KaRen in Minnesota celebrate the year 2749
Tuesday, January 11,, 2010 - Minnesota's KaRen community - one of over 200 ethnic groups from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) - celebrated their new year last week at the Roseville Lutheran Church. The community has grown to over 3,000 individuals living in the Twin Cities, and according to this MPR news story, though the numbers of refugees arriving from camps in Thailand are small, secondary migration from the greater U.S. to Minnesota has contributed to a significantly-increasing population in the state. Last year alone, the number of KaRen refugees arriving in Minnesota outnumbered the number of arriving Somali refugees two-to-one.

No Human Being is Illegal: Mobilizing for Humane and Just Immigration Reform event to be held
Monday, January 12, 2010 - The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and several community partners are hosting a two-day event featuring Liberation Theologian Dr. Miguel De La Torre, author of Trails of Hope and Terror: Testimonies on Immigration. ILCM, the Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, Advocates for Human Rights, Jewish Community Action, the Minnesota Da'wah Institute and others will meet Saturday and Sunday, January 30 and 31st, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka. Download the PDF registration form.

Report: The Economics and Policy of Illegal Immigration in the United States
Friday, January 8, 2010 - The Migration Policy Institute published a report last month compiled by researchers at the University of California-San Diego and the National Bureau of Economic Research detailing the economic and policy impact of "illegal" immigration in the U.S. The report states that business owners find undocumented immigrants to be useful during times of recession due to their relative economic flexibility. Because of this and other factors, "Policy inaction is a result not only of a partisan divide in Washington, but also of the underlying economic reality that despite its faults, illegal immigration has been hugely beneficial to many US employers, often providing benefits that the current legal immigration system does not."

At dawn of new year, pressure for reform
Thursday, January 7, 2010 - On the opening of the new year New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg vowed to help the Obama administration pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. That same day, four Florida college students--three of whom are undocumented-- began a four month protest walk to Washington. With a reform bill on the horizon, the New York Times editorializes:

"After years of tightening the screws, the system is hopelessly frozen. Those who want to fix it will have to shut out the choruses of no-amnestys and over-my-dead-bodys, sidestep the false arguments and press into the headwinds while holding firm to the core of the better solution. To legalize the undocumented, collect their unpaid taxes, free them to earn more and spend more, to get the immigrant escalator to the middle class moving again. The country needs it; the economy needs it; the immigrants need and deserve it."

Three gifts to immigrants on Epiphany Sunday
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - This editorial from the Catholic Spirit encouraged its readers on the day of the Feast of the Epiphany - which also fell on Immigration Sunday - to give three gifts of their own to new Americans: First, to help dispel the myths that prevail about immigrants. Second, to take an opportunity to experience the lives of immigrants for themselves. And third: to explore their own family's history of immigration.

Call for entries for Art of Recovery Exhibition
Thursday, December 17, 2009 - In recognition of the National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 18 - April 24, 2010, the seventh annual Art of Recovery exhibition will feature work submitted by Minnesota crime victims. Organizers are calling for creative pieces that express the victim experience or recovery through visual art or literature. The exhibition is hosted by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs in partnership with the Minnesota State Arts Board. Call for Entry information is posted at www.arts.state.mn.us/aor. Submissions are due Friday, January 8, 2010.

E-Verify gaffe shows privacy concerns remain
Monday, December 14, 2009 - Minnesota state agencies have suspended use of a Texas identity-verification contractor citing concerns that the company failed to keep safe the private information of up to 500 employees. Minnesota Public Radio reported Thursday it could access names, birth-dates, and social security numbers from the company's website without using encryption or a password. Lookout Services was paid $1.50 a name to run state employee data through the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system, after Governor Tim Pawlenty signed an executive order mandating the checks. This summer, however, a Legislative Auditor's report said the administration still isn't checking its own employees.

Minnesota Public Radio feature focuses on Immigrant Detention
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - Telling the story of David Soto and his brother, this radio piece gives a human voice to the 200-300 immigrant detainees who are currently housed in county jails in Minnesota. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rents bed space from the jails to house immigrants and refugees, most of whom have no criminal record, and many of whom have special mental health and medical issues. Though ICE and County officials are unhappy about the current detention system, rates of detention and deportation are not likely to decline. While the Obama administration concedes that the detention system must be reformed, detainees in the intervening years will continue to lack full access to justice.

Valeria Silva, immigrant from Chile, elevated to superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - Ms. Silva came to the United States at age 24 not speaking English and rose through the St. Paul School district to become Director of the English Language Learner (ELL) program. Her work during her 9 year tenure there won her national attention when ELL students in the district were reported to have made more progress at closing the achievement gap with non-ELL students than in any other large school district in the country. ILCM congratulates her on her achievement and past work with immigrant learners and families, and we wish her the very best in this important new role.

