Immigration

Immigration from Russia, Ukraine, at its lowest since COVID-19, says Diaspora Affairs Committee

Israel expects an additional drop of approximately 50% in Eastern European immigrants, a result of policies that have disincentivized influx from the region, according to various Knesset members.

|ByARIELLA ROITMAN
Holocaust survivors and WW2 veterans from the former Soviet Union take part at the Holocaust Memorial service of their local Police station, Katsrin, Golan Heights, April 24, 2025.
US President Donald Trump looks on after signing executive orders inside the Capital One Arena on the inauguration day of his second presidential term, in Washington, January 20, 2025.

Trump says ICE could use a 'softer touch' in immigration enforcement - NBC

Trump said he had “learned that maybe we could use a little bit of a softer touch, but you still have to be tough. We’re dealing with really hard criminals."

|ByESTHER DAVIS
Greek emergency personnel wait to transfer bodies of dead migrants, following migrant’s boat collision with coast guard off the island of Chios, in the port of Chios, Greece, February 3, 2026.

Fourteen migrants die off Greece after boat collides with coast guard

A coastguard official said they spotted a dingy transporting migrants towards Chios, which lies a few miles off the coast of Turkey, and ordered them to turn back.

|ByREUTERS
REFUGEES FROM Hungary gather in the HIAS Vienna office, some expressing a desire to immigrate to the United States, and others to Australia, where they have relatives.

Historic Vienna HIAS office shut down following Trump admin's halt to refugee program

HIAS said the move has left more than 14,000 Iranian religious minorities - including hundreds of Jews and thousands of Baha’i, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Sabean Mandaeans - stranded in Iran.

|ByASAF ELIA-SHALEV/JTA

Rights groups sue US State Department over pause on immigrant visas from 75 countries

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan asked a judge to issue a court order blocking the policy, which took effect on January 21.

FEBRUARY 3, 2026ByREUTERS
A family is escorted after their hearing in immigration court as masked federal agents patrol the halls at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on January 28, 2026 in New York City.

Thousands demonstrate in Minnesota and across US to protest ICE

The national day of protest came amid mixed messages from the Trump administration about whether it would de-escalate Operation Metro Surge.

JANUARY 31, 2026ByREUTERS
Demonstrators march calling for an end to ICE operations in Minnesota on January 30, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protesters marched through downtown to protest the deaths of Renee Good on January 7, and Alex Pretti on January 24 by federal immigration agents.

ICE officers receive new directions, ordered to avoid engaging 'agitators', target only criminals

"DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS," said an email disseminated by a top ICE official. "It serves no purpose other than inflaming the situation. No one is going to convince the other."

JANUARY 29, 2026ByREUTERS
Demonstrators carry placards on the day of a general strike to protest U.S. President Donald Trump's deployment of thousands of immigration enforcement officers on the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, January 23, 2026

Trump's immigration policy approval drops to record low, poll finds

Just 39% of Americans approve of the job US President Donald Trump is doing on immigration, down from 41% earlier this month, while 53% disapprove, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

JANUARY 27, 2026ByREUTERS
US President Donald Trump seen in the Oval Office in the White House in Washington, DC, US, January 14, 2026

Tim Walz invokes Anne Frank in pressing Trump to end ICE operations in Minnesota

Walz suggested that the conditions facing children in his state during the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement raids were of a kind with those facing Frank during the Holocaust.

JANUARY 26, 2026ByPHILISSA CRAMER/JTA
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz arrives to speak at a press conference regarding new gun legislation at City Hall on August 1, 2024 in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman backs fundraiser after Minneapolis shooting

Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman gave $10,000 to a GoFundMe supporting the family of a man killed by immigration agents (ICE) in Minneapolis.

JANUARY 26, 2026ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Bill Ackman, Founder and CEO, Pershing Square Capital Management speaks about higher education and Harvard University during at the 28th annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on May 6, 2025.

‘Invasion Day’ rallies mark Australia Day as anti-immigration protests also held

At Sydney's Hyde Park, the annual "Invasion Day" rally started with a tribute to those killed by a gunman in a NSW rural town last week.

JANUARY 26, 2026ByREUTERS
People take part in the Invasion Day protest march through Sydney during Australia Day 2026 celebrations, Australia, January 26, 2026.

Federal officials dig in on Minneapolis shooting narrative despite video evidence

The Trump administration argued that Alex Pretti, the second shooting death by federal officers in Minneapolis this month, assaulted officers, compelling them to fire in self-defense.

JANUARY 25, 2026ByREUTERS
Demonstrators carry signs condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near the site where a man identified as Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents trying to detain him, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, January 24, 2026.

Aliyah from Denver to Jerusalem: ‘One picture wasn’t enough’

Ellison is a firm believer in the 'hashgaha pratit,' God’s role in the daily affairs of humanity: 'Everything has been about hashgaha pratit, even my disappointment in not going to medical school.'

JANUARY 24, 2026ByALAN ROSENBAUM
Sample of Tami Ellison’s figure-ground visual illusion photography.

Tim Walz, Minneapolis mayor subpoenaed by US Dept. of Justice amid immigration crackdown

A source familiar with the investigation said that the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation of Walz, Frey, and others over an alleged conspiracy to impede immigration agents.

JANUARY 21, 2026ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (R) and his wife Gwen Walz (L) look on during a vigil for Renee Good on the steps of the state capitol building on January 09, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota.