Please find below an update on immigration news in the United States for this week. If you have any questions, tips, or comments, please reach out to the VOA immigration team at [email protected].

Officials deny allegations of undercover relocations of 320,000 migrants by the Biden administration to the United States.

The Biden administration has implemented a program to decrease disorganized migration at the southern border of the U.S. However, Republican candidate Donald Trump and others are using it as a political tool, claiming it is a covert attempt to bring large numbers of migrants into the country. VOA’s immigration journalist Aline Barros provides further coverage.

A university-goer from Afghanistan pleads with the Taliban to allow girls to receive an education after being shot.

Breshna Musazai endured 19 agonizing months in Qatar, anxiously awaiting resettlement to the United States as a refugee. Forced to flee Afghanistan just two days after the Taliban seized Kabul in 2021, Musazai, who was injured in a campus shooting, found herself separated from her parents and her dreams shattered. VOA’s Akmal Dawi has more.

A child born to Korean parents now leads the Los Angeles Police Department.

An individual whose parents immigrated from Korea was appointed as the temporary head of the Los Angeles Police Department last week. This marks the first time that an Asian American has held this role. Genia Dulot is reporting on this development.

People seeking asylum have found a safe place to stay at a church in Washington State.

Despite a decrease in the amount of migrants entering the United States on a daily basis, communities are still struggling to provide them with necessary support. In Tukwila, Washington, Riverton Park United Methodist Church has become a refuge for numerous asylum-seekers from Africa and Latin America. This feature story was written by Natasha Mozgovaya.

Biden Addresses Israel and Immigration in State of the Union Speech.

According to Reuters, during his final State of the Union address before the November U.S. election, U.S. President Joe Biden criticized former President Donald Trump’s ideals for America, scrutinized Israel, and faced criticism regarding immigration.

Immigration around the world

Immigrant minors courageously navigate the dangerous Darien Gap on their journey towards the United States border.

The Darien Gap refers to a hazardous area of dense forest located on a narrow strip of land that links Colombia (in South America) to Panama (in Central America). This route is frequently chosen by numerous migrants who are traveling north toward the U.S. border, with approximately one out of every five migrants being a child. According to officials, the number of individuals making the perilous journey is increasing. Austin Landis of VOA ventured to the starting point of their journey to listen to some of their experiences.

Refugees from Ukraine’s Circus Youth Community Discover a Fresh Residence in Hungary.

Many young Ukrainian circus artists have relocated to Hungary after escaping Russia’s invasion of their homeland. The Budapest Capital Circus, which has been presenting performances in the Hungarian capital since 1889, has welcomed hundreds of individuals aged 5 to 20 in the past two years, as well as a number of choreographers and trainers. One of them is Alesa Astapova, an 18-year-old who left her home in Kyiv as Russia’s tanks approached the city in March 2022. Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from London.

The head of UNRWA accuses Israel of attempting to eradicate the Palestinian aid organization.

The leader of the troubled United Nations organization that aids Palestinian refugees claimed on Monday that Israel is intentionally trying to dismantle it, at the expense of the 2 million Palestinians in Gaza who rely on their support for survival. During a special assembly of the U.N. General Assembly, Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini stated that UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) is facing a concerted effort to undermine its operations and ultimately bring them to an end. VOA’s United Nations Correspondent Margaret Besheer provided this report.

News brief

The Transportation Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate have revealed a demo of new airport security technology at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new system is a self-service screening checkpoint.