Immigration and Nationality Act

Jon Meacham, a MS NOW guest historian, argues the U.S. as a 'multiracial, multiethnic democracy' was not founded until 1965 due to laws like the Voting Rights Act and Immigration and Nationality Act. Other MS NOW hosts, including Rev. Al Sharpton and Joy Reid, question celebrating the 250th anniversary of 1776, citing the nation's history with slavery and advocating for Juneteenth as a more meaningful start to American democracy.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has paused converting a Surprise, Arizona warehouse into an ICE detention facility until an environmental review is completed. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes secured a stipulation requiring compliance with environmental laws, citing risks from a nearby chemical plant and schools.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to allow border agents to parole certain green card holders under specific circumstances, rejecting limits on when lawful permanent residents can be stripped of reentry benefits. The decision centered on a case involving Muk Choi Lau, a green card holder paroled after facing criminal charges, with dissenting justices warning the ruling grants unchecked power to the government.

The Supreme Court will consider whether green card holders in prolonged immigration detention are entitled to release hearings under due process. The cases involve two individuals detained for 21 and seven months under a law allowing detention of noncitizens with criminal backgrounds, with the government seeking to resolve a constitutional question left open by a 2018 ruling.

The U.S. government has reached a deportation agreement with the Central African Republic (CAR) to expel asylum seekers and migrants with no legal or personal ties to CAR, a country marked by conflict and extreme poverty. This practice, part of a broader third-country deportation strategy involving over 30 nations, risks sending individuals to persecution and violates U.S. and international laws.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport undocumented immigrants who vote in U.S. elections, citing the Immigration and Nationality Act. The directive aligns with policies from a 2025 Trump administration executive order aimed at preventing non-citizen voting and includes recent cases of noncitizens charged with voter fraud.

An Obama-appointed federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's $100,000 H-1B visa payment requirement is unlawful, citing lack of constitutional authority to impose taxes. The judge found the policy violated the Administrative Procedure Act and was implemented without proper notice, striking it down entirely.

The Trump administration announced changes requiring most green card applicants to leave the U.S. and apply abroad, reversing a decades-old policy. The new rule, effective via a USCIS directive, could disrupt applicants' lives and economies due to prolonged processing times, with legal challenges anticipated.

Rep. Barry Moore's 'Americans First Immigration Act' proposes ending the diversity visa lottery, shifting legal immigration to a merit-based system prioritizing high-skilled workers, and eliminating most family sponsorship categories. The bill aligns with Trump's past policies, including restrictions on H1B1 visas and the green card lottery pause, and is supported by the America First Policy Institute.

The House Republican 'Americans First Immigration Act' aims to overhaul U.S. immigration policy by prioritizing high-skilled workers, eliminating family sponsorship categories, and ending the diversity visa lottery. Introduced by Rep. Barry Moore, the bill aligns with Trump's campaign promises and faces opposition from Democrats advocating for expanded citizenship pathways.

An appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump's executive order suspending asylum access at the U.S.-Mexico border is illegal, affirming that immigration laws mandate asylum rights. The court emphasized the Immigration and Nationality Act does not permit the president to override mandatory removal procedures. A partial dissent from Trump-nominated Judge Justin Walker acknowledged asylum protections but supported broader denials of applications.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) introduced the 'MAMDANI Act,' a bill proposing amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act to enable deportation, denaturalization, or denial of citizenship to migrants affiliated with certain groups. The act's full title is the Measures Against Marxism’s Dangerous Adherents and Noxious Islamists Act.