Civics 12/30

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

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A View From the Ground

News and information about politics, government, civic participation and engagement from URL Media's network of Black and Brown publishers.

This week, let’s talk about what’s next for immigrants, Trump’s strike on Nigeria, Pacific Islander veterans and more. And as always, we’re bringing you the latest updates at url-media.com.

Credit: La Noticia / ICE

The resistance to Trump's $77-billion deportation machine

The immigrant community faced its toughest year in decades during 2025, with over 1.5 million people losing temporary legal status under Trump's administration. Deportations hit a 20-year high, with nearly 437,000 people removed by November, most with no criminal record. The government even set targets to revoke citizenship from naturalized Americans. But here's the twist: people are pushing back hard.

Trump's approval ratings have tanked to around 36-42% as Americans see the real impact of these policies. Millions have taken to the streets protesting, and there's growing momentum for change. The "Big Beautiful Bill" just allocated a massive $77 billion for detention and deportations through 2029, lining the pockets of private prison companies.

But 2026 brings hope. Midterm elections could flip the script if voters demand better. For immigrants, the strategy is clear: know your rights, stay informed, make emergency plans, and don't let fear win.

Keep reading at La Noticia.

Source: TANTV News

Trump strikes Nigeria, the VA and Pacific Islander veterans, what 'legal' immigration means now and more stories from the URL Media network

Trump strikes Nigeria and hits the heart of a crisis of sovereignty vs. security: On Christmas Day, Trump ordered the first-ever US airstrike on Nigerian soil, hitting alleged ISIS targets in Sokoto State. Nigeria confirmed it authorized the strikes, but here's the problem: the government has spent years denying ISIS even operates there. The strikes targeted Sokoto in the northwest, not the Middle Belt or northeast where Christians are actually being massacred. Diaspora experts are split, some celebrating results while others question why the US hit where it was convenient instead of where the genocide is actually happening. Either way, Nigeria just admitted it can't protect its own people. Keep reading at TANTV News.

The VA keeps ignoring Pacific Island veterans: Senators from both parties are pushing the VA to finally deliver healthcare to US veterans living in Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. Pacific Islanders enlist in the military at rates 249% higher than other groups, but there's zero VA facilities in their home countries. Many veterans can't afford to fly to Guam or Hawaii for care, so they either skip treatment or never return home after service. Congress already gave the VA authority to help these vets in 2024, but the agency hasn't done anything yet. Now lawmakers want to force action with new legislation. Keep reading at AsAm News.

They’re following the rules but still losing their status: The Trump administration is pulling legal status from immigrants who've done everything right. Two million people with temporary protected status, humanitarian parole, and work permits are suddenly being reclassified as "illegal" even though they followed every rule. The policy goes further, targeting naturalized citizens for denaturalization and stripping citizenship from people who legally immigrated decades ago. Immigration judges are being removed to eliminate legal review processes. One Afghan refugee incident triggered visa restrictions for 19 countries and froze all Afghan immigration. Advocates say it's creating a pipeline from lawful to illegal overnight. Keep reading at India Currents.

A history-making city councilmember in Arizona gears up for a tough battle: Arlene Chin made history as Tempe's first Asian American councilmember in 2019, and now she's fighting to keep her seat against six challengers. Her platform pushes back against the college-for-everyone model, advocating for union careers the education system ignores. She wants to expand Care7, a program connecting homeless residents with housing and mental health services, while balancing growth with sustainability. Under her leadership, Tempe's council became the most diverse in the Southwest, including the first Black mayor and first Native American councilmember. Keep reading at AsAm News.