Latest news with #immigration
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Faith leaders come together to defend immigrant communities amid federal raids
More than a dozen religious leaders from an array of faiths marched to the steps of the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night, flowers in hand, calling for an end to the federal immigration raids they say have torn families apart and resulted in racial profiling. At the start of the procession in Plaza Olvera, the Rev. Tanya Lopez, senior pastor at Downey Memorial Christian Church, recounted how last week she watched as plainclothes federal agents swarmed a constituent in the parking lot of her church. Despite her attempts to intervene, she said, the man was detained, and she doesn't know where he is now. 'All of our faith traditions teach us to love our neighbor, to leave the world with less suffering than when we find it, and this is creating trauma that will be unable to be undone for generations,' Lopez said. Federal enforcement actions have played out across Southern California this week as the Trump administration carries out its vows to do mass deportations of immigrants in the country without documentation. Initially, President Trump focused his rhetoric on those who had committed violent crimes. But shortly after he took office, his administration made clear that it considers anyone in the country without authorization to be a criminal. The raids — which have spanned bus stops, Home Depot parking lots, swap meets, farms and factories — have prompted many immigrants to go into hiding, and in some cases, to self-deport. The religious leaders marching Wednesday called for a halt to the raids, saying immigrants are integral to the Los Angeles community and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of documentation status. Read more: PHOTOS: Faith leaders in Southland gather for family unity prayer walk They carried their message through downtown, marching from Plaza Olvera to the Federal Building, dressed in colorful garb reflecting Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and Catholic traditions, and uniting in song and prayer, in Spanish and English. They called out to God, Creator, the Holy One, and prayed for healing and justice. They prayed for the hundreds of people who have been detained or deported and the families they've left behind. In the crowd, Talia Guppy held purple flowers to her chest as she sang along. Guppy said she learned that members of her Episcopalian church, St. Stephen's Hollywood, had been detained during the raid of the Ambiance Apparel factory in downtown L.A. Her church has since moved its services online to accommodate people afraid to venture from their homes. 'We're out here for them," she said. 'We're going to keep the hope and keep the faith until we get justice for them.' At the end of the procession, the marchers approached the steps of the Federal Building. Officers from the Department of Homeland Security poured out of the building and guarded the entrance as clergy leaders lined the steps. Inside, behind semireflective doors, rows of U.S. Marines stood at the ready. The leaders called for peace and laid flowers on the steps in tribute to those who have been detained. 'We come with flowers, and we will keep coming with flowers as long as our loved ones are held in cages,' said Valarie Kaur, a Sikh leader. She turned her attention to the officers at the doors, who stood stoic, and questioned how they wanted to be remembered by history. Then she placed flowers by their feet. In the crowd, protesters held signs with images of the Virgin Mary and Mexican flags. The clergy asked them to be ready to defend their neighbors in the coming days. Father Brendan Busse, a Jesuit priest at the Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights, said he has felt the impact of the raids within his church. Devoted members are no longer in the pews. Others call asking whether it is safe to come to church. The fear is palpable. 'We need to be a safe space for people, not just in our church, but in the whole neighborhood,' he said. 'I can't guarantee to anybody that we are a totally safe space, but to at least give them a sense that in the difficult moment we're at, that we stand together.' This article is part of The Times' equity reporting initiative, funded by the James Irvine Foundation, exploring the challenges facing low-income workers and the efforts being made to address California's economic divide. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- Health
- SBS Australia
After a shock diagnosis, Carlos attained an Australian visa only after an 'intrusive' process
In Australia, the 'significant cost threshold' for immigration health requirements is currently $86,000 over 10 years. Although some types of visas, such as a couple's visa, allow for applicants to seek a 'medical waiver' the process is long and complex. An attorney from the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre warns that people with HIV are often rejected without being properly informed of their legal rights or alternatives. When Carlos Araya Perez arrived in Australia in 2018 from Chile with an industrial engineering degree and a postgraduate visa, he hoped to improve his English, find a fulfilling job and grow professionally. 'I had lived in Ireland for a year and wanted to continue travelling. Among the options I looked for was Australia. I wanted something that aligned with my profession and would give me more opportunities,' Perez told SBS Spanish. Carlos Araya Perez arrived in Australia in 2018 from Chile. Credit: Supplied by Carlos Araya Perez But when he arrived, his lack of local experience and contacts led him away from the engineering field and into informal employment. