Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

By: Laura Burdick

CLINIC is pleased to announce our updated handbook, Strategies for Naturalizing the Most Vulnerable Applicants: A Guide to Helping Refugees and Immigrants Who Are Elderly, Disabled, Low-Income, Low-Literate, and Limited English Proficient.  The handbook, initially released in 2008, has been updated to reflect the latest naturalization policies and procedures.  It discusses English exemptions, due consideration, reasonable accommodations, disability waivers, oath waivers, fee waivers, and expedited processing.  It also contains approximately 30 links to various references and resources such as USCIS policy guidance and sample letters.

The handbook is available here as a free resource on the CLINIC website.

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. 

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.

By: Laura Burdick

On May 25, USCIS launched its Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Initiative. The initiative promotes an awareness of citizenship and seeks to prepare immigrants for successful citizenship.  It will use digital media, a video public service announcement, and print and radio messages in a variety of languages to direct individuals to citizenship preparation materials and other training and educational resources available through USCIS’ Citizenship Resource Center.

On April 5, 2011, Ambassador Johnny Young, Executive Director of Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement on the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.

Workshop in Spanish focuses on immigration and domestic violence

March 29, 2011

East Oreganian

HERMISTON — A free, public workshop Thursday will provide an introduction to immigration law with a focus on domestic violence and other crimes. The workshop will be in Spanish.

Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services teamed up with the Umatilla-Morrow Education Service District to present the workshop, which will run from 6-8 p.m. at Hilltop Junior/Senior High School, 290 W. Punkin Center Road, in Hermiston.

CNS Blog

January 14, 2011

Three national leaders and a local community organizer will be honored by Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington with awards at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event Jan. 17.

Allison Posner, CLINIC Director of Advocacy in the Center for Immigrant Rights recently conducted an interview with OurBlook, an online magazine that focuses on issues of national importance. Read her interview below.

What are the disadvantages and problems to the U.S. of having millions or tens of millions of illegal immigrants?

AP: The fact that we have close to 12 million individuals living undocumented in the United States reflects poorly on the ideals of fairness, equality and opportunity that America represents. It erodes the American dream. The continued oppression of undocumented individuals creates a two-tiered society that is unsafe for these individuals and feeds fear.

By Michelle Martin

Catholic News Service

Nov. 12, 2010

SCHILLER PARK, Ill. (CNS) -- The effort to enact a comprehensive reform of immigration law is going to be a whole lot harder with the new Congress, according to panelists at a national Justice for Immigrants gathering in Schiller Park Nov. 3-8.

For the next two years, the best immigration bill might be no bill at all, said Stuart Anderson of the National Foundation for American Policy, speaking on a panel titled "A Pro-Immigration Agenda for the 112th Congress."

More than 200 immigration advocates from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, dioceses across the country and the People Improving Communities Through Organizing network, known as PICO, gathered to talk about immigration, church teaching and how Catholics can best advocate for reform.

Nov. 11, 2010

What happens to your money and other possessions after you're gone? Normally, that's a question dealt with in a will, preparing in advance by deciding, now, who gets what.

But the very same issues can apply much earlier in life for undocumented immigrants. As deportations have increased, they face a struggle to protect their assets before they're gone -- from the country.

Marketplace's Jeff Tyler reports.