New report shows vital impact of immigrant workforce
Monday, November 23, 2009 - A recent report to the Minnesota Business Immigration Coalition by Humphrey Institute professor Katherine Fennelly highlights the economic contributions of immigrants and the increasingly important role they will play in the economy. "The evidence is overwhelming," writes Scott Gillespie in a Star Tribune Editorial, "We will need to replace today's workforce, and we can't afford to exclude immigrants from the solution."

As family suffers from broken immigration system, Catholics begin to organize
Thursday, November 19, 2009 - After 16 years of residency, Sara Avendano will be deported to Mexico and be separated from her autistic son, new baby, and four other U.S. Citizen children. "The children are the ones who suffer," she said, addressing the audience at an archdiocesan forum on immigration. The meeting kicked off the Justice for Immigrants-Minnesota campaign, a catholic Comprehensive Immigration Reform organizing effort. ILCM Executive Director John Keller also addressed the crowd, adding reform, "is a challenge that we cannot shy away from. Do not lose your hope, do not lose your courage, do not say that this is a fight I won't engage in."

ILCM invites applicants for Maggio Immigrants' Rights Fellowship
Monday, November 16, 2009 - The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is calling for project proposals from qualified law students interested in applying for the Michael Maggio Immigrants' Rights Fellowship. The fellowship commemorates the life of Mr. Maggio, an immigration attorney, and is designed to strengthen law students' long-term commitment to promote justice and equality for vulnerable immigrant groups. Applications are due December 4, and must include a cover letter, resume, and completed application form. A required letter of support will be furnished by ILCM. Please call (651) 641-1011 with questions or to discuss project proposals.

How long must we wait? Administration responds: CIR essential and imminent; must move beyond enforcement
Friday, November 13, 2009 - In a speech today before the Center for American Progress, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano acknowledged the vital role immigrants play in building the US economy and called for comprehensive reform. Echoing statements made by ILCM following the recent janitorial raid, Napolitano noted the tremendous strain present laws place on mixed status families and acknowledged the need to reassess work-site enforcement practices. More information can be found here and here. Video of speech here.

ILCM Annual Report Reviews Successful Fiscal Year 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009 - ILCM is pleased to announce the annual report for our 2009 fiscal year. We hope you'll take a moment to review this year's highlights and to note our remarkable growth. Funders, partners, and volunteers, thank you for supporting us as we grow, adapt, and innovate to meet the needs of Minnesota's immigrant and refugee communities. You can also review our past annual reports.

Termination of 1,200 Workers Prompts Question: When to Expect Reform?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - In an enforcement action three times the size of the 2006 Postville Iowa raid, 1,200 undocumented janitors have been fired. ILCM and volunteer attorneys have been working with the janitors to provide legal advice and representation where possible. As with most immigration enforcement actions, it is the children of the workers that are the primary concern of those affected. A recent study reports that 64% of children of undocumented immigrants are U.S. Citizens. These youngest citizens continue to pay the price of the U.S.'s decision to prioritize enforcement while deferring the promise of reform. Minnesota Public Radio, the Star Tribune and KSTC-TV have more.

Legal Access at Issue in Immigrant Detention Facility
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - The Varick St. Detention facility in New York City--where detained immigrants work for $1 a day and allege that dire medical needs have been ignored--is emblematic of the fundamental unfairness of the U.S. immigrant detention system. According to a report by the City Bar Justice Center, nearly 40% of detainees in the facility have grounds to resist deportation. Yet detainees, unlike criminals, are not appointed counsel by the government and can be moved out of state without notice. Volunteer lawyers fill the gap in representation, but cannot fully compensate for a system that is essentially at odds with American legal values. More.

Immigrant to U.S. wins New York City Marathon
Monday, November 9, 2009 - Meb Keflezighi, a naturalized citizen whose family fled war-torn Eritrea when he was a child, is the first U.S. Citizen male to win the race in 27 years. More.

In new campaign, ICE draws awareness to Human Trafficking
Thursday, November 5, 2009 - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is hoping to draw attention to the plight of victims of human trafficking with public service announcements and posters, and to encourage people to report these crimes. In cases of trafficking, victims should not be afraid to come forward because cooperating with the police to help investigate and prosecute traffickers can lead to legal status in the United States. Against a backdrop of mistrust generated by high-profile ICE raids in recent years, "It's helpful to hear that there are reasons to trust the police," said Executive Director John Keller to KARE11 news in St. Paul. If you are a victim of trafficking or know of a victim of trafficking, you should still seek legal advice. Please contact ILCM at 1-800-223-1368.

ILCM meets with director of Citizenship and Immigration Services
Monday, November 2, 2009 - Alejandro Mayorkas, Obama's new director of Citizenship and Immigration services, met with about 60 people including ILCM director John Keller on Thursday October 29th as part of a nation wide listening tour. Mayorkas acknowledged that people throughout the country are increasingly frustrated with the high rates of arrests and detention and expressed a desire to make CIS a more responsive and efficient agency during his tenure. Visit Minnesota Public Radio for more.

