Today in History: November 12, Ellis Island closes its doors

Associated Press: In 1954, Ellis Island officially closed as an immigration station and detention center

Africans returned through an EU program abandoned?

The European Union has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to help African migrants return from journeys to Europe. But The Associated Press interviewed several returnees and saw a WhatsApp group of dozens more who say they've received little or nothing. The International Organization for Migration is concerned

Human Rights Watch: “You Have Arrived in Hell": Torture and Other Abuses Against Venezuelans in El Salvador’s Mega Prison

Venezuelan nationals the United States government sent to El Salvador in March and April 2025 were tortured and subjected to other abuses, including sexual violence, Human Rights Watch and Cristosal said in a report released today.  The report, "You Have Arrived in Hell": Torture and Other Abuses Against

A Sign of the Times?

This art is on display at the Hammer Museum in Westwood Village. The exhibit is Made in LA.

Happy Veterans Day! Don't Forget Our Immigrant Vets

Happy Veterans Day! Veterans Day can’t be properly observed without noting the contributions of immigrants to the United States military. “[T]he foreign born have been a constant presence in the U.S. armed forces,” the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has said. “As of 2022, nearly 731,000 U.

ICE Detains USC with Real ID, Twice

This WaPo opinion piece is worth a read: He’s a citizen with a Real ID. ICE detained him anyway. Twice. It goes to the heart of the current moment in immigration enforcement--detention based on appearance regardless of evidence to the contrary. This was a central theme discussed in the

Immigration Research from the Urban Institute

The Urban Institute recently released reports on topical immigration issues. Taxes: Possible impacts of the Trump administration mass deportation campaign – Although they’re federally driven, immigration policies that may discourage tax filing, reduce federal financial support, and remove economic contributors from communities could strain the finances of many states and

NPR Book of the Day: Revisiting Amy Tan’s ‘The Joy Luck Club’

A book touching on immigration was recently its Book of the Day: "The stories of mothers and daughters trying to connect with each other, across time, space and generations – this is the centerpiece of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. This week, Andrew Limboong and B. A. Parker

Am I Next?

Am I Next? From the website: "Am I Next is a public declaration against silence in the face of growing injustice. What began as a response to immigration raids has become a larger stand against racialized targeting and the erosion of civil liberties." By sharing your image, you

Michigan Minds podcast: Immigration raids lead to uptick in absenteeism, lower grades

William Lopez, professor of health behavior and health equity at the University of Michigan, studies the effects of immigration enforcement on communities throughout the United States. He seeks to understand how immigration raids alter the daily lives and mental health of families, particularly among children and students. "Large-scale raids,

Webinar: November 12, Hidden Histories of Unauthorized Migrations from Europe to the United States

Sponsored by the Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) at the University of Minnesota, this webinar will feature an anthology, Hidden Histories of Unauthorized Migrations from Europe to the United States edited by Danielle Battisti (University of Nebraska at Omaha) and S. Deborah Kang. Featuring contributions by historians and sociologists based

AIC: Workplace Raids Webinar

Check out this video posted by the American Immigration Council. It's a recording of their latest webinar, titled: Immigration Raids and Their Impact on American Workplaces.