Center for Citizenship and Immigrant Communities

Citizenship and Civic Participation Toolkit

Immigrants strongly value U.S. citizenship.  Yet millions who are eligible to apply face serious challenges in the naturalization process due to advanced age, disabilities, low income, limited English proficiency, and low levels of literacy.  Many immigrants also face challenges to civic participation such as language and cultural barriers, unfamiliarity with U.S. civic institutions, and reluctance to get involved in community affairs due to negative experiences in their native countries.

Over the last 15 years, CLINIC has managed more than a dozen national, statewide, and regional citizenship assistance projects funded by federal, state, and private funders.  These projects, involving over 60 agencies across the country, enabled over 80,000 poor and marginalized immigrants to receive professional assistance in filing their citizenship applications.   They also provided English and citizenship classes to prepare immigrants for the citizenship test and promoted the civic participation of immigrants in their communities.

This toolkit contains a variety of resources collected and produced through CLINIC’s citizenship projects.  It is designed to assist agencies providing citizenship services and civic participation opportunities for the most vulnerable applicants.  CLINIC welcomes your feedback on this toolkit, including suggestions for additional materials to include.  If you have any feedback or questions, please contact Laura Burdick at lburdick@cliniclegal.org.

Click here to view the Citizenship and Civic Participation Toolkit.

In 2010, CLINIC received a grant for national capacity building from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Office of Citizenship to launch the Citizenship & Integration National Capacity Building Project. In 2011, CLINIC received a second USCIS grant to expand the project.  The goals of this project are to expand citizenship services for Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) in underserved communities, and to build the long-term capacity of local affiliates to provide these services.

Through this project, CLINIC is providing technical assistance and funding to eight local affiliate agencies to establish new programs in English as a Second Language (ESL) citizenship education and/or naturalization application assistance.  Six of the local agencies are developing a legal immigration program that is recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).

CLINIC assists with project design and curriculum development, offers training on naturalization law and program management, and provides case consultations and intensive assistance with the BIA application process. 

Profiles of our Local Partners

Catholic Charities of Buffalo, NY

Catholic Charities of Buffalo is creating a new citizenship program that is expected to demonstrate significant change and community impact.  From 1999 to 2009, more than 6,000 refugees were resettled in the eight counties of Western New York. Catholic Charities resettled 61% of the refugees that arrived in Western New York between 2003 and 2005, a key timeframe for current citizenship application eligibility. In addition, about 100 refugees arrive in Buffalo each year as secondary migrants, and other immigrants come to join family members already in the area.  Catholic Charities currently offers eight ESL classes daily, but these classes are only for new refugee arrivals.  There is a tremendous need for civics-focused ESL and citizenship classes for other refugees and immigrants, as well as naturalization application assistance. 

Catholic Charities of Cleveland, OH

Catholic Charities of Cleveland initially plans to develop citizenship services for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) in Cuyahoga County, and after building capacity, to expand the services to the other seven counties: Ashland, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, and Wayne.  Cleveland has been a traditional gateway for refugees and immigrants since 1948 and continues in this capacity.  According to the U.S. Census, more than 400,000 foreign-born individuals live in Ohio, which is 3.6% of the state’s population.  Of these, 41.3% reside in the Cleveland/Akron area (Northeast Ohio).  Cleveland is the county seat of Cuyahoga County.  Each year in Ohio, approximately 13,000 immigrants are granted LPR status.  Twenty-five percent of the new LPRs reside in the Cleveland area. Cleveland’s LPRs come from 20 different countries.

Catholic Services of Macomb, MI

Catholic Services of Macomb is creating a new citizenship program. Southeast Michigan has a long tradition of receiving immigrants into the community, and this migration pattern remains strong today.  Macomb County (in the greater Detroit area) is the third largest county in the state of Michigan, as well as one of the fastest growing, particularly in terms of immigrant populations.  Based on the U.S. Census, the number of foreign-born persons in Macomb County is an estimated 8.8%, exceeding the state of Michigan average of 5.3%. The majority of agencies providing immigration and refugee resettlement services are based in Oakland and Wayne counties, making access difficult if not impossible for immigrant populations in Macomb due to the distance between counties and minimal public transportation.  

