News and Headlines

Federal Judge blocks most of controversial sections of AZ immigration law
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton today granted an injunction blocking significant portions of AZ's "papers-please" anti-immigration law, less than 12 hours before the statute was to take effect. For more coverage, please visit the following media sources: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Star Tribune. For more details of the provisions blocked in this ruling, read the press release from the National Immigration Law Center.

Lino Lakes passes controversial English-only ordinance
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - On Monday night the Lino Lakes City Council passed an English-only resolution on a 4-1 vote (see news coverage here). This ordinance prohibits the translation of city resources and information into other languages, with exceptions such as health, public safety and education. However there is strong opposition to the ordinance from many local residents and leaders. Supporters say that offering city resources in English only would save the city money. Yet opponents counter that the city currently spends nothing on offering city resources in other languages. This has led many critics, such as Jon Tevlin of the Star Tribune, to question the true goal of this ordinance. The Star Tribune has also published an editorial position on the matter, stating that the ordinance is a "shortsighted, impractical approach that sends a negative, unwelcoming message to immigrants."

City Council member Dave Roeser, who proposed the ordinance, has denied the resolution is an appeal to anti-immigrant sentiments. However he does acknowledge that the ordinance would have no immediate impact. Lino Lakes, whose population is 92% white, has never translated official documents into other languages, and no one has ever asked the city to do so. Council member Kathi Gallup cast the lone dissenting vote. Gallup said she was concerned the ordinance created the perception the north suburb was unwelcoming and unfriendly. Lori Higgins, President of the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce, echoed Ms. Gallup's concerns. She told Minnesota Public Radio that the ordinance gives the perception that the area is unwelcoming, that it could deter business expansion, and that it could hurt the region's ability to attract companies and skilled workers.

ILCM delivers Immigration 101 in Owatonna
Thursday, July 13, 2010 - ILCM Executive Director John Keller and Program Director Cindy Anderson presented an immigration law overview on Tuesday to the Owatonna Human Rights Commission and the Paul Otteson foundation. ILCM's educational presentations seek to provide civic leaders a strong basis in the facts about the complexities of U.S. immigration law and policy. For more information about the presentation, read this story from the Owatonna people's press.

ICE priorities in question as deportation numbers continue to rise
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 - Minnesota Public Radio reported today that deportations in 2010 from the five-state region that includes Minnesota are on pace to be a third higher than last year. This increase stands in apparent contrast with stated ICE priorities to focus resources on criminals and those that are the biggest threats to public safety. ICE regularly stops at county jails to check for those who are in the country illegally, but has discretion over who it detains. Still, traffic stops that lead to deportation have become more common. ILCM's John Keller spoke to MPR for the story:

"What we think is happening is that ICE itself is continuing to want to show an increase in the number -- the raw number -- of people that it's removing from the United States," Keller said. "And the only way they can do that is by getting the easiest people that fall into their laps."

Keller wants the agency to provide data on how many of the people being deported from the five-state region are serious criminals, or what ICE calls "level-one offenders." An ICE spokeswoman said the agency does not have that information readily available.

ILCM responds to President's immigration speech
Thursday, July 1, 2010 - ILCM Executive Director John Keller and his counterpart at the Advocates for Human Rights, Robin Phillips, expressed support in this article for Obama's recent immigration address while emphasizing the urgent need for reform, the need to move beyond mere political calculations, and the desire to see the President himself take specific executive actions. Said Keller, "If we give in to the political calculations that the president repeated today, that we can't do anything unless the Republicans join us, it saps our commitment and energy ... It turns our back on the very people who are too vulnerable to raise their voices and who are counting on us to fix this issue for this generation. I would challenge anybody who's frustrated and angered by the lack of action out of Washington to channel that into positive phone calling, conversations with neighbors, working with faith communities, unions, professional associations, Minnesota's business and other employment-based associations, etc."

Murder in El Salvador is chilling validation of gang-based asylum claims
Wednesday, June 30, 2010 - The New York Times wrote Monday of the cases of Benito Zaldivar and Nelson Benitez Ramos, two Salvadoran asylum seekers who sought refuge from vicious street gangs in the U.S. and had their claims denied. Zaldivar was killed two months after being deported and Ramos lives in hiding, fearing gangs will exact similar revenge. Zaldivar and Ramos's cases highlight an area of contested asylum law. At issue is whether these men, and others like them who resist recruitment into street gangs, are members of a "particular social group" who fear persecution because of their membership. In denying such claims, courts have imposed standards some, including Judge Richard A. Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, have deemed "illogical." Read more about ILCM's active litigation on this issue.