Obama administration recommends asylum in precedential asylum case
Friday, October 30, 2009 - In what may be a precedent for future asylum claims, the Obama administration has recommended asylum for a Guatemalan in the U.S. woman fleeing her abusive husband since 1995. The issue at hand in setting a precedent is whether women who suffer domestic abuse are part of a "particular social group" which faces persecution, one of the criteria for asylum. Read more.

U.S. Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) announces principles of reform; full bill to follow
Monday, October 26, 2009 - ILCM welcomes the recent work of Representative Gutierrez, a long time champion of comprehensive immigration reform and author of the 2007 STRIVE act. At a rally in Washington last week, the congressman announced a set of core principles that will be incorporated into an upcoming reform bill.

ILCM Congratulates Hamline Immigration Clinic students
Thursday, October 22, 2009 - Accolades go to Nkechi Eccles-James, Nate Bares, Kate Hannaher, Lisa Hammer, and Khanh Nguyen, whose hard work has provided legal representation to immigrants of modest means as they reunite with family and flee persecution and abuse. The students have filed Asylum, Violence Against Woman Act, U-Visa and family-based immigration claims. Eccles-James and Bares's asylum case involves fear of gang violence and is currently on appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Nguyen, student director of the clinic, recently received approval for a U-Visa that will permit his client to work in the U.S. and apply for permanent residency in three years. ILCM is gratified at the continued enthusiasm of Hamline students, who regularly work under staff attorney Susan Jorgensen Flores as part of Hamline's Immigration Law Clinic.

Boycotting Census is Self-Defeating
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - ILCM Executive Director John Keller strongly opposed a suggested boycott of the 2010 census by a member of a national immigration rights organization. Citing both the lack of impact that any such boycott is likely to have and the negative effects that undercounting the immigrant community would have on state representation, funding, and services, ILCM firmly believes that such a boycott would only hurt immigrants in Minnesota while moving no closer to comprehensive immigration reform.

ILCM among nonprofits spotlighted by study
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - A study released by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy last week highlighted the efforts of ILCM and fourteen other Minnesota nonprofits for the excellent service and advocacy they provide on behalf of Minnesotans and their communities. Among the findings reported in the study was that for every $1 in donations to ILCM and the other nonprofits examined, the local community reaped over $138 dollars in long term benefits. "When nonprofit organizations and foundations partner to tackle urgent issues in the state, they can achieve tremendous success," Aaron Dorfman, executive director of NCRP, said, "It is especially effective when they use public policy advocacy and engage directly the very people affected in the problem-solving process." ILCM is proud to have been named on this list and looks forward to many more years of successful advocacy on behalf of the immigrant community. The study can be found here.

Detention system focus of MinnPost Article
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - "As immigration enforcement tightens, the detention system is overwhelmed" takes a look at the rapidly increasing issue of immigrant detention networks that affect hundreds of thousands of immigrants, and some citizens, each year in America. As the article notes, many of these immigrants are detained for years upon end, despite a Supreme Court decision that found such indefinite detention unconstitutional.

Wall Street Journal article on ILCM clients
Friday, August 28, 2009 - Last Friday the Wall Street Journal had an in depth look at the issues facing the young Salvadoran siblings who narrowly avoided deportation in July. The Journal examined not just the facts of the immediate case, but how it might impact future cases involving asylum-seekers seeking refuge from violent gangs.For the full article, please click here.

Statement on the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - ILCM mourns the passing of one of the greatest champions for immigrants and refugees in the United States, The Honorable Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. We join with many across the U.S. to see to it that his efforts for Comprehensive Immigration Reform bear fruit as quickly as possible. Read this article from USA Today that describes his influence on what we now know as the U.S. immigrant and refugee system.

Forgery arrests in southern Minnesota attest to a broken system
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - Mower County in southern Minnesota has seen a significant uptick in arrests for aggravated forgery over the past year, with many of those charged being undocumented workers accused of using forged identification in order to work at a local meat processing facility. ILCM Executive Director John Keller noted in an interview with the Austin Daily Herald that the demand for laborers and the current broken immigration system results in a situation where workers who wish to obtain documentation are faced with an unpleasant choice, to either not work or to work under another person's identity.

President Obama reiterates commitment to comprehensive immigration reform
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - At a meeting with the leaders of Mexico and Canada yesterday President Obama repeated his intentions of signing into law a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2010. Mr. Obama noted the likely opposition to any such bill but stated that reform was essential to both protect Americans through better border security and enforcement, and to provide undocumented immigrants with an opportunity to earn citizenship. The President noted that he expected to work first on a health care package, an energy and climate bill, and regulatory reform to prevent a recurrence of the current financial and economic crisis, but that he anticipates "that before the year is out we will have draft legislation along with sponsors potentially in the House and the Senate who are ready to move this forward, and when we come back next year, that we should be in a position to start acting." You can read the full press conference here.

