- The House GOP passed their budget resolution on Tuesday by a vote of 217-215 after a day of confusion that included initially cancelling the vote, then reversing course 20 minutes later to call representatives back to hold the vote. Although just an outline for an eventual federal budget, the resolution calls for a $4.5 Trillion cut to taxes and a $2 Trillion cut to benefits while also increasing funding for the Department of Homeland Security by $90 Billion. This week’s move follows passage last week of a very different budget resolution in the Senate, and Congress has a long road ahead of it to achieve agreement between the two chambers and craft a detailed budget plan that is acceptable to majorities in both chambers.
- The Administration is taking the first steps in implementing Trump’s call for all undocumented immigrants to register with the federal government. USCIS recently set up an FAQ page on registration requirements, but has yet to provide any other information. MIRA will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
- Representative Sylvia Garcia of Texas re-introduced the Dream and Promise Act. The bill would provide a pathway to citizenship for most DACA recipients and other Dreamers as well as recipients of Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure.
- On Monday, a federal judge in Maryland issued a very limited preliminary injunction restricting ICE enforcement actions at houses of worship. The injunction only applies to the plaintiffs – a coalition of Quaker, Baptist, and Sikh organizations – and essentially revives the Biden Administration’s Sensitive Locations memo only for their houses of worship. A coalition of over 2 dozen Christian and Jewish organizations have filed a similar lawsuit in DC, while Denver Public Schools has filed suit to restrict immigration enforcement in schools.
- On Tuesday, a federal judge in Seattle issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Executive Order that halted refugee admissions into the country. The suit was brought by 9 impacted refugee families along with Church World Service, HIAS, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW), and administration is expected to quickly appeal the decision.
- Last Thursday, the White House issued a new Executive Order calling on federal agencies to evaluate their programs for any funds that might assist undocumented immigrants or that might otherwise support “sanctuary” policies. This EO does not make any changes to benefit eligibility and is intended to scare families away from accessing the supports that they are entitled to.