DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION POLICY THIS WEEK
Here, we summarize some of the most important recent developments in immigration policy on the federal, legal, state, and local levels.
Federal
Administration Ends Temporary Protected Status for Honduras and Nicaragua
On July 7, the Trump administration announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras and Nicaragua. The TPS programs for Honduras and Nicaragua were first implemented in 1999 following natural disasters that devastated both countries. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem cited improved conditions and stated that TPS was designed to be “just that—temporary.” The termination, which will take effect on September 8, pending litigation, will result in the revocation of protection from deportation and work authorization of approximately 72,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans.
This decision follows the second Trump administration’s efforts to terminate TPS for a growing number of countries, including Haiti, Nepal, Cameroon, Venezuela, and Ukraine. Legal experts contend that this decision forces TPS holders to make an impossible choice, as “[t]hey cannot safely go back to their country of nationality, leaving their families and communities, and yet they will be stripped of the right to live and work in the U.S.” Among the first TPS designations to expire without an alternative pathway is the one for Afghanistan, set to end July 14, impacting an estimated 11,000 Afghans.
Economic Concerns Mount as Immigration Policies Impact Farm Workforce
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins suggested on July 8 that automation and Medicaid recipients could offset the loss of foreign-born workers in the U.S. agriculture industry, in light of the administration’s increased immigration enforcement policies. Farm leaders and industry experts criticized the comments, noting that many Medicaid recipients are already working or unable to perform physically demanding agricultural labor. In California, where an estimated 42% of crop farmworkers lack employment authorization, farmers warned that automation remains years away from replacing the skilled labor required for harvesting crops.
Despite a brief pause in agricultural worksite raids, the administration has resumed enforcement actions, compounding labor shortages and heightening community fears. While the administration touts historically low border crossings and the prioritization of U.S.-citizen workers, industry groups and advocates stress that the consequences extend well beyond the farm fields. Industry leaders warn that the loss of experienced foreign workers is already rippling through the broader economy, with major corporations beginning to cut employees with temporary legal status. The potential revocation of work authorization for more than two million immigrants before the end of the year has intensified these disruptions, raising concerns about increased production costs, supply chain instability, and higher prices for American consumers.
Immigration Raids Continue in Los Angeles, Driving Local Government to Join Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
Federal immigration raids in Los Angele continue, with U.S. military troops and National Guard personnel supporting large-scale enforcement operations across the city. On July 7, heavily armed federal agents, accompanied by approximately 90 National Guard members and a convoy of military vehicles, descended on MacArthur Park, a densely populated immigrant neighborhood. Defense officials stated that the military’s role was to secure perimeters and protect federal law enforcement, but the event has reportedly “shaken” community members.
Since the start of these operations in early June, federal authorities have detained nearly 2,800 individuals in the Los Angeles area suspected of being in the U.S. without lawfuls tatus, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirming that enforcement actions remain ongoing. Local officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, have condemned the raids as unconstitutional and disruptive, arguing that the militarized tactics have sown fear throughout immigrant communities and led to a sharp decline in business activity. In response, the city and county of Los Angeles, joined by several neighboring municipalities, have joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that the raids rely on racial profiling and warrantless arrests. On July 10, U.S. District Judge Maame Frimpong signaled she is likely to grant temporary restraining orders requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ensure access to legal counsel for individuals in detention and to pause broad patrols targeting individuals based on appearance.
Multiple Federal Agencies Expand Restrictions on Immigrant Access to Public Benefit Programs
On July 10, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Education, and Labor announced new rules expanding restrictions on immigrant access to federal public benefit programs. The agencies’ actions, which take immediate effect, broaden, through reinterpretation of existing legislation, the definition of “federal public benefit” to encompass a wider range of services, including early childhood education, community health care, mental health and substance use treatment, and adult education programs. Already, most immigrants do not qualify for programs designated “federal public benefits” like Medicaid and Social Security. The announcements signal a return to the “public charge” approach first advanced during the first Trump administration, which had a chilling effect on immigrant families and mixed-status households who were eligible for assistance.