Catholic Charities of Stockton, CA

Catholic Charities has an existing, BIA recognized immigration legal services program that was established in 1997 in response to a large need to provide low-cost, professional legal immigration services.  Studies indicate that Northern California has more than 750,000 naturalization eligible immigrants. Existing legal immigration services programs have the capacity to serve less than 8% of the estimated 99,000 low-income, naturalization-eligible immigrants in Northern California.  In San Joaquin County there are more than 38,000 immigrants who are now eligible to naturalize.  In this county, the need also exists for civics-focused ESL and citizenship classes, as current classes are inadequate.  CLINIC is assisting Catholic Charities in creating a new ESL/citizenship education program to enhance the legal services already being provided. It is anticipated that this program will greatly improve clients’ ability to pass the citizenship test.

Catholic Charities Indianapolis 

Catholic Charities of Indianapolis is creating a new citizenship program.  The potential is great to sustain and expand services here.  In the past 10 years, metropolitan Indianapolis has seen a 212% increase in the number of persons obtaining LPR status. One in four persons obtaining LPR status was a refugee. With over 1,100 refugees resettled in FY 2010 and a projected 1,190 for FY 2011, the number of persons applying for LPR status will continue to rise in the Indianapolis community.  The immigrant community in Indianapolis is underserved.  Since low-income LPRs are unable to find affordable and accessible legal services, they either choose not to file, succumb to paying high legal fees, or fall victim to unauthorized, predatory practitioners. For this reason, there is a serious need to expand the number of authorized, affordable, and competent service providers to ensure that underserved immigrants have access to both citizenship classes and application assistance.

Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. 

Catholic Charities of Los Angeles already has BIA recognition and accreditation and a well-established immigration legal services program, but plans to create a new program in citizenship education to augment its naturalization application services.  The communities where Catholic Charities will offer citizenship services were identified because they contain large populations of people who are low-income, low-literate, and limited English proficient.  This decision is supported by a 2004 United Way study, which noted that Los Angeles has the highest rate of undereducated adults of any major U.S. metropolitan area. Low literacy rates range from 55% to 84% in the areas for project services.  State budget cuts have forced the cancellation of adult education citizenship classes.  Transportation is also a barrier. With this project, Catholic Charities will bring the citizenship classes to community centers within walking or biking distance of many people who wish to be served.  Catholic Charities has the potential to serve large numbers of vulnerable LPRs.

Catholic Charities of Onondaga County 

Catholic Charities of Onondaga County (Syracuse, NY) is creating a new citizenship program.  The Syracuse, NY area is home to approximately 7,000 refugees and 5,000 immigrants. Approximately 1,000 new refugees arrive in the Syracuse area each year.  Between 2006 and 2007, approximately 1,300 refugees arrived in Syracuse.  These refugees are now entering the period of eligibility for citizenship, and are actively seeing assistance with the process.  While some LPRs are well-educated and financially stable, many of the newer arrivals remain in the low-income range.  The latter have low levels of education and English language proficiency.  The elderly within these communities are particularly vulnerable.  Currently, there are no citizenship classes in Syracuse, and minimal availability of naturalization legal services. 

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester 

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester is creating a new citizenship program that will provide services throughout the diocese, which covers the entire Central Massachusetts area.  According to the American Community Survey, Central Massachusetts has 82,534 foreign-born residents, of which 45,373 are not U.S. citizens; a rising unemployment rate; and 28,357 persons 65 or older.  There is an on-going need for citizenship education and naturalization services for LPRs.  According to USCIS statistics, in Worcester alone 3,146 persons became LPRs in 2009. However, services to meet their needs are minimal.  Catholic Charities plans to offer classes at four easily accessible locations throughout the area, coupled with naturalization application assistance.

Project Resources

USCIS' Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Initiative

USCIS’ Public Education Initiative to Combat the Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law

Office of Citizenship press release

Citizenship for Us: A Handbook on Naturalization and Citizenship - This comprehensive guide to the naturalization process provides detailed information on citizenship eligibility, requirements, and benefits. 

