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Joel Rose Joel Rose is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk.
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Joel Rose

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Joel Rose
Nickolai Hammar/NPR

Joel Rose

Correspondent, National Desk

Joel Rose is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. He covers immigration and breaking news.

Rose was among the first to report on the Trump administration's efforts to roll back asylum protections for victims of domestic violence and gangs. He's also covered the separation of migrant families, the legal battle over the travel ban, and the fight over the future of DACA.

He has interviewed grieving parents after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, asylum-seekers fleeing from violence and poverty in Central America, and a long list of musicians including Solomon Burke, Tom Waits and Arcade Fire.

Rose has contributed to breaking news coverage of the mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina, Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath, and major protests after the deaths of Trayvon Martin in Florida and Eric Garner in New York.

He's also collaborated with NPR's Planet Money podcast, and was part of NPR's Peabody Award-winning coverage of the Ebola outbreak in 2014.

Story Archive

Friday

U.S. and Canada reach a deal to close a popular but unofficial border crossing

An officer speaks to migrants as they arrive at the Roxham Road border crossing in Quebec, Canada, earlier this month. Sebastien St-Jean/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Sebastien St-Jean/AFP via Getty Images

National

U.S. and Canada reach a deal to close a popular but unofficial border crossing

The U.S. and Canada have reached a deal that will allow both countries to turn back migrants at unofficial border crossings. President Biden announced the deal in remarks to the Canadian Parliament.

Monday

Her case ended in a joyful airport reunion, but the future of asylum is uncertain

After a long-running asylum case kept Anabel apart from her family in El Salvador for 8 years, she finally reunited with them at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport earlier this month. Melissa Golden for NPR hide caption

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Melissa Golden for NPR

National

Her case ended in a joyful airport reunion, but the future of asylum is uncertain

After years of separation, the woman once known only as Ms. A.B. has reunited with her children. It's the latest twist in a legal case that is deeply intertwined with the asylum debate in the U.S.

Her case ended in a joyful airport reunion, but the future of asylum is uncertain

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Tuesday

National

Biden may revive detention of migrant families caught crossing the border illegally

The White House is considering whether to resume detaining migrant families apprehended after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally as part of a broader crackdown.

Biden may revive detention of migrant families caught crossing the border illegally

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Thursday

Biden rolled out tougher asylum rules. Advocates say it's a betrayal of his promises.

Migrant families from Venezuela return to Mexico after being expelled from the United States to Ciudad Juárez in January. John Moore/Getty Images hide caption

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John Moore/Getty Images

National

Biden rolled out tougher asylum rules. Advocates say it's a betrayal of his promises.

The Biden administration wants to restrict who can seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. It's the latest move in a larger crackdown aimed at cutting the number of migrants flowing across the border.

Biden rolled out tougher asylum rules. Advocates say it's a betrayal of his promises.

Listen · 4:03
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Tuesday

Law

Biden administration proposes tougher restrictions on asylum at U.S.-Mexico border

Thousands of migrants could be denied asylum if they pass through another country such as Mexico on the way to the U.S. border under a proposed regulation published by the Biden administration.

Biden administration proposes tougher restrictions on asylum at U.S.-Mexico border

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Tuesday

GOP Targets Immigration Boss, Will Hold Hearings In Arizona

Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) holds up information about the southern border as he speaks during his weekly news conference at the U.S. Capitol on April 22, 2021 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

GOP Targets Immigration Boss, Will Hold Hearings In Arizona

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy will lead fellow Republican lawmakers on a trip to Arizona this week, part of an effort by his caucus to boost the profile of border security as an issue through messaging that spuriously links migrants to drugs and crime.

GOP Targets Immigration Boss, Will Hold Hearings In Arizona

Listen · 13:58
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Monday

Politics

GOP is calling to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

Republicans are using their House majority to build an impeachment case against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. But no cabinet member has ever been removed that way, and Mayorkas isn't backing down.

GOP is calling to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

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Wednesday

In first GOP-led hearing about the border, witnesses paint sharply different pictures

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, leads his panel's first meeting in the new Republican majority — a hearing Wednesday titled, "The Biden Border Crisis — Part I." J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Politics

In first GOP-led hearing about the border, witnesses paint sharply different pictures

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee blamed Biden administration policies for the record number of migrant apprehensions. Democrats accused them of fear-mongering and spreading misinformation.

In first GOP-led hearing about the border, witnesses paint sharply different pictures

Listen · 3:52
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Sunday

National

What Biden's new immigration policies mean for the United States — and Latin America

Latin America's migration crisis is one of the most pressing and complex issues facing President Biden - we look at what his administration's new rules mean on both sides of the southern border.

What Biden's new immigration policies mean for the United States — and Latin America

Listen · 6:34
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Thursday

National

A new private sponsorship program lets everyday Americans help refugees settle in

With refugee resettlement organizations stretched thin, the U.S. is trying a different approach. A private sponsorship program called Welcome Corps will let groups of regular people sponsor refugees.

A new private sponsorship program lets everyday Americans help refugees settle in

Listen · 3:23
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Friday

Politics

How Biden plans to persuade migrants not to risk coming to the U.S.-Mexico border

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas discusses the Biden administration'a new immigration measures. The U.S. will make it harder for people to get in, if they show up at the border.