Young Salvadorans have their case reopened at the Board of Immigration Appeals
Monday, August 10, 2009 - ILCM is happy to report that the Board of Immigration Appeals will be reexamining the asylum claim of three Salvadoran siblings that just over a month ago were taken into custody for deportation proceedings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Late this July, Justice John Paul Stevens and two other Justices of the Supreme Court ordered a halt to the deportation proceedings until the Department of Homeland Security responded to the petitioners request for a stay of deportation. Just days later David Landau, chief appellate counsel for DHS, along with the Obama Administration's Solicitor General Elena Kagan, responded by jointly requesting that not only should the three siblings be released, but that the Board of Immigration Appeals reconsider the original claim. On July 28th, the BIA agreed to reopen the case. Great thanks are owed to the impressive work of local attorney Ben Caspar, pro bono attorneys Richard Bress and Lori Alvino McGill at the firm of Latham and Watkins, Senator Al Franken, and ILCM's own John Keller. Due to their combined efforts, this young family will have a second chance before the BIA to not only stay in the country, but also set a precedent for others in their situation who are currently denied asylum despite well realized fears of returning to their country of origin. Please see the front page article by Jean Hopfensperger in the Star Tribune for more. Also see this PDF from the Department of Homeland Security and the office of the Solicitor General for the government's request that the case be reopened.

Salvadoran youth released from custody
Monday, July 27, 2009 - On July 22nd, Immigration and Customs Enforcement released from custody the three siblings from El Salvador that had been facing imminent deportation to their home country where they could have faced violent reprisals from the MS-13 gang for fleeing the country half a decade ago after refusing to join the notorious criminal group. The family was picked up by ICE on their standing deportation order on July 6th despite having an appeal pending before the 8th Circuit court. ICE declined to comment on the reasons for the release.

Struggle to prevent deportation of Salvadoran asylum-seekers continues
Thursday, July 23, 2009 - Attorneys for three young siblings from El Salvador continue their desperate effort to halt Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation proceedings. Over the past week lawyers affiliated with ILCM and with the major national firm Latham and Watkins have undertaken every effort on behalf of the two brothers and their sister, arguing to Supreme Court Justices, Congresspeople and Senators, and Administration officials that the deportation should be stayed until the end of the appeals process. Chief among the lawyers concerns are the threats the three siblings will face if deported. The Salvadoran refugees originally came to the United States after the brutally violent criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), which has engaged time and again in murder, rape, terrorism, drug running, and human trafficking in the past, threatened to kill the two brothers and rape and murder their sister if they refused to join the gang. Their case is a vitally precedential one, if an appeal is successful it could not only save their lives but those of other refugees fleeing from the endemic gang violence that afflicts many parts of Latin America. We hope that you will join us in hoping and praying that these innocents are not deported by ICE to potentially face their death. For more information on ICE's procedures, please click here.

ILCM clients appeal to top Administration officials for stay of removal
Thursday, July 16, 2009 - On July 6th, 2009, three ILCM clients from El Salvador were seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for deportation proceedings despite a current appeal before the Eighth Circuit of a Board of Immigration Appeals ruling. The BIA had previously ruled that the three were not eligible for asylum despite what even ICE concedes is a credible threat to the three siblings lives if they are returned to El Salvadore. Attorneys for the trio are asking Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder to stay the deportation pending the appeals process. The attorneys are also requesting that a Supreme Court justice grant a stay of removal, which both the Eighth Circuit and Justice Samuel Alito refused to do. The request for a stay of removal to Justice Alito, including a full accounting of the dangers faced by these three young people should they be deported, can be found here.

8th Circuit Court rules for client of ILCM's Pro Bono Litigation Project
Thursday, July 16, 2009 - Our new Immigration Litigation Project was successful in our first petition for review to the Eighth Circuit. In Salguero v. Holder, (PDF file), we challenged the Board of Immigration Appeals decision denying our client an opportunity to seek Temporary Protected Status during removal proceedings. The Board had ruled that an applicant who is denied TPS status by the Department of Homeland Security cannot renew that application in immigration court unless they first exhausted an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Unit. The Eighth Circuit ruled that our local Immigration Judges in Bloomington, Minnesota improperly refused to consider the TPS application on this misguided basis, and remanded the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals to explain why our client could be declared ineligible under the statute. In response the BIA stated in Matter of Lopez-Aldana, (PDF file), clarifying that an applicant for TPS may seek de novo review by an immigration judge during removal proceedings, regardless of whether an appeal to the AAU has been exhausted or even filed at all. ILCM Senior Attorney Sheila Stuhlman and our litigation project director, Benjamin Casper, litigated Salguero before the Eighth Circuit. Our special thanks go to the National Immigrant Justice Center, and also the American Immigration Law Foundation, for their support in this effort.

Congressman Erik Paulsen on Immigration Reform
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 - Congressman Erik Paulsen of Minnesota's 3rd District has been a steady voice in recognizing the need for real immigration reform. In a letter presented at the June 14th Familias Unidas event, Congressman Paulsen noted the common bonds of humanity that we all share as both native and immigrant, citizen and refugee. In the letter he discussed the impact that observing refugee camps in the Congo had upon him, and the effect that seeing children living in those conditions had on him, a father of four. Congressman Paulsen closed by stating his continued committment to work on immigration issues that affect families so searingly around the world and right here at home, and we look forward to working with him in the future.

