Latest news with #Immigration
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Inside the ICE offices where morale is ‘miserable' and the deportation push has become ‘mission impossible'
Outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices, President Donald Trump showers 'heroic' agents with praise. Inside, that adoration is nowhere to be found. Trump has hailed ICE agents as brave, determined and 'the toughest people you'll ever meet.' They are, after all, tasked with carrying out one of his key policy goals: mass deportations. Campaigning for his second term, Trump promised to execute 'the largest deportation program of criminals in the history of America." Since taking office, the president has made it a goal to deport 1 million people per year. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has demanded 3,000 arrests per day. ICE raids have since disrupted the country. Despite Trump casting a bright light on the immigration enforcement agency, the reality inside ICE offices is very dark. With high expectations, shifting priorities and a heightened fear of losing their job, morale is low and the pressure is high, officials told The Atlantic. 'It's miserable,' a career ICE official told the magazine, characterizing the task as 'mission impossible.' Another former investigative agent told the magazine: 'Morale is in the crapper.' The ex-official added: 'Even those that are gung ho about the mission aren't happy with how they are asking to execute it—the quotas and the shift to the low-hanging fruit to make the numbers.' Although the administration pledged to arrest 'the worst of the worst,' data last month shows ICE has arrested just a small fraction of those convicted of serious crimes, such as murder and sexual assault. For example, of the 13,000 undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who were convicted of murder, the agency had arrested just 752 of them from October 1 to May 31. Instead, data suggests the agency has arrested a large portion of non-criminals since Trump took office. Of the arrests from Trump's inauguration through early May, 44 percent had a criminal conviction, 34 percent had pending charges and 23 percent had no criminal history, ABC News reported. After Memorial Day, the portion of non-criminal arrests spiked; 30 percent of those arrested had criminal convictions, 26 percent faced pending charges, while 44 percent had no criminal history. Then there's the plain-clothes arrests, including of international students in the U.S. for college, that There's a notable shift in priorities from trying to keep the nation safe to being quota-driven, some officials said. 'No drug cases, no human trafficking, no child exploitation,' a veteran agent told The Atlantic. 'It's infuriating.' The agent is considering quitting rather than having to continue 'arresting gardeners.' Some have actually quit. Adam Boyd, an attorney who resigned from the agency's legal department in June, said he left because of the change in mission. 'It became a contest of how many deportations could be reported to Stephen Miller by December,' Boyd told The Atlantic. 'I had to make a moral decision,' Boyd continued. 'We still need good attorneys at ICE. There are drug traffickers and national-security threats and human-rights violators in our country who need to be dealt with. But we are now focusing on numbers over all else.' Others fear losing their jobs, seeing as there have been two major shakeups in the span of a few months. Two top officials were removed from their posts in February; two directors at the agency were ousted from their leadership roles in May. That same month, Miller imposed his 3,000-arrests-per-day quota. The staff shakeups combined with lofty goals have put agents on edge. 'No one is saying, 'This is not obtainable,'' one official told the magazine, referring to Miller's quota. 'The answer is just to keep banging the field'— an agency term for rank-and-file officers — 'and tell the field they suck. It's just not a good atmosphere.' Still, the Trump administration has maintained that morale is sky-high. 'After four years of not being allowed to do their jobs, the brave men and women at ICE are excited to be able to do their jobs again,' Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for DHS, ICE's parent agency, told the outlet. Last week, Congress passed Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' his sweeping legislation that includes a massive funding — $165 billion — for the Department of Homeland Security. It allocates $45 billion for immigration detention centers and roughly $30 billion to hire more agents. 'One of the most exciting parts of the 'ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT' is that it includes ALL of the Funding and Resources that ICE needs to carry out the Largest Mass Deportation Operation in History,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'Our Brave ICE Officers, who are under daily violent assault, will finally have the tools and support that they need.' The newly passed legislation also provides money for 'well-deserved bonuses,' a White House spokesperson told The Atlantic. That allegedly includes $10,000 annual bonuses for ICE personnel. Working in the agency has always come with some amount of pressure, some officials told the magazine, but the Trump administration has brought new challenges. John Sandweg, who served as acting ICE director for part of President Barack Obama's second term, told The Atlantic that employees voiced concerns common in most workplaces, such as getting paid for overtime work. The concerns now are a bit different. ICE attracted people who 'like the mission of getting bad guys off the street,' Sandweg said. Now, the agency is'no longer about the quality of the apprehensions' but about quantity. A former official during the Biden administration told The Atlantic that the agents were appreciated, which 'went a long way.' 'Giving people leave, recognizing them for small stuff, that kind of thing. It went a long way,' the ex-official said. 'Now I think you have an issue where the administration has come in very aggressive and people are really not happy, because of the perception that the administration doesn't give a shit about them.' Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