How Biden plans to persuade migrants not to risk coming to the U.S.-Mexico border

Listen · 7:35
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Tuesday

Supreme Court allows border restrictions for asylum-seekers to continue for now

A Border Patrol agent checks an asylum-seeker's passport after she turned herself in, in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Dec. 19. Veronica G. Cardenas/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Veronica G. Cardenas/AFP via Getty Images

National

Supreme Court allows border restrictions for asylum-seekers to continue for now

The justices agreed to decide in its February argument session whether 19 states that oppose the Title 42 policy should be allowed to intervene in defense of the restrictions in the lower courts.

Friday

El Paso tries to house many migrants in freezing weather – but some don't qualify

An asylum-seeking migrant from Nicaragua bundles up at the border as she waits to be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after crossing the Rio Grande River into the United States in El Paso, Texas, U.S., December 22, 2022. Jim Urquhart for NPR hide caption

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Jim Urquhart for NPR

National

El Paso tries to house many migrants in freezing weather – but some don't qualify

El Paso has scrambled to move migrants off the streets and into shelters as temperatures plummet below freezing, but federal law dictates which migrants can stay inside city facilities.

El Paso tries to house many migrants in freezing weather – but some don't qualify

Listen · 3:22
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Thursday

Weather

El Paso prepares to move migrants ahead of winter storm

El Paso and other Texas cities are preparing to move migrants seeking asylum off the streets and into warm shelters as temperatures plummet below freezing.

El Paso prepares to move migrants ahead of winter storm

Listen · 3:22
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Law

Pandemic border restrictions known as Title 42 may not end this week as planned

The U.S. Supreme Court granted a request by Republican attorneys general who want to extend those restrictions. The court put a temporary hold on a lower court ruling that found Title 42 unlawful.

Pandemic border restrictions known as Title 42 may not end this week as planned

Listen · 3:33
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Wednesday

In Legal Limbo, Biden Has No Clear Path To An Immigration Fix

Immigrants wait to enter a shelter at the Sacred Heart Church on December 17, 2022 in El Paso, Texas. John Moore/Getty Images hide caption

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John Moore/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

In Legal Limbo, Biden Has No Clear Path To An Immigration Fix

Title 42, implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the pandemic, has been used by the Trump and Biden administrations to expel millions of asylum seekers from the country. Mired in legal battles from both ends of the political spectrum over the policy, the Biden administration acknowledges that changes have to be made to the nation's immigration system — but reform appears to still be politically impossible.

In Legal Limbo, Biden Has No Clear Path To An Immigration Fix

Listen · 13:57
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National

Border communities wait to see if Title 42 restrictions will be lifted soon

Communities across the southern border are on edge — waiting to find out what will happen to pandemic restrictions known as Title 42. The Supreme Court paused a ruling that found them unlawful.

Border communities wait to see if Title 42 restrictions will be lifted soon

Listen · 3:32
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Monday

U.S. Supreme Court extends border restrictions just before they were set to end

A U.S. Border Patrol agent instructs immigrants who had crossed the Rio Grande into El Paso, Texas on Dec. 19, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Over the weekend, El Paso declared a state of emergency, one week after a surge of asylum seekers began crossing the border, quickly overwhelming federal immigration and city authorities. John Moore/Getty Images hide caption

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John Moore/Getty Images

National

U.S. Supreme Court extends border restrictions just before they were set to end

Pandemic border restrictions known as Title 42 will continue, at least for now, after the Supreme Court granted a stay to Republican state attorneys general as many migrants wait to cross the border.

U.S. Supreme Court extends border restrictions just before they were set to end

Listen · 3:30
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Wednesday

National

Thousands of migrants cross the border from Mexico as pandemic restrictions end soon

Federal authorities are scrambling to process thousands of migrants who have crossed into the U.S. from Mexico in recent days as pandemic border restrictions are set to end in less than a week.

Thousands of migrants cross the border from Mexico as pandemic restrictions end soon

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Tuesday

National

El Paso receives thousands of migrants before Title 42 ends

Thousands of migrants have arrived in El Paso since Friday. The pandemic border restrictions known as Title 42 are due to end soon. These arrivals could be a sign of what is around the corner.

El Paso receives thousands of migrants before Title 42 ends

Listen · 5:58
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Thursday

With Title 42 set to end, questions loom about the future of migrants and asylum

Haitian migrants gather outside a shelter in Reynosa, Mexico earlier this week. Immigration authorities are bracing for an influx of migrants when pandemic border restrictions end. Carolina Cuellar/TPR hide caption

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Carolina Cuellar/TPR

Law

With Title 42 set to end, questions loom about the future of migrants and asylum

The Biden administration wants to discourage migrants from crossing the border illegally when pandemic restrictions end. That looming deadline has revived a dispute about asylum and border security.

With Title 42 set to end, questions loom about the future of migrants and asylum

Listen · 4:12
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Tuesday

A fight over how to enforce immigration laws reaches the Supreme Court

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before a Senate subcommittee on homeland security on Capitol Hill on May 4. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

National

A fight over how to enforce immigration laws reaches the Supreme Court

The Biden administration wants immigration authorities to focus on threats to public safety, but a lower court said its guidelines went too far. Now the high court is hearing arguments in the case.

A fight over how to enforce immigration laws reaches the Supreme Court

Listen · 3:56
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Thursday

Climate

The Biden administration prepares for the end of Title 42

Washington and El Paso, Texas react as the Biden administration prepares for the end of Title 42 after a federal judge declared the pandemic border restrictions unlawful.

The Biden administration prepares for the end of Title 42

Listen · 5:52
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