Undocumented

• Pope Francis appointed a former undocumented immigrant as a bishop in the United States, marking a symbolic statement on immigration policy. • The appointment reflects the Vatican's stance on immigrant rights and social justice within the American Catholic Church. • The move comes amid ongoing debate over immigration policy in the Trump administration.

Exclusive: Contractor denies allegations including ‘enforced disappearance’ and will help locate unaccompanied minorsUS Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has awarded a contract to a private security company that has faced accusations of “torture” and “enforced disappearance” to assist in tracking down undocumented immigrant children who arrived in the US alone, a contracting document shows.ICE has stepped up its work so much in pursuing these minors in the US that it has contracted out some of its mission to a third party to put “boots on the ground” and locate immigrant children previously released from US government custody. Continue reading...

Leo, who has criticized Trump’s hardline immigration policy, selected Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as state’s new bishopSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxPope Leo XIV has appointed a man who had once entered the United States as an undocumented immigrant, hidden in the trunk of a car, as the new bishop of West Virginia.The pope approved the resignation of Bishop Mark E Brennan of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, and selected Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, 55, of Washington to take his place, reported OSV News. Continue reading...

• Recent federal tax legislation and policy changes now require parents to have a valid Social Security number (SSN) to claim Child Tax Credit (CTC), Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). • Undocumented parents who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) can no longer claim these credits even if their children are U.S. citizens, significantly reducing tax relief for mixed-status families. • Federal policies enacted in 2025 expanded the range of programs treated as "federal public benefits" subject to immigration-status eligibility restrictions, including Head Start, community health center services, and Title X family planning services.

• Last August, the Trump administration ordered states to reverify immigration status of hundreds of thousands of Medicaid enrollees, but findings from five states show few immigrants without legal status improperly receiving benefits. • States paid Deloitte and other firms millions to comply with the law aimed at cutting Medicaid rolls, with federal officials mandating reverification of enrollee immigration data. • The reviews highlight limited evidence of widespread ineligibility, raising questions about the policy's effectiveness and costs to update systems amid ongoing crackdowns.