Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh

Ariel G Ruiz Soto @ruizags.bsky.social · 6d

With a steep decrease in migrant arrivals at the US-MX border, the Trump administration has directed its focus to enforcement in the US interior.

In a NEW @migrationpolicy.bsky.social short read, I describe key data trends using the latest FY25 data. ⬇️

www.migrationpolicy.org/news/new-era...

A New Era of Immigration Enforcement Unfolds in the U.S. Interior and at the Border under Trump 2.0

The transformation in U.S. immigration enforcement taking place at the U.S.-Mexico border and in communities across the United States during the second Trump term is tangibly captured in government da...

www.migrationpolicy.org

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 6d

"Maine offers an example of an important question facing policymakers nationwide how to manage broad policy challenges, such as housing and labor shortages, while simultaneously assisting communities in need of additional support immigrant and U.S. born alike"
www.migrationpolicy.org/research/mai...

Maine’s Immigrant Communities: Diverse Origins, Characteristics, and Challenges

Maine’s immigrant population, though relatively small, is a notably diverse mix of long-settled residents and newcomers from many parts of the world. At a time when the U.S.-born workforce in Maine is...

www.migrationpolicy.org

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Reposted by Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh

Julia Gelatt @juliagelatt.bsky.social · 15d

Happy to share that MPI has updated its online data tool that profiles the country's unauthorized immigrant population at the national, state, and local level to use 2023 American Community Survey data. Check it out here:

Unauthorized Immigrant Population Profiles

Use this unique data tool to learn about unauthorized immigrant populations in the U.S. and by state and for top counties. Get detailed data profiles for the United States, 43 states (plus the Distric...

www.migrationpolicy.org

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 15d

abcnews.go.com/Politics/coa...

Coast Guard launches ‘Operation River Wall’ on Rio Grande along southern border

U.S. Coast Guard is deploying more resources to the U.S. southern border on the Rio Grande River, according to the agency.

abcnews.go.com

Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · 15d

The Trump administration continues to increase the use of U.S. military in immigration enforcement

Coast Guard presence on the southern border has tripled since the start of the administration, and continues to grow

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 20

Pay-to-go programs have had mixed results in the U.S. and other countries.

Still in its nascent stages it remains to be seen if the Trump administration will develop the right formula to bolster is efforts to achieve a mass deportation campaign by incentivizing self deportations.

Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 20

It is built on a system of incentives and disincentives including a $1,000 exit bonus and government funded travel alongside fines, arrest, detention, and removal.

The backdrop, however, may prove more potent. Heightened enforcement, high profile arrests, and threats to benefits contribute to fear

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 20

🔔 The Trump administration is ambitiously promoting "self-deportation"

In my latest with Muzaffar Chishti, we look at the building of this enterprise and examine the components of past successes and failures in the U.S. and other countries

bit.ly/SelfDeportat...

Can the Trump Administration’s “Self-Deportation” Campaign Succeed?

The Trump administration has launched an ambitious campaign to encourage “self-deportation” as a complement to its muscular immigration enforcement operations. While a somewhat similar U.S. attempt in...

bit.ly

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 18

Reporting indicates that smugglers are adapting to these policies with migrants taking more remote passages to the border and trying to enter without detection. Previously, migrants arrived on U.S. soil and waited for officials to be processed.

This change means migration is now more dangerous.

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 18

98 percent of those who arrived irregularly were processed for removal or ICE detention, just 1 individual was released with a NTA.

With lower border numbers and few opportunities to access protection, the majority of migrants are processed for removal rather than released.

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 18

Migrant encounters have largely returned to historical trends with the majority being single adults from Mexico, a stark contrast from the diversification of migrants seen under Biden's term.

Encounters at and between POEs saw upticks and 93% and 72%, respectively, were from Mexico.

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 18

📣New CBP data from May provide key insights into how migration has shifted under new policies.

‼️How and where people arrive to the border has changed though encounters remain low and trends of the previous months continue.

🧵Below on these changes and their implications

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 17

I wrote about this and other phenomena of an enforcement-only approach, link below:

www.migrationpolicy.org/news/low-mig...

Can Near-Historic Low Migrant Encounter Levels at the U.S.-Mexico Border Be Sustained?

Migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have fallen to lows not seen since the 1960s. But can this trend continue amid a sharp policy shift to a deterrence-focused approach, setting aside a carro...

www.migrationpolicy.org

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 17

The enforcement-centric policies may have reduced migration to the U.S.-Mexico border, but migration does not stop.

Smugglers adapt to changing policies and migration has now become more remote and more dangerous.

