Edited by Steve Volk ([email protected])
Oberlin Community Supporting Immigrants (OCSI) does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide information, education, and analysis regarding the U.S. immigration system.
CONTACT OCSI:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://oberlincommunitysi.org/
Know Your Rights: You can’t protect your rights unless you know what they are. Here’s a 2-page handout prepared by OCSI. If you want a comprehensive resource library of KYR information, updated for 2026, Austin Kocher provides one here.
OCSI Corner
Do you need a speaker on immigration of “know your rights” for your local church, synagogue, or community group? Contact us at the email below. We can help!
Steve Volk of OCSI will share the stage with David Bier of the CATO Institute to discuss “Immigration in the United States: What is the Way Forward?” on Monday, February 23 at the Stocker Center of Lorain County Community College (1005 Abbe Rd N, Elyria) at 5:30 PM. The discussion will be moderated by OCSI’s Gina Perez and is a part of the “Spirit of ‘76” convocations.
ACTION ITEMS
Stand with Minnesota: Click here for a list of mutual aid opportunities and organizations supporting communities affected by the military occupation of the Twin Cities.
Even though the U.S. Congress has until Feb. 13th to pass legislation for additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security, it remains important to call your Representatives and Senators today to demand an end to the funding of ICE or, at the least, that they vote to support the Democrats reform measures.
Click this link, for the full background on the federal spending bills and how to call your senator. A sample script is also included.
Dial this number: (202) 224-3121. The Congressional Switchboard can connect you to the office of any U.S. Representative or Senator.
For the best service, call during business hours;
Be prepared to state your name/address to confirm you are a constituent;
Clearly state your issue by following the script in above link;
It is okay to leave a message;
You can also use 5 Calls to contact Representatives and Senators.
PICK THREE (No time for all the reporting? Here are three important stories from the past week that you might have overlooked):
The Kids Are Not Alright – ICE Threatens Children’s Short-Term Health, Long-Term Prospects (Ohio Capital Journal, February 11, 2026): The ongoing immigration surge in Minneapolis has created a climate of fear for ordinary families trying to maintain the routines and normalcy of childhood.
ICE Is Expanding Across the US at Breakneck Speed. Here’s Where It’s Going Next (Wired, February 10, 2026): ICE plans to lease offices throughout the US as part of a secret, monthslong expansion campaign. WIRED is publishing dozens of these locations.
Want to Understand Immigration Enforcement in 2026? Read These Five Reports (Austin Kocher, Substack, February 10, 2026): Expert research on immigration enforcement that the news cycle won’t give you. Five reports, three takeaways each, and a case for reading deeply instead of reacting to the chaos.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
ICE Protesters in Minneapolis March on Feb. 1 with Giant U.S. Constitution
LOCAL AND OHIO NEWS
Jim Jordan Targets Sanctuary Cities for Elimination after Immigration Clashes (Cleveland.com, February 11, 2026): The Ohio Republican says his committee plans to mark up legislation later this month to end sanctuary cities and is currently finalizing implementation and enforcement details. The Center for Immigration Studies describes Ohio’s Franklin, Lorain, Hamilton and Mahoning counties as “sanctuary jurisdictions.”
Franklin County Judges Face Pressure to Stop ICE Arrests at Courthouse (Columbus Dispatch, February 10, 2026): Federal immigration enforcement officers arrested a man inside Franklin County Municipal Court last week as local activists are stepping up their pressure campaign on judges there to keep the feds out.
Ohio House Democrats Introduce Bills to Regulate ICE Presence in Ohio (Ohio Capital Journal, February 9, 2026): One would prohibit ICE from wearing face coverings; another would prohibit immigration enforcement in schools or churches.
Stand Up Lorain County Hosts Icy Anti-ICE Protest in Avon (Chronicle-Telegram, February 8, 2026): The next peaceful protest is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 21 at Amherst Town Hall, 206 S. Main St. in Amherst.
Demonstrators Gather in Ohio City to Support Haitian Immigrants Amid TPS Legal Battle (Cleveland.com, February 7, 2026): Similar rallies were held Saturday afternoon in five other Ohio cities, including Toledo, Akron, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus.
SPRINGFIELD, OH: HAITIANS AND TPS
What Happens to U.S. Citizen Children if Haitians with TPS are Deported? (Columbus Dispatch, February 12, 2026): More than 3,000 children born in Franklin and Clark counties since 2020 have Haitian parents and are U.S. citizens by birth.
MINNEAPOLIS: MURDER AND OCCUPATION
More than 80 Minnesota Observers and Protesters Detail Mistreatment by ICE (Minnesota Star Tribune, February 13, 2026): The latest testimony adds to an ACLU class-action lawsuit about the conduct of immigration agents.
