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Amicus Brief

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  • Mar 13, 2019: Brief of Amici Curiae CLINIC Et. Al
    Mar 13, 2019: On March 12, 2019 CLINIC, joined by other faith-based organizations, submitted an amicus brief to the First Circuit Court of Appeals in the case O.L.B.D. v. Barr. In this case, Ms. O.L.B.D., a survivor of severe physical, sexual, and emotional abuse by her ex-husband, appeals the Board of Immigration Appeals denial of her asylum claim.
  • Feb 19, 2019: Matter of L-E-A- Brief
    Feb 19, 2019: As co-counsel to Mr. L-E-A-, CLINIC attorneys filed this brief with the Justice Department on Feb. 19, 2019. The client’s name and other identifying information has been redacted.
  • Aug 2, 2018: DACA litigation Amicus Brief
    Aug 2, 2018: CLINIC has joined with Lobby for Muslim Advocates and other faith partners as Amici Curiae, or friends of the court, in the Texas. v. Nielsen case challenging the constitutionality of the DACA program. The brief asks the court to deny Texas’s motion for preliminary injunction which would halt adjudication of all DACA cases. The case is scheduled to be heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on August 8, 2018.  
  • Apr 30, 2018: Matter of A-B Amicus Brief
    Apr 30, 2018: The Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., filed an amicus brief April 27 challenging Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ effort to insert himself into a settled immigration case, the Matter of A-B. The attorney general’s unusual move could result in changes to long-settled immigration policy, making it harder for many asylum seekers -- notably those fleeing religion-based persecution – to obtain protection in the United States.  
  • Apr 2, 2018: Trump v. Hawaii: Brief Amici Curiae of USCCB, Catholic Charities USA and CLINIC in support of...
    Apr 2, 2018: USCCB, Catholic Charities USA and CLINIC have joined as Amici Curiae, or friends of the court, in the Donald J. Trump, et al. v. State of Hawaii, et al. case challenging the constitutionality of Presidential Proclamation No. 9645. This case is commonly referred to as the “travel ban” litigation. The brief asks the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the Executive Action as a violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. The case is scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court on April 25.
  • Mar 15, 2018: Matter of Castro-Tum Amicus Brief
    Mar 15, 2018: Attorney General Sessions requested briefing from amici in the case of Matter of Castro-Tum, 27 I&N Dec. 187 (A.G. 2018).  In response to this request, CLINIC and Matthew Hoppock filed this amicus brief on February 16, 2018.
  • Mar 5, 2018: Syria TPS Federal Register Notice published on March 5, 2018
    Mar 5, 2018: The Federal Register Notice for Syria TPS was published on March 5, 2018. Read CLINIC’s analysis for guidance on the re-registration process and maintaining work authorization.
  • Jan 19, 2018: Error in Haitian TPS Federal Register Notice: extra steps needed for work authorization for pending...
    Jan 19, 2018: Yesterday’s Federal Register Notice on Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Haiti contained an error affecting Haitian TPS holders who have pending applications with USCIS.

