Immigration Archives — Sahan Journal

A nonprofit newsroom dedicated to reporting for Minnesota’s immigrants and communities of color.

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Rochester sisters reach $80K settlement with federal government for abuse and mistreatment they suffered at the border.

by Joey Peters and Hibah Ansari October 6, 2022October 7, 2022

The lawsuit filed in 2021 by Kerlin Sanchez Villabolos and her sister Y.S. was the first one in the country where migrant children sued the federal government for treatment at the Mexico-Texas border.

CHANGING MINNESOTA

How an emergency airlift in Afghanistan changed immigration in Minnesota

by Hibah Ansari January 5, 2022January 5, 2022

The 44-day journey that changed Muhammad Nishat’s life

by Hibah Ansari October 25, 2021October 24, 2021

What ‘kids in cages’ endured: Lawsuit filed by Rochester family alleges negligence and abuse by U.S. officials at infamous facility along the Mexican border.

by Joey Peters and Hibah Ansari October 12, 2021October 6, 2022

Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson said he’d change the way his office works with immigration enforcement. Critics say the jail still referred 1,000 inmates to ICE.

by Joey Peters September 23, 2021September 23, 2021

‘This was exactly what happened in Saigon’: Afghans in Minnesota describe stranded family members, condemn U.S. failures

by Hibah Ansari August 17, 2021August 18, 2021

DACA is under fire—again—after a federal court ruling. Here’s what Dreamers in Minnesota need to know about their immigration status.

by Hibah Ansari July 22, 2021July 22, 2021

After a long wait, Somalis with Temporary Protected Status in the U.S. gain an 18-month extension.

by Abe Asher July 20, 2021July 20, 2021

Biden administration has extended Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from Myanmar and Haiti. Now a decision looms on the status of Somali nationals.

by Hibah Ansari May 27, 2021May 28, 2021

President Biden’s flip-flop on refugees creates confusion for Minnesota families. We asked an immigration expert what happened to Biden’s campaign promises—and what’s next.

by Hibah Ansari April 29, 2021April 29, 2021

As a teenager, Zaynab Abdi got a visa to move to the United States. Her younger sister Sabreen didn’t. The Trump ‘Muslim ban’ has kept them apart for seven years.

by Hibah Ansari March 1, 2021April 12, 2023

Red tape can be daunting for new immigrants seeking services. Asian American group has a map for that.

by Katelyn Vue February 24, 2021February 24, 2021

Biden administration cancels Trump’s last-minute changes to U.S. citizenship test

by Hibah Ansari February 23, 2021February 23, 2021

Leaving the Twin Cities rat race, and looking forward to the zoo in Uganda. Somali American says he’s packing up and planning a cheaper, more relaxed life in East Africa.

by Hibah Ansari February 5, 2021February 5, 2021

A glimmer of hope for some Minnesota immigrant families: Biden dramatically raises cap on refugee admissions.

by Hibah Ansari February 4, 2021February 4, 2021

Liberians in Minnesota have until December to start pursuing permanent U.S. citizenship. Some can’t believe the opportunity is real.

by Hibah Ansari January 29, 2021January 30, 2021

The border wall, DACA, the ‘Muslim ban’ and more: Biden starts to undo the Trump legacy on immigration

by Hibah Ansari January 20, 2021April 12, 2023

Karen couple get rare, private naturalization ceremony in their St. Paul home.

by Megan Burks January 16, 2021January 18, 2021

Trump administration stymies immigrants with longer, more expensive citizenship test.

by Hibah Ansari December 22, 2020February 23, 2021

A once-in-a-lifetime chance for Liberian immigrants has been “hamstrung” by COVID — and Trump’s dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy

by Dara Lind, ProPublica December 17, 2020December 17, 2020

‘We’re not settling for breadcrumbs’: Biden has promised to restore the DACA immigration program. Some of Minnesota’s 5,000-plus Dreamers want more.

by Logan Carroll December 1, 2020December 2, 2020

In just four years, Trump destroyed refugee admissions to Minnesota. Can a Biden administration open the doors again?

by Hibah Ansari November 16, 2020November 18, 2020

Changing the Narrative

Nativists in St. Cloud have told refugees they’re not welcome. One refugee wants to teach them a better greeting: ‘See tahay?’—‘How are you?,’ in Somali.

by Mike Moen October 27, 2020October 27, 2020

Trump administration can deport some immigrants from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Sudan, and Haiti, appeals court rules.

by Joey Peters September 17, 2020September 17, 2020

ICE deportation looms for Minnesota Somalis who may be infected with COVID-19.

by Sheila Regan September 15, 2020September 16, 2020

Thousands of new Minnesotans could vote for the first time in the 2020 election. But the feds haven’t processed their citizenship applications.

by Megan Burks August 19, 2020August 20, 2020

Coughing, chest pains? Immigration detainees say they still can’t get a COVID-19 test in one Minnesota jail.

by Joey Peters July 28, 2020August 30, 2020

They come to Minnesota seeking safety from terrorist groups and gang violence. New Trump asylum rule calls those threats ‘frivolous.’

