New Podcast Feature: Beyond Borders – Why Cultural Exchange Still Matters

We’re excited to share that Lisa Murray, Program Director for Cultural Exchange at the American Immigration Council, recently joined the Beyond Borders podcast to discuss the lasting value of international exchange programs and how they strengthen communities, institutions, and global understanding.

In the episode, Lisa highlights:

• The diplomacy and people-to-people connections at the heart of cultural exchange
• How programs like ours shape early-career pathways and global talent mobility
• Why fostering cross-cultural dialogue is more important now than ever

👉 Listen to the full conversation here:  Beyond Borders: Why Cultural Exchange Still Matters – Erickson Immigration Group

We hope you enjoy the conversation and share it with others who care about the future of exchange.

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Amidst Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign, Report Shows Access to Lawyers is Critical

New Report Shows Having a Lawyer is a Critical Safeguard Against Deportation 

Washington DC, Nov. 20 — As the Trump administration intensifies its mass deportation and detention campaign, a new report from the American Immigration Council shows that legal representation is one of the most powerful tools to increase fairness in immigration court. 

Read the report here.

The analysis of more than 2.28 million immigration court cases from FY2019 to FY2024 reveals that having a lawyer dramatically reduces the likelihood of being ordered deported. The data also reveals that case outcomes vary dramatically depending on whether someone is detained and where their case is heard, factors that are increasingly undermining fairness in the immigration court system. 

The report, Where Can You Win in Immigration Court? The Impact of Lawyers, Detention, Geography, and Policy, lands at a moment when the Trump administration is dramatically increasing the number of people targeted for deportation and narrowing their access to due process.  

“The Trump administration’s enforcement surge is exposing just how vulnerable people are when they go into immigration court without a lawyer,” said Adriel Orozco, report author and senior policy counsel at the American Immigration Council. “Americans expect that every single person should get a fair hearing before a judge. While in the current moment of mass arrests and rapid removals that is increasingly difficult, having a lawyer is often critical in protecting a person’s right to argue their case.” 

The report’s findings include: 

• Access to legal representation is a life-changing protection in immigration court. Of the immigration court cases decided from FY 2019–2024, 62 percent of immigrants without a lawyer were ordered deported, compared to 27 percent of those who did have legal aid.  

• Without a lawyer, the odds collapse, especially for those in detention. Of the courts that had the highest deportation rates, more than 90 percent of cases involving people in detention ended in removal orders.  

• Access to legal representation is deeply uneven across geography. Non-detained immigrants in Honolulu had a legal representation rate of 70 percent, while in Harlingen, Texas, it was just 25 percent.  

• Case outcomes shifted sharply between the Trump and Biden administrations. Under Trump (in FY2019), nearly 80 percent of cases ended in removal orders. Under Biden (FY2024), that number was just 40 percent.  

Explore the data here.

The disparities highlighted in this report are likely to intensify because of the current Trump administration policies. Immigration courts are already strained by unprecedented backlogs. The Trump mass deportation and detention campaign is creating even greater chaos, amidst the reassignment and firing of immigration judges, the expansion of “fast-track” deportation, and other policies that limit opportunities for people to present evidence or secure counsel. All of this raises fundamental questions about guaranteeing those in immigration court access to justice, and the integrity of the courts themselves. 

“This report makes one thing clear: ensuring access to a qualified lawyer is a powerful way of protecting someone against unjust or erroneous deportation,” said Orozco. “But whether someone gets a lawyer depends far too much on where they are, whether they’re detained, and which policies happen to be in place. With detentions set to skyrocket thanks to record funding approved by Congress, having a lawyer is critical in a system that this administration is deliberately breaking down.” 

The full report and interactive data, which includes a court-by-court breakdown, is available here. The tool lets users explore outcomes by location, detention status, and representation, offering one of the most detailed looks at immigration court trends to date. 

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SCOTUS Grants Review of Ninth Circuit Decision Holding Turnbacks of Asylum Seekers Unlawful

Washington (November 17, 2025) – Today, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request to review a Ninth Circuit decision that declared unlawful the U.S. government’s prior turnback policy, which the government calls  “metering.” Under this policy, border officers physically blocked people from seeking asylum at ports of entry along the southern border, turning them back to Mexico.

In response, attorneys for the asylum seekers and Al Otro Lado, the organization serving them, shared the following comment:

“The issue before the Court is whether noncitizens seeking safety at ports of entry along the U.S. southern border have a legal right to apply for asylum in the United States. As the Ninth Circuit correctly concluded, our immigration laws require the government to inspect and process people seeking asylum at ports of entry and allow them to pursue their legal claims in the United States. The government’s turnback policy was an illegal scheme to circumvent these requirements by physically blocking asylum seekers arriving at ports of entry and preventing them from crossing the border to seek protection. Vulnerable families, children, and adults fleeing persecution were stranded in perilous conditions where they faced violent assault, kidnapping, and death. We look forward to presenting our case to the Court.”

The American Immigration Council, the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), the Center for Constitutional Rights, Democracy Forward, and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection serve as co-counsel.

