Below are descriptions of just a sampling of the workshops that will be presented at CLINIC's 2010 Convening in New Orleans, LA May 19-21.
ABCs of Family-Based Adjustment
This workshop will describe who is eligible to adjust in the U.S under current provisions of the law and INA Section 245(i). The trainers will review the process for filing as well as the legal requirements for adjustment.
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Acquisition and Derivation of Citizenship
Has your foreign-born client been a U.S. citizen since the day she was born? Can your client apply for a certificate of citizenship or U.S. passport following the naturalization of his parent or parents? This workshop will cover the requirements for acquiring U.S. citizenship at birth abroad and deriving citizenship from a U.S. citizen parent after birth. Issues covered will include the requirements for children born in and out of wedlock, residence requirements for U.S. citizen parents and establishing legal and physical custody for derivation. This session is highly interactive with a number of group exercises.
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Consular Processing
This workshop will cover select issues in the processing of immigrant visas abroad. Topics will include: document collection and review at the National Visa Center; challenging consular denials; termination of registration for an immigrant visa, consular returns of petitions to CIS for revocation and other issues. The session will also include an update from the National Visa Center.
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Current Issues in Adjudication of Haitian TPS Applications
The initial registration period for Haitian TPS ends on July 20, 2010. Panelists at this workshop have had a great deal of experience with Haitian TPS applications, and will share with participants ideas and strategies for dealing with issues that are currently arising in the adjudication of these applications.
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Cutting-Edge Issues in Asylum Law
This panel will describe advanced issues in asylum law, including recent case law and changes to the social group definition. Claims based on domestic violence, asylum in juvenile cases, and emerging areas of case law will be discussed. Trainers will also described practice tips for preparation of asylum claims at the asylum office and in immigration court.
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Cuban Adjustment
Cuban nationals have a special adjustment provision: the Cuban Adjustment Act. This workshop will look in detail at adjustment under the Cuban Adjustment Act. Topics will include primary eligibility; derivatives; adjustment in proceedings; and renewal of parole and EADs.
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Engaging the Public and Press: Talking about Immigration from a Faith-Based Perspective
Faith-based organizations have a unique tool to advocate on immigration issues. This workshop provides an overview of Catholic social teaching on migrants and newcomers and allow advocates to share best practices in engaging the public and the press by talking about immigration issues from a faith-based perspective. The workshop explores the main themes of Catholic social teaching on the treatment of migrants and newcomers in this nation.
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Getting the Most from Your CLINIC Membership
CLINIC provides a wide range of services to our affiliate members and subscribers. In this workshop, CLINIC Advocacy, Communications, Capacity Building, and Training staff will explain many of these services and how best to access them. The workshop will include a demonstration of some of the significant features of CLINIC’s website including the members-only section; information on how to make use of CLINIC’s advocacy services; and how CLINIC can assist your agency’s immigration program to develop and improve through individualized support. This session is designed for CLINIC affiliate members and subscribers and those considering joining CLINIC.
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How to Answer Your Own Questions
Want to get in on the secrets of CLINIC attorneys answering hotline calls? How do they do it? How do they manage to know the answers to all your questions? Come to this workshop to learn case analysis and research strategies including how to identify the legal issues presented by a particular client situation and how to conduct legal research to answer the question(s) raised. Through the use of hypothetical problems, workshop panelists will review legal research basics and lead participants through a discussion of how to determine the relevant legal issues and research strategies for resolving questions of law.
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How the New Religious Worker Regulations Have Impacted Ministry in the Catholic Church
This workshop will provide an overview of the major changes in the immigration regulations affecting foreign-born religious worker in the U.S. Topics include the non-immigration (temporary) R-1 visa category, I-129 petitions, and also permanent residence (I-360 petitions).