NYC Mayor and Corporate CEOs join call for CIR
Thursday, June 24, 2010 - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and CEOs from Boeing, Disney, and Hewlett-Packard, and others are joining together in a coalition to lobby for comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. "To remain competitive in the 21st century, we need effective immigration reform that invites people to contribute to our shared success by building their own American dream," said Walt Disney Co. Chairman and CEO Robert Iger. More from the Associated Press.

ILCM brings immigration legal expertise to suburbs, greater Minnesota
Thursday, June 24, 2010 - ILCM Executive Director John Keller was twice in the news yesterday, bringing legal expertise to an immigration reform coalition picnic in Willmar and commenting on a proposed English-only ordinance in Lino Lakes. In Willmar, Keller recognized the pressures on local governments to respond to undocumented immigrants, but stressed the need for pragmatic and humane solutions to a dysfunctional federal immigration system. Keller also commented on the proposed English-only ordinance in Lino Lakes, which aims to cut costs by making city resources available only in English--despite the fact that no money is currently spent on translating city resources. "If there's no expenditure or anticipated expenditure, I think [Councilman Roeser] needs to be asked what the motivations are. ... Basing (the ordinance) on a phantom cost in the future seems a little bit suspect," said Keller, adding that the city risks losing money in potential discrimination lawsuits.

As implementation date nears, more concerns surface on details of Arizona's SB 1070
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - Citing concerns over implementation cost and rigid legal requirements, Municipal officials in Arizona are bringing to light new difficulties in implementing the controversial new law. The law makes undocumented presence in Arizona a state misdemeanor and will require law enforcement to detain those they reasonably suspect to be undocumented. People taken into custody on suspicion of committing a crime, however, must be read their Miranda rights. This fact and other provisions of the new law may, ironically, lead to less enforcement of federal immigration law. Read more from the Arizona Republic.

ILCM partnership with National Council of La Raza delivers signatures to the White House, Congress
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - Working with National Council of La Raza, ILCM gathered signatures and personal stories from more than 500 Minnesota residents, immigrants, faith communities and concerned citizens on colorful, American flag postcards. NCLR this week delivered 20,000 signed postcards from across the country to Congress and the president, encouraging them to pursue active and comprehensive federal immigration reform. More here.

Republican candidate for governor expresses support for CIR
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - Last week, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer spoke with MPR host Kerri Miller on the program's Midmorning show. In his interview, Mr. Emmer expressed perhaps his first public support for comprehensive immigration reform. This, in stark contrast to his initial public radio support of Arizona's discriminatory law, SB 1070. ILCM is extremely pleased with his recognition of the importance of new immigrants, and the need for the federal government to pass comprehensive immigration reform. ILCM has long partnered with the Minnesota business associations to inform public officials on the need for CIR, and thanks them for their exemplary continuing leadership. Listen to the interview here; he speaks about immigration at 44:30.

Important Supreme Court victory for immigrants convicted of minor drug possession offenses: Carachuri-Rosendo v. Holder
June 15, 2010- Yesterday, in this much anticipated opinion, the Supreme Court ruled that immigrants who have been convicted under state law of more than one minor drug possession offense cannot-without more-be deemed convicted of an aggravated "drug trafficking" felony for federal immigration purposes and thereby subjected to virtually automatic deportation. The Court unanimously rejected the government's harsh position that a second simple possession conviction under state law must always be equated to the serious federal felony of recidivist possession, and it ruled that the analogy to a federal recidivist offense could only be valid if proof of a prior possession conviction is required to be proven as an element under the state criminal statute in question (it was not in the case of Carachuri-Rosendo). The court concluded that treating minor state possession offenses as "aggravated felonies" and "drug trafficking" crimes simply defied the normal meaning of those terms.

This decision is an important victory for many long-term permanent resident immigrants in the United States who have minor drug possession convictions in their past because it means they will qualify to apply to immigration judges for discretionary pardons of these offenses to avoid deportation. Immigration judges will be allowed to weigh the immigrant's time in this country, ties to family and community, and other factors. Under the government's rejected view, all such immigrants would be deported without regards to their humanitarian equities. The decision also preserves eligibility for other crucial forms of immigration relief, including asylum. Earlier this year ILCM joined with the National Immigrant Justice Center and other organizations in filing this amicus curiae brief urging the result the Supreme Court reached yesterday.