‘Uptick in Abductions’: ICE Ramps Up Targeting of Minneapolis Legal Observers (The Intercept, February 9, 2026): In one 30-minute stretch, three legal observers were arrested — as Trump’s border czar Tom Homan calls on locals to “end the resistance.”
Top ICE Lawyer in Minnesota Departs as Immigration Lawsuits Overwhelm Courts (New York Times, February 7, 2026): Jim Stolley, the chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota, has left as government prosecutors grapple with a crush of cases.
RESISTING, PROTESTING, AND ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE
New Jersey Gov. Sherrill Signs Order to Limit Immigration Agents on State Property (Politico, February 11, 2026): The order is the Democratic governor’s latest effort to rebuff the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
Students Push Back Against Immigration Agencies Recruiting on Campus (Inside Higher Ed, February 10, 2026): Students at colleges and universities nationwide are protesting the presence of Customs and Border Protection recruiters at campus career fairs.
US Restaurants Targeted for Opposing ICE: ‘I Refuse to Cook for Fascists’ (Guardian, February 10, 2026): Restaurants face one-star reviews and less business in an already precarious industry. Some restaurateurs fear speaking out as immigrants themselves.
ICE List: The Small European Website Exposing US Immigration Agents (Guardian, February 10, 2026): Netherlands-based site uses public information and tips to reveal identities of agents involved in crackdowns across US.
Despite Legal Setbacks and Border Closures, Annunciation House Continues Ministry (National Catholic Reporter, February 9, 2026): Annunciation House, part of a network of shelters was charged by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of “harboring illegal aliens” and serving as a “stash house” engaged in human smuggling.
Hundreds Protested This Venezuelan’s Detention by ICE. Now He’s Freed after Seven Months (Guardian, February 9, 2026): Case continues against those who protested Joswar Torres’ arrest, with prosecutors seeking six years’ imprisonment.
As American Views of ICE Dim, Warehouses Become a Symbol of Resistance (New York Times, February 8, 2026): Plans to confine migrants in retrofitted buildings have ignited bipartisan dissent as the country has grown more critical of immigration officials.
Mamdani Signs Executive Order to Protect New Yorkers from “Abusive Immigration Enforcement” (CBS News, February 7, 2026): “ICE is more than a rogue agency — it is a manifestation of the abuse of power,” Mamdani told the group of faith leaders from across the five boroughs.
THE COURTS AND LEGAL ACTIONS
Judge Gives US 2 Weeks to Retrieve Student Deported to Honduras while Traveling for Thanksgiving (AP, February 13, 2026): U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns issued an order that required the return of 19-year-old Babson College freshman Any Lucia Lopez Belloza by the end of February.
Trump Judge Slams DHS for Blocking Detainees’ Access to Lawyers (Axios, February 13, 2026): A Trump-appointed federal judge said immigration enforcement agencies “violated noncitizen detainees’ constitutional” rights at a Minnesota facility in a scathing ruling.
Judge Orders Trump Administration to Help Dozens of Deportees Return to the US (Politico, February 12, 2026): The judge said the hasty deportation process has violated migrants’ constitutional rights.
Prosecutor Says Federal Officials Gave Wrong Information about ICE Shooting (New York Times, February 12, 2026): The top federal prosecutor in Minnesota asked a judge to drop charges against the immigrant who was shot by an ICE agent, saying new evidence was “materially inconsistent” with what officials had claimed.
Judges May Have Found a Way to Bypass 5th Circuit Ruling Upholding Trump’s Mass Detention Policy (Politico, February 10, 2026): Two Texas judges, who are bound by the circuit’s ruling, outlined a legal rationale allowing them to continue granting immigrants’ release.
Immigrants Who Say Their Detention Is Illegal Have Filed More than 18,000 Cases. It’s a Historic High (ProPublica, February 10, 2026): The administration’s push for mass deportations has resulted in more cases, known as habeas petitions, filed in federal court in the last year than under the last three administrations combined, including Trump’s first term.
Judge Ends Removal Proceedings for Tufts University Student Rümeysa Öztürk (MassLive.com, February 9, 2026): Immigration attorneys for Öztürk submitted documents in federal court on Monday to announce the removal proceedings have been terminated by an immigration judge.
The Firth Circuit Jumps the Immigration Detention Shark (Steve Vladeck, Substack, February 7, 2026): Late Friday, two of the nation’s most right-wing circuit judges adopted an odious legal claim that district court judges from across the country (and ideological spectrum) have overwhelmingly rejected
Judge Denies DHS Bid to Quickly Deport Family of 5-Year Old Liam Conejo Ramos (Common Dreams, February 7, 2026): “Our concern remains centered on Liam and all children who deserve stability, safety, and the opportunity to be in school without fear,” said an advocate for the family.