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Introduction to VAWA Self-Petitioning
This workshop is geared to practitioners and advocates who are new to providing legal services to survivors of domestic violence. The presenters will provide a brief overview of the various immigration law remedies available to battered immigrants, and then focus primarily on the eligibility requirements for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
self-petition. Practical suggestions will be offered for the kinds of evidence and documentation that could support a successful self-petition application.
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Immigration Consequences of Domestic Violence Offenses
What is the potential impact of a domestic violence conviction on your client’s immigration case? How does a domestic violence conviction affect the remedies available to a victim of domestic violence? And what about USC and LPR petitioners – are they affected by having a domestic violence conviction? Join the presenters for an overview of inadmissibility, deportability and other immigration issues as they relate to domestic violence offenses.
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Immigration of Adopted Children
Presenters at this workshop will discuss the rules and procedures for the immigration of adopted children under the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA). Panelists will also discuss who is covered under the Convention, the process for filing the adoption petition, and the adjudication procedure.
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Immigration Enforcement – Discussion and Strategy Session
This workshop will provide a brief overview of enforcement goals and operations by ICE at the national and state level. Participants will be encouraged to share enforcement measures that they have seen and experienced in their communities and strategies they have used to challenge these enforcement actions.
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Introduction to Analyzing Immigration Consequences of Crimes
You have a client who wants to apply for adjustment of status or naturalization but she has a criminal record. Is she eligible for the benefit she is seeking? What facts do you have to find out? What documents do you need to gather? What do you need to do next? Join the presenters for a discussion of the steps to take in order to analyze the potential immigration consequences of criminal offenses.
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Language Access & Linguistic Integration: Effectively Serving Limited- and Non-English Speakers
Does your agency have a legal obligation to provide interpretation or translation services to the people that you serve? Do language barriers prevent your clients from accessing critical information and services such as the legal system, emergency medical care, schools, firefighters or police? This workshop will explain the laws that entitle limited- and non-English speakers to interpreters and legally obligate organizations to provide individuals with language access. Learn how to ensure that your clients’ language access rights are fulfilled and how to develop an effective language access strategy for your agency.
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Marriage-Related Immigration Issues
This workshop will cover marriage in proceedings, Adam Walsh Act, conditional residency, K-1 and K-3 petitions, common law marriages, sham marriages and INA Sec. 204(c)).
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Naturalization Disability Waivers
This workshop will cover the standards for obtaining a waiver of the English language and civics naturalization requirements based on mental or physical disabilities, including an update on the new waiver form. The workshop will be interactive with exercises and group activities.
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New Immigration Options for Widow/ers and Other Surviving Relatives
This workshop will cover USCIS implementation of the new law offering protections for widow(er)s of U.S. citizens. It will cover the law's application to those whose spouse died before or after October 28, 2009. It will also cover the eligibility requirements and filing procedure, including exceptions for some who have acquired unlawful presence. The workshop will also cover relief for other surviving family members and eligibility for humanitarian reinstatement.
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Overview of Relief from Removal for Unaccompanied Minors
The presenters will provide an overview of the most common forms of relief available to children in removal proceedings, including: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, domestic violence and gang based asylum claims, voluntary departure and prosecutorial discretion.
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Perspectives on Defending Children & Advocacy on Children's Issues
This workshop featues speakers from Vera Institute of Justice and First Focus Campaign for Children discussing their work in the defense and advocacy of children. The Vera Institute of Justice focuses its child-related work to defending children in detention and in immigration proceedings. The First Focus Campaign for Children is an advocacy organization with the mission of advancing children's issues before policy makers.
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Preparing Catholic Institutions for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
The Catholic Church in the United States is poised to assume a leadership role on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. To make CIR a success, the Church must organize thoughtfully: Catholic Charities, the clergy, Catholic educational institutions and medical facilities, orders of religious sisters and brothers, ethnic apostolates, and numerous other parts of the Church will need to unify their commitment and strategy to maximize this hinge moment in the history of the Church, her people, and the greater society. This workshop will address how that is happening in several parts of the country and offer suggestions on how to make it happen in your archdiocese.