Legal
Federal Judge Blocks Administration from Enforcing Birthright Citizenship Order in Class Action Suit
A federal judge in New Hampshire granted a preliminary injunction, blocking the Trump administration from enforcing its executive order that would end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders. District Judge Laplante delivered his ruling on July 10, certifying a nationwide class of affected children and halts the order’s implementation for any child born after February 20, pending appeal. Judge Laplante – an appointee of President George W. Bush – argued the abrupt policy shift would cause “irreparable harm,” emphasizing that U.S. citizenship is “the greatest privilege that exists in the world.” He paused his order for seven days to allow the administration time to appeal and underscored that the deprivation of citizenship under a longstanding policy raises serious constitutional concerns.
After the Supreme Court’s recent decision limiting lower courts’ ability to issue sweeping injunctions, challengers have turned to class action lawsuits as an alternative vehicle for broad relief, a strategy the Court itself acknowledged as permissible even as it narrowed other remedies. However, with open key questions about the use of class-based orders, the case and the underlying issue of birthright citizenship are expected to return to the Supreme for further resolution.
Federal Judge Challenges Administration on U.S. Jurisdiction of Salvadoran Prisoners
Courts continue to scrutinize the Trump administration’s transfer of more than 200 migrants, primarily Venezuelans, from U.S. custody to El Salvador’s CECOT prison. On July 8, District Judge Stephanie Gallagher focused on the case of a Venezuelan detainee known as Cristian, pressing administration officials to explain why diplomatic negotiations were necessary to secure his return when Salvadoran authorities, in statements to the United Nations, had already confirmed that U.S. retains legal responsibility and jurisdiction over those held at CECOT. Judge Gallagher questioned why this critical information was not previously disclosed to the judiciary or the public. In an earlier April hearing, Judge Gallagher also referenced the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, raising similar concerns about transparency and the government’s representations to the court.
On July 11, District Judge Xinis indicated she was likely to grant a temporary restraining order to prevent Abrego Garcia’s immediate removal to a third country, citing concerns about due process. These proceedings underscore the broader legal and diplomatic challenges facing the administration’s expanding use of foreign detention facilities and third-country deportations under U.S. arrangements.
State and Local
Florida Officials Face Scrutiny Over Conditions at Everglades Detention Facility
State officials in Florida are facing mounting scrutiny as reports describing unsanitary and dangerous conditions at the newly-opened Everglades immigration detention facility, known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” Attorneys representing individuals in detention allege prolonged lack of access to running water, inadequate food, constant lighting that prevents sleep, and severe mosquito infestations. Some individuals reported confiscation of religious materials, including Bibles, and said they were told their right to religion does not apply in the facility. Family members of individuals held at the facility further alleged lack of access to legal counsel and medical care, with reports of individuals in detention being hospitalized due to environmental conditions.
Florida officials and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have categorically denied the reports, maintaining that the facility meets all required standards. Oversight tensions have escalated as state and federal lawmakers, many of whom were initially denied access, were invited to a brief, scheduled tour, which critics labeled a “sanitized” attempt to avoid real scrutiny. World Relief president & CEO Myal Greene called for further investigation into conditions at the facility, while also highlighting the cruelty of “joking about human beings as alligator food.” Observers warn that the rapid expansion of detention capacity, enabled by recent federal funding increases passed through reconciliation, is likely to result in more non-criminal immigrants being detained under such conditions.
Texas Immigration Law Blocked While Seventeen Miles of Border Buoys Added by the Federal Government
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 on July 3 that Texas Senate Bill 4, which would have allowed state and local police to arrest individuals suspected of crossing the border illegally, remains unconstitutional and blocked from enforcement. The court emphasized that “for nearly 150 years, the Supreme Court has recognized that the power to control immigration — the entry, admission, and removal of aliens — is exclusively a federal power.” El Paso County, which joined the lawsuit alongside immigrant advocacy groups Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and American Gateways, argued the law would have burdened local governments with detention costs and diverted law enforcement resources. The Texas ruling preceded the Supreme Court’s decision on July 9 blocking Florida’s similar Senate Bill 4-C, which would have criminalized the movement of undocumented individuals into that state.
