United States
Legal Battle Over Columbia Student’s Deportation
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University and lawful permanent resident, is facing deportation under a seldom-invoked federal provision allowing the Secretary of State to expel individuals deemed detrimental to U.S. foreign policy.
Khalil’s involvement in pro-Palestinian campus protests has sparked a legal debate over the extent of First Amendment protections for non-citizens. His legal team argues that the deportation constitutes unconstitutional retaliation for his political activities, potentially setting a significant precedent regarding the balance between immigration enforcement and free speech.
Physician Deported Despite Court Order
Dr. Rasha Alawieh, an assistant professor at Brown University’s medical school, was deported to Lebanon despite a U.S. judge’s order to halt her removal.
Alawieh, who held a valid H-1B visa since 2018, was detained upon arrival at Boston’s Logan International Airport. The incident has raised concerns about compliance with judicial orders by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and highlights the administration’s intensified immigration enforcement measures.
Trump Invokes Alien Enemies Act Against Venezuelan Gang
President Trump has invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to expedite the deportation of Venezuelan nationals over 14 years old without U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
This action targets the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization in January. The proclamation allows the government to bypass standard immigration and deportation procedures, marking a rare use of this historical law.
Critics have raised legal and ethical concerns, and a federal judge temporarily blocked the deportation of five Venezuelans, a decision the administration is appealing.
Canada
New Registration Requirements for Long-Term Visitors to the U.S.
Starting April 11, Canadians visiting the U.S. for more than 30 days will be required to register with U.S. authorities and provide fingerprints.
This measure enforces an existing law targeting foreign nationals staying over 30 days, previously applied inconsistently. The change affects an estimated 2.2 to 3.2 million Canadians, including approximately 900,000 “snowbirds” who spend winters in southern U.S. states.
Immigration attorney Rosanna Berardi noted that while ordinary tourists and shoppers are unaffected, Canadian professionals on extended U.S. assignments will face new requirements.
Decrease in Migrant Crossings from Canada into the U.S.
In February, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 481 apprehensions of individuals entering from Canada, down from 616 in January, marking the lowest level since 2022.
This decline is attributed to a revised bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Canada, allowing both countries to return asylum seekers crossing the border within 14 days of entry. Conversely, the number of individuals detained crossing into Canada reached 126, the highest monthly figure in a year.
Canada has announced a C$1.3 billion plan to enhance border security and appointed a fentanyl czar to address related trafficking issues.
United Kingdom
Detention of British Cartoonist at U.S. Border
Rebecca Burke, a 28-year-old British graphic artist, has been detained in a U.S. immigration facility for nearly two weeks following a visa issue during her North American backpacking trip.
Stopped at the U.S.-Canada border on February 26, Burke was placed in handcuffs and has since been held in a crowded Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Tacoma, Washington. Her family describes the situation as a “nightmare,” emphasizing her intention was solely to travel, not to work illegally in the U.S.
Sources: