Editor's note: With four people working on (im)migration stories every day, we still struggle to keep up with all of the relevant news. So, we wanted a way to keep you updated with the top immigration, migration and refugee stories every week — the ones that will most affect you, our international readers, viewers and listeners. We want you to know what's happening, why, and how it could impact your life, family or business.
Questions? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com.
Detention tents?
The Trump administration has been looking into ways to house the overflow of children who either came into the United States unaccompanied or were separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. One idea: tent cities.
Late Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services said it would house 360 children in tents near El Paso, Texas. About the extreme heat — El Paso's summertime high temperatures routinely reach the mid-30s Celsius (mid- to high 90s Fahrenheit) — HHS said only that "soft-sided structures'' would be used.
The VOA Immigration Unit's Aline Barros and Ramon Taylor travel to the border next week to talk with children and parents about the separation policy.
Asylum for fewer
Attorney General Jeff Sessions moved to reduce the number of people eligible for asylum in the U.S. Intervening in a domestic abuse case, Sessions said that victims of domestic abuse and gang violence were not eligible for asylum. The move will be challenged in court, but on a case-by-case basis. In the meantime, Department of Justice officials say they will implement the new directive as soon as possible.
Will DACA get its day in Congress?
Maybe. Leaders of the Republican-led House of Representatives promised to hold votes on two bills next week that would provide legal status to thousands of young people brought to the U.S. as children, but neither of the bills is getting any support from Democrats.
A White House spokesman indicated late Friday that Trump would sign either bill, Reuters reported. The spokesman sought to clarify an earlier statement that Trump opposed one of the measures.
Year of the immigrant
Immigrant candidates are beginning to try to claim space in the U.S. political scene, running for a range of public offices across the country, despite increasing partisan polarization. Ahead of the 2018 elections in November, at least 100 foreign-born candidates are running for Congress. In New York, Colombia-born Catalina Cruz is setting her sights on state office.
Once forced to kill, now working for peace
Former Congolese child soldier Michel Chikwanine was kidnapped by militants when he disobeyed his father's curfew to play soccer. Forced to kill his best friend and watch the rape of his mother and sisters, Chikwanine now travels the world to promote peace.
