Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

By: James Porter*

Did you have tomatoes on your sandwich for lunch?  Did you tell the employee at the deli to add extra onions? Maybe you will go home this evening and relax with a nice glass of California Chardonnay?   It is likely that some, if not all of these items will have passed through the hands of an immigrant woman. 

 By: James Porter*

When thinking of Lent, many people think about what they are going to “give up.”  From chocolate and sweets to Facebook, the wide range of things people are willing to go without for 40 days varies.   However, the true power of Lent as a journey of reflection, resolution, and renewal is sometimes lost as we march towards that chocolate bunny on Easter.

By: TessaWinkler*

On this International Women’s Day, who comes to mind when you think of a strong woman?  Do you picture your mother?  What about your grandmother or a sister?  At CLINIC, our thoughts are drawn to a school teacher in Brockton, Massachusetts who fled Haiti after the devastating earthquake of 2010.

By: James Porter*

Earlier this week, Archbishop José H. Gomez (a member of CLINIC’s Board of Directors) became the fifth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, following the retirement of Cardinal Roger M. Mahony on his 75^th birthday.  Cardinal Mahony led what has become the nation’s largest Roman Catholic diocese with almost 4.2 million Catholics, 70% of whom are Hispanic.   He was appointed Archbishop of Los Angeles by Pope John Paul II in 1985 and was made a cardinal in 1991.

By: James Porter* and Jeff Chenoweth**

Earlier this year, CLINIC reached a milestone in its 23-year history: it accepted its 200^th affiliate.  Starting with only 17 members in 1988, hard work and collaboration  has paid off.   In part, aided by the addition of non-Catholic subscribers, CLINIC has become the largest network of charitable immigration service providers operating in 46 states out of 292 field offices. 

By: Tessa Winkler*

As January comes to an end, many of us disregard our New Year’s resolutions to practice healthier eating habits and exercise more often.  However, for newly elected government officials, 2011 has seen the fulfillment of campaign promises to challenge state immigration policies.  In light of federal inaction concerning immigration reform in 2010, state legislators have already introduced over 20 immigration-related bills. 

By: Allison Posner*

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti, killing 230,000, injuring 300,000 and leaving another million people homeless.  The immediate response was overwhelming, with many countries and humanitarian organizations offering rescue and medical assistance, then food, shelter and other aid.

By: Maria M. Odom*

On December 4, 2000, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed December 18 International Migrants Day.  This day began as a commemoration of the ten-year anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.  Today, ten years after the proclamation, and twenty years since the adoption of the Convention, it is important to reflect on the need to protect the rights of all migrants.

By: James Porter*

When you sit down to the dinner table this Thanksgiving, what will you say you are thankful for?  Friends? Family? Health?  Something that may slip your mind though is being thankful for your  U.S. citizenship.  For almost 2 million young people in this country, this is not something they have ever been given the chance to be thankful for.  They were brought to the U.S. as children and many do not know a life outside the U.S. 

By: Allison Posner*

With close to 1.5 million individuals currently in active service, the United States has the second largest military in the world.  Thousands of the individuals – nearly 8% – who serve and protect our country every day were not born in it.  Immigrants have a strong and proud tradition of military service to the United States.  As of June 30, 2009, there were 114,601 foreign-born individuals serving in the U.S. armed forces.  

Eighty-one percent of these are naturalized U.S. citizens and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced earlier this week that in fiscal year 2010, it added the greatest number of military naturalizations the U.S. has seen in over five decades.  Between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010, USCIS granted citizenship to 11,146 members of the U.S. armed forces.  The ceremonies took places all across the United States as well as in 22 countries where service men and women are stationed.  This is the highest number of naturalizations since 1955 and a six percent increase over the previous fiscal year. 

Photo Credit - usmilitary.com