Center for Immigrant Rights

Through its administrative advocacy efforts, CLINIC seeks to improve practices of the DHS and the EOIR. CLINIC plays an important liaison role between its local member agencies and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Through its member and colleague agencies, CLINIC regularly surfaces problems that impact immigrants and their families as they attempt to navigate our nation’s complex immigration laws and policies. CLINIC documents problems in the field, issues monitoring and legal reports, identifies solutions, and meets regularly with the various DHS agencies noted above to resolve these issues. CLINIC also comments on proposed federal regulations and advocates for appropriate revisions and supports its affiliate members with local advocacy efforts. For more information, contact CLINIC’s Director of Advocacy, Allison Posner at aposner@cliniclegal.org.

The BIA Pro Bono Appeals Project matches vulnerable immigrants with pro bono counsel to defend their cases before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).  One of the nation's most successful pro bono initiatives, the BIA Project partners with attorneys and law school clinics to provide pro bono legal representation to indigent immigrants. Through a network of committed volunteers, trainers, and mentors, the BIA Project facilitates access to justice, a critical component to safeguarding the rights of vulnerable asylum-seekers and long time lawful permanent residents.  Since the Project’s inception in 2001, it has secured representation for more than 550 individuals. The Project's cases regularly result in significant decisions, including favorable, published BIA decisions, as well as Federal and Supreme Court decisions. In a published study, the Department of Justice found that immigrants who had been provided representation through the Project were up to four times more likely to win a favorable decision before the BIA.  For more information, contact CLINIC staff attorney Lauren Graham Sullivan at lsullivan@cliniclegal.org.

Qualifications to Volunteer: Background in immigration law or appellate legal work. Active bar membership. Also,  law school clinics may participate.

Lauren Graham Sullivan, Esq.
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)
415 Michigan Avenue, NE, Suite 200
Washington DC 20017
Phone: (202) 756-5537
Fax: (202) 635-2649
www.cliniclegal.org

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) from Volunteers

• Resources: Overview and Tips for Practice before the BIA (Featuring Chairman David Neal and Vice Chairman Charles Adkins-Blanch), Webinar and Powerpoints

• To learn more about the Project and BIA, visit the EOIR Website

Media coverage of the human impact of U.S. immigration policies is crucial to advocacy efforts that seek to create a more just immigration system. Through the use of various media strategies, CLINIC proactively raises awareness of the systemic barriers faced by newcomers and their families and works to frame the immigration debate in a positive and honest light. In addition, CLINIC supports it network members in their media advocacy efforts. For more information, contact CLINIC’s Director of Advancement, Marketing and Communications, Wendy Rhein at wrhein@cliniclegal.org.

In 2007, CLINIC created a new project to support advocates working to address the growing number of anti-immigrant measures proposed and introduced at the state and local levels. After the collapse of comprehensive immigration reform in 2007, approximately 500 immigration related bills were introduced by state legislators. By 2008, the number of proposed immigration-related bills had tripled to 1,562.  Nearly every state legislature had introduced a bill related to immigration. Through the project, CLINIC provides legal analysis, training, technical assistance, and support to advocates working to combat anti-immigrant legislation and ordinances, many of which are far reaching and penalize not only the undocumented, but their families, business owners, and others who interact with them. Contact CLINIC staff attorney Jennifer Riddle at jriddle@cliniclegal.org for more information.

Upcoming Events

Please join us for an immigration advocacy training in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, November 17th from 8:30am-3:00pm!  For more information and registration, see this flyer.

Register here for the MRS/CLINIC December 3-5, 2012 national conference: "Migration Policy and Advocacy in 2013 and Beyond: New Challenges and New Opportunities"!

State & Local Bulletins and Updates

State Immigration Legislation 2010-2012:  State & Local Policy Map

Federal/State Enforcement Partnerships:  Resources

9-26-2012 Sign-On Letter Opposing New Or Renewed 287(g) Agreements

Latest Developments in State & Local Pushback Against Detainers

A Sample Letter to the Homeland Security Advisory Council’s Task Force on Secure Communities

8-30-2011 Letter to the Homeland Security Advisory Council’s Task Force on Secure Communities

10-18-2011 Letter to the Homeland Security Advisory Council re: Task Force on Secure Communities Draft Report

A Tool Kit for Communities to Advocate Against ICE Partnerships with Local Law Enforcement Agencies

Analyses of Court Challenges to State Immigration Laws 2011 & 2012

Georgia

Indiana

Alabama

Arizona

Issues Raised by State Immigration Enforcement

Undocumented Immigrants and the Right to Marry

State Challenges to Birthright Citizenship

Five Facts About State Mandatory E-Verify Laws

What is the Economic Impact of Unauthorized Work?

State Immigration Enforcement Bills: Talking Points for Advocates

What Does "Harboring" Mean? A Recent Federal Case in the Seventh Circuit

How Do Alabama-Style Immigration Laws Separate Families?

The Truth About Immigration: Why There Is No Line

USCCB/CLINIC Conference Salt Lake City January 2012

Karen Siciliano Lucas Powerpoint Presentation: State Immigration Enforcement Overview

Wendy Cervantes Powerpoint Presentation: Public Benefits Restrictions and Education Policy

Justice for Immigrants' Photos of the USCCB/CLINIC Conference Salt Lake City

What Are Our Bishops Saying About State Immigration Legislation?

Click here for our recent postings (organized by state).

Litigation Assessment

CLINIC is requesting information about cases that may be in need of litigation before state, local, and federal court systems.   If you are aware of any of these type of cases, please complete our Litigation Assessment Referral Form.

Please note that CLINIC is compiling this data for informational purposes. Submission of this form does not guarantee that CLINIC will attempt to match or litigate your case.

For information on CLINIC's effforts to document immigration enforcement abuse, click here.

Read more.

Additional Resources

Advocacy groups around the country are providing resources on the issue of anti-immigrant laws. Below are a few resources:

The Migration Policy Institute(MPI) discusses research and advocacy about state and local issues on its website.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association(AILA) has compiled a list of the many tools created by immigrant advocacy organizations to assist in local/state advocacy initiatives. 

The National Conference of State Legislatures tracks state legislation related to immigration.

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) coordinates a state and local immigration listserv. To join the listserv, send an email to Elena Lacayo (elacayo@nclr.org) with your contact information, a description of your organization, and the reasons why you want to join the listserv.NCLR also hosts periodic conference calls on state and local advocacy issues. For more information on NCLR’s work on these issues.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) hosts a materials-sharing website on state and local immigration policy. To apply to join the website, send an email to Elena Lacayo (elacayo@nclr.org) with your contact information, a description of your organization, and the reasons why you want to access the website.

The Progressive States Network’s State Immigration Project provides updates on immigrant initiatives around the country.