ILCM Executive Director: "The Immigration System of the United States Is Broken."
Monday, July 6, 2009 - Executive Director John Keller was quoted this past Friday in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on the current state of the American immigration system. In an article discussing the vastly different experiences of two women, one a political refugee who waited 20 years for her green card and the other an undocumented worker who obtained permanent residency within two years after marrying an American citizen, Keller noted that immigrants can wait for decades for just their immigration interviews due to a lack of "time, money, and staff" on the part of the government.

President Obama Convenes Summit on Immigration Reform
Friday, June 26, 2009 - On Thursday, June 25th, the White House played host to a bipartisan group of lawmakers from both houses of Congress as President Obama announced a new working group headed by Secretary Janet Napolitano on immigration reform. The attendees of the summit expressed optimism that a bill could be on the President's desk before the end of the year.

New Polling Shows Strong Support for Immigration Reform
Friday, June 26, 2009 - As the immigration reform issue begins gathering steam once more, two new polls have come out showing broad, bipartisan support for comprehensive immigration reform. The first poll, by Benenson Strategies, shows a solid 64% majority in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, with that number rising to 82% when the details of such reform are explained. Moreover, when asked what should happen to the 12 million undocumented immigrants who have not committed any crimes a bipartisan majority which includes 62% of Republicans say that they should be given a path to citizenship. The second poll, by ABC News and the Washington Post show 61% of all respondants supporting a path to citizenship as a part of immigration reform.

ILCM Presents Three Learning Opportunities
Monday, June 15, 2009 - The Immigrant Law Center is proud to offer three exciting opportunities for professional enrichment in the coming month. On Thursday, June 25, ILCM in conjunction with Saint Paul Public Schools will host the No Second Chance Showcase for Administrators—a training session for school administrators in Minnesota who wish to learn more about immigration law and policy, and how to educate their student population. Also on June 25th will be a 5 credit CLE class taught regarding the application of the new Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act to immigrants and exciting new pro bono opportunities. ILCM is also holding a 3 credit CLE class on the morning of June 19th from 8:30am until 11:30am regarding the use of uncommon waivers in immigration court proceedings.

Twin Cities World Refugee Day this Saturday
Monday, June 15, 2009 - The Minnesota Refugee Community will be hosting a celebration of their cultures this coming weekend on June 20th, which is World Refugee Day. Scheduled to run from 10am until 6pm at Minnehaha Park, there will be a variety of music, dance, and poetry performed by the many members of Minnesota's large refugee population, as well as food, crafts, and children's activities. There will also be a resource fair for members of the immigrant community. The event is free.

ILCM and over 1000 others welcome Rep. Gutierrez and Familias Unidas
Monday, June 15, 2009 - This past Sunday over 1000 people joined US Representatives Luis Gutierrez and Keith Ellison at Incarnation Church in Minneapolis to support comprehensive immigration reform. A diverse group of immigrants and supporters of reform listened to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious leaders as well as a number of government officials including aides to Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Paulsen argue for reform, and heard from Minneapolis residents testimonials of how the current broken system decimates families, an urgent reminder of why reform is so urgently needed.

 

ILCM Executive Director in Rochester on Upcoming Immigration Reform
Monday, June 1, 2009 - Executive Director John Keller gave a presentation at a seminar held last week titled "Immigration in the 21st Century: What works, what doesn't work and what we can do about it." Among the questions asked were what's in store for immigration reform this coming year, and how immigration affects Minnesota specifically. The event was sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis Justice and Peace Committee. Read the full story here.

Rep. Gutierrez (D-IL) recognizes one-year anniversary of Postville raids
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - Illinois Representative Luis Gutierrez recognizes the one year anniversary of ICE raids on Postville, IA. Read the story here.

St. Paul law office Centro Legal closes; ILCM hire some staff and accept many open cases
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - Yesterday, the St. Paul law office Centro Legal closed its doors after serving Latinos in the Twin Cities for 28 years. Due to extenuating financial circumstances, a merger of Centro Legal and ILCM was not possible. However, ILCM is pleased to announce that, with the help of some of Centro's funders, the majority of Centro's cases will be transferred to ILCM so as to prevent gaps in representation. Read ILCM's press release here. Additionally, listen to an MPR interview held Monday with Centro's interim Director and ILCM Director John Keller. Finally, an article in Sunday's Star Tribune details the circumstances that led to Centro's closing, and what implications remain for its clients and staff.

Third annual ILCM gala a success!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - Our third annual gala, held Friday April 17 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Paul, was an exquisite event. The program included speeches from State Representative Carlos Mariani and U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, the silent auction sent dozens of amazing gifts home with the clients, attorneys and well-wishers who attended, and our newest gala feature - a wine raffle of 60 bottles - made one attendee very happy. To see a list of our sponsors, as well as photos from the event, click here. We could not have managed such a fantastic event without the hard work of our many sponsors, volunteers and generous donors.