ILCM joins amicus curiae brief challenging Arizona's harsh new immigration law, asks federal court to invalidate Arizona law and preserve protections for battered immigrant women and children
June 14, 2010- ILCM has joined an array of immigrant advocacy organizations from across America who represent battered women and children in this amicus curiae brief urging a federal court in Arizona to invalidate that state's new anti-immigrant law, SB1070. The brief is being filed in support of a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups asserting the Arizona law is unconstitutional. The specific focus of the amicus brief is the harmful impact the Arizona law will have on battered women and children, who, under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), are eligible for many special protections and benefits regardless of their immigration status. The Arizona law will inevitably cause these vulnerable women and children to fear rather than trust local police, and it will thus interfere with and undermine federal protections guaranteed by VAWA.

ILCM's Marian Hassan interviewed at Twin Cities World Refugee Day
Saturday, June 5, 2010 - Honoring resilence and survival, members of Minnesota's refugee communities and others from the twin cities metro area celebrated Twin Cities World Refugee Day on Saturday in down town Minneapolis. ILCM's Marian Hassan was on hand to speak with Fox 9 news.

Puerto Rico born U.S. Citizen detained as "illegal immigrant"
Thursday, June 3, 2010 - Eduardo Caraballo, born in Puerto Rico and a U.S. citizen, was arrested recently on suspicion of car theft. However, after his family posted bail, he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Despite presenting his birth certificate, he was held for three days, until congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) intervened on his behalf. Gutierrez expressed concern for how Arizona's recently-passed SB 1070, which requires all individuals to provide proof of citizenship, will fare if approached similarly. Read more here.

Poll finds U.S. voters favor immigration reform
Thursday, June 3, 2010 - A poll administered by Immigration Works found that 79% of respondents favor reform over the nation's current immigration system. Additionally, 77% support the immigration overhaul proposed in March by Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Click here to read the poll's findings.

Despite low state ratings, Sherbourne Co. jail continues to use stun guns on detainees
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - Although it receives lowered state ratings, the Sherbourne County jail, one of four in the state which ICE pays to house its detainees, continues to use stun guns and Tasers on inmates. One such inmate, Salaad Mahamad, has suffered physical and psychological side effects since hit with a stun gun in 2007. Read more here.

Senators to vote today on harmful enforcement-only amendments
Wednesday, May 25, 2010 - Senators need to hear your opposition to enforcement-only measures that only further erode fairness and due process and do nothing to fix our broken immigration system. A vote is anticipated this morning on amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (HR 4899) which address detention, enforcement and border issues. Please take action now to contact Senators Franken and Klobuchar and tell them that you oppose the following amendments:

Winona Daily News speaks out against AZ copycat legislation in Minnesota
Monday, May 24, 2010 - Responding to comments from area legislators Davis and Drazkowski, the Winona Daily News spoke out against Arizona-like anti immigrant legislation. The editorial shamed the representatives for disregarding civil and constitutional protections and for treating as criminals hard-working immigrants whose stories are the same as our ancestors and who are vital to the dairy industry in the representatives districts.

Youth keep immigration in the news: Undocumented Students stage sit-in at McCain's office, risk deportation; Second grader asks Mrs. Obama about deportation
Thursday, May 20, 2010 - Four undocumented students in caps and gowns staged a sit in in the offices of Arizona Senator John McCain on Monday, pushing for movement on the DREAM act this summer regardless of the state of comprehensive immigration reform legislation. This is the first time student activists have risked deportation to push Congress to act on the proposal. Read more about the incident and it's display of courage.

On Wednesday, As Mrs. Obama and her Mexican counterpart visited an elementary school, a second grader asked the first lady why the President was taking away people who don't have any papers. Take a look at the poignant video.

ILCM Board Member Mario Hernandez calls the "The Sleeping Giant" to action
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - Comparing the Latino community to a "sleeping giant," Hernandez says that the new anti-immigrant legislation in Arizona is a wakeup call. Latinos in Minnesota must begin to exercise their political power in three specific arenas: engaging Minnesota's candidates for Governor and having a visible presence in pre-election activities; pushing Minnesota's Senators and Congress-people to support a comprehensive reform of our immigration laws; and guarding against marginalization in the redistricting of legislative districts. Read his piece in Spanish, or in English translation.