For more information on the case, see here, here and here.

# # #

Al Otro Lado provides holistic legal and humanitarian support to refugees, deportees, and other migrants in the US and Tijuana through a multidisciplinary, client-centered, harm reduction-based practice.  They engage in individual representation, human rights monitoring, medical-legal partnerships, and impact litigation to protect the rights of immigrants and people seeking asylum.

The American Immigration Council works to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration and by working toward a more fair and just immigration system that opens its doors to those in need of protection and unleashes the energy and skills that immigrants bring. The Council brings together problem solvers and employs four coordinated approaches to advance change—litigation, research, legislative and administrative advocacy, and communications.

The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies defends the human rights of courageous refugees seeking asylum in the United States. With strategic focus and unparalleled legal expertise, CGRS champions the most challenging cases, fights for due process, and promotes policies that deliver safety and justice for refugees.

The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, the Center for Constitutional Rights has taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach. 

The Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. 

The Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection is a non-partisan, public interest organization within Georgetown Law. ICAP engages in litigation, policy, and public education to defend constitutional rights and protect our democratic processes.

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Media contact:

Elyssa Pachico, American Immigration Council, epachico@immcouncil.org, 503-850-8407

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Lawsuit Challenges the Department of Education Over New Public Service Loan Forgiveness Rule

Washington, D.C., Nov. 4 — Four non-profit public-interest organizations filed a lawsuit today to challenge a new rule issued by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that threatens to disqualify certain employers from eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The plaintiffs in the case — Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the American Immigration Council, The Door – A Center of Alternatives, Inc., and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) — are represented by Student Defense and Public Citizen Litigation Group.

ED established the new rule in response to an Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump. Finalized on October 31, the rule allows ED to disqualify employers from the PSLF program that are deemed to have a “substantial illegal purpose” by the Secretary of Education. Under the rule, ED will decide for itself whether this standard is met, based on its unilateral determination that an organization has engaged in activities disfavored by the administration concerning immigration, gender affirming care, and purported discrimination, along with other areas. The rule’s vague and overbroad language permits arbitrary enforcement against mission-driven organizations doing work or expressing opinions opposed by the government. 

ED’s new regulation threatens to harm many of the 2.5 million federal student loan borrowers who have collectively worked more than 100 million months in public service jobs in order to qualify for PSLF forgiveness. 

“The Rule will make it more difficult for employers in certain fields, such as advocacy on behalf of immigrants, to recruit and train employees, and will chill politically disfavored but legal activities by PSLF employers.” the complaint states. “The Rule is contrary to the PSLF statute, exceeds the Department’s regulatory authority, and violates the constitutional rights of nonprofits whose employees are statutorily eligible for PSLF.”

PSLF was created in 2007 to encourage students to pursue public service careers after graduation. The program offers federal student loan forgiveness to those who spend ten years repaying such loans while working full time in a public service job. The statute creating the program provides a clear list of qualifying employers, which include military service, emergency management, public health, government, public safety, law enforcement, early childhood education and library science, and all 501(c)(3) organizations, among others. 

The lawsuit asks the court to declare the new rule unlawful and to declare that ED lacks the legal authority to change the statutory criteria for PSLF. 

“Congress created PSLF to support those who work in public service jobs, not to let the President play favorites. The Trump administration should not be allowed to use a program designed to reward public service as a weapon against its political enemies,” said Cormac Early, attorney at Public Citizen Litigation Group and lead counsel on the case.

“Congress made a promise that if Americans give back to the country, the country will give back to them. Now the Trump Administration wants the power to renege on that promise if they disagree with your employer’s mission or perceived political views,” said Student Defense President Aaron Ament. “This new, unlawful rule is a slap in the face to the millions of first responders, health workers, teachers, and other public servants who believed the government could be trusted to keep its word.”

“The Trump Administration’s attack on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program strikes at the heart of civic space and public service. By targeting individuals who choose to work in nonprofits defending the human rights of immigrants and advancing diversity, inclusion, and transgender rights, this rule seeks to silence voices for equity and justice while weakening these organizations’ ability to recruit the next generation of leaders,” said Kerry Kennedy, President, RFK Human Rights.

“Public Service Loan Forgiveness was a clear commitment from the government to individuals who have dedicated themselves to public service,” said Jorge Loweree, Managing Director of Programs and Strategy at the American Immigration Council. “This regulation weaponizes that commitment. No one should be forced to choose between supporting their neighbors and securing the financial stability they were promised.”

“Latino families across the country rely on mission-driven nonprofits for immigration assistance, health care, and programs that support underserved young adults. This rule hands any administration a blank check to punish nonprofits it dislikes and jeopardizes the future of the teachers, nurses, veterans, and legal advocates who serve the public every day,” said Juan Proaño, CEO of the LULAC Institute. “LULAC Institute joined this case to defend the statute, protect our workforce, and ensure Latino borrowers are never forced to choose between serving their community and keeping a promise the government already made.” 

Read the complaint here.