Report details economic impact of legalizing all undocumented workers in the U.S.
April 14, 2009 - A recently-released report from the Immigration Policy Center shows that the net economic gain from providing all undocumented workers in the U.S. with a pathway to citizenship would be $66 billion in state and federal revenue. According to this story by the Public News Service, Florida stands to gain the most from legalization of all its undocumented workers. Read the full report from the Immigration Policy Center here.

Liberians' enforced departure date extended one year
Friday, March 20, 2009 - Ten days prior to the deportation deadline faced by 3,600 Liberians in the U.S., President Obama signed a one-year extension for those with Deferred Enforced Departure status. Of these 3,600 individuals facing eventual deportation, 1,000 live in Minnesota. Read the official executive order from the White House. We want to extend a gracious thank-you to all of you who contacted your local representative, or the President himself, to advocate for an extension of this deadline.

ILCM Director to present at annual Justice and Peace meeting: Immigration, and how to approach legislators
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - The Sisters of Saint Francis will conduct their annual Justice and Peace meeting this May with a special guest - ILCM director John Keller. His presentations at the meeting will cover the basics of immigration in the 21st century. Click here for their latest issue of the Justice and Peace Newsletter, an agenda for this annual meeting, and a biography of John Keller.

Pro-bono attorney interviewed on issue of 'participation in persecution'
Monday, March 16, 2009 - Attorney Ben Casper, an active participant in ILCM's pro-bono program and head of the 8th Circuit Court Appelate Litigation Project was interviewed recently by MinnPost regarding an asylum case recently reviewed by the Bureau of Immigration Appeals (BIA) in which an immigrant with dual citizenship in Eritrea and Ethiopia was denied asylum due to his participation in persecution - even though his participation was forced. Read the story here.

ILCM co-authors letter to Attorney General regarding Matter of Silva-Trevino
Friday, March 6, 2009 - Two months prior to the end of his term, then-Attorney General Mukasey significantly modified the analysis used to determine whether a conviction constitutes a "crime of moral turpitude" when regarding removal proceedings. (Read the original decision here.) His decision stood out against 100 years of precedent. ILCM has co-authored a letter to current Attorney General Holder asking him to withdraw Mukasey's opinion. Read the co-authored letter here.

Legal Times features ILCM's work to reverse rejection of asylum for Salvadorans
Monday, March 2, 2009 - The work of ILCM and law firm Latham & Watkins was featured in a recent article in Legal Times. Following a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to reject a plea for asylum by three Salvadoran siblings fleeing their home country and the internationally notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, lawyers from ILCM and Latham & Watkins sent a letter to Attorney General Holder criticizing the decision. Read the letter to the Attorney General here, and read a copy of the Legal Times article here.

Justice Fund grant awarded to ILCM; Director speaks to parishioners
Sunday, January 4, 2009 - ILCM Director John Keller spoke to parishioners at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on Sunday, January 4th 2009 (see photo to the right). The U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops urged parishes nationwide to focus on issues of immigration on Epiphany Sunday. ILCM was a recipient of a Justice Fund grant to support its work with detained immigrants facing deportation. Keller spoke on the rights and dignity of immigrants regardless of their status, and worked with SJA's ISAIAH core team on a forum held after both masses that addressed the myths of immigration and provided more information on potential upcoming legislation.

ICE raids in Bellingham, Wash. first of Obama administration
Thursday, February 26th, 2009 - A raid conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforfement at a factory in Bellingham, Washington was the first of the Obama administration. Coming less than a week after the president stated during an interview with a Spanish-language radio station in Los Angeles, the raid caused many immigration advocates to worry about Obama's promise of change. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was unaware of the raid until after the fact. Read more here.

Recently released documents show that ICE raids were a law enforcement failure
Monday, February 9th, 2009 - The Bush administration's raid-based enforcement methods failed to achieve their stated goal of apprehending 75% criminal fugitives, despite enormous funding and personnel increases, according to documents released Monday by the Immigrant Justice Center at Yeshiva University's Cardozo School of Law and the Migration Policy Institute. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano's internal review of ICE's fugitive operations signifies the potential for change in these policies. For the full MPI report, and the Cardozo School press release and documents in full, click here and click here.

ILCM and MN Chamber of Commerce push immigration reform in Mankato MN
Monday, December 15th, 2008-- The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and the Minnesota chamber of Commerce were in Mankato Friday December 12th to talk about immigration reform and the economy. State demographer Tom Gillaspy projects that retiring workers will begin to outnumber new workers in Minnesota making immigrant workers essential to a robust economy.

Read an article from the Mankato Free Press about the event here.

See Fox News' coverage of the event here.

