Center for Immigrant Rights
Migration and Refugee Services/CLINIC National Conference
Date: Wednesday Jan 11, 2012 (4:00pm) to Friday Jan 13, 2012 (12:00pm)
"Immigration: A 50-State Issue"
January 11-13, 2012
Salt Lake City, Utah, “Home of the Utah Compact”
The conference focused on state and local immigration measures as well as federal/state enforcement partnerships. It provided an opportunity to discuss advocacy strategies and to share lessons learned.
*Please note that times are listed for the event's local timezone.
DHS Ends Enforcement Agreement with Maricopa County
By: Karen Siciliano Lucas
This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chose to sever its 287(g) immigration enforcement partnership with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) based on extensive findings by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that MCSO had engaged in a pattern and practice of civil rights violations. The Department of Justice found overwhelming evidence of discrimination against Latinos in this jurisdiction. Sadly, these findings demonstrate the potential of these federal/state partnerships to serve as a conduit for racially-biased policing that devastates families and communities. “Tying federal civil immigration enforcement to local criminal law enforcement is misguided. It makes our communities less secure, endangers parental rights and family unity, and undermines the federal government’s ability to focus enforcement on truly dangerous criminals,” said Maria M. Odom, CLINIC’s Executive Director. This is particularly true in states like Alabama, which have sought to criminalize the everyday lives and activities of immigrants. Programs like 287(g) and Secure Communities can operate as a force-multiplier for these state efforts.
CLINIC's 2012 Annual Convening
By: CLINIC
"Standing for Truth, Calling for Justice"
May 23-25, 2012
Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
Austin, TX
From the basics of immigration law to the most advanced issues that arise in filing petitions, CLINIC's 15th Annual Convening will offer workshops for legal services providers and immigration advocates at any level.
CLINIC's three-day conference offers excellent updates on immigration law, insightful trainings, and opportunities for networking.
Come meet fellow advocates and learn new strategies for fundraising, program management, and advocacy.
Update from Cd. Juarez
Date: Friday Dec 09, 2011 (2:00pm) to Friday Dec 09, 2011 (3:30pm)
December 9, 2011
Update from Cd. Juarez
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Cost: Free for CLINIC affiliates paying annual dues
*Please note that times are listed for the event's local timezone.
Requests for Information about Prosecutorial Discretion
In August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would exercise prosecutorial discretion in 300,000 pending immigration removal cases. And it recently announced plans to implement that plan and train DHS staff. CLINIC’s Advocacy staff is interested in hearing from you about your experiences with requesting prosecutorial discretion in your cases. Please contact me at aposner@cliniclegal.org to share your experiences regarding the merits of your clients’ cases and how the government responded
Update from Ciudad Juarez
By Susan Schreiber and Charles Wheeler
The highlight of CLINIC’s annual family immigration law training in El Paso on November 16-17, 2011 was a presentation by consular and USCIS officials. Catherine Holt, Chief of the Immigrant Visa (IV) Section, and Yolanda Miranda, Field Office Director at the USCIS office located at the consulate, each spoke and then answered questions for over two hours. The following is a summary of the information they provided at the conference and during the consular tour on November 18th.
CLINIC Celebrates Pro Bono Project's Ten Years of Service for Immigrants
By: Wendy Rhein
Washington, DC (October 24, 2011) - The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Pro Bono Project through which nearly 800 vulnerable immigrants have received free representation in their appellate cases. Washington DC law firm Fried Frank hosted the reception with special guests in attendance, including the Honorable Immigration Judge Paul Schmidt, Acting Director of EOIR Juan Osuna, and Acting Chairman of the BIA David Neal.
Alabama Resource Center
Click here to meet CLINIC’s Alabama Affiliates (in Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Robertsdale and Hoover)
BIA Agency Recognition and Staff Accreditations
Congratulations to the following programs and staff:
Sr. Janet Yurkanin, Program Director at Migration and Refugee Services in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, renewed her full BIA accreditation status on August 16.
Jennifer Zurek of Catholic Charities of Allentown, Allentown, PA, received BIA partial accreditation on July 13, 2011.
St. Brendan Parish, Shallotte, NC, branch office of Catholic Charities of Raleigh, NC was granted BIA recognition on September 2, 2011.
NSC Call: Refugee and Asylee Issues
The Nebraska Service Center held a teleconference on September 15, 2011 that was hosted by Sean Allen. The following are unofficial minutes from that meeting.