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CLINIC Blogs

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  • Apr 3, 2019: Delays in Processing Times for Form I-485
    Apr 3, 2019: Religious workers have faced various delays in the permanent residency process under the current administration. In particular, applicants are going through additional steps when filing Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident. The Form I-485 is the final step in the green card process for religious workers. After the I-360 petition is approved, Form I-485 is then filed to request that the applicant’s status be changed to permanent resident. Lately, the processing times for Form I-485 have been steadily increasing. In fact, the average processing...
  • Apr 3, 2019: Scheduling an INFOPASS Appointment at a Local USCIS Field Office
    Apr 3, 2019: By the end of fiscal year 2019, self-scheduling of InfoPass appointments will be a thing of the past. In Oct. 30, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the expansion of its Information Services Modernization Program to more field offices. The ISMP would require a person to first speak to the USCIS National Customer Center—now the USCIS Contact Center—by calling its 800 number before being able to schedule an in-person appointment, or InfoPass appointment, at a local field office.
  • Apr 3, 2019: Religious Worker Permanent Residence FACTS!
    Apr 3, 2019: Ever wonder how many religious workers obtain permanent residence in the United States every year? Me too! While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service may not always operate as smoothly as we would like it to, it does provide annual reporting data that is useful to identify immigration trends. For instance, the annual number of all religious workers, and their spouses and children, obtaining permanent residence fell approximately 44 percent from 2008 to 2017. You may recall that 2008 was a significant year for the religious worker visa program. That year, USCIS...
  • Apr 2, 2019: Fact Sheet Appraises Proposed Risks to Sponsors of Unaccompanied Children
    Apr 2, 2019: Parents, family members and other potential sponsors of immigrant children held in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, or ORR—the agency tasked with the care and custody of unaccompanied immigrant children apprehended by immigration authorities—fear immigration enforcement actions if they volunteer to be a sponsor. CLINIC published a new fact sheet with information on the risks of ORR sponsorship and guidelines to important resources.
  • Apr 2, 2019: Sister Kathleen Moroney’s Legacy of Immigration Justice
    Apr 2, 2019: Holy Cross Sister Kathleen Moroney is one of many professionals whose service exemplifies the contributions of Catholic sisters in our communities. Perhaps one of her most significant roles has been a legacy of immigration justice work as part of the Holy Cross Ministries of Salt Lake City Legal Immigration Program, a CLINIC affiliate. Her legacy there included starting and directing the immigration department at Holy Cross and expanding it to provide for the needs of a growing Latino/a immigrant community in the state.
  • Apr 2, 2019: CLINIC’s Response to Family Separation Makes a Difference
    Apr 2, 2019: In the eyes of many, the zero tolerance policy and the family separation crisis came and went as one of the darkest times in U.S. policy toward families, children and asylum seekers. The latest news reviving the issue, particularly Judge Sabraw’s decision to expand the class in Ms. L v. ICE to include thousands beyond the 2,800 separations previously acknowledged, reminds us that our work to bring justice to these families is far from over. CLINIC, along with partners and affiliates, has built a multi-faceted response to the family separation crisis that supports...
  • Apr 2, 2019: Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC and Justice for Immigrants Empower Leaders in the Community
    Apr 2, 2019: Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC and Justice for Immigrants promote immigrant integration through leadership by empowering, strengthening and educating members of the community.
  • Apr 2, 2019: Supreme Court Allows for Increased Detention of Immigrants with Criminal Convictions
    Apr 2, 2019: On March 19, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Nielson v. Preap, held that immigrants with certain criminal convictions can be detained without bond, even if their release from criminal custody occurred long before their arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Clients who are inadmissible or deportable for old criminal convictions should be aware of the risk of mandatory detention.

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CLINIC in the News

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  • Feb 21, 2019: Under Jeanne Atkinson, CLINIC has ramped up efforts to help immigrants
    Feb 21, 2019: Jeanne Atkinson led CLINIC for six years before making her exit in Feb. 2019. In this profile, the former exectutive director reflects on her time with the organization and how it has changed since she took on the role. Read the full article published by National Catholic Reporter here.
  • Dec 11, 2018: The Department of Justice just took a step to make asylum even more difficult for Central Americans
    Dec 11, 2018: Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has referred the "Matter of L-E-A-" to himself for "certification." CLINIC attorney Bradley Jenkins breaks down how this move could imact thousands of immigration cases. Read the full article published by CBS News here.
  • Dec 11, 2018: Immigrant advocates say proposed benefits rule is a 'wealth test'
    Dec 11, 2018: CLINIC and its partners denounce proposed changes to the public charge rule which would create barriers to legal permanent residency for documented immigrants. Read the full article published in National Catholic Reporter here.
  • Nov 13, 2018: President Trump’s move to limit asylum claims is ‘illegal,’ challengers say
    Nov 13, 2018: CLINIC attorneys call the president's plans to block migrants from seeking asylum blatantly illegal. Read the full article published in America Magazine here.
  • Nov 13, 2018: Judge blocks TPS cancellation, says ending program unconstitutional
    Nov 13, 2018: A judge has blocked the deportation of thousands of immigrants facing the end of Temporary Protected Status. Although the court order only covers four countries, the CLINIC's executive director says the move is a "welcome step." Read the full article published in Crux here.
  • Nov 13, 2018: Legal immigrants leery in wake of proposed green card restrictions
    Nov 13, 2018: Immigrants in the United States who have been fortunate enough to find a legal pathway to citizenship are about to encounter a new obstacle. Charles Wheeler, director of CLINIC's Training, Litigation and Support section, emphasizes how some of the proposed changes to the public charge rule border on absurd. Read the full article published in America Magazine here.
  • Nov 13, 2018: Sister immigration lawyers ply expertise at border, in courtrooms
    Nov 13, 2018: Religious sisters across the country are stepping up to provide assistance to migrants in crisis. When they need back-up, they call the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.  Read the full article published in Global Sisters Report here.
  • Nov 13, 2018: How Catholic communities are crowdfunding fairer trials for immigrants
    Nov 13, 2018: "We're living in a time of an unprecedented attack on immigrant families, where it's more difficult for them to access to legal relief, more difficult for them to access representation," said Martín Gauto, senior attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.  Read the full article published in Pacific Standard here.

