immigration

A view of protesters demonstrating outside the campus of Columbia University in New York City, April 22, 2024. (Credit: Evan Schneider/U.N. Photo)

April 18, 2025, 9:32 am

‘Distraction’ to say Khalil deportation case a free-speech issue, experts say

“Khalil spent the past year and a half leading an organization that effectively made large areas of Columbia University off-limits for Jewish Zionist students.” — David Litman

By Vita Fellig

Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist at Columbia who was arrested by ICE in March 2025, speaking to media. (Screenshot)

April 14, 2025, 9:17 pm

Mahmoud Khalil can be deported over antisemitism concerns, judge rules

The ruling cited a memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in which he determined Khalil’s campus activism was antisemitic.

By Grace Gilson

There's room for both Dolly Parton and Israel in Kally Rubin Kislowicz's world. (Photo by Joe Shlabotnik, courtesy of Flickr.com)

April 2, 2025, 10:07 am

Jolene Ben Ari: The best of both worlds

And then I understood that if being Israeli means not knowing the words to Jolene, I don’t want to be right

By Kally Rubin Kislowicz

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an address to a joint session of Congress in Washington, March 4, 2025. (Credit: Daniel Torok/White House)

March 17, 2025, 5:31 pm

HIAS fires, furloughs 40% of staff due to Trump cuts to refugee work

“We never thought they would literally rip up all of our contracts and grant agreements,” Mark Hetfield, the HIAS president, told eJewishPhilanthropy.

By JNS

Activists hold a banner during a pro-refugee demonstration organized by HIAS outside the U.S. Capitol, Sept. 14, 2017. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)

February 11, 2025, 9:29 am

HIAS sues Donald Trump over refugee freeze

The lawsuit is a return to the refugee aid group’s playbook during Trump’s first term.

By Ben Sales

Members of the Aponte Ortiz family gather after arriving in Pittsburgh. JFCS is continuing to work with refugees and immigrants like the Aponte Ortiz family, despite a federal stop work order. (Photo courtesy of JFCS)

February 10, 2025, 2:02 pm

JFCS pledges to keeping working for Pittsburgh’s refugee and immigrant community

Some of JFCS’ clients were in the country for less than two weeks when the agency received the government’s stop work order.

By David Rullo

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent prepares to arrest alleged undocumented immigrants in Salem, Mass., June 19, 2018. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

January 28, 2025, 8:37 am

Dozens of Jewish groups protest Trump’s plans for mass deportation

Signatories to the open letter include leading Reform and Conservative Jewish organizations.

By Ben Sales

Dor Hadash members prepare for their fundraising bike ride (Photo courtesy of Richard Weinberg)

December 2, 2024, 3:51 pm

Dor Hadash recognized for its trailblazing work with immigrants

"Rather than say words and donate money, it’s wonderful to have a direct impact on the lives of families within our community."

By Deborah Weisberg

November 25, 2024, 4:22 pm

After arriving from Colombia, family’s integration eased by local Jewish community

Immigration process brought Aponte Ortizes to Pittsburgh. Together with community, they're creating a home

By Adam Reinherz

Protesters in 2018 urging Congress to vote on immigration reform and to pass a clean Dream Act. (Photo by Lauren Rosenblatt)

September 25, 2024, 10:33 am

Jews are commanded to love the convert. What about the immigrant?

The anti-immigrant bandwagon is a large and, sadly, welcoming one.

By Rabbi Avi Shafran

Lillian Hochman will play Tanya and Matthew Woody will play Fievel in the first musical adaptation of "An American Tail." (Kaitlin Randolph)

April 18, 2023, 10:11 am

‘An American Tail’ musical adaptation hopes its Jewish immigration story will resonate in 2023

Playwright Itamar Moses is betting that children’s theater has a way of refreshing themes adults have exhausted with political discourse.

By Shira Li Bartov

Marsha Shisman and Natalya Shisman. Photo by Edie Shealy

August 22, 2022, 1:56 pm

Pittsburghers support to Ukrainians unwavering six months after Russian invasion

War's continuance brings calls for recognition, reform and kindness.

By Adam Reinherz

Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata handing out gifts aboard an aliyah flight from Ethiopia on June 1, 2022. (Amy Spiro/The Times of Israel)

June 1, 2022, 9:17 pm

181 Ethiopian immigrants land in Israel as aliyah from African nation restarts

After more than a year without immigration flights from Addis Ababa, the first of what is promised to be 3,000 new olim greeted with festive ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport

By Amy Spiro

March 24, 2022, 2:20 pm

JFCS clarifies Ukrainian immigration protocols

3.6 million people have fled Ukraine since February 24. Pittsburghers want to help. Because of US immigration law, however, local resettlement experts aren't expecting any immediate arrivals.

By Adam Reinherz

People exit an Allegro train at the central railway station in Helsinki, March 3, 2022. Trains to Finland are packed with Russians fearful that now is their last chance to escape the impact of Western sanctions. (Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP via Getty Images)

March 10, 2022, 2:41 pm

Their country suddenly a pariah, Jews look for ways to leave Russia

Israel has eased its immigration process for Russians, but embassy wait times are unlikely to be affected.

By Jonathan Shamir