Search result for Vandana Ravikumar

Democrats roast CIS head over plan to end ‘medical deferred action’

WASHINGTON - The acting director of Citizenship and Immigration Services insisted to a House panel that there are no new plans to end "medical deferred action," but Democrats called the administration "cruel" for considering the notion in the first place.


Justice Department pressing ahead with plan to collect immigrants’ DNA

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department is moving forward with plans to collect DNA samples from immigration detainees, including those without criminal offenses, raising alarms among both privacy and immigration advocates.


CBP: Close to 1 million apprehended at southern border in fiscal 2019

WASHINGTON - Border officers apprehended nearly 1 million migrants at the southern border in fiscal 2019, an 88 percent increase over the previous year, according to Customs and Border Protection numbers released Tuesday.


Supreme Court will not hear Maricopa County appeal of Arpaio ruling

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday let stand lower court rulings that said Maricopa County is responsible for controversial policing practices of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio.


Volker steps down from State Department role, stays at McCain Institute

WASHINGTON - Kurt Volker is still serving as executive director of the McCain Institute, after resigning as U.S. special envoy for Ukraine when his name surfaced last week in a whistleblower's report on President Donald Trump's dealings with that country.


Both sides now: Arizonans rally to stake out opposing border positions

WASHINGTON - Arizonans on opposite sides of the immigration debate were in Washington Wednesday where they rallied on opposite sides of the Capitol in hopes of making their respective cases to Congress.


Pelosi backs impeachment inquiry, Arizona delegation members not swayed

WASHINGTON - Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Tuesday that the House would open a formal impeachment inquiry on President Donald Trump, but her announcement did not appear to change any minds in the Arizona delegation.


Migrant families sue over ‘extraordinary harms’ of family separation

WASHINGTON - Five asylum-seeking families have sued the government for the "substantial and ongoing trauma" they say they suffered after being separated from one another when they crossed the border from Mexico into Arizona last year.


Audit shows deep, worsening trauma for migrant children in custody

WASHINGTON - An inspector general's report on the mental health of migrant children in federal detention found multiple shortcomings in how officials cared for children in custody last fall, with significant trauma and worsening mental health problems.


Court identifies First Amendment right for witnesses to hear executions

WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that witnesses to Arizona executions have a First Amendment right to hear the entire execution process to help determine if executions are done "in a humane and lawful manner."

Florence Prison Complex photo

Opponents promise Supreme Court decision won’t be last word on asylum

WASHINGTON - Critics vowed Thursday that the Supreme Court's decision to allow the Trump administration's restrictive asylum policy move forward will not be the last word and that they intend to keep challenging the plan.


Advocates alarmed by reports administration may lower refugee cap again

WASHINGTON - Advocates reacted with alarm Tuesday to published reports that the Trump administration may again cut the number of refugees allowed in to the U.S., a move they said would endanger vulnerable people and tarnish the country's standing.

Syrian Arizona