News & Views

For some undocumented minors living in Philadelphia, making it to the United States is just one step in a long journey to safety and security

By Constance Garcia-Barrio Published March 1, 2026 For Ana, 19, of Brazil, and Jonathan, 17, of… MORE

Watch it Now | Unchecked: The Growing Use and Misuse of Executive Powers

What power does the U.S. president really have and what happens when that power goes too far?

In honor of Presidents’ Day, HIAS PA held this virtual program about how executive authority is intended to function within a system of checks and balances, and how immigration law has always been a tool for executive authority abuse. Watch the recording to learn some surprising truths about what is actually legal, what needs to change and how to make those changes.

HIAS PA’s Executive Director, Cathryn Miller-Wilson, was joined by Constitutional scholar Professor Peter J. Spiro.

This program was part of a series hosted by HIAS PA that addresses the current challenges immigrants are facing and ways that you can help your immigrant neighbors.

Immigration lawsuits are dominating Philly’s federal courthouse as ICE push continues

By Abraham Gutman and Chris Palmer Published February 23, 2026 Before this summer, detained immigrants filed release… MORE

Watch it Now | The State of Immigration in America: Citizenship Under Threat

New immigration policies have created urgent challenges for immigrants. This includes changes to the citizenship process.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is reviving neighborhood investigations of citizenship applicants, which may include interviews with neighbors, employers, coworkers, and others. This practice has not been done since 1991. USCIS has also changed the “good moral character” standard, which previously disqualified individuals who had committed serious crimes from becoming citizens. Now, an applicant must prove that they have had a positive influence in their community to meet this standard. Additionally, the current administration continues to pursue efforts to end birthright citizenship, despite the initial executive order being blocked by federal courts, and has started a denaturalization campaign.

These are a few of the changes that were addressed during HIAS Pennsylvania’s virtual program, The State of Immigration in America: Citizenship Under Threat. This program was held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. HIAS PA’s Citizenship and Family Unification Program Manager, Lori Alexander, MSW, and Executive Director, Cathryn Miller-Wilson, Esq., discussed these policies and ways that community members can help local immigrants.

The State of Immigration in America is a series of programs held by HIAS PA which address the current challenges immigrants are facing and ways that you can help your immigrant neighbors.

Stories from the Frontlines: The Details Behind our Government’s Attempt at Child Snatching

By HIAS PA Executive Director, Cathryn Miller-Wilson Published September 28, 2025 On Labor Day weekend, one of our staff attorneys… MORE

West Philly LGBTQ+ asylum shelter, a national rarity, is grappling with Trump’s immigration crackdown

By Emily Neil Published August 4, 2025 Since 2022, Asylum Pride House in West Philadelphia has… MORE

Watch it Now | State of Immigration in America: Asylum in Crisis

Since Inauguration Day, the right to claim asylum in the United States has been under attack by the current administration. The federal government has increased the arrest and detention of asylum applicants, including those here in Pennsylvania. Procedures allowing rapid deportation without judicial review have been expanded.

These are just a few of the changes that HIAS Pennsylvania’s Asylum & Removal Defense Program Manager, Christopher Setz-Kelly, Esq., and Executive Director, Cathryn Miller-Wilson, discuss in this video.

This program was part of a series hosted by HIAS PA that addresses the current challenges immigrants are facing and ways that you can help your immigrant neighbors.