Boundless Immigration News Weekly Recap Archive: July 28, 2023

EU Announces New Travel Requirement for US Travelers

The European Union announced this week that starting in 2024, U.S. passport holders will need to apply for travel authorization to enter Europe.

The new requirement, known as the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), aims to increase security and is modeled after its U.S. counterpart ESTA.

Judges Strikes Down Controversial Biden Asylum Policy

A federal judge on Tuesday struck down a controversial asylum policy, delivering a major blow to the Biden administration. The policy, which limits who can apply for asylum at the southern border, is a major reason for the drop in border crossings since May.

The judge, Jon S. Tigar of the U.S. District Court in Northern California, called the policy “both substantially and procedurally invalid,” but stayed his decision for 14 days, giving the government time to appeal the decision.

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Widespread Sexual Abuse Reported at ICE Facilities

According to an investigation by news organization Futuro Media, a “systemic pattern of sexual abuse” exists in immigration detention centers across the U.S. Between 2015 and 2021, over 300 immigrant detainees filed sexual assault and sexual abuse complaints. More than half of the complaints were directed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staff.

Justice Department Sues Texas Over Border Barriers

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas over floating barriers meant to stop migrants from swimming across the Rio Grande. The lawsuit is the latest challenge to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s controversial and aggressive border security program, Operation Lone Star.