A More Perfect Union: A National Citizenship Plan - This report sets forth the resources, activities, and partnerships that would be required to naturalize as many eligible immigrants as possible.

Toolkit for Creating a Citizenship Preparation Program - This toolkit is for programs searching for a way to serve clients' legal and language needs when pursuing U.S. citizenship.

Citizenship and Civic Participation Toolkit - This toolkit contains a number of resources on citizenship and civic participation.

Toolkit for BIA Recognition and Accreditation - This toolkit is designed to educate agencies on the need for BIA recognition and accreditation and assist them in the application process.

Toolkit for Naturalization Workshops - This toolkit is designed to help charitable immigration programs achieve a successful workshop. The forms and sample documents can be used as is or adapted by local programs for their own needs.

Toolkit for Case Management - This toolkit is intended to facilitate the process of designing and/or improving the case management system in an immigration program.

Starting a Legal Immigration Program - This guide is designed to give an overview of essentials for starting a new legal services program or sustaining an existing nonprofit legal immigration program.

Managing an Immigration Program: Steps for Creating and Increasing Legal Capacity - This manual describes best practices used by many of the country's most experienced nonprofit immigration programs and managers

Three years after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, the devastating effects of the storm are still visible across the region. The poor have been among the persons most affected. In particular, low-income immigrants face harsh working conditions, cannot access relevant government agencies and have legal questions regarding the loss of immigration documents. Immigrants have played, and will continue to play, an important role in revitalizing the Gulf Coast as it recovers from the massive displacement and destruction of 2005.

However, many immigrants struggle to cope with legal questions. In response, CLINIC launched its Gulf Coast Immigration Project in October 2006 with generous funding from Catholic Charities USA, the Open Society Institute, and other donors. The project supports the addition of extra immigration counselors in five affected communities: New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette in Louisiana, as well as Biloxi and Jackson, Mississippi.

CLINIC is working with lawyers, social service providers, and labor leaders on the ground to reach immigrants there and assist them with a host of immigration, housing, employment, law enforcement and detention issues. By the end of 2008, the Gulf Coast Immigration Project had:

•  Published an Advocate's Manual for Solving Employment Problems in Louisiana and Mississippi.
• Served over 3,700 newcomers with immigration and other legal support, including naturalization, family reunification and employment authorization applications, increase Know Your Rights presentations and direct legal representation for immigrants in detention and removal proceedings.
• Expanded partnerships with other advocacy organizations, law schools, and religious communities to improve government services to immigrants.

Related Resources:

ACCCA Directory of Immigrant Detention Facilities

Detention Watch Network Map

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Immigration detention centers change rapidly and individual detainees can be moved without warning, including to a remote or out-of-state location. Call the detention center before visiting to verify that the immigrant you wish to visit is still housed there. Bring a valid government-issued ID for clearance to enter the detention center. Persons without valid immigration documents should never seek to visit a detention center, nor try to post bond for an immigration detainee.

POST-KATRINA NEWSLETTERS

• April 2007
• October 2006
• August 2006
• July 2006
• June 2006
• April 2006
• March 2006
• February 2006
• January 2006
• January 2006
• December 2005
• December 2005
• November 2005

NOTICES & ARTICLES

Kerwin, Donald. Two Disasters. Commonweal. May 19, 2006

Bishop DiMarzio publishes an op-ed in the Times-Picayune. It discusses the need for a national plan or policy on undocument victims of disasters.

Letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff from Bishop DiMarzio (Chair of CLINIC's Board of Directors) and Bishop Gerald Barnes (Chair of USCCB Committee on Migration).

IRS Releases:

• Reconstructing Your Records
• Subsitute W-2's for Hurricane Victims

BICE Supervision Reporting Requirements for New Orleans, 2006

IRS Notice: FEMA aid does not add to taxable income.

CLINIC strives to meet the growing needs of new and existing charitable legal programs for low-income immigrants. It pursues these goals, in part, by training and advising local programs on good management practices through the Immigration Management Project.