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Interactive Roundtable on Hot Topics in Religious Worker Immigration Law
Join CLINIC’s Religious Immigration Section (RIS) attorneys for an interactive, fun and unique way to learn in short spurts various issues of religious worker immigration law.
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Preparing for CIR: Forging Connections Among Secular Organizations
Comprehensive Immigration Reform will allow millions of people living in the shadows to emerge into the dignity of legitimate status. There are nowhere near enough organizations ready to handle the enormous volume of applicants we could expect to see under CIR. How can different types of institutions – such as legal service providers; hospitals; schools – work together to realize the promise of a new law? This workshop will explain what is being done to organize as many different kinds of institutions at the local level to bring about the best result.
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Resource Development – Raising Funds for Your Agency: Looking Beyond
Foundation Giving
This workshop will address best practices in fundraising through individual giving, special events, and CFC/UW participation. The panelists will offer helpful dialogue relating to fundraising challenges for capacity building, sustainability, special events, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. They will also share their experiences for research and resource allocation strategies.
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Strengthening Your Program by Protecting Client Confidentiality
Protecting the confidentiality of clients is essential for an immigration legal program, but can be difficult for many nonprofit immigration programs to carry out. In this workshop we will identify the areas in which client confidentiality arises as an issue; discuss the hurdles to maintaining that confidentiality; and share ideas as to how to do so. Presenters will explain the basis for requirements about protecting client confidentiality, and will explore how doing so can make your program stronger. The workshop is highly interactive.
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Update on U Status and Adjustment
U nonimmigrant status is available to victims of certain crimes who cooperate with law enforcement; those in U status may apply for adjustment under special adjustment provisions. This workshop will look at the most recent trends in adjudication of U nonimmigrant applications and U adjustments. Panelists will offer suggestions on crafting successful applications, and in responding to RFEs. Some knowledge of the basic requirements for U status is assumed.
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Updates and Strategies for Promoting a Positive Immigration Agenda in State Legislatures
States continue to forge ahead with record levels of immigration-related legislation. In 2009, legislatures in 48 states enacted 222 laws and adopted 131 resolutions. Around the country, immigrant advocates and State Catholic Conferences challenged anti-immigrant and promoted pro-immigrant legislation. Workshop panelists will provide information and updates about immigration legislation introduced in the states. They also will share successful strategies for promoting pro-immigrant integration measures as well as for challenging anti-immigrant measures at the state level.
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Using Program Outcomes for More Effective Fundraising
This workshop will identify ways to document quantitative and qualitative outcomes in order to strengthen a fundraising proposal or marketing plan. Topics will include: documenting your program’s track record; how to describe your program’s impact without using immigration terms; defining the needs of immigrants from a community, (rather than individual) perspective; developing impact statements using case management software reports effectively; and writing memorable client case studies.
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Using International Law Arguments in Your Immigration Cases
The panelists will provide an overview of international human rights law and how it may be used in immigration cases. What are the sources of international human rights law? How do U.S. courts view the use of international law arguments? In what kinds of cases may international law arguments be used? How can you integrate international law arguments in your casework? How can you use international human rights standards in your advocacy efforts on behalf of immigrants?
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Update on the Child Status Protection Act
In this workshop on the CSPA, we will cover preserving immediate relative, F-2A, and derivative status for children who turn 21. We will provide updated information on retaining priority dates for children who age out and the status of pending litigation. We will also cover the impact of the CSPA on VAWA applicants and refugee/asylee derivatives.
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What is Inadmissibility and When Does it Matter: An Overview of the Grounds of Inadmissibility
An understanding of inadmissibility is vital to anyone doing immigration legal work --inadmissibility can lead to ineligibility for many immigration benefits, and to removal from the U.S. This interactive workshop will introduce the grounds of inadmissibility, and explain when and to whom they apply.