Immigration
Expiration of Title 42 border rule prompts much rhetoric, less action
The end of a pandemic-era policy that allowed U.S. border authorities to quickly turn back some migrants has prompted a mixed reaction from state and local governments, including new restrictions on immigrant workers, beefed up border enforcement and entreaties for more federal help. But unlike the 2010s, when conservative states such as Alabama, Arizona and […]
Cities shrink but immigrants help stem population losses
Continuing a pandemic trend, Americans are moving to the South and Southwest and from cities to the suburbs in search of more space and homes they can afford, recent government data indicates. But immigration, which is starting to bounce back from pandemic lows, has helped mitigate population loss in major cities. A Stateline analysis of […]
Top State Stories 3/8
MO: Federal judge tosses Missouri gun law, calling it unconstitutional kansascity.com A federal judge has overturned a Missouri law that declared certain federal gun laws “invalid” if they don’t have a state-level equivalent, after the U.S. Department of Justice sued to overturn the measure. OK: Oklahoma voters reject legalization of recreational marijuana oklahoman.com Oklahomans gave a […]
Top State Stories 2/28
TN: Tennessee governor will sign drag bill, reacts to yearbook photo showing him dressed as a woman tennessean.com Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee said he intends to sign an anti-drag show bill, which bans “adult-oriented entertainment” that is “harmful to minors” from public property and places where they might be seen by children. Lee said […]
Top State Stories 2/7
KS: Kansas AG says abortion pill effort violates state law, despite court stay cjonline.com Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach said in a letter to Walgreens executives that state law forbids the company’s plans to offer the abortion pill mifepristone through the mail. The law Kobach cited, however, was blocked by the Kansas Court of Appeals in […]
Top State Stories 1/25
OR: Oregon finalizes M plan to ease public defender crisis oregonlive.com Oregon’s public defender crisis has left hundreds of people languishing in jails or in the community awaiting legal representation. The approved million plan includes increasing the hourly fees paid to public defenders, paying ,000 to retain public defenders that currently contract with the state and […]
Top State Stories 1/9
US: States target transgender health care in first bills of 2023 apnews.com After a midterm election and record flow of anti-transgender legislation last year, Republican state lawmakers in 11 states are zeroing in on questions of bodily autonomy with new proposals to limit gender-affirming health care and abortion access. IL: Illinois House sends Senate bills banning certain […]
Top State Stories 12/22
AZ: Arizona governor agrees to remove shipping container ‘wall’ at border kawc.org Outgoing Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has agreed to remove all the shipping containers he has installed along the border. The Biden administration had filed a lawsuit against Arizona threatening to remove the barrier and then bill the state. GA: Georgia Supreme Court slams […]
Top State Stories 12/21
TX: With rifles and razor wire, Texas National Guard and state troopers block migrants at the border texastribune.org The Texas National Guard and state troopers set up a line of about 1,000 yards of razor wire to block what has become a popular crossing point between Mexico and El Paso, positioning Humvees and Texas Department of […]
Top State Stories 12/13
OK: Biden administration blocks Oklahoma execution oklahoman.com Oklahoma will not carry out a scheduled execution because convicted murderer John Fitzgerald Hanson remains in a federal prison in Louisiana. Oklahoma is now suing in federal court in Texas for his return. GA, NV: Trump probe subpoena served on Georgia, Nevada election officials apnews.com Nevada’s most populous county and […]
Top State Stories 11/16
GA: Judge stops enforcement of Georgia’s abortion ban ajc.com Georgia can no longer enforce its ban on abortion that took effect earlier this year, a Fulton County judge said, allowing the procedure again to be performed in the state after a doctor detects fetal cardiac activity. OR: Oregon governor declares emergency due to respiratory infections […]
Minus the Politics, Migrants Often Use Buses, Planes to Reach Shelter
Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify the description of the Migration Policy Institute and its position on possible immigration policy changes. Despite some Republican governors using migrant buses to try to embarrass Democrats, transportation for migrants from border areas to places where they can find shelter may be an important part of handling […]