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About Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights:
RFK Human Rights is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization, founded in 1968, that works to realize Robert F. Kennedy’s dream of a more just and peaceful world. In partnership with local activists, RFKHR advocates for key human rights issues—championing change makers and pursuing strategic litigation in the U.S. and around the globe. And to ensure change that lasts, RFKHR fosters a social-good approach to business and investment and educates the next generation of leaders about human rights and social justice.

About the American Immigration Council:

The American Immigration Council works to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration. The Council employs four coordinated approaches to advance change—litigation, research, legislative and administrative advocacy, and communications. Follow the latest Council news and information on LinkedIn, BlueSky, Instagram and YouTube. 

About The Door – A Center of Alternatives 

For over 50 years, The Door has been a trusted place for young people between 12 and 24. All are welcome as they are, to be themselves, address challenges, and access services when and how they need them. With our roots in the heart of New York City and a presence across the boroughs, The Door offers comprehensive programs and services, including mental health counseling, health and nutrition assistance, legal services, housing support, arts, education, and career guidance. At The Door, everything is free and everyone is welcome. 

The Door’s on-site charter high school, Broome Street Academy, serves 300 students per year from across all five boroughs, with reserved seats for students who are transitionally housed or in foster care.

About The LULAC Institute

The LULAC Institute is the nonprofit arm of The League of United Latin American Citizens Institute (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America’s prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit www.LULAC.org.

About Public Citizen Litigation Group

Public Citizen Litigation Group is the litigating arm of the nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen. For more than 50 years, the Litigation Group has worked to advance the interests of consumers, workers, and the public, and to hold the government and corporations accountable to the people. Read more at www.citizen.org/litigation. 

About Student Defense

The National Student Legal Defense Network (“Student Defense”) is a non-profit organization that works, through litigation and advocacy, to advance students’​ rights to educational opportunity and to ensure that higher education provides a launching point for economic mobility.

Media Contacts: 

RFK Human Rights

Amy Zelvin Reid

reid@rfkhumanrights.org 

American Immigration Council 

Elyssa Pachico

epachico@immcouncil.org 

The Door – A Center of Alternatives

Kirkley Strand

kstrand@door.org 

LULAC

David Cruz

davidcruz@lulac.org 

Public Citizen Litigation Group

Omar Baddar

obaddar@citizen.org 

Student Defense

Kerry Leary

press@defendstudents.org 

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New Platform Details the Chaos Behind Family Separation

Transparency Project Offers New Insight into the First Trump Administration’s Implementation of Family Separations

Oct. 30, 2025, WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, the American Immigration Council launched a platform analyzing new records about the U.S. government’s chaotic implementation of family separations during the zero-tolerance period and its aftermath.

The transparency project details how the first Trump administration carried out one of the most shameful immigration policies in modern history. The project also sheds light on how certain stakeholders responded to the crisis, providing important lessons on how the public resisted one of the most egregious and harmful policies of the first Trump administration.  

Explore the data here.

Drawing on thousands of internal government emails, memos, and never-before-seen datasets obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and litigation, the project shows how the first Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy was a calculated system designed to deter migrants from coming to the United States by punishing families and obscuring accountability.

“Thanks to these records, we can more clearly see the inner workings of how this atrocity was carried out and the public’s struggle to obtain transparency and accountability,” said Raul Pinto, deputy legal director for transparency at the American Immigration Council. “The same disregard for oversight and human consequences that made family separation possible is now re-emerging in the ongoing mass detention and deportation efforts.”

The family separation project features interactive visualizations and declassified documents that reveal how families were literally erased from government databases, how officials misled the public, and how congressional oversight and media exposure helped end the policy. The project includes audio recordings of actor Corey Stoll reading key internal government emails that reveal the confusion and callousness behind the policy’s implementation. (Listen here). 

Key findings from the archive include:

• Officials knew their data on separated families was “corrupt.” Internal emails show ICE leaders admitting they had “not very much” confidence in their own data on children taken from their parents, even as they publicly denied wrongdoing.
• Oversight from Congress, the press, and regulatory agencies played a key role in ending family separation. However, since then, as of 2025 key oversight bodies like the DHS Inspector General and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties have been sidelined or defunded.
• Family separation was built around intentional chaos. The records show how confusion was weaponized: ensuring significant delays in reunifying children with their parents.

“The records don’t just show government officials’ egregiousness and cruelty. They serve as a warning for our current moment of mass detention and deportation that is still seeing families separated,” said Pinto. “These records show how data manipulation and secrecy enabled systemic human rights violations during the first Trump administration. Without transparency and oversight, history will repeat itself.”

Explore the data here.

The portal, created after years of FOIA litigation by the American Immigration Council and its partners, allows journalists, researchers, and policymakers to explore key documents and data that expose the inner workings of family separation and the failures that followed.

Despite public claims that the policy ended in June 2018, hundreds of children remained separated from their parents for years, and some have still not been reunited. “Family separation was a national shame made possible by bureaucratic indifference to human suffering,” said Pinto. “The lesson here is clear: a collapse of oversight allows for cruelty to fill the vacuum.”

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