by Hibah Ansari July 16, 2020July 17, 2020

New visa restrictions less likely to save U.S. jobs than further Trump’s anti-immigration agenda, experts say

by Hibah Ansari June 24, 2020June 24, 2020

The journey to become a citizen heads someplace new: the sidewalk

by Joey Peters June 24, 2020June 24, 2020

Immigrants and advocates in Minnesota celebrate Supreme Court DACA ruling

by Joey Peters June 18, 2020June 18, 2020

In healthcare work, African immigrants feel brunt of COVID-19

by Joey Peters May 27, 2020August 30, 2020

Federal judge rules ICE detainees will remain in Sherburne County Jail

by Joey Peters May 14, 2020August 30, 2020

Emergency petition to release Minnesota ICE detainees sees day in court

by Joey Peters April 23, 2020August 30, 2020

‘If you get sick here, you’re hit’: ICE detainees in Minnesota express fear of contracting COVID-19 in jail

by Joey Peters April 17, 2020August 30, 2020

John Keller, Minnesota’s chief deputy attorney general, continues to fight for the rights of new Americans

by Elizabeth Foy Larsen April 14, 2020April 14, 2020

A Ghanaian doctor, trained in China, wants to help Minnesota fight COVID-19

by Joey Peters April 10, 2020August 30, 2020

“It’s very scary”: ICE detainees express fear and anxiety as COVID-19 spreads in Minnesota

by Joey Peters April 6, 2020August 30, 2020

Coronavirus, Criminal Justice, Immigration

Lawyers and ICE detainees, worried about the spread of COVID-19, sound alarm about conditions inside county jails

by Joey Peters March 27, 2020August 30, 2020

Report from the front lines: A nursing assistant from Liberia describes working during the COVID-19 pandemic

by Joey Peters March 25, 2020December 8, 2020

HEALTH, Immigration

Immigrants are leaving Minnesota’s public aid programs. Why?

by Joey Peters March 7, 2020August 30, 2020

MPR News/Star Tribune poll: Most Minnesotans open to refugees

by Riham Feshir February 26, 2020April 1, 2020

Changes to the ‘public charge’ rule: 8 key questions, answered

by Joey Peters February 24, 2020December 8, 2020

Digital Disinformation, Immigration

Bogus story of an immigration raid brings chaos to Hmong market

by Riham Feshir February 21, 2020April 1, 2020

DEMOCRACY & POLITICS, Immigration

What you need to know about Trump’s plan to deport Hmong, Lao immigrants

by Riham Feshir February 11, 2020April 1, 2020

Thousands of Hmong and Lao Americans face deportation under Trump proposal

by Riham Feshir February 7, 2020April 1, 2020

‘Devastating’: Minnesotans rally against Trump’s new visa curbs

by Joey Peters February 2, 2020April 1, 2020

Rumors, misinformation lurked as Minnesota county rejected refugees

by Riham Feshir January 15, 2020April 1, 2020

Amid the chaos, Minnesota counties say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ to refugees

by Jon Collins January 9, 2020April 1, 2020

This Minnesota county has not directly received refugees in the past five years. Now it became first in the state to reject refugee resettlement

by Jon Collins and John Enger January 7, 2020April 1, 2020

‘Cried with joy’: Minnesota’s Liberians find elation, relief in new residency law

by Joey Peters January 5, 2020April 1, 2020

CHANGING MINNESOTA, Immigration

Willmar keeps the refugee door open despite concerns

by Riham Feshir December 23, 2019April 1, 2020

Survey: Most Minnesotans oppose U.S. border policy, but partisanship divides the state on many immigration issues

by Mohamed Ibrahim and Katrina Pross December 21, 2019April 1, 2020

Fearing retaliation, some immigrants stay away from public aid

by Joey Peters December 9, 2019April 1, 2020

Immigration, Profiles

In a split vote, one Minnesota county says ‘yes’ to more refugees

by Riham Feshir December 3, 2019April 1, 2020

EDUCATION, Immigration

Trump’s ‘public charge’ proposal frightened some immigrants into keeping kids off Medicaid

by Elizabeth Shockman October 23, 2019April 1, 2020

Rochester program aims to help new arrivals navigate public safety

by Catharine Richert October 22, 2019April 1, 2020

Twin Cities archbishop decries treatment of U.S. border refugees

by Joey Peters September 30, 2019April 1, 2020

Nearly 2,000 people become U.S. citizens in St. Paul

by Riham Feshir September 4, 2019April 1, 2020

Resettlement agencies in Minnesota are grappling with Trump’s restrictions on refugee arrivals

by Ibrahim Hirsi September 3, 2019April 1, 2020

Minnesota lawmakers announce plan to ban for-profit immigration detention

by Riham Feshir August 23, 2019April 1, 2020

Detainees wanted: Minnesota’s closed private prison eyes a deal with ICE

by Riham Feshir August 23, 2019April 1, 2020

Low-income immigrants in Minnesota shying away from benefits, even with Trump rules still weeks away

by Ibrahim Hirsi August 15, 2019April 1, 2020

DEMOCRACY & POLITICS, Immigration

‘On edge’: Minnesota Latinos wrestle with fear, frustration after El Paso killings

by Joey Peters August 11, 2019April 1, 2020