The Immigration Management Project (IMP) provides training in program advocacy and fundraising skills to nonprofit immigration orgqanizations by working directly with the executive and immigration program directors. The IMP shares best practices that help local providers meet immigrants' needs.

Among other accomplishments, the IMP has:

• Created and published a manual, entitled "Managing an Immigration Program: Steps for Creating and Increasing Legal Capacity" which contains training curricula based on best practices of leaders in the field of nonprofit immigration.
• Facilitated the first-ever agreement among immigration law support centers to create the Immigration Advocates Network, an Internet portal for agencies that provide newcomers with immigration-related legal assistance.
• Provided specialized trainings on how to obtain Board of Immigration Appeals agency recognition and staff accreditation. Significantly, 46 percent of all BIA accredited representatives belong to agencies that CLINIC has partnered with in one form or another.

For additional information on the Immigration Management Project, please contact Jeff Chenoweth at jchenoweth@cliniclegal.org or 202-635-5826.

Related Resources:

Managing an Immigration Program: Steps for Creating and Increasing Legal Capacity

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

CHAPTER 1 - Building Agency Support for an Immigration Legal Program

•  Sample Business Plan

CHAPTER 2 - Space, Equipment and Tools Case Management Software

•  Immigration Management Software

CHAPTER 3 - Staffing Your Immigration Legal Program

•  Sample Volunteer Agreement
•  Confidentiality Agreement
•  Prohibition Against Providing Legal Services Outside the Office and Expectations of  Employees

CHAPTER 4 - Authorization for Non-Attorneys to Practice Immigration Law (BIA Accreditation & Recognition)

•  Sample BIA Application (Agency and Staff)

CHAPTER 5 - Case Management Systems: Promoting Effective, Efficient Service Delivery

Article: Considerations for Immigration Programs Working on VAWA Self-Petitions and U Visa Cases by Gail Pendleton.

• Sample Case Notes for Case File
• Sample 1 Client Agreement
• Sample 2 Client Agreement
• Sample Client Intake Form

CHAPTER 6 -  Managing Financial Performance

•    Sample Immigration Program Expenses

CHAPTER 7 -  External Relations: Outreach, Marketing, Advocacy and Media

• Sample Guidelines for Communications and Public Relations
• Media and Communications Memorandum: What to Do and Say When You are Contacted by the Media
• Sample Consent to be Interviewed by Media

In 2010, CLINIC was awarded a contract by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) to help custodians and potential custodians better understand their role, responsibilities, and the immigration court process.  In 2010, CLINIC launched the Legal Orientation Program for Custodians of Unaccompanied Children (LOPC) in New York, Los Angeles, Houston-Galveston, and Harlingen, Texas.
In mid-2011, CLINIC will also work with legal service organizations in nine additional cities across the country to conduct these presentations, including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, Newark, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.  

The Legal Orientation Program for Custodians of Unaccompanied Children educates custodians on:

• The immigration court process and how it works;
• The importance of the children’s attendance at removal hearings and consequences of failure to appear;
• The forms of immigration relief available to children in removal proceedings; and
• The custodians’ responsibility to protect the children from mistreatment, exploitation, and human trafficking.

To learn more, click here.

Each year, approximately 21,000 people from over 100 nations are granted asylum in the United States. Asylees have suffered from persecution in their country of origin, forced migration, detention in the United States, and the uncertainty of the asylum adjudication process. Most confront systemic and bureaucratic barriers to resettlement and integration, and need well-coordinated and prompt social services to ease their transition.

CLINIC's National Asylee Information and Referral Line refers asylees to more than 500 local providers of resettlement services such as English language classes, job placement assistance, temporary cash assistance, and health care. Funded by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and operated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, the referral line provides a single, centralized source of accurate information about service eligibility and programs across the country that assist asylees with the resources they need for a smooth adjustment and early self-sufficiency.  Referral line counselors speak 19 languages, including English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole, French, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, and Albanian.