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Perez says he was out of a job and out of savings, living without benefits at a friend's studio. It was then that a HIV diagnosis made his situation even more precarious. HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, and can lead to AIDS if untreated. "It was the icing on the cake, but I saw it as an opportunity to grow," he said. "I am resilient, and from the first week I felt like it was something I couldn't change. I focused on what I could do: take care of my health and change my perspective on myself." He began his treatment through a compassionate access program, albeit with a level of uncertainty. 'I was concerned about access to medication. It wasn't free, and the program was renewed from time to time. That insecurity scared me the most.' What is the 'significant cost threshold'? What Perez didn't realise initially was that his diagnosis would have migratory consequences. When he applied for permanent residency, he discovered that his medical condition would exclude him because he exceeded the government's 'significant cost threshold' of $86,000 over 10 years. According to Vikas Parwani, a lawyer at the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre, there is a lack of information about visa options for migrants with chronic health conditions. "The cost of HIV was estimated at approximately $11,000 per year (by a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth). Across 10 years, that's $110,000. That exceeds the limit and is a reason to refuse a permanent visa,' he explained. The threshold, which is reviewed biannually, was increased from $51,000 to $86,000 in July 2024. "The Australian Government administers the health requirement to protect the community from public health and safety risks, contain public expenditure on health care and community services, and safeguard the access of Australian citizens and permanent residents to health care and community services in short supply," a Home Affairs spokesperson said. The spokesperson said having a health condition does not always mean an individual will not meet the health requirement due to significant costs, and the "majority" of visa applicants who are required to undertake Immigration Medical Examinations meet the health requirement. "The estimated costs are based on the health care and community services a hypothetical person with the same condition and level of severity as the visa applicant would require while in Australia." Learning this, Perez chose to extend his student visa, while seeking alternatives. An 'intrusive' process That's when his Australian boyfriend proposed to sponsor him for a partner's visa, and Perez began the process of applying for a medical waiver. He said he had to gather letters of support, demonstrate economic stability and present compassionate reasons. 'They asked me for letters from friends, from family members, from organisations where I volunteer. I had to prove that I wouldn't burden the system," he said. "It was a super-intrusive process ... it makes you question why you want to stay in a country that treats you like that." According to Vikas Parwani , a lawyer at the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre who handled Perez's case, many migrants with chronic health conditions are left out of the system due to lack of information and the complexity of the process. 'Carlos was lucky to be able to apply for a couple's visa, which does allow for a waiver. For other people with Carlos's condition, a waiver is often not even offered." According to a Home Affairs spokesperson, "the decision to limit health waiver provisions to certain visas is in recognition that waiving the need to meet the health requirement can have significant implications for Australia's health care and community services." Parwani said Perez's social ties, community work, income shared with his partner and compassionate care that his partner provides weighed heavily to build a "strong case'. 'Although we (the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre) have a high success rate, the process is not easy. A lot of personal and medical documents are required, and it can take years," he said. "Not all lawyers know how to do this. And there are a lot of people who can't afford private counsel or access free help.' According to the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre, over the past four years, it has provided around 508 legal services related to health waivers, including direct representation for at least 59 clients navigating the waiver process. The centre said all clients who reached the health waiver stage during this period were successful. However, in earlier years, success rates were lower — particularly when the significant cost threshold was set lower than it is today. Approval and a fresh start In May 2025, Perez received the news he had been waiting for: the waiver was approved and he was granted a temporary partner visa. At the end of the year, he can apply for permanent residency. I was super-happy and felt a lot of relief. As the process took so long, it was about a week before it sunk in. Carlos Araya 'This was the most difficult visa to obtain. The next one, in theory, is automatic. I just have to prove that my relationship is still genuine. But you have to send photos, letters, joint accounts ... all over again,' he said. Perez now works for Living Positive Victoria, a non-governmental organisation that supports people with HIV. He guides newly diagnosed migrants, and promotes access to information and connection networks. 'Connecting with other migrants, speaking from a shared experience, helps you feel less alone. We often feel responsible, but if the same thing happens to all of us, maybe the system is the one that has failed,' he said. 'If you're going through the same thing and don't know what to do, don't be afraid to ask for help. There are communities and organisations that we are here to support.' People seeking support in the event of a crisis can contact Lifeline at 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service at 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 (for young people up to 25 years old). More information and mental health support are available at and 1300 22 4636.