Human Rights Day conference features session on the impact of immigration raids
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008-- Minnesota Department of Human Rights' 25th annual Human Rights Day Conference on December 5th will include a presentation by ILCM Executive Director John Keller about the impact of raids on legal immigrants as well and the communities in which they occur.

If you would like a copy of the powerpoint please call our office at 1-800-223-1368

Visit the MDHR website by clicking here.

The new Obama administration is capable of pushing immigration reform
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008-- Despite difficulties with past attempts at federal immigration reform the new administration must fix our broken immigration system. The Washington Post has published an editorial explaining that Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as Secretary of Homeland Security has the experience needed to create meaningful and practical immigration reform.

Read the article here.

Chicano and Latino Affairs Council (CLAC) announce Latino Legislative Day at the Capitol
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008-- The Chicano Latino Affairs Council invites you to the 2009 Latino Legislative Day at the Capitol. Come join Latino leaders, community members, and allies to present a united platform and support Latino issues for the 2009 Legislative Session. To register or for more information on the event please contact Oscar Echandi at (651) 296-9587 or visit www.clac.state.mn.us.

ILCM will hold a CLE on the naturalization interview
Monday, November 24th, 2008-- This CLE is for our pro bono attorneys who have completed our basic naturalization CLE, have taken a case, and now want to know what happens next.

For more details including registration click here.

Deadline for TPS for Hondurans and Nicaraguans has been extended, work cards automatically extended
Monday, November 24th, 2008-- The previous deadline for re-registration for Nicaraguan and Salvadoran TPS, 12/01/08, has been extended to 12/30/08. Work cards for this group have also been automatically extended to July 5th, 2009. We will continue to make appointments for those needing help with applications; we are requesting a $110 donation for appointments, but no one will be turned away for inability to pay.

Read the United States Immigration and Customs Services (USCIS) press release here.

America's Voice analyze how immigration issues influenced the 2008 election
Monday, November 24th, 2008-- America's Voice, an immigration advocacy website, published an analysis on the 2008 election results. Their research showed that in "battleground" races candidates who supported "a smart, fair, and practical approach to immigration reform" overwhelmingly won out over candidates who took an approach with relied solely on enforcement of existing law.

Read the analysis here.

TPS has been extended, but the rules have changed
Thursday, October 9th, 2008-- USCIS has extended TPS for Salvadorans, Nicaraguans, and Hondurans. The deadlines for applications have changed substantially this year. Please help us to circulate this TIME SENSITIVE information to the community. The application period for Hondurans and Nicaraguans began 10/01/08 and ends in 12/01/2008. The deadline for Salvadoran applicants is 12/30/08. ILCM will be making appointments to help with applications; we are requesting a $110 donation for appointments, but no one will be turned away for inability to pay.

Informacion en Espanol aqui y aqui.

Read the USCIS announcement in English here.

ICE raids homes in St. James and Medelia.
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008-- Last week Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE), the branch of the state department which enforces immigration law, raided homes in Southwestern Minnesota. According to the numbers given by ICE the raids in St. James and Medelia resulted in 19 arrests.

Read the ICE press release about the raids here.

Read the Twin Cities Daily Planet story about the raids here.

Program on immigration and business in Wilmar MN
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008-- ILCM and the Minnesota Chamber of commerce will be in Wilmar this Friday to discuss immigration and the economy. There will be a presentation at Ridgewater College in Wilmar on Friday at 1:30. Please call the MN Chamber at 320-235-0300 for a reservation.

Read the West Central Tribune Article about the event here.

Minnesota Public Radio asks "why aren't the candidates talking about immigration?"
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008-- Tamar Jacoby, CEO of ImmigrationWorks USA, argues that US businesses stand to benefit from Immigration reform. She was in St. Paul this week to speak at The Business Case for Immigration conference at the Neighborhood house. She also appeared on MPR to explain the silence of both campaigns on the issue of immigration reform.

Read the article and listen to the Interview with Ms. Jacoby here.

Hispanics in the US see their situation worsening.
Monday, September 22nd, 2008-- The Pew Hispanic Center has published the results of a survey which shows that 50% of Latinos believe that their situation is worse now than it was one year ago. Latino immigrants in the US are even more pessimistic. The Pew survey shows that 63% of Latino immigrants claim that their situation has worsened from what it was one year ago, this number is up from 43% in 2007.

Read the press release here.

Read the complete report here.

Minnesota Lawyer publishes FAIR's response to CLE controversy.
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008-- In response to an article questioning F.A.I.R.'s role in a recent CLE, Julie Kirchner, Executive Director of FAIR, sent a letter to the editor of Minnesota Lawyer. In the letter Ms. Kirchner calls the accusations published in the September first article "salacious," and calls into question the credibility of Fair's critics.

Read the letter here.

Immigration Bar questions role of FAIR in CLE.
Wednesday, September 9th, 2008-- Attorneys are required to attend Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses throughout their career. At a recent CLE, organized by MN CLE, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) was asked to act as moderator. Many immigration attorneys questioned why MN CLE would call upon FAIR, which many see as a "hate-based" organization, to act as moderator. As a result of protests from the Immigration Bar MN CLE reworked the CLE to limit the role of FAIR.