Simultaneously, the federal government has moved forward with its own border security measures, with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem signing a waiver on July 3 to expedite construction of 17 miles of waterborne barriers in the Rio Grande River in Cameron County, Texas. The waiver, Noem’s sixth for border barrier construction, bypasses environmental laws including the National Environmental Policy Act to accelerate the project, which will be funded through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) fiscal year 2021 appropriations. While DHS officials cited a “capability gap” in waterways along the Southwest border where drug smuggling and human trafficking occur, advocates described the border buoys as a “political show”.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED
It’s challenging to keep up with the deluge of proposed legislation in the 119th Congress. So, every week, we round up federal legislative proposals that have recently been introduced and that are relevant to immigration policy.
S.2244
A bill to require immediate changes to Medicaid relating to alien eligibility and payments to Medicaid expansion States that furnish health care to certain aliens
Sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (0 cosponsors)
07/10/2025 Introduced by Sen. Paul
07/10/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
S.2212
Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025
The bill would amend section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require all immigration enforcement officers to display visible identification during public-facing immigration enforcement actions and promote transparency and accountability.
Sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) (14 cosponsors)
07/08/2025 Introduced by Sen. Padilla
07/08/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
H.R.4349
To revise the duties of the Office of Refugee Resettlement with respect to unaccompanied alien children, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Gregory Steube (R-FL-17) (0 cosponsors)
07/10/2025 Introduced by Rep. Steube
07/10/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
H.R.4316
To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the enlistment of certain aliens in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes
The bill would amend title 10 of the United States Code to authorize the enlistment of certain aliens in the Armed Forces.
Sponsored by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) (1 cosponsor)
07/10/2025 Introduced by Rep. Carbajal
07/10/2025 Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary
H.R.4298
To amend section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to identification requirements for officers and agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY-6) (0 cosponsors)
07/07/2025 Introduced by Rep. Meng
07/07/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR
The U.S. Senate will be in session Monday, July 14, through Friday, July 18, while the House of Representatives will meet Monday, July 14, through Thursday, July 17.
UPCOMING HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
Here, we round up congressional hearings and markups happening in the field or in Washington relevant to immigration policy.
Case-by-Case: Returning Parole to its Proper Purpose
Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET (House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability and Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement)
Location: 310 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Witnesses: Ken Cuccinelli (Senior Fellow, Center for Renewing America), Steven Camarota (Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies), David J. Bier (Director, Immigration Studies, CATO Institute), Charles Marino (Former Senior Law Enforcement Advisor to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security)
An Inside Job: How NGOs Facilitated the Biden Border Crisis
Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET (House Committee on Homeland Security)
Location: 310 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Witnesses: TBA*
SPOTLIGHT ON NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM RESOURCES
The Forum is constantly publishing new policy-focused resources that engage with some of the most topical issues around immigration today. Here are a few that are particularly relevant this week:
One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Immigration Provisions
Our updated explainer details the immigration provisions of the budget reconciliation bill signed into law by President Trump on July 4. The bill transforms America’s immigration system through significantly increased funding for both border security and interior immigration enforcement, including dramatically expanded detention and deportation operations. Moreover, the reconciliation package introduces fees for immigrants seeking humanitarian protection, imposes a tax on remittances, and restricts federal benefit access for mixed-status families and unauthorized individuals.
Family Detention Under the Second Trump Administration
Our latest paper examines the second Trump administration’s rapid expansion of family detention facilities, which represents a dramatic reversal from the Biden administration’s approach and threatens to undermine decades of child welfare protections established under the Flores Settlement Agreement. It also analyzes the operational realities of current family detention facilities, the legal standards governing their operation, and the broader implications for vulnerable immigrant families and children.
Explainer: U.S. Immigration Detention and Custody Standards
Our explainer examines how U.S. immigration detention and custody facilities, operated by agencies like ICE, CBP, and ORR are governed by a patchwork of constitutional, statutory, and agency-specific standards. It highlights ongoing challenges such as inadequate oversight, prolonged detentions, and insufficient protections for vulnerable populations, underscoring the need for stronger scrutiny as detention capacity could expand dramatically due to funding included in reconciliation.
*As of publication (7/11/25 at 4:30PM EST)
This Bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive. Please contact Nicci Mattey, Senior Policy & Advocacy Associate at the National Immigration Forum, with questions, comments, and suggestions for additional items to be included. Nicci can be reached at nmattey@immigrationforum.org. Thank you.