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Appeals court lets Trump keep control of National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — An appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to keep control of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles following protests over immigration raids. The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found Trump acted illegally when he activated the soldiers over opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal prosecutors score first wins on NM border trespass cases
Jun. 19—The first two migrants convicted of trespassing into the so-called New Mexico National Defense Area this month should have known better. The two Mexican nationals had previously faced the same "novel" immigration-related trespassing charges just a month ago when they illegally crossed into the U.S. and were arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol in Doña Ana County. But like dozens of others caught in the Trump administration's new southern border enforcement crackdown, their misdemeanor trespassing charges didn't stick because of legal issues. So Eduardo Herrera-Juvencio and Andres De Los Santos-Martinez ended up being released from custody and deported back to Mexico, only to illegally cross into the same New Mexico military zone, west of the Santa Teresa port of entry, on June 1. This time, the defendants' prior prosecutions meant that they had been forewarned, making it more difficult to argue they didn't know they had stepped into the 60-foot-wide buffer zone, which was designated as a military property in mid-April. The U.S. Army assumed authority over a 170-mile-long buffer zone adjacent to the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico. A similar zone was created for a 63-mile-long strip in West Texas. Federal authorities charged the two men with reentry after deportation and the military trespass charges, which carry additional potential prison time of up to a year. On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico announced the defendants had pleaded guilty to all three misdemeanors. "These first convictions reflect the resolve of the United States Attorney's Office to do its part in securing our nation's southern border," U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison said in a statement. "I am tremendously proud of our staff in the Las Cruces branch office, the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. military for their relentless efforts to secure our southern border. New Mexico — and the entire country — is more secure because of these efforts." The men's federal public defenders couldn't be reached, and it wasn't clear from court records on Thursday when they will be sentenced. Over recent weeks, federal defense attorneys have argued that such prosecutions are flawed because of legal issues over whether migrants knew of the military restriction and whether federal prosecutors had probable cause to charge them. The rollout of the new federal enforcement strategy on the border has also faced pushback from several U.S. magistrate judges, who have found the military trespass charges defective. That includes Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory Wormuth of Las Cruces, who in mid-May began to dismiss such charges in nearly 100 cases where defendants had also been charged with illegal entry, typically a first-time offense. Both De Los Santos-Martinez and Herrera-Juvencio had their military trespass charges dismissed at that time. In El Paso, in the first trial in such a case, a federal court jury on June 5 acquitted a Peruvian woman of the military trespass charges. But this week, an El Paso federal district court judge found an Ecuadorian man guilty of the trespass charge along with illegal entry. Since facing scrutiny over whether migrants are adequately warned they are entering a military defense zone on the border, charging documents give greater detail about where the defendant was caught and note that 1,100 warning signs are posted every 100 to 200 meters in the zone in Spanish and English. In Herrera-Juvencio's case, he had already walked through the defense area before he was captured 1,423 yards north of the international border, court records show. By that time, he was more than three-fourths of a mile from a posted sign, the records show. His criminal complaint states that after his first arrest on May 7, the U.S. Border Patrol provided him with a written notice in Spanish that any unauthorized entry into the restricted military area was prohibited and subject to federal prosecution. De Los Santos-Martinez also received the same notice after his first arrest, records state. Both men also pleaded guilty to re-entry after deportation.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Appeals court extends order allowing Trump to deploy National Guard to L.A.
