertainty about when children might again see their parents.If children are younger than 5, they must be reunified within 14 days of the order issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw in San Diego.
17 states sue Trump administration over 'zero tolerance' immigration policy
Seventeen states, including Washington, New York and California, sued President Donald Trump's administration Tuesday in an effort to force officials to reunite migrant families who have been separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Seventeen states, including Washington, New York and California, sued President Donald Trump's administration Tuesday in an effort to force officials to reunite migrant families who have been separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Immigrant rights activists in Seattle file suit accusing US of unfairly prolonging family separations
SEATTLE (AP) — Immigrant rights activists in Seattle sued the Trump administration Monday, saying it is unnecessarily prolonging the separation of asylum-seeking immigrants from their children.The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Seattle on behalf of three Central American women held in federal custody in Washington state, thousands of miles from where immigration officials have transferred their children.
SEATTLE (AP) — Immigrant rights activists in Seattle sued the Trump administration Monday, saying it is unnecessarily prolonging the separation of asylum-seeking immigrants from their children.The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Seattle on behalf of three Central American women held in federal custody in Washington state, thousands of miles from where immigration officials have transferred their children.
Authorities abandon 'zero-tolerance' for immigrant families, at least for now
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Trump administration has scaled back a key element of its zero-tolerance immigration policy amid a global uproar over the separation of more than 2,300 migrant families, halting the practice of turning over parents to prosecutors for charges of illegally entering the country.Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said Monday that President Donald Trump's order last week to stop splitting immigrant families at the border required a temporary halt to prosecuting parents and guardians, unless they had criminal history or the child's welfare was in question.
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Trump administration has scaled back a key element of its zero-tolerance immigration policy amid a global uproar over the separation of more than 2,300 migrant families, halting the practice of turning over parents to prosecutors for charges of illegally entering the country.Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said Monday that President Donald Trump's order last week to stop splitting immigrant families at the border required a temporary halt to prosecuting parents and guardians, unless they had criminal history or the child's welfare was in question.
The Divide: Our common humanity
“The Divide” is a weekly commentary that aims to find common ground on an issue dividing Americans.
“The Divide” is a weekly commentary that aims to find common ground on an issue dividing Americans.
GOP mayor of El Paso says claims of a border security crisis 'just hyperbole that's misplaced'
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, a Republican, said Thursday that people are "misinformed" if they believe there's a border security crisis where criminals are crossing into the United States and raising crime rates.
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, a Republican, said Thursday that people are "misinformed" if they believe there's a border security crisis where criminals are crossing into the United States and raising crime rates.