Since its inception in 2001, the referral line has:

• Served over 34,000 asylees.
• Created and maintained an up-to-date referral database (the first of its kind) of more than 500 local refugee service providers throughout the U.S.
• Placed outreach information in the regional USCIS asylum offices and improved outreach to asylees in the immigration courts.
• Created an informational pamphlet to assist service providers who work with asylees. The pamphlet contains information about the benefits and services for which asylees are eligible, including Employment Authorization Documents, Social Security cards, I-94s, adjustment of status, travel authorization, petitioning for immediate relatives, and federal student financial aid.

RESOURCES

Benefits & Services

Asylee Eligibility for Resettlement Assistance: A Short Guide  

September 2010 webinar, Post Admission Issues for Asylees

ORR outreach flyer for asylees (available in 9 languages)

Information about the SSI extension for elderly and disabled refugees

USCIS fee waiver application, Form I-912

USCIS policy guidance on fee waivers, November 2010

USCIS questions and answers about filing the I-485, I-765, and I-131 for asylees and refugees

USCIS fact sheet on asylee travel

General Information

DHS Office of Immigration Statistics 2010 annual flow report on asylees and refugees

Executive Office for Immigration Review asylum statistics

USCIS asylum page

ORR policy memoranda on asylees

For more information about this project, please contact Laura Burdick at 202-635-5820 or lburdick@cliniclegal.org.

Related resources:

• Post-Admission Issues for Asylees
• Fee Waiver Form for Asylees & Refugees

In 2011, CLINIC and seven national organizations received a multi-year and multi-state grant to increase the number of eligible Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) to become U.S. citizens by assisting them with the naturalization process through the development of innovative approaches and technologies and exchanging best practices. 

Through the New Americans Citizenship Collaboration Project, CLINIC provides funding and technical assistance to six local affiliate agencies to expand and strengthen their existing services in Charlotte (NC), Clinton Township (MI), Dallas (TX), Houston (TX), Los Angeles (CA), and Miami (FL). These local affiliates receive access to CLINIC’s expertise in naturalization and immigration law, including the immigration and information support line, reduced registration fees for training and the Annual Convening, free access to live and recorded webinars, and advocacy support.

To achieve the goal of motivating eligible LPRs to become U.S. citizens and assisting them with the process, each national partner will contribute its organizational strengths to build an integrated program that incorporates:  advocacy; capacity building and training; collaboration among partner organizations, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders; media and communications; direct naturalization services; research; and innovative approaches and technology.

Our Local Partners

Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, Inc.

Catholic Social Services (CSS) serves 16 counties in Western North Carolina through its main office in Asheville.  CSS has an accredited Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Immigration Program that provides high-quality services to over 1,000 low-income immigrants each year.  In 2010, CSS assisted with 1,125 immigration cases, including consular processing, family-based petitions, and obtaining lawful permanent residency.  Notably, CSS is the site leader for the local Charlotte collaboration.

Catholic Services of Macomb & Lapeer Counties (Clinton Township, MI)

Situated in Southeast Michigan, Macomb & Lapeer Counties have a long tradition of receiving immigrants into the community, and this migration pattern remains strong today.  Macomb County (in the greater Detroit area) is the third largest county in the state of Michigan, as well as one of the fastest growing, particularly in terms of immigrant populations.  Catholic Services of Macomb (CSM) has a new immigration program with a broad outreach that serves the Ukrainian, Polish, Latino and Chaldean communities.  Notably, CSM is the site leader for the local Detroit collaboration. 

Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc.

Since World War II, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles has served newly-arrived immigrants and refugees by assisting them in learning English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) and understanding American social norms, training them for jobs, and helping them to legalize their residency and obtain U.S. citizenship through naturalization.  Catholic Charities has a diverse clientele that have emigrated from Latin America, Southeast Asia, China, Iraq, Iran, Haiti, and Ethiopia.  Notably, Catholic Charities is a sub-grantee recipient of the USCIS National Capacity Building Grant, which focuses on developing ESL citizenship classes and civic education programs and promoting naturalization and immigrant integration.

Catholic Charities of Dallas, Inc.