Evangelicals join the call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Thursday, May 13, 2010 - Governor Pawlenty's Pastor Leith Anderson and evangelicals nationally today joined in calling for immigration reform that protects families and offers a path to legalization. In a full-page add taken out in the Washington newspaper Roll Call, the religious leaders set out a set of principles and urged a ratcheting down of the rhetoric surrounding the immigration debate. They called the current political stalemate "unacceptable," and urged Congress and the President to take up CIR this year.

ILCM rejects Anti-Immigrant Legislation introduced in MN House
Friday, May 7, 2010 - The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota calls on Federal leaders to take up a comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration laws and end the spread of state-based anti-immigration measures. Mimicking Arizona's misguided and draconian law, House Representative Steve Drazkowski (R-Wabasha) yesterday proposed copy-cat legislation, HF3830. The bill ignores both the serious constitutional challenges Arizona's legislation faces and the net positive impact immigrant communities bring to Minnesota. Furthermore, with only days left in the session, there appears to be no real intention of passing the bill as all committee deadlines have passed and legislators face unprecedented fiscal challenges following the Minnesota Supreme Court's recent unallotment decision. More.

St. Paul and Minneapolis Police Chiefs have also denounced the legislation in this statement, saying, "The culture of fear that this bill will instill in immigrant communities will keep victims of crime and people with information about crime from coming forward, and that will endanger all residents."

ILCM's Annual Gala in the news
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - ILCM's 2010 Fundraising Gala was featured in this story, published in Minnesota Lawyer.

What does it take to be legal? ILCM brings legal insight to WCCO
Monday, May 3, 2010 - Executive Director John Keller spoke with WCCO News Radio host Michele Tafoya last week, outlining the current immigration system and making the straightforward case that immigration reform needs to be on the top of the national agenda. Mr. Keller explained that about 70% of legal immigration is in the form of family petitions, and that high-skill employment and fear of persecution open other paths. For everyone else, says Keller, "..there's really no line or path for them to fix their status. No matter if they've been here... twenty years and maybe have two, three, four U.S. citizen children."

Senator Franken Up to the Challenge of CIR
Friday, April 30, 2010 - Senator Al Franken has released a public letter to the President encouraging him to keep Comprehensive Immigration Reform at the top of his legislative agenda. Franken's public letter comes in advance of major national rallies planned for May 1st. In the letter, Franken notes that the broken immigration system will continue to cause suffering in the lives of Minnesotans until it is fixed, and notes that "generations of Minnesotans before [him] have never shied away from tough problems." Franken concludes, "I stand ready to take up this challenge."

Arizona's pending immigration bill heats up national debate
Friday, April 23, 2010 - Arizona's draconian immigration measure SB 1070 is awaiting signature from Governor Jan Brewer and is poised to become the most strict and punitive immigration legislation in the country. The bill would make undocumented presence in the state a misdemeanor, require the police to check the legal status of anyone they "reasonably suspect" to be in the country illegally, and allow anyone to sue law enforcement and state agencies to compel them to comply. The Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police has come out against the bill, citing its damage to public safety and community trust, and civil rights groups are firmly against it. The bill has magnified the disatisfaction of immigrant and Latino groups, who have begun criticizing President Obama for not keeping his promise. President Obama today condemned the AZ legislation as irresponsible, but offered no specific timetable for an immigration bill.

Immigration reform fact: 48% of Immigrants in MN hold White-Collar jobs
Friday, April 22, 2010 - Minnesota's immigrant communities have a key impact on the economy-- as job creators, not job takers. This fact may play a key role in the national debate on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, writes Sharon Schmickle. The coming legislative battle promises to be tough, "but to write off the chances for any legislation would be to sell short the serious bipartisan concern that has built momentum for reform, said John Keller, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota in St. Paul. 'There is a keen awareness on both sides among people who are thoughtful about this that the status quo isn't serving the country very well,' Keller said."