2 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Trump administration hands over Medicaid recipients' personal data, including addresses, to ICE
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will be given access to the personal data of the nation's 79 million Medicaid enrollees, including home addresses and ethnicities, to track down immigrants who may not be living legally in the United States, according to an agreement obtained by The Associated Press. The information will give ICE officials the ability to find 'the location of aliens' across the country, says the agreement signed Monday between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Homeland Security. The agreement has not been announced publicly. The extraordinary disclosure of millions of such personal health data to deportation officials is the latest escalation in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which has repeatedly tested legal boundaries in its effort to arrest 3,000 people daily. Lawmakers and some CMS officials have challenged the legality of deportation officials' access to some states' Medicaid enrollee data. It's a move, first reported by the AP last month, that Health and Human Services officials said was aimed at rooting out people enrolled in the program improperly. But the latest data-sharing agreement makes clear what ICE officials intend to do with the health data. 'ICE will use the CMS data to allow ICE to receive identity and location information on aliens identified by ICE,' the agreement says. Such disclosures, even if not acted upon, could cause widespread alarm among people seeking emergency medical help for themselves or their children. Other efforts to crack down on illegal immigration have made schools, churches, courthouses and other everyday places feel perilous to immigrants and even US citizens who fear getting caught up in a raid. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon would not respond to the latest agreement. It is unclear, though, whether Homeland Security has yet accessed the information. The department's spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, said in an emailed statement that the two agencies 'are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans.' The database will reveal to ICE officials the names, addresses, birth dates, ethnic and racial information, as well as Social Security numbers for all people enrolled in Medicaid. The state and federally funded program provides health care coverage program for the poorest of people, including millions of children. The agreement does not allow ICE officials to download the data. Instead, they will be allowed to access it for a limited period from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, until September 9. 'They are trying to turn us into immigration agents,' said a CMS official did not have permission to speak to the media and insisted on anonymity. Immigrants who are not living in the US legally, as well as some lawfully present immigrants, are not allowed to enroll in the Medicaid program that provides nearly-free coverage for health services. Medicaid is a jointly funded program between states and the federal government. But federal law requires all states to offer emergency Medicaid, a temporary coverage that pays only for lifesaving services in emergency rooms to anyone, including non-US citizens. Emergency Medicaid is often used by immigrants, including those who are lawfully present and those who are not. Many people sign up for emergency Medicaid in their most desperate moments, said Hannah Katch, a previous adviser at CMS during the Biden administration. 'It's unthinkable that CMS would violate the trust of Medicaid enrollees in this way,' Katch said. She said the personally identifiable information of enrollees has not been historically shared outside of the agency unless for law enforcement purposes to investigate waste, fraud or abuse of the program. Trump officials last month demanded that the federal health agency's staffers release personally identifiable information on millions of Medicaid enrollees from seven states that permit non-US citizens to enroll in their full Medicaid programs. The states launched these programs during the Biden administration and said they would not bill the federal government to cover the health care costs of those immigrants. All the states — California, New York, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado — have Democratic governors. That data sharing with DHS officials prompted widespread backlash from lawmakers and governors. Twenty states have since sued over the move, alleging it violated federal health privacy laws. CMS officials previously fought and failed to stop the data sharing that is now at the center of the lawsuits. On Monday, CMS officials were once again debating whether they should provide DHS access, citing concerns about the ongoing litigation. In an email chain obtained by the AP called 'Hold DHS Access — URGENT,' CMS chief legal officer Rujul H. Desai said they should first ask the Department of Justice to appeal to the White House directly for a 'pause' on the information sharing. In a response the next day, HHS lawyer Lena Amanti Yueh said that the Justice Department was 'comfortable with CMS proceeding with providing DHS access.' Dozens of members of Congress, including Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California, sent letters last month to DHS and HHS officials demanding that the information-sharing stop. 'The massive transfer of the personal data of millions of Medicaid recipients should alarm every American. This massive violation of our privacy laws must be halted immediately,' Schiff said in response to AP's description of the new, expanded agreement. 'It will harm families across the nation and only cause more citizens to forego lifesaving access to health care.' The new agreement makes clear that DHS will use the data to identify, for deportation purposes, people who in the country illegally. But HHS officials have repeatedly maintained that it would be used primarily as a cost-saving measure, to investigate whether non-US citizens were improperly accessing Medicaid benefits. 'HHS acted entirely within its legal authority – and in full compliance with all applicable laws – to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them,' Nixon said in a statement responding to the lawsuits last month.