Catholic Charities has a fully accredited BIA Immigration and Legal Services (ILS) program that was established in 1975 to assist the growing immigrant population of North Texas.  ILS attorneys and accredited staff provide services to clients that include family visa petitions, adjustment of status applications, naturalization services, and deportation representation.  Recently, Catholic Charities was awarded a USCIS Citizenship and Integration grant to provide both educational services and direct legal services to citizenship applicants.  Catholic Charities is also the site leader for the local Dallas collaboration, and received a national grant from USCIS to extend direct citizenship services to LPRs living in the Dallas area.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

The St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance (“Cabrini Center”) became a program of Catholic Charities in 1986.  In 2010, Cabrini Center assisted LPRs with filing over 1,000 applications for naturalization.  Cabrini Center is also active in helping clients to file family visa petitions, establish legal permanent residency, and inform clients of available immigration benefits and legal rights.

Catholic Charities Legal Services, Archdiocese of Miami, Inc.

Catholic Charities Legal Services (CCLS) serves a diverse population in the Miami-Dade County that encompasses Downtown Miami, Coral Gables, and Aventura.  Staff members from CCLS conduct presentations on naturalization and citizenship at three adult education centers throughout Miami and target immigrants from Haiti, Central America, Venezuela, and Cuba.  Notably, CCLS is the site leader for the local Miami collaboration.

CLINIC Project Resources

Citizenship for Us: A Handbook on Naturalization & Citizenship 6th Edition - Citizenship for Us is a comprehensive guide to the naturalization process that provides detailed information on citizenship eligibility, requirements, and benefits and a step-by-step explanation of the N-400 (Application for Naturalization).  The guide includes 13 study units on U.S. history and civics, historic photos, timelines, a sample naturalization interview, and a chapter on civic participation.  It is geared for immigrants, community leaders, ESL teachers, and other non-attorneys.

Citizenship and Civic Participation Toolkit - This toolkit contains a number of resources on citizenship and civic participation.

Toolkit for Naturalization Workshops - This toolkit is designed to help charitable immigration programs achieve a successful workshop. The forms and sample documents can be used as is or adapted by local programs for their own needs.

Managing an Immigration Program: Steps for Creating and Increasing Legal Capacity - This manual describes best practices used by many of the country's most experienced nonprofit immigration programs and managers.

Group Application Workshop Model - This webinar aims to promote the effective use of the group application workshop model to expand the availability of charitable legal immigration services, principally for naturalization but also for other purposes, including legalization application processing.

USCIS Guide to Naturalization - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) created this Guide to provide better and more consistent information to people interested in naturalization.

USCIS Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Initiative - USCIS strives to promote awareness of the rights, responsibilities, and importance of obtaining U.S. citizenship, and the free naturalization preparation resources available to LPRs and immigrant-serving organizations.

Have a Question?

If you have any feedback or questions, please contact Rommel Calderwood at rcalderwood@cliniclegal.org.

COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM:  NOT JUST WHEN BUT HOW

A CALL FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM

CLINIC, and its parent-organization the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), believes the U.S. immigration system is broken, does not serve the needs of the nation, and demands significant reform.  Current immigration laws do not provide an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants access to legal status and a means to fully integrate into the American society. CLINIC believes that the long-term presence of undocumented immigrants, who make significant contributions to the nation’s economy and social fabric, compels the United States to create a legal process for them to become documented, authorized to work, and prepare for naturalization to become U.S. citizens. This earned pathway to citizenship, also called legalization, is a significant component in achieving comprehensive immigration reform. Comprehensive immigration reform is expected to make our nation’s immigration laws fair for immigrants and relevant for the current and future needs of the country, thereby making the U.S. stronger, more secure, and competitive in a globalized economy.

In preparation for passage of comprehensive immigration reform, CLINIC is growing the largest network of grassroots non-profits providing charitable legal immigration services.  CLINIC supports its affiliates to respond to the current needs of low-income immigrants and prepare non-profits to serve the expected needs of undocumented immigrants seeking legal status and eventually citizenship under new immigration laws.  

