Press Releases
CLINIC Celebrates 25 Years of Service to Immigrants, Prepares for Immigration Reform
By: Andrés Abella
EMBARGOED - FOR RELEASE MAY 22, 2013/ 8:30 A.M.
CONTACT: Andrés Abella 415-577-1724
aabella@cliniclegal.org
CLINIC CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO IMMIGRANTS, PREPARES FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM
Washington, D.C. (May, 22, 2013) The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) will host its 16th Annual Convening at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia from May 21-24. Bringing together nearly 400 nonprofit legal service providers, the conference will offer a wide range of trainings and seminars, promote advocacy on behalf of immigration reform, and celebrate CLINIC’s 25th anniversary. This year’s conference theme is A Celebration of Service, Justice and Faith.
The conference offers a mix of trainings and workshops on immigration law, advocacy, skills development, and program management. However, this year’s conference attendees will be particularly interested in discussing how to prepare to any immigration reform Congress may pass.
Bishops’ Migration Chair Welcomes Introduction Of Immigration Proposal; Pledges To Work So Final Bill Upholds Basic Rights, Dignity
By: Norma Montenegro Flynn
Click Here for the USCCB Press Release
April 17, 2013 - WASHINGTON—The introduction of U.S. Senate bipartisan legislation to reform the U.S. immigration system was welcomed by Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, April 17. Archbishop Gomez also pledged that the U.S. bishops would carefully examine the legislation and work with Congress to ensure that any final measure respects the basic human rights and dignity of migrants.
“I welcome the introduction of legislation today in the U.S. Senate,” Archbishop Gomez said. “The U.S. bishops look forward to carefully examining the legislation and working with Congress to fashion a final bill that respects the basic human rights and dignity of newcomers to our land—migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable populations.”
CLINIC Welcomes Immigration Action
By: Wendy Rhein
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wendy Rhein 202 635 5825
wrhein@cliniclegal.org
CLINIC WELCOMES IMMIGRATION ACTION, READY TO LEAD 215 NETWORK AFFILIATES IN IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
Washington, D.C. (April 17, 2013) - [En Español] - The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) is encouraged by the U.S. Senate’s consideration of a bill that will reform the broken immigration system. CLINIC announces that its network of more than 215 charitable legal service providers stands ready to serve low income and vulnerable immigrants when a bill is finally signed into law.
The Senate’s proposed bill is a first step toward comprehensive immigration reform. CLINIC looks forward to a final bill that incorporates a fair and just path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented people in our country, maintains family unity as the hallmark of our immigration system, reinstates due process protections and compassion to our immigration enforcement policies, provides protection to the persecuted, and protects immigrant workers.
USCCB Subcommittee Chairman Announces Nearly $1 Million in Grants
DATE:March 5, 2013
FROM: Norma Montenegro Flynn
O: 202-541-3202
M: 703-717-2941
USCCB SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCES NEARLY $1 MILLION IN GRANTS, EFFORTS FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
WASHINGTON—The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the official domestic anti-poverty agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has approved special grants totaling $800,000 to mobilize Catholics on behalf of comprehensive immigration reform and to prepare Catholic institutions toserve communities benefiting from the reform legislation.
“These grants represent a distinctively Catholic contribution in promoting comprehensive immigration reform.They will strengthen the capacity of our institutions to help immigrant families come out from the shadows and participate more actively in American society,” said Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento,
CLINIC Appoints New Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wendy Rhein
202-635-5825
wrhein@cliniclegal.org
CLINIC APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
February 20, 2013 (Washington DC) - The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeanne Atkinson to the position of Executive Director, effective March 18, 2013.