CNN
2 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Trump administration hands over Medicaid recipients' personal data, including addresses, to ICE
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will be given access to the personal data of the nation's 79 million Medicaid enrollees, including home addresses and ethnicities, to track down immigrants who may not be living legally in the United States, according to an agreement obtained by The Associated Press. The information will give ICE officials the ability to find 'the location of aliens' across the country, says the agreement signed Monday between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Homeland Security. The agreement has not been announced publicly. The extraordinary disclosure of millions of such personal health data to deportation officials is the latest escalation in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which has repeatedly tested legal boundaries in its effort to arrest 3,000 people daily. Lawmakers and some CMS officials have challenged the legality of deportation officials' access to some states' Medicaid enrollee data. It's a move, first reported by the AP last month, that Health and Human Services officials said was aimed at rooting out people enrolled in the program improperly. But the latest data-sharing agreement makes clear what ICE officials intend to do with the health data. 'ICE will use the CMS data to allow ICE to receive identity and location information on aliens identified by ICE,' the agreement says. Such disclosures, even if not acted upon, could cause widespread alarm among people seeking emergency medical help for themselves or their children. Other efforts to crack down on illegal immigration have made schools, churches, courthouses and other everyday places feel perilous to immigrants and even US citizens who fear getting caught up in a raid. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon would not respond to the latest agreement. It is unclear, though, whether Homeland Security has yet accessed the information. The department's spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, said in an emailed statement that the two agencies 'are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans.' The database will reveal to ICE officials the names, addresses, birth dates, ethnic and racial information, as well as Social Security numbers for all people enrolled in Medicaid. The state and federally funded program provides health care coverage program for the poorest of people, including millions of children. The agreement does not allow ICE officials to download the data. Instead, they will be allowed to access it for a limited period from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, until September 9. 'They are trying to turn us into immigration agents,' said a CMS official did not have permission to speak to the media and insisted on anonymity. Immigrants who are not living in the US legally, as well as some lawfully present immigrants, are not allowed to enroll in the Medicaid program that provides nearly-free coverage for health services. Medicaid is a jointly funded program between states and the federal government. But federal law requires all states to offer emergency Medicaid, a temporary coverage that pays only for lifesaving services in emergency rooms to anyone, including non-US citizens. Emergency Medicaid is often used by immigrants, including those who are lawfully present and those who are not. Many people sign up for emergency Medicaid in their most desperate moments, said Hannah Katch, a previous adviser at CMS during the Biden administration. 'It's unthinkable that CMS would violate the trust of Medicaid enrollees in this way,' Katch said. She said the personally identifiable information of enrollees has not been historically shared outside of the agency unless for law enforcement purposes to investigate waste, fraud or abuse of the program. Trump officials last month demanded that the federal health agency's staffers release personally identifiable information on millions of Medicaid enrollees from seven states that permit non-US citizens to enroll in their full Medicaid programs. The states launched these programs during the Biden administration and said they would not bill the federal government to cover the health care costs of those immigrants. All the states — California, New York, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado — have Democratic governors. That data sharing with DHS officials prompted widespread backlash from lawmakers and governors. Twenty states have since sued over the move, alleging it violated federal health privacy laws. CMS officials previously fought and failed to stop the data sharing that is now at the center of the lawsuits. On Monday, CMS officials were once again debating whether they should provide DHS access, citing concerns about the ongoing litigation. In an email chain obtained by the AP called 'Hold DHS Access — URGENT,' CMS chief legal officer Rujul H. Desai said they should first ask the Department of Justice to appeal to the White House directly for a 'pause' on the information sharing. In a response the next day, HHS lawyer Lena Amanti Yueh said that the Justice Department was 'comfortable with CMS proceeding with providing DHS access.' Dozens of members of Congress, including Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California, sent letters last month to DHS and HHS officials demanding that the information-sharing stop. 