ICE BUCKET
ICE Reveals $38B Plan for Immigrant Mega-Jails (Axios, February 13, 2026): ICE plans to buy eight “mega centers,” 16 processing centers and 10 more facilities that ICE’s enforcement division already uses.
ICE Officers Suspended after Making ‘Untruthful Statements’ About Shooting (Washington Post, February 13, 2026): The federal immigration officers are facing a criminal inquiry after new evidence surfaced contradicting their accounts after the Jan. 14 shooting of a Venezuelan man.
ICE Hired Thousands While the Rest of the Immigration System Shrank (New York Times, February 11, 2026): With more ICE agents and fewer judges and asylum officers, the balance of the federal immigration apparatus has shifted.
Several ICE Agents Were Arrested in Recent Months, Showing Risk of Misconduct (AP, February 11, 2026): At least two dozen ICE agents and contractors have been charged with crimes since 2020, and their documented wrongdoing includes patterns of physical and sexual abuse, corruption and other abuses of authority.
The Secretive, Destructive Work of an ICE Attorney: ‘My Job Is to do What I’m Told’ (Guardian, February 11, 2026): ICE lawyers in New York City earn more than $100,000 a year, enjoy generous benefits and post about rich social lives. Their work is vital to Trump’s deportation agenda
ICE Director Refuses to Commit to Pausing Operations for 2026 World Cup (Guardian, February 10, 2026): The acting director of ICE told a congressional committee that his agency is a “key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup.”
ICE Chief Tells US House Agency Is ‘Just Getting Started’ (dw.com, February 10, 2026): Three immigration chiefs appeared before a House committee to defend the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda. ICE chief Todd Lyons said his agents plan to “execute their mission with unwavering resolve.”
Top 5 Takeaways from House Immigration Oversight Hearing (NPR, February 10, 2026): Democrats, and some Republicans, on the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday took the opportunity to criticize the tactics used by officers on the ground and the strategy of top Trump administration officials to curb illegal migration.
‘Complete Nonstarter’: Administration Allies Say Judicial Warrants a Red Line for White House in DHS Funding Talks as Shutdown Looms (Politico, February 9, 2026): Stephen Miller insists on warrantless entry of private property.
EMERGING POLICY AND THREATS TO IMMIGRANTS
Targeting Toddlers and Minors
‘I Just Want to Get Out of Here’: ICE Is Detaining Hundreds of Children (New York Times, February 13, 2026): The number of children in immigration detention has spiked since last year. Families describe poor conditions and little education.
“We Were All Scared,” Says a Child Who Ran as ICE Operation Unfolded near New Jersey School Bus Stop (CBS News, February 13, 2026): 10-year old Dylan, a US citizen, said that all was normal until ICE showed up and everyone started running.
Toddler Hospitalized with Respiratory Failure Was Returned to ICE Detention and Denied Prescribed Medication, Lawsuit Says (NBC News, February 7, 2026): The 18-month-old was sent back to a South Texas facility after days in intensive care with severe respiratory distress, according to a federal lawsuit.
Detention and Deportation and Death
ICE Arrests and Detention Numbers Decline in Early February, Latest Data Show (Austin Kocher, Substack, February 12, 2026): ICE detention fell to 68,289 after hitting a record high of 70,766. The drop is too early to call a trend. Ankle monitors climbed past 42,000.
She Bounced a $25 Check in 2014. ICE Tried to Deport Her (Washington Post, February 11, 2026): A Missouri grandma and lawful resident spent months in detention for a decade-old misdemeanor, underscoring the massive scope of the administration’s deportation efforts.
When Trump Officials’ Claims about Shootings Unravel in Court (New York Times, February 10, 2026): Before the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, allegations against four others shot at by federal immigration agents failed to withstand scrutiny.
Irish Man Detained by ICE in Texas for Five Months Says He Fears for His Life (CNN, February 10, 2026): Culleton, who has lived in Boston for more than 15 years and runs a construction company was taken by ICE officers on his way home from Home Depot.
A Raid in a Small Town Brings Trump’s Deportations to Deep-Red Idaho (New York Times, February 9, 2026): Wilder, Idaho, prided itself on comity. Then federal agents stormed a racetrack outside of town in October, and the reverberations are still shaking the community.
Migrants Languish in US Detention Centers Amid Dire Conditions and Prolonged Waits (ABC News, February 9, 2026): Prolonged detention has become more common in President Donald Trump’s second term.
Hard Hats and Dummy Plates: Reports of ICE Ruses Add to Fears in Minnesota (AP, February 8, 2026): As the sweeping immigration crackdown in Minnesota continues, legal observers and officials say they have received a growing number of reports of federal agents impersonating construction workers, delivery drivers and in some cases anti-ICE activists.