Washington — A federal appeals court on Thursday extended its block of a judge's order that directed President Trump to return control of California's National Guard to Gov. Gavin Newsom. The unanimous order from a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is a victory for the president and allows for the continued deployment of roughly 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, where they have been protecting federal property and U.S. immigration agents during enforcement operations. Mr. Trump invoked a law known as Title 10 to call the Guard into federal service earlier this month in response to demonstrations against immigration raids conducted across Los Angeles. Since then, a total of roughly 4,100 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty U.S. Marines have deployed to Los Angeles. Newsom, a Democrat, objects to the use of troops in California's largest city and sued the president over his decision to federalize the California Guard. A federal judge, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, concluded last week that Mr. Trump's actions were illegal and exceeded the scope of his authority. The judge blocked the administration from deploying members of the California National Guard in Los Angeles and directed the president to return control of the troops to Newsom. His decision applied only to Mr. Trump's deployment of the National Guard, and not the Marines. The Trump administration swiftly appealed the decision and won a temporary stay of Breyer's order from the 9th Circuit. It held a hearing Tuesday to consider a Justice Department request to halt the judge's decision while the case proceeds. The Justice Department argued that Mr. Trump properly invoked the authorities laid out in Title 10 when he federalized National Guard troops in response to the protests in Los Angeles. The law gives the president the power to call the Guard into federal service whenever "there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion," or when the president is unable to "execute the laws" of the U.S. In his June 7 memorandum deploying members of the National Guard, Mr. Trump said the protests constituted a "form of rebellion" against the U.S. The Justice Department further argued that courts had no role to play in reviewing the president's directive, as the law leaves decisions of whether to call forth the National Guard to the president's discretion. Courts, administration lawyers said, should not second-guess the commander-in-chief's military judgments. During arguments before the 9th Circuit, Brett Shumate, a Justice Department lawyer, warned that Breyer's order, if left intact, risked putting federal judges "on a collision course with the commander in chief" and would put "lives and property at risk." But California officials argued that the Trump administration should have considered more "modest measures" to quell the demonstrations in Los Angeles before taking the "extraordinary step" of deploying the National Guard. Sam Harbourt, a deputy solicitor general for the state, warned that the continued presence of troops on California streets would only escalate tensions and the risk of violence. Plus, he said Mr. Trump failed to adhere to the requirements of Title 10 by not consulting with Newsom before calling forth members of the California National Guard. In his memo, Mr. Trump had directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to effectuate the federalization of the Guard. The secretary then issued memoranda to the adjutant general of the California National Guard to transfer authority over the Guard from the state to the federal government. It had been 60 years since a president last sent in the National Guard without a request from a state's government, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. President Lyndon B. Johnson deployed the guard to Alabama in 1965 to protect a voting rights march. Mr. Trump said in his memo that the protests in Los Angeles threatened the security of a federal immigration detention facility in the city, as well as other government property. The demonstrations broke out earlier this month in response to the immigration raids across Los Angeles, conducted as part of Mr. Trump's promise of mass deportations of people in the country illegally. Protests against the president's immigration crackdown have spread to other cities. Mr. Trump has continued to step up immigration enforcement and announced Sunday on social media that federal immigration authorities should "do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest mass deportation program in history." He said operations aimed at detailing and deporting migrants in the country unlawfully will expand to major cities like Chicago and New York, which are led by Democrats. This is a breaking story; it will be updated. SpaceX Starship upper stage blows up Hurricane Erick approaches Mexico with destructive winds, major storm surge Biden to speak at Juneteenth event in Texas