Murder of Ecuadorian immigrant exposes racial tensions in Long Island, Police negligence
Tuesday, April 21, 2010 - The Long Island teen accused of hunting down Hispanics and killing Ecuadoran Marcelo Lucero 18 months ago was convicted of “manslaughter as a hate crime” Monday. But the tragedy of this senseless killing remains. In the wake of the tragedy some hispanic residents have come forward as victims of harassment and assault. A federal investigation has been opened to respond to claims that the Suffolk County Police deparment has not fully investigated assaults on hispanic residents. In response to the situation, ILCM Executive Director John Keller says, “violence is the logical progression when hatred, anti-immigrant intolerance, and racism are not immediately addressed by each community where they arise.”

E-Verify problems in Minnesota
Tuesday, April 21, 2010 - Today's Legislative Auditor report criticizes the State of Minnesota and its contractor's breach of privacy in 5 specific findings. Find the full report here.

ILCM's Worthington partner proud of collaboration
Monday, April 19, 2010 - In the April 3, 2010 edition of the Worthington Daily Globe, Jerry Fiolo of District 518 Community Education writes, "to respond to the needs of the growing refugee population, [we have] teamed up with Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council and the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota to secure a special grant of $118,000 from Minnesota's Office of Refugee Services. With these funds, the project partners have been able to offer services that can facilitate the refugees' successful resettlement in Worthington and surrounding communities." ILCM's Worthington attorney, Kathy Klos, helps these new residents apply to become legal permanent residents and citizens, in addition to carrying a caseload held over from the workplace raids of 2006. Kathy and ILCM were also the focus of this special feature.

Saturday immigration reform rallies receive renewed pledge from Democratic leadership
Monday, April 12, 2010 - Harry Reid (D-NV), the Senate Majority Leader, pledged on Saturday that legislators would begin work on Comprehensive Immigration Reform and renewed a commitment to try to pass the legislation in 2010. Senator Durbin (D-IL) echoed Reid's "this year" commitment to a crowd of immigrants and advocates in Chicago. Rallies were held in seven cities in the U.S., amid growing frustration about the delay of reform among immigrants and immigrant advocacy groups. More...

Supreme Court tells lawyers they must inform clients of deportation risks
Monday, April 5, 2010 - Stemming from the Constitution's Sixth Amendment guarantee of 'effective assistance of counsel', the Supreme Court ruled that criminal lawyers are required to advise their immigrant clients of the consequences of a guilty plea to their immigration status. This pertains particularly to the risk of deportation. The case that came before the Supreme Court involved a man from Honduras, Jose Padilla, who was ill-advised that a guilty plea in his criminal case would not affect his immigration status. Because of that guilty plea, Padilla now faces near mandatory deportation, even after having served time in prison. Read more.

Star Tribune: Liberian DED is example of the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Monday, March 22, 2010 - An editorial in the Star Tribune lays presents the recent Liberian DED issue as an example of the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

March for America draws 200,000, demanding Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Sunday, March 21, 2010 - Arriving on buses from across the country, immigrants and allies--including 56 from Minnesota organized with help from ILCM-- marched on Washington Sunday calling for urgent reform of our nations immigration laws. Faith and labor leaders as well as immigrant advocates demanded President Obama keep his promise to make immigration reform a 2010 priority. The Reverend Jessie Jackson, Princeton Scholar Cornel West and Benjamin T. Jealous, the president of the N.A.A.C.P. spoke, drawing parallels between the immigrant rights and civil rights movements. Congressional Democrats addressed the crowd and President Obama spoke via videotaped message, reaffirming his promise to forge a bipartisan plan for reform, though he avoided any specific initiative.

Obama extends Liberian DED for another 18 months
Friday, March 19, 2010 - Responding to calls from advocates around the country, President Obama today issued an extension for the estimated 3,600 Liberians now on Delayed Enforced Departure status. The order delays for 18 months the forced deportation of the many thousands of Liberians living in Minnesota and across the US. Yet the status is still temporary. In a year and a half Liberians with U.S. citizen children will again face the choice of abandoning or uprooting their families; several thousand workers may still be removed from local economies throughout the US and right here in Minnesota; and for those forced to leave, two decades’ worth of life and social ties may still be left behind.

Senators Schumer and Graham put forward framework for reform
Friday, March 19, 2010 - Following on their conversation with President Obama, Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC) today published this editorial in the Washington Post, laying out their framework for a bipartisan Comprehensive Immigration Reform package. Their framework includes a plan for high-tech identity verification, strengthened border security and interior enforcement, a temporary worker program with a mechanism for adjusting status to legal permanent residency, and an earned legalization program for undocumented immigrants. "The American people deserve more than empty rhetoric and impractical calls for mass deportation," write the Senators.