Read the Minnesota Attorney article about the controversy here.

Minnesota Coalition for Human Rights(MCHR) voter guide published.
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008-- MCHR has published a guide for voters for the fall. This guide helps voters know what questions to ask candidates in order to gauge how they stand on human rights issues. Knowing how a candidate would answer these questions is essential to knowing how a candidate will act if elected.

Read the 2008 voter guide here.

Largest single-workplace raid in US history.
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008-- ICE has revised its statements about the raid that occurred Monday at Howard Industries in Laurel, MS raising the number of detainees from 350 to 595. As a result, this raid is now the largest single-workplace raid in US history. However only 8 individuals have been criminally charged, which represents a departure from practices in Postville, IA which saw hundreds charged with criminal offenses such as aggravated identity theft.

Read the joint Department of Justice/ICE press release here.

Hundreds detained in latest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008-- ICE raided a Howard Industries plant in Laurel Mississippi Monday. Hundreds of workers were detained, and ICE officials claim that 350 have been identified as undocumented workers. Immigrant activists are being vigilant to ensure that children are not left unattended, and that due process is upheld.

Read the Associated Press article describing the incident here.

ILCM client Ahmed Warsame makes headlines.
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008-- After being in legal limbo for two years Ahmed Warsame is now a U.S. citizen, thanks in part to the work of ILCM pro-bono attorney Lisa Miller. The Minneapolis Star and Tribune published a piece describing Ahmed's difficulties obtaining his citizenship as well the diligence shown by his attorney. ILCM praises the work of its pro-bono attorney's like Ms. Miller, and rejoices with clients like Ahmed who can now enjoy all the rights and responsibilities of a United States Citizen.

Read the Star Tribune article here.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) under scrutiny from Immigration advocates.
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008-- The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has been discussed in publications by both the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. FAIR's representatives have been repeatedly called upon by congress, as well as the national media, to discuss the state of immigration policy in the US; yet many immigrant advocacy groups are concerned by what they see as "fear-mongering" on the part of FAIR and its representatives.

Read the Anti-Defamation League's publication "Is FAIR Unfair?" here.

Read "The Teflon Nativists" published by the Southern Poverty Law Center here.

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) speaks out about Postville.
Friday, August 1st, 2008-- A "Conviction Binder" for the "fast-tracked" sentencing of the immigrants detained after the Postville, Iowa raid has been released. This handbook outlines a script for the judges and attorneys, and is written with the purpose of streamlining the proceedings to result in prison sentences and ultimate deportation. AILA has continued to be outspoken in its denunciation of the Postville proceedings, and has created a press release commenting on the "Conviction Binder". Follow the links to find out more...

Read the "Conviction Binder" here.

Read AILA's Press Release here.

Federal Immigration policy interferes with community policing.
Monday, July 28th, 2008-- Many local police officer have joined the debate over immigration reform. George Gascón, chief of police in Mesa, Arizona, writes in the New York Times " a wedge is being driven between the local police and some immigrant groups" because of a lack of a comprehensive federal immigration policy.

Read Mr. Gascón's piece from the New York Times here.

Interpreter documents lack of due process in Postville raid prosecution
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008--A recent essay by Erik Camayd-Freixas describes his experience interpreting for immigrants detained in the May 2008 Postville, Iowa raid. The powerful account raises substantial questions about the raid prosecution tactics used in Postville, which denied meaningful due process to the defendants. The essay has garnered national attention and has been used to raise awareness about unprecedented enforcement tactics used by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Read the essay here.

Read the NY Times describing the raid here.

Read the NY Times article about the sentencing of the detainees here.

Read a NY Times editorial about the abuses committed during the Postville raid here.

Read a Letter From the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) about the lack of legal representation for the detainees here.

Jewish community groups organize weekend protest in Postville.
Monday, July 28th, 2008-- Jewish community groups from across the Midwest marched with immigrants this weekend in Postville to demand comprehensive immigration reform, and to aid the families affected by the raid in May. Many activists are not only calling for reform but are making themselves heard regarding unfair labor allegations toward Agriprocessors Inc., the owners of the meat-packing plant raided in May.

Read the Star Tribune article about the rally here.

Read the New York Times article about allegations of labor violations here.

Jewish Community Action (JCA) creates fund for Postville, Iowa families
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008-- JCA has created a discretionary fund to aid the families in Postville in the aftermath of the raid in May 2008. You can read a letter from Rabbi Kravitz about his recent visit to Postville as well as find out how you can help here.

Support for raid and detention regulation grows in House and Senate
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008--As attention continues to be drawn to unprecedented raid procedure and insufficient medical treatment for detained immigrants, more U.S. Representatives and Senators are joining the effort to remedy the situation. According to a recent update from AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) advocacy director Marshall Fitz,