President Biden has taken many executive actions to revers Trump administration policies. Here's a summary:

• Proclamation reversing Trump's ban on travel from predominantly Muslim countries.
• Memorandum strengthening Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) for certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children.
• Proclamation ending construction of Trump's signature wall on the US-Mexican border by proclaiming the "immediate termination" of the national emergency declaration Trump used to fund it.
• Executive order revoking Trump's 2017 Interior Enforcement Executive Order which broadened the categories of undocumented immigrants subject to removal, restarted the Secure Communities program and supported federal deportation program.
• Executive order reestablishing the Task Force on New Americas to help integrate immigrants into American communities. The order will also call on government agencies to conduct a review of regulations and policies that create barriers for legal immigration.
• Executive order introducing an inter-agency task force to reunify families by identifying the children and parents or guardians who were separated at the border, facilitating reunification, and then creating a report on recommendations to ensure the federal government does not have policies in place to separate families.
• Executive order creating a framework addressing the underlying causes of migration to the United States' southern border from mostly Central American countries, and work with foreign governments and organizations to create opportunities to process migrants seeking asylum in that region.
• Executive order calling for an extensive analysis of asylum processing.
• Executive order directing a re-examination of the public charge rule.
• Directing a complete review of Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Programs.
• Launching a goal to increase refugee admissions to 125,000 in first fiscal year of Biden-Harris administration.

President Biden had imposed a 100-day pause in all deportations beginning January 6, 2021, but this was largely blocked by a federal judge in Texas. Most likely, this action will be battled out in the courts.

The Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign, a partnership between the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, El Centro de la Raza, and Northwest Health Law Advocates, with support from the ACLU of Washington, has made the findings of their extensive work available to the public. The campaign, launched in September 2020,  focused on education, identifying gaps and policy/legislative initiatives.
 
Public health coverage programs include immigration status restrictions, which exclude many people from accessing these vital programs. The COVID-19 public health emergency has made it clear that immigrant communities and people of color need better access to health care coverage and services. The campaign members surveyed community leaders and impacted community members to learn more about the health care needs in the community and what should be prioritized for new coverage programs and services. 

See the full report on the ACLU site.  JCIRA will provide updates on the status of legislative work in Olympia concerning healthcare coverage for the immigrant community.

Depart of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is the first immigrant and first Latino to serve in that position. Confirmed 56-43 by the Senate, Mayorkas formerly served as the deputy secretary of Homeland Security in the Obama Administration. Read more about Secretary Mayorkas in this Yahoo article.

The Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund provides COVID relief money to immigrants who aren’t eligible for federal stimulus funds or unemployment insurance. If you apply, you can receive a $1,000 one-time direct payment (up to $3,000 per household).

El Fondo de Asistencia debido al Coronavirus para Inmigrantes de Washington brinda asistencia financiera a aquellos inmigrantes que hayan sufrido el impacto de la pandemia y no son elegibles para recibir fondos federales de asistencia financiera o seguro por desempleo. Aplicando a este fondo, usted puede recibir un pago único y directo de $1,000 (hasta $3,000 por hogar).

Update: Please join JCIRA supporters to watch and discuss the 5th episode of Immigration Nation, the Netlix documentary that's been getting a lot of viewership and attention. Tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 22 we'll watch and discuss Episode 5: "The Right Way". This film focuses on the stories of people navigating the "legal" immigration system, and how much ICE enforcement officers, who make arrests and deportations of people who haven't managed to do it "the right way", understand about the realities of the system. It doesn't matter if you haven't seen the first four episodes, each one stands on its own.

Sign in to Zoom at 6:30pm to watch the film or 7:35 to join in the discussion only. All are welcome.

Meeting ID: 848 3749 8936
Passcode: JCIRA


JCIRA is organizing a Zoom discussion group on the new series called “Immigration Nation”. TIME’s TV critic Judy Berman has stated that it is the "most important show" of 2020 (https://time.com/5874200/immigration-nation-ice/).

This six-part series contains footage and interviews on both sides of the border over the last 3-4 years. The filmmakers interviewed a wide range of those involved in the system: not just migrants, families of migrants, and coyotes; they also had startlingly candid access to ICE officers and operations, showing the operations and tactics usually obscured from public view.

Everyone is invited to join us for the following:

Tues., August 25, 6:30pm — Zoom watch Episode 1, 7:30 Join Zoom discussion
Thurs., August 27, 6:30 pm — Zoom watch Episode 2, 7:30 Join Zoom discussion

If you have Netflix at home and if you choose, watch anytime and just join us for discussion. There will be breakout groups if needed. If there is additional interest, we will schedule additional episodes/discussion after August 27.

If you are interested, please contact Kathleen Holt at kathleenholt@gmail.com to sign up and to receive more information and how-to zoom access.

Pre-registration isn’t required, but will help us with planning to form discussion groups for those interested. See the Immigration Nation trailer at https://www.netflix.com/title/80994107. If you need technical assistance please text (or call) Julia @ 360 821-nineteen twenty-six.

The Trump administration has published a new rule that will effectively end the possibility of asylum for hundreds of thousands of people. Asylum is protection granted to persons forced to flee their home country due to persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Without asylum many of those who request it will suffer torture or death. Jefferson County Immigration Rights Advocates (JCIRA) strongly opposes the proposed rule and asks your help to influence our government to withdraw it.