Grassroots to Obama: Keep your promise!
Monday, March 8, 2010 - Leaders of grassroots immigration advocacy groups strongly criticized Democrats and President Obama for inaction on immigration reform at a press conference on Monday, mounting pressure on the Capitol in anticipation of a March on the 21st of this month. As the possibility of passing a reform package through Congress in 2010 dwindles, the outcry serves to remind leaders of the suffering of millions of people who live in fear and cannot drive or go to college, and the disillusionment of immigrant voters. Hispanic voters could prove decisive this fall in 40 gubernatorial, Senate and House races, estimates advocacy group America's Voice.

Justice Prevails, for Qing at least
Monday, March 8, 2010 - Qing Hong Wu is pardoned from deportation, as Governor Paterson agreed with Wu's allies and acknowledged his successful rehabilitation. Wu's case highlights the inequity and rigidity of the immigration laws, and how easily immigrants fall through the cracks of a broken immigration system. Despite holding a position as a successful IT executive, Wu was to be deported for childhood crimes he had already served years in prison for. Read more.

Qing's story: Rigid immigration law ignores successful rehabilitation and mandates deportation
Thursday, February 16, 2010 - Qing Hong Wu, 29, immigrated to the United States when he was two years old. Though a gifted student, at 15 he was convicted of robbery and sent to prison. Determined to turn his life around, Wu earned his release in three years, then worked his way up to vice president for Internet technology at a national company. When Wu applied for citizenship, however, his teenage mistakes triggered draconian consequences. Detained, and awaiting mandatory deportation to China, Wu's fate is in the hands of allies, including the criminal judge who sentenced him, now petitioning for his release. Read more.

ILCM to host Midwest Coalition for Human Rights Fellow
Thursday, February 16, 2010 - ILCM seeks a law graduate, law or graduate-level student to serve as a summer legal assistant for the Minnesota Detention Project. The Project pairs attorneys from ILCM and other local immigrant services providers with detained immigrants to provide brief advice and representation. The fellow must have Spanish language skills and must be able to travel to local county detention centers. Get more information and be sure to apply by March 3rd!

Twist on the American Dream story: owning a football team
Thursday, January 28, 2010 - Did you know that Zygi Wilf, owner of the Minnesota Vikings was born to a family of Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1950s? Wilf's family benefited from post WWII refugee admissions policies and he went on to be a national real estate mogul. (Thanks to Greg Siskind for the story.)

Supreme Court preserves judicial review for immigrants seeking to reopen their removal proceedings
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - On January 20, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court issued this important opinion in Kucana v. Holder, No. 08-911, affirming that the U.S. circuit courts of appeals have jurisdiction to review cases brought by immigrants who have moved to reopen their removal proceedings, but who were denied reopening by immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The ruling will keep federal court doors open to thousands of immigrants pursuing relief from removal and vindicates the position that ILCM and other immigrants' rights groups presented in this amicus brief to Supreme Court. For more information visit our Litigation project page.

As military citizenship fast-track is formalized, immigrant soldier serves in Afghanistan
Thursday, January 21, 2010 - Kofi Law's immigration story is a model of patriotism: he came to the U.S. from Togo at 22, taught himself English, supported himself through two mechanics training programs, became a U.S. citizen, joined the Army and is now on tour in Afghanistan. The Deparment of Homeland Security on Friday formalized a fast-track citizenship path for Kofi's many fellow foreign-born servicemen and servicewomen in the Armed Forces without citizenship. Their applications will be streamlined and expedited.

Department of Homeland Security announces Haitian TPS: refuge given to support recovery efforts
Friday, January 15, 2010 - Answering the call from advocates across the country, Secretary Janet Napolitano today designated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians in the U.S. as of January 12, 2010. On that day, an earthquake centered in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince Tuesday may have killed upwards of 50,000 residents, the Red Cross estimates. The refuge applies to the 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented Haitians who will now be eligible to work legally in the U.S. and can directly help their families, communities and all of Haiti in this saddest crisis. ILCM will work with all eligible Haitians in Minnesota seeking assistance with TPS. Please call 1-800-223-1368 and identify yourself as a Haitian seeking TPS, or click on our Haitian Resources page, at right.

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