Press Releases
New Religious Worker Regulations Issued
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The immigration of foreign-born priests, sisters and other religious workers has become critically important to the Catholic Church in the United States. With large numbers of immigrants from diverse locations across the globe and with shortages of priests and religious to serve the Catholic population here, the Church has particular interest in how the government issues visas for such foreign-born priests, religious and lay religious workers.
CLINIC Executive Director Departs After 16 Years at Helm
Washington, D.C. – Donald Kerwin, Executive Director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), has announced he will leave the agency in mid- October.
Kerwin began work at CLINIC in 1992 and has led the agency since 1993. Under his leadership, the CLINIC network has grown from 17 to 173 charitable immigration agency members. He has led CLINIC’s collaborative efforts to create several national projects that serve detainees, immigrant farm workers, unaccompanied minors, victims of domestic violence, and other vulnerable immigrants. Presently, CLINIC has the nation’s largest network of charitable immigration programs serving low-income immigrants...
CLINIC Welcomes Launch of Immigration Advocates Network
Washington, DC. – The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. welcomes the launch of the Immigration Advocates Network (IAN), a web-based resource tool for non-profit advocates, organizers and service providers. IAN is aimed at improving communication between leading national immigrant rights organizations and small, developing charitable legal service agencies.
CLINIC Urges More Productive Debate on Citizenship & Integration
Washington, D.C. – Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) calls upon the presidential candidates and elected officials to engage in a more productive discussion of
citizenship and immigrant integration. In fiscal year 2007, 1.4 million persons applied for U.S. citizenship, double the number from 2006. This remarkable increase, combined with the massive demand for English-as-a-Second-Language classes, belie the claims of anti-immigrant groups that U.S. immigrants do not want to integrate in the United States.
CLINIC Urges DHS to Suspend Immigration Enforcement During Relief Efforts
Washington, DC – The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) urges the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to suspend its immigration enforcement measures in the wake of natural or man-made disasters. During such disasters and national emergencies, DHS should announce a relaxation of immigration enforcement to encourage all residents to participate in government relief efforts and to access basic
services. Such participation is essential to the survival of individuals and to the protection of the public at large.
CLINIC Encourages and Assists Immigrants to Naturalize
WASHINGTON, DC – The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) is calling on lawful permanent residents to obtain citizenship. Citizenship is an important element of civic integration and building a vibrant society. Many immigrants rights organizations are holding group processing events to help large numbers of immigrants apply for citizenship. CLINIC is actively conducting wide-scale naturalization efforts.
PROPOSED CITIZENSHIP FEE HIKE A BARRIER TO INTEGRATION
WASHINGTON, DC: The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) is deeply concerned with the proposed increase in the application fee for U.S. citizenship. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposal to adjust fees for immigration and naturalization applications raises them by 70%. The administration should find a solution that promotes, rather than discourages, immigrant integration.
CLINIC AWARDED GRANT FOR GULF OF MEXICO PROJECT
Catholic Charities USA grants $500,000 for two year legal services expansion
WASHINGTON, DC: Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. received a $500,000, two-year grant from Catholic Charities USA Disaster Relief Fund. The Gulf of Mexico Immigration Project will expand legal immigration services in six Louisiana and Mississippi dioceses. Still recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the diocesan programs must build to meet the needs of returning and new immigrants.
CLINIC WINS GRANT FOR REFUGEE CITIZENSHIP PROJECTS
The Office of Refugee Resettlement funds citizenship and civic participation projects.
WASHINGTON, DC: The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. will accelerate its work helping refugees obtain U.S. citizenship. The agency will also help programs around the country assist refugees with their transition by encouraging civic participation.
This work is important because refugees escaping persecution are in need of the stability and normalcy citizenship and integration offer.
CLINIC COMMENDS DHS OFFICE FOR REPORT ON REMOVAL OF ALIENS
WASHINGTON, DC: The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) welcomes a new government report reviewing the detention of aliens who have received removal (deportation) orders but whose countries will not accept their return. Many of the shortcomings that the report identifies relate to the treatment of so-called DHS lifers.These findings mirror previous findings by CLINIC. In particular, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed the Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) compliance with two U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