Ms. Atkinson currently serves as the Director of Catholic Charities’ Immigration Legal Services program for the Archdiocese of Washington. She has worked for Catholic Charities since 1992, directing their highly active and successful legal services program – which operates out of four locations – in 1997 to 1998 and from 2000 to the present. Ms. Atkinson also directs Catholic Charities’ Refugee Center. From 1989 to 1991, she worked as the Legalization Appeals Project Coordinator for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
“CLINIC’s Board of Directors is extremely gratified to have attracted somebody of Jeanne
Coalition Launches Unprecedented, National Campaign to Help Legal Residents
By: Vaishalee Raja
Contact: Vaishalee Raja
Phone: 213-605-2711
Email: vraja@fenton.com
New software, mega workshops and non-profit collaboration to innovate naturalization assistance; Two former INS Commissioners join effort, lending bipartisan support
November 13, 2012 – Los Angeles, CA - An unprecedented national network of more than 80 legal-service providers, businesses, faith-based organizations, community leaders and foundations has launched The New Americans Campaign, a nonpartisan project to modernize the system of naturalization assistance and to help more immigrants who are legal permanent
Asylee Resource Hotline Closes After 11 Years
By: Wendy Rhein
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wendy Rhein
202-635-5825
wrhein@cliniclegal.org
ASYLEE RESOURCE HOTLINE CLOSES AFTER 11 YEARS
Washington, DC (October 19, 2012) - The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) regretfully announces today the termination of its National Asylee Information and Referral Hotline. The 11-year-old, toll-free hotline, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), has provided vital information and resources to more than 39,000 asylees since its inception. ORR did not award funding to renew this project for 2013.
The asylee hotline, provided by CLINIC and ran in partnership with Catholic Charities Community Services of the Archdiocese of New York, provided one-on-one support to those granted political asylum in the United States. It offered referral services to local refugee resettlement programs in 18 languages. The hotline operators fielded more than 400 calls monthly from a diverse body of asylees representing about an average of 67 nationalities.
“Over the years the hotline has been an
CLINIC Encouraged by Supreme Court Decision on Immigration
By: Wendy Rhein
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wendy Rhein 202 635 5825
wrhein@cliniclegal.org
CLINIC ENCOURAGED BY SUPREME COURT DECISION ON IMMIGRATION
Washington, D.C. (June 25, 2012) The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) is encouraged by today’s 5-3 Supreme Court decision to strike down three of the four provisions of Arizona’s immigration law that were challenged earlier this year.
“This decision is a broad affirmation of federal supremacy in the area of immigration, and that is very positive,” said Maria M. Odom, CLINIC’s Executive Director. “However, the Court’s decision to block several components of the Arizona law does not take the place of much-needed federal immigration reform. CLINIC’s affiliates throughout the country will continue to work to keep families together and bring a measure of justice to a broken immigration system.”
Though the Court decided that the troubling “show me your papers” provision could not be blocked at this time, CLINIC will continue to monitor pending legal and civil rights challenges to this section, which threatens essential civil liberties and family unity.
CLINIC Launches Self-Directed eLearning
By: Wendy Rhein
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wendy Rhein 202 635 5825
wrhein@cliniclegal.org
CLINIC Launches Self-Directed eLearning
Washington, D.C. (June 20, 2012) The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) is enhancing its legal immigration training courses with an innovative new learning tool: a self-directed online training course.
This first self-directed e-learning course called “Volunteers Helping Immigrants Become U.S. Citizens: The Naturalization Group Application Workshop,” trains volunteers on the most effective ways they can help immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship.
“Naturalization is a cornerstone of immigrant integration,” said Maria M. Odom, executive director of CLINIC. ”Among many things, it creates an opportunity for volunteers in our welcoming communities to work with immigrants who are ready to take the meaningful step of applying for U.S. citizenship. This training is an essential tool for those dedicated volunteers.”
The self-directed course allows participants to complete the training on their own schedules and in the comfort of their offices or homes. This free course educates participants on the basics of
CLINIC Applauds Immigration Action for DREAMers
By: Wendy Rhein
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Wendy Rhein 202 635 5825
wrhein@cliniclegal.org
CLINIC APPLAUDS IMMIGRATION ACTION FOR DREAMERS
Washington, D.C. (June 15, 2012) The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) welcomes the announcement by President Barack Obama and the Department of Homeland Security that deferred action will be granted to certain eligible undocumented immigrant youth. Many of these immigrants who entered by age 16 would qualify for relief under the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.
The new policy will afford work authorization and protection from removal to an estimated 800,000 to 1,000,000 young people ages 15-30. Often referred to as DREAMers, these individuals came to this country as young children and now seek a better future in this, the only home many of them have ever known.
Those who qualify, including individuals currently in removal proceedings, will be granted protection against removal as well as work authorization for a renewable period of two years. This new policy does not confer permanent legal immigration status on the individual.
