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December Immigrant Affairs Update |
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Earlier this month, the City of Austin was in attendance at the Cities for Action convening, hosted by the New York Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. At this convening, city government representatives gathered to discuss advocacy strategies and share best practices in local immigrant inclusion initiatives. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit and tour New York's migrant arrival center and learn more about how they're managing and coordinating support for new arrivals. In all, 20+ different localities from across the U.S. were represented at the convening! |
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- Austin Public Library card fees will be waived for nonresidents starting in 2024. Residents of Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and limited purpose areas will no longer have to pay the $120 fee to access the city library system's materials. This will also significantly expand access for the enhanced library card program.
- Governor Abbott signed into law three bills that pour more money into his three-year effort to deter unauthorized immigration at the Texas-Mexico border and give Texas law enforcement the authority to arrest undocumented immigrants anywhere in the state. The laws funding the border barrier and making crossing without authorization a state crime go into effect in early March. The human smuggling law goes into effect in early February.
- In related news, immigrant rights groups are suing Texas to halt one of the strictest state immigration enforcement laws, which enables police to arrest immigrants suspected of crossing the border without authorization. The lawsuit claims that SB4 violates the U.S. Constitution because Congress has given the federal government sole authority over immigration enforcement.
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Massachusetts officials launched a work authorization clinic for migrants staying in emergency shelters, days after the state’s system hit capacity. The clinic was first announced in late October, as Gov. Maura Healey sought to find ways to help free up space in the emergency shelter system. It is the product of a partnership between the state and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, designed to help those in emergency shelters support themselves and, eventually, find housing outside the system.
- The Biden administration recently signaled that it is willing to make disastrous—and permanent—changes to asylum and immigration policy to obtain temporary military aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
- A federal judge has prohibited the separation of families at the border for purposes of deterring immigration for eight years, preemptively blocking resumption of a lightning-rod, Trump-era policy that the former president hasn’t ruled out if voters return him to the White House next year.
- The demographics of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are changing. Overall, the undocumented immigrant population decreased by 14% between 2007 and 2021.
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Saturday, December 30 @ 9am CST
Refugee Arts & Crafts Holiday Bazaar
Town Lake YMCA - 1100 W. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78703
The Town Lake YMCA will transform into an international bazaar as the YMCA partners with Global Impact Initiative (GII) to host a Refugee Arts and Crafts Bazaar. This free community event features the work of refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan who have recently settled in Austin. The artisans will be showcasing hand-made goods including jewelry, handbags, dresses, leather goods, candles, decorative cushions, paintings and fresh-baked pastries and treats. One hundred percent of proceeds go directly to the vendors. Learn more here. |
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Thursday, January 11 @ 2:00 PM CST
Building Belonging Through Art, Sports, and Advocacy: A Webinar Series
Hosted by Welcoming America, this webinar series will explore the transformative potential of art, sports, and advocacy in building belonging between immigrants and U.S.-born residents. Over the course of three sessions, we'll uncover inspiring stories of individuals using these avenues to break cultural barriers, foster unity, and create inclusive spaces. From the emotional appeal of art to the universal language of sports to the powerful impact of advocacy, this series is an engaging exploration of diverse tools that can build unity and community. Register here. |
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Community Advancement Network
Seeking Members for the Community Council
The Community Council has opened up the application for membership! They are looking for people who are passionate about advancing equity and wellbeing in the Austin Travis County area and who have an interest in learning about community organizations, making recommendations to the City's policy makers, cross sector planning, hosting community dialogue forums, and would like opportunities to network with local decision makers. Learn more here.
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American Immigration Council just released their 2023 Map the Impact report, an interactive data-map showcasing the contributions of immigrants in the country, all 50 states, and industry sectors across the economy. The report also features hundreds of stories and videos from local leaders talking about why immigration matters to them. Read the report, and the Texas highlights. |
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Get Your Enhanced Library Card Today!
We are excited to share that the Enhanced Library Card pilot program has officially begun! This has been a successful collaboration between Austin Public Library, the Equity Office and several other city departments and community organizations. Stop by one of the three pilot locations and get yours today and help us spread the word within your communities.
- Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Ln
- St. John Branch, 7500 Blessing Ave.
- Southeast Branch, 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd.
If you're interested in having APL's mobile outreach team issue enhanced library cards at your upcoming event, please complete this form.
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