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Amid Trump's southern border clampdown, smugglers and migrants use deadlier routes into U.S.

The flow of migrants has dropped significantly, but thousands are still trying to cross, and smugglers are increasingly finding ways to send migrants alone through treacherous terrain.

www.nbcnews.com

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · Jun 10

Since January, irregular arrivals to the U.S.-Mexico border have hit lows not seen since the 1960s.

The real test will be whether these lows can be sustained absent key ingredients that led to them in the first place.

Read my latest here: www.migrationpolicy.org/news/low-mig...

Can Near-Historic Low Migrant Encounter Levels at the U.S.-Mexico Border Be Sustained?

Migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have fallen to lows not seen since the 1960s. But can this trend continue amid a sharp policy shift to a deterrence-focused approach, setting aside a carro...

www.migrationpolicy.org

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Reposted by Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh

Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · May 29

Big news in a humanitarian parole court case:

Yesterday, a lower court judge said USCIS needs to process parolees' applications for asylum & work permits

Also certified a nationwide class covering certain Ukrainians, Afghans, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans & more

Justice Action Center @justiceactionctr.bsky.social · May 29

#BREAKING: 🥳📣Good news for your feed! A federal judge in Massachusetts issued two rulings in our case, Svitlana Doe v. Noem, today defending the #FreedomToWelcome.

Here's what you need to know 👇

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · May 29

📣In my latest with Muzaffar Chishti we map out the administration's attempt to expand ICE's access to even more databases like IRS, USPS, and SSA.

We also untangle the web of databases ICE already has access to, including its reliance on private data companies.

Read ⬇️

bit.ly/ICE-data-col...

Seeking to Ramp Up Deportations, the Trump Administration Quietly Expands a Vast Web of Data

In its bid to ramp up deportations, the Trump administration is granting ICE access to a swath of government databases that were previously off limits for immigration enforcement, including sensitive ...

bit.ly

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · May 15

Judge dismisses nearly 100 trespassing charges in "National Defense Areas" along the border citing that intent to enter a military area must be proved.

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/u...

Judge Dismisses ‘Trespassing’ Charges Promoted by Trump in Border ‘Defense Area’

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh

Julia Gelatt @juliagelatt.bsky.social · May 13

New MPI estimates - with Demographer Jenny Van Hook - show that Pres. Trump's EO on birthright citizenship would grow the population of people without legal status in the U.S., not shrink it. Unauthorized population would be 5.4 million larger in 2075 than under current practice.

Repealing Birthright Citizenship Would Significantly Increase the Size of the U.S. Unauthorized Population

Repealing birthright citizenship for babies born on U.S. soil to unauthorized immigrants or temporary visa holders would have a contrary result from its stated aim of reducing the unauthorized immigra...

www.migrationpolicy.org

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · May 12

El Paso was the busiest sector with nearly 2K encounters, followed by Rio Grande Valley and Tucson with 1K apiece.

As military bases expand along the border, it is possible that migration patterns may shift once again, away from highly militarized areas.

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · May 12

Migration patterns continue to return to historical trends. Both at and between ports of entry, 84 percent of encounters were of single adults, and 93 percent and 73 percent, respectively, were encounters of Mexican nationals.

Encounters of most other nationalities continue to decrease.

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · May 12

Disposition data show that 98 percent of all border crossers were processed with either expedited removal, reinstatement of removal, voluntary return, or turned over to ICE while just two people were processed with an NTA and released from custody. No one was processed through MPP.

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Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh @colleenputzelkav.bsky.social · May 12

📣NEW April CBP data shows a slight increase in encounters btwn POEs to 8K, primarily driven by an increase in Mexican nationals.

It is the highest month of encounters so far in this term for the Trump administration.

🧵below by @migrationpolicy.bsky.social colleague @ruizags.bsky.social and me

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Reposted by Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh

Dhruv Mehrotra @dmehro.bsky.social · May 8

CBP quietly revoked protections for at-risk people in custody—including pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and those with serious medical conditions—calling them “misaligned” with enforcement priorities. The rules required basics like diapers, formula, and water.

www.wired.com/story/cbp-re...

US Customs and Border Protection Quietly Revokes Protections for Pregnant Women and Infants

CBP's acting commissioner has rescinded four Biden-era policies that aimed to protect vulnerable people in the agency's custody, including mothers, infants, and the elderly.

www.wired.com

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Reposted by Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh

Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · May 9

There were 1.8 million asylum applications pending at the immigration courts, as of March 2025

In particular, asylum cases are a big impediment to Trump's mass deportation plans:

--they take longer to adjudicate because
--they're more complex &
--they can result in protection from deportation

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