Here鈥檚 a rundown of border and immigration news from Texas and beyond. Look out for a weekly recap featuring reporting from NPR and Texas鈥� public radio stations.
Harris Tours El Paso Migrant Processing Center, Meets With Advocates In 1st Border Trip
Vice President Kamala Harris got a first-hand look at conditions on the Texas-Mexico border during a visit to El Paso Friday, where she toured a migrant processing center and met with immigrant advocates. As , the trip also comes amid criticism from Republicans over the Biden administration鈥檚 handling of what they call a border 鈥渃risis.鈥�
The vice president toured the U.S. Border Patrol Central Processing Center, where she spoke with El Paso Border Patrol Chief Gloria Chavez and several other agents. She also met with five migrant girls ages 9-16.
Later, during a press briefing before a roundtable discussion with advocates, Harris said that the Biden administration 鈥渋nherited a tough situation,鈥� and noted that the pilot program for child separation under the Trump administration began in El Paso.
鈥淥ur administration, it is important to be clear, is working to build a fair and a functional and a humane immigration system,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淲e feel very strongly about that.鈥�
Families Separated By U.S.-Mexico Border Briefly Embrace In The Middle Of The Rio Grande
On Saturday, the El Paso-based non-profit Border Network for Human Rights held its 8th annual 鈥淗ugs Not Walls event,鈥� which allows families separated by the border and immigration status to briefly reunite in the middle of the Rio Grande.
Around 200 families participated in this year鈥檚 event, which was timed to coincide with the now-federal holiday Juneteenth.
As 四虎影院 reported, the event is both a chance for separated families to reunite and an act of protest against the policies keeping those families apart.
Family Of Afghan Interpreter Killed By The Taliban Talks U.S. Arrival And What鈥檚 Next
In January 2021, an Afghan interpreter was murdered shortly after he was notified that his family's visa to the U.S. received initial approval.
That interpreter 鈥� referred to by his middle name, 鈥淢ohammad,鈥� to protect his family鈥檚 safety 鈥� was supposed to have access to what鈥檚 called a Special Immigrant Visa, created to protect translators who were essential to U.S. and allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing crucial cultural and geographic understanding. He served 12 years in combat.
But even after those qualifying workers continue to put their lives on the line, they face years-long delays for access to such visas, and life-threatening conditions overseas.
Thanks to an emergency 鈥渉umanitarian parole鈥� spurred by advocates, Mohammad鈥檚 wife and children were allowed to come to the U.S..
They arrived in Houston earlier this month, and recently sat down with to talk about the dangers they faced over the last 10 years, the bittersweet relief of finally living in the U.S. and what鈥檚 next for the family in a new country.
New ACLU Report Reveals Dozens Of Hunger Strikes, Retaliation At Texas ICE Facilities
A new nationwide found a pattern of hunger strikes and, in several cases, retaliation against detained strikers at Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers in Texas and other states.
The report, from the ACLU and Physicians for Human Rights, revealed that staff at ICE facilities have used forced feeding, detainee transfers, deportation and isolation to end hunger strikes.
The incidents took place between September 2013 and September 2017, according to thousands of pages of information obtained by the ACLU through Freedom Of Information Act Requests.
Asylum Seekers Whose Cases Were Closed Under 鈥楻emain In Mexico鈥� Receive Another Chance At Protection
Thousands of migrants who were forced to wait out their U.S. court proceedings in Mexico under the Trump-era 鈥淩emain in Mexico鈥� program will get a second chance to request asylum.
The Biden administration already started unwinding the controversial program earlier this year, allowing migrants with active court cases to enter the U.S.
On Tuesday, officials announced that asylum seekers whose cases were terminated or closed after they missed a court hearing will also be allowed to enter the country and restart proceedings.
Advocates pushed for this second phase of the wind-down, arguing that many asylum seekers missed hearings because of dangerous conditions in northern Mexico. Some were kidnapped before their court dates.
Migrant Children Endure 鈥楧espair And Isolation鈥� Inside El Paso Emergency Shelter
Migrant children and teenagers held by the U.S. government at an emergency tent shelter in El Paso are experiencing significant distress, .
鈥淭he level of distress among migrant boys and girls鈥�.has become so alarming that they are constantly monitored for incidents of self-harm, panic attacks and escape attempts,鈥� according to people who worked at the federal site.
As of Tuesday, the emergency site at the Fort Bliss U.S. Army base was holding about 1,600 migrant children and teens waiting to be reunited with family or other sponsors, though the complex can house up to 10,000.
The outlet found that 鈥渕ore than 100 children had been housed at Fort Bliss for 60 days or longer as of earlier this month. Sixteen boys had been at the site since it opened on March 30, 2021.鈥�
Midland County Facility For Young Migrants Set To Close By June 30
Since mid-March, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has housed hundreds of young migrants detained at the U.S.-Mexico border at a facility just outside the City of Midland.
Now, because of a drop in the number of migrant children and teenagers needing shelter and available capacity at other facilities, HHS officials say the Midland shelter is no longer needed and will close by June 30,
Gov. Abbott Calls For Texas Jailers To Help With His Border Plans
Gov. Greg Abbott is calling on Texas jailers to assist border sheriffs with operating detention facilities and providing jail beds 鈥渇or those arrested for state charges related to the border crisis.鈥�
Abbott issued the on Friday, one day after lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas dozens of county judges and sheriffs against participating in the governor鈥檚 鈥渦nilateral efforts to set federal immigration policy.鈥�
For months, Abbott has been ramping up his efforts to deter border crossings. In March, he launched Operation Lone Star, deploying Texas State Troopers and National Guard members to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Last month, he declared a in r, citing the recent rise in migration.
Abbott later announced plans to build a border wall and arrest migrants who cross the border unlawfully, and the State Department of Criminal Justice to move people who were incarcerated at a south Texas state prison in order to make space for migrants.
On Thursday, lawyers with the ACLU to county judges and sheriffs in the districts under Abbott鈥檚 disaster order, advising them not to enforce the governor鈥檚 border plans.
鈥淯nder the U.S. Constitution, it is unlawful for state or local law enforcement officers to arrest or detain immigrants due to their immigration status or in an effort to enforce immigration laws or alter immigration policy,鈥� the letter states.
鈥淪uch actions will prevent immigrants from exercising their right to seek protection in the United States and will likely increase the use of racial profiling.鈥�
Mallory Falk is a corps member with , a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. Got a tip? Email Mallory at Mfalk@kera.org. You can follow Mallory on Twitter .
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