'The massive transfer of the personal data of millions of Medicaid recipients should alarm every American. This massive violation of our privacy laws must be halted immediately,' Schiff said in response to AP's description of the new, expanded agreement. 'It will harm families across the nation and only cause more citizens to forego lifesaving access to health care.' The new agreement makes clear that DHS will use the data to identify, for deportation purposes, people who in the country illegally. But HHS officials have repeatedly maintained that it would be used primarily as a cost-saving measure, to investigate whether non-US citizens were improperly accessing Medicaid benefits. 'HHS acted entirely within its legal authority – and in full compliance with all applicable laws – to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them,' Nixon said in a statement responding to the lawsuits last month.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
An Exclusive Conversation With U.S. ICE Agents
This week, Martha traveled to Dallas, Texas, for an exclusive interview with four agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They share their message to sanctuary cities around the United States, highlighting the procedural changes they have seen under both the Biden administration and second Trump administration. The agents describe their experience working for the organization and why the protests and assaults on agents haven't stopped them from doing their jobs. They also debunk the rhetoric surrounding the detention facilities, emphasizing that the illegal migrants detained by ICE are in clean facilities and well fed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Canada to invite 17,860 sponsors for parent, grandparent PR from July 28
Good news! Thousands of Canadian citizens and permanent residents will soon get the chance to bring their parents or grandparents to live with them permanently. Starting July 28, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin sending invitations to 17,860 potential sponsors who had submitted an interest-to-sponsor form back in 2020. The announcement was made in a notice published online on Wednesday. IRCC said it will accept up to 10,000 complete applications under this year's intake for the federal Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). 'For those invited, applications must be submitted online, either through the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal,' the agency said. Those who had filled out the interest-to-sponsor form in 2020 but haven't heard back yet are advised to check their inboxes carefully—including junk or spam folders. IRCC made it clear that no fresh forms will be accepted this year. Invitations will only be issued to individuals already in the 2020 pool. Missed out? Consider the super visa If you don't get an invitation to apply under the PGP, there's still the super visa option. This is a long-term, multi-entry visa valid for up to 10 years, which allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time. They can also apply to extend their stay by another two years while still in the country. According to IRCC, family reunification accounts for around 22 per cent of all permanent resident admissions, even as the federal government looks to scale down both temporary and permanent immigration levels this year. How the Parents and Grandparents Program works The Parents and Grandparents Program is a route to permanent residency for family members of Canadians. Here's how it works: — Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians can sponsor their parents or grandparents — Applicants must receive an invitation to apply before submitting a sponsorship application — Demand usually exceeds supply, so IRCC uses a lottery-style draw to select eligible sponsors — Applications are only accepted from those drawn in the lottery What to know about the super visa If you are unable to apply through the PGP, you can opt for the Super Visa, which is a more flexible alternative Key points: Valid for up to 10 years Allows a stay of up to five years per visit Can be extended by up to two more years at a time while in Canada Requires the applicant to have private medical insurance Hosts must meet minimum income requirements and commit to supporting their relatives during the visit According to IRCC (updated June 3, 2024), the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirements for Canada's Super Visa are: For 1 person: CAD $29,380 (approx. ₹17.92 lakh) For 2 persons: CAD $36,576 (approx. ₹22.31 lakh) For 3 persons: CAD $44,966 (approx. ₹27.43 lakh) For 4 persons: CAD $54,594 (approx. ₹33.30 lakh) For 5 persons: CAD $61,920 (approx. ₹37.77 lakh) For 6 persons: CAD $69,834 (approx. ₹42.60 lakh) For 7 persons: CAD $77,750 (approx. ₹47.43 lakh) For each additional person beyond 7: Add $7,916 (approx. ₹4.83 lakh) This includes the host, their spouse or partner, dependent children, the parent(s)/grandparent(s) being invited, and anyone else they've sponsored who's still under financial obligation. The program continues to be popular among Canadians looking to reunite with family, especially amid limited slots in the permanent residency scheme.