This webpage is a resource for non-profit legal immigration programs, their stakeholders, and immigrants who will benefit from favorable immigration reform.  The webpage seeks to help programs:

• Understand the need to legalize undocumented immigrants;
• Educate people of faith and other advocates on the issue;
• Inform immigrants on how to prepare for immigration reform;
• Increase or start legal immigration services in their non-profits.  

To assist local, charitable immigration programs in planning for immigration reform, CLINIC has updated its report, “Preparing for Comprehensive Immigration Reform: An Earned Pathway to Citizenship and Beyond.”

Visit this website often to keep up-to-date on new developments and resources. Meanwhile, you will find links to additional resources below.

ARTICLES ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM

OTHER RESOURCES

The Catholic Church and Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Issues Around Immigration Reform

Preparing Immigrants for Immigration Reform

Developing a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Plan

Starting a Legal Immigration Program: Capacity Building in a Charitable Community Agency

Promoting Immigrant Integration

False Claims

USEFUL LINKS

Justice for Immigrants - A campaign to promote and build nationwide support for comprehensive immigration reform. CLINIC is a member of the campaign.

Immigration Advocates Network (IAN) - An online resource for organizations and individuals working on immigration issues. CLINIC is a manager of IAN and a contributor to its resources.

Migration Policy Institute - A non-partisan think tank that provides analysis, development, and evaluation of migration and refugee policies at the local, national, and international levels.

Pew Hispanic Center - A nonpartisan research organization that seeks to improve understanding of the U.S. Hispanic population and to chronicle Latinos' growing impact on the nation. CLINIC uses its data to analyze where services need to expand in order to serve a growing Hispanic population in the United States.

Grant Makers Concerned for Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) - A network of foundations that provide resources that philanthropic organizations need to address the challenges facing newcomers and their host communities and to strengthen society as a whole. CLINIC is a beneficiary and contributes resources for its website.

HAVE A QUESTION?

Email CLINIC

CLINIC works to help immigrant survivors of domestic violence and victims of trafficking and enslavement by providing both technical assistance and direct services. In particular, CLINIC offers advocate training sessions on the types of immigration relief available to victims of abuse and other crimes, as well as direct technical assistance to Catholic Charities offices that represent victims of crime. CLINIC also helps survivors escape from dangerous situations and obtain legal residence on their own, while assisting them with shelter, long-term housing, food, clothing, employment, job training, and mental health and legal counseling.

Foreign-born women are likely to stay in abusive relationships if they rely on being married to a citizen or permanent resident to legalize their immigration status. Without this status, undocumented women cannot legally work or become economically independent. These women are often trapped in violent relationships because they fear deportation, separation from their children, and impoverishment. Too often, their plight is unseen, unheard, and unresolved.

Victims of trafficking and enslavement--particularly women and children removed from their families--are also vulnerable to crime, as their undocumented status makes it more difficult for them to come forward and identify themselves as victims in need of help. Having migrated to the United States due to desperate economic circumstances in their home countries, many trafficked workers find themselves enslaved or indentured to pay off immense transportation debts. Others are lured to the United States with the promise of a well-paying job, but instead find themselves forced to work in sweatshops, agricultural fields, or as prostitutes.

Various obstacles prevent immigrant survivors of domestic violence and victims of trafficking and enslavement from seeking help, including poverty, fear of being alone, and cultural and language barriers. However, there are a number of legal options that these victims can pursue under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act.

To help meet the needs of these vulnerable populations, CLINIC has recently:

• Authored two manuals entitled The VAWA Manual: Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants (written with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center under a generous grant from the California Endowment) and A Guide for Legal Advocates Providing Services to Victims of Human Trafficking (written with MRS and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles under generous grants from the Office of Refugee and Resettlement);
• Produced a manual entitled Immigration Relief for Abused Immigrants for its member agencies on visa applications;
• Advocated with federal immigration authorities for effective implementation of the new U visa for victims of trafficking; and
• Provided trainings and legal technical support on T and U visa applications.

For additional information on the VAWA Immigration Project, please contact Jack Holmgren at  jholmgren@cliniclegal.org or 415-394-8074.