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Sign On Letters

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  • Mar 1, 2019: CRCL Complaint on Detention of Infants in Dilley
    Mar 1, 2019: In response to an alarming increase in the number of infants in ICE custody at the South Texas Family Residential Center, the American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) filed a Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) complaint addressing the detention of infants and the lack of specialized medical care available to them. The complaint was submitted to DHS’s Offices of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Inspector General on Feb 28.
  • Feb 27, 2019: Interfaith Letter Requesting Termination of Remain in Mexico Policy
    Feb 27, 2019: More than 500 faith leaders and organizations called on the Department of Homeland Security to end its policy of requiring some asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases proceed.
  • Feb 12, 2019: More than 300 faith organizations and leaders call on the administration to extend and redesignate...
    Feb 12, 2019: On Feb. 12, 2019, CLINIC and Church World Service delivered a letter signed by more than 300 faith leaders and faith-based organizations from across traditions urging the administration to grant an 18-month extension and to redesignate TPS for South Sudan, demanded by ongoing armed conflict and humanitarian crises in the country.
  • Feb 6, 2019: CLINIC and partners in Dilley Pro Bono Project Send Letter Urging Homeland Security to End the...
    Feb 6, 2019: CLINIC, with its partners, the American Immigration Council and the American Immigration Lawyers Association submitted a letter Feb. 6, 2019 to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen urging her to rescind the Remain in Mexico policy immediately.
  • Dec 6, 2018: The Naturalization Working Group calls on USCIS to Withdraw Proposed Changes to Fee Waiver
    Dec 6, 2018: On November 27, 2018, CLINIC and other members of the Naturalization Working Group delivered a letter to Samantha Deshommes, Chief of USCIS’s Regulatory Coordination Division, opposing the proposal to change the Fee Waiver form and guidance to stop accepting receipt of a means-tested benefit as evidence of qualification for a fee waivers. The letter calls on USCIS to withdraw the proposed changes and maintain the current Fee Waiver form and guidance.
  • Sep 5, 2018: Over 200 organizations call on administration to address change in humanitarian fee waiver...
    Sep 5, 2018: On September 4, 2018, CLINIC and over 200 organizations that serve immigrant survivors of domestic violence and other crimes delivered a letter to USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna, expressing concern about an unannounced change in humanitarian fee waiver procedures resulting in a significant increase in denials. The letter calls on Director Cissna to reinstate USCIS’s prior fee waiver procedures and provide the public with clear information on new practices, among other requests.
  • Jul 11, 2018: Over 100 faith organizations and leaders call on administration to extend and redesignate TPS for...
    Jul 11, 2018: On July 11, 2018, CLINIC and Church World Service delivered a letter signed by over 100 faith leaders and faith-based organizations from across traditions urging the administration to grant an 18-month extension and to redesignate TPS for Somalia, demanded by Somalia’s humanitarian crisis and ongoing violent conflