News

October 5, 2026

USCIS Policies Upend Decades of Practice, Penalizing Eligible Immigrants for Seeking Permanent Residence from Within the United States Boston — Immigrant families, workers, educators, unions, and immigrant rights organizations filed a lawsuit today, challenging two Trump-Vance administration policies that make it significantly harder or impossible for eligible immigrants already living in the United States to […] The post New Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Vance Administration Policies Threatening Green Card Applicants with Family Separation appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]

September 24, 2026

Case will determine whether longtime U.S. residents can be detained without a meaningful opportunity to ask a judge for release  NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Sept. 24 2026 — On Thursday, September 24, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard arguments in a major case over whether the Constitution permits the federal government […] The post Fifth Circuit Hears Major Case Over Right to Challenge Immigration Detention appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]

September 21, 2026

Maybelle Center integrated the Belonging Barometer into its programs, planning, and evaluation process, using data on belonging to strengthen community connections, guide decision-making, and support residents experiencing social isolation. The post How Maybelle Center Made the Belonging Barometer Part of Everyday Practice appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]

September 18, 2026

Mecklenburg County, NC, September 18, 2026 – A new report, Immigrants in Mecklenburg County released today by the American Immigration Council—in partnership with the City of Charlotte, the Charlotte International Cabinet, and International House—underscores the crucial role immigrants play in the region’s labor force, business creation, and consumer spending power.  Although immigrants made up 17.0 percent of the […] The post New Report Shows Immigrants in Mecklenburg County Paid $2.6 Billion in Taxes and Held $7 Billion in Spending Power in 2024 appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]

September 17, 2026

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) own Office of Inspector General (OIG), an office that seeks to provide independent oversight and accountability within the department, issued a damning report last week about the conditions of confinement at Florida’s soft-sided immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” The report described the troubling conditions OIG found […] The post DHS Oversight Agency Issues Scathing Report of Conditions at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]

August 18, 2026

Record Backlogs, Visa Shortages, and Increasing Scrutiny Are Straining the Employment-Based Immigration System  WASHINGTON, D.C., August 18 — The United States continues to rely on high-skilled workers from around the world to stay globally competitive in key industries including technology, engineering, and health care. However, new data shows increasing pressure across the employment-based immigration system, […] The post New Data: U.S. Welcomes High-Skilled Workers, but Path to Permanent Residence Is Growing More Uncertain  appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]

August 18, 2026

New co-branded platform equips state and local leaders with practical tools for responding when federal immigration enforcement affects communities   NEW HAVEN, CT / WASHINGTON, DC — As cities, counties, and states navigate responding to the impact of federal immigration enforcement policies, the American Immigration Council (AIC) and Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) are launching […] The post As Federal Immigration Enforcement Expands, New Playbook Helps State and Local Leaders Respond   appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]

July 29, 2026

Washington, DC — Most Americans feel safe and comfortable in their communities, but only about one in four believe they have any real influence over how those communities are run, according to a new national study released today.  The Center for Inclusion & Belonging at the American Immigration Council has fielded a second national wave […] The post National Study: Only 1 in 4 Americans Believe They Can Influence Outcomes In Their Local Community appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]

July 29, 2026

For decades, community revitalization has been measured by what we can easily count: number of new businesses, jobs created, building rehabilitations, affordable housing units, and dollars invested. Those metrics matter, but they don’t show the full picture. The Washington State Main Street Program wanted to answer a different question: Do people actually feel like they […] The post Measuring What Matters: How Washington Main Street Is Using the Belonging Barometer to Strengthen Downtown Communities appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]

July 28, 2026

Empowering Families, a nonprofit in western Nebraska, is transforming its programs and impact. The post How One Rural Nonprofit Turned Belonging Into a Community Strategy appeared first on American Immigration Council. […]