‘A Profound Sense of Being Hunted’: With all Eyes on Minneapolis, ICE Arrests Continue Quietly across the US (Guardian, February 7, 2026): Immigration operations are still stoking fear and disrupting the ability to go to work, school or doctor’s appointments.
With ICE Using Medicaid Data, Hospitals and States Are in a Bind Over Warning Immigrant Patients (KFF Health News, February 6, 2026): Warning patients could deter them from signing up for a program called Emergency Medicaid.
Authoritarianism, Lawlessness, Racism, and Cruelty
Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts (New York Times, February 13, 2026): The department has sent Google, Meta and other companies hundreds of subpoenas for information on accounts that track or comment on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials and tech workers said.
Trump Immigration Officials Shown Video of Alex Pretti’s Death in Tense Senate Hearing (AP, February 12, 2026): The men tasked with carrying out Trump’s mass deportation agenda were made to watch a video of the shooting death of Alex Pretti in a slow, moment-by-moment analysis.
IRS Improperly Disclosed Confidential Immigration Tax Data to DHS (Washington Post, February 11, 2026): The tax agency only recently discovered the mistake and is working with other federal agencies on a response.
Why Has This Columbia University Protester Been in ICE Detention for Nearly a Year? (Prem Thakker, Zeteo, February 10, 2026): Leqaa Kordia’s family worries about her health after she was briefly hospitalized last week. DHS refused to give them information about her condition and she is still ‘very sick.’
Top Border Official Praises Agent Who Shot Chicago Woman, Evidence Shows (New York Times, February 11, 2026): A Border Patrol agent shot Marimar Martinez five times, claiming that she tried to run him over. Newly released videos and text messages reveal fresh details about what happened.
What Are the Masks for Exactly (Josh Marshall, Taking Points Memo, February 10, 2026): There are no known incidents in which an officer was assaulted while off-duty because he was identified as a federal agent.
Trump Admin Declines Judge’s Request to Return Deported College Student (ABC News, February 6, 2026): Any Lucia Lopez Belloza was deported to Honduras in November shortly after she was detained, even though a federal judge had ordered the government not to remove her from the U.S. or transfer her out of Massachusetts.
Attacks on All Immigrants
Trump Administration Working to Expand Effort to Strip Citizenship from Foreign-Born Americans (NBC News, February 12, 2026): U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials focused on denaturalization were sent to offices nationwide, sources say.
Technology and Surveillance
Local Police Aid ICE by Tapping School Cameras Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown (Guardian, February 10, 2026): Local police assisted federal immigration agents by repeatedly searching school cameras that record license plate numbers, data show.
ICE’s Growing Surveillance State (Edward J. Markey, Boston Globe, February 7, 2026): ICE has constructed a digital dragnet that captures and retains massive amounts of data about all of us, citizens and noncitizens alike.
ICE Mobile App Scans Protester’s Face, Revokes Her TSA PreCheck Status (SFGate, February 7, 2026): Reports are coming out about agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection using high-tech facial recognition software to identify anyone who gets in their way, and the government could take retaliatory steps against them — including their trusted traveler status.
Mission Creep: AI Surveillance at DHS Crosses Dangerous Line into Tracking Americans (Steven Hubbard, American Immigration Council, February 6, 2026): Facial recognition, biometric scanning, and social-media monitoring — once justified for tracking noncitizens — are now being used to identify and investigate U.S. citizens.
Who Profits
ICE Deportation Flights Are Getting Longer and Crueler (Gillian Brockell, Mother Jones, March/April 2026): A private equity-owned airline profits off Trump’s migrant crackdown.
IMMIGRATION AND THE ECONOMY
What Replaces Deported Immigrant Workers? Not Americans (Binyamin Appelbaum, New York Times, February 9, 2026): For many jobs, the cheaper and more likely replacement is a robot.
Immigration Raids in South Texas Are Starting to Hit the Economy (Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2026): Trade groups are raising alarms about aggressive immigration enforcement hurting businesses in the region.
BY THE NUMBERS
Poll: Trump’s Ratings on Immigration Tumble as Americans Lose Confidence in His Top Issue (NBC News, February 11, 2026): Support for President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda is in free fall in early 2026 after federal immigration agents shot and killed two Americans last month.
Fewer than 14% of Those Arrested by ICE in Trump’s 1st Year Back in Office Had Violent Criminal Records, Document Shows (CBS News, February 9, 2026): Data comes from an internal DHS document.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Republicans Are Objecting to ICE’s Human Warehouses – But Not on Behalf of Immigrants (Jim Newell, Slate, February 12, 2026): Not in their backyard!
Is ICE Leading Us into a Constitutional Crisis? (Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, February 3, 2026): A look at the agency’s astonishing record of defying court orders, and what the judiciary might do to respond.