Deterrence at the US-Mexico border, an immigrant becomes mayor of Colorado

Editor’s note: Here’s a rundown of news related to immigration to the United States this week. Questions? Advice? Comments? Email the VOA Immigration Team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com.

Biden administration relies on deterrence to manage immigration at U.S.-Mexico border

The Biden administration is using new rules to manage the flow of migrants by discouraging them from traveling to the US-Mexico border, delaying them once they arrive or deporting them if they don’t follow guidelines. Immigration journalist Aline Barros has the story.

Nigerian-born political newcomer becomes mayor of the city of Colorado

After a historic victory, Nigerian immigrant Yemi Mobolade was sworn in on June 6 as mayor of Colorado Springs, the second largest city in the western US state of Colorado. Mobolade moved to the United States 27 years ago as a college student and became a US citizen in 2017. He started a family, opened two restaurants and a church, then won elections in the traditionally conservative city as a as the first elected black leader. Haruna Shehu reports from Colorado.

California attorney general blames Florida for migrant charter flight

Florida appears to have arranged for a group of South American migrants to be transported from Texas to California and dropped off in Sacramento, the California attorney general said, noting he was looking into whether any crimes had been committed. The Associated Press reports.

Vietnamese families calling the remote islands of Alaska home

Off Alaska, an outpost of about 4,000 people spills over into two of the Aleutian Islands, Unalaska and Amaknak. A few Vietnamese families have braved the harsh conditions to build lives and businesses. VOA’s Dong Hai has the story, narrated by Titi Tran.

VOA day in photo:

A wooden boat carrying migrants waits to be rescued by a Spanish Coast Guard vessel, near the beach in Bahia Feliz, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain.

Immigration around the world

Visa program for Afghans expands; Many candidates trapped by the Taliban

Nearly two years after the United States evacuated about 124,000 people from Afghanistan, tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the US government remain inside the country, fearing persecution from the Taliban. VOA’s Akmal Dawi reports.

Malawi revokes questionable nationality of refugees wanted abroad

The Malawian government has begun revoking the citizenship of refugees and asylum seekers who they believe obtained their status fraudulently. Officials say the campaign aims to root out criminals from other countries, including Rwandan genocide suspects. But critics say the program is too broad and will trap legitimate refugees. History of Lameck Masina.

Rights groups urge Malawi to end forced refugee relocations

An international rights group is calling on the Malawian government to stop the forced relocation of 8,000 refugees living outside an overcrowded camp. Human Rights Watch is concerned about reports that children are among those caught in the sweeps and forcibly taken to a prison in the capital, Lilongwe. The rights group says the forced relocation violates international refugee conventions that Malawi has ratified. History of Lameck Masina.

Caught between two wars: Ethiopian refugees from Sudan

Tigrayans who fled the Ethiopian civil war to neighboring Sudan say they are not getting enough aid due to the outbreak of violence there, but are afraid to return to Ethiopia due to a alleged ethnic cleansing. Others, resorting to desperate measures, fall victim to human traffickers who promise to help them find a passage to Europe. Henry Wilkins reports from N’Djamena, Chad.

Food rations for each Rohingya refugee drop to $8 a month

Human rights and refugee activists have expressed concern over the UN food agency’s decision to cut food aid for the second time in three months to more than a million Myanmar Rohingya who live in slums in Bangladesh. History of Shaikh Azizur Rahman.

Taliban move to address Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism complaints

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan on Sunday announced plans to move thousands of Pakistani refugees away from border provinces amid persistent allegations that the displaced population is the source of growing terrorism in neighboring Pakistan. Ayaz Gul reports for VOA from Islamabad, Pakistan.

Brief News

—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new process that will allow Afghan nationals to renew their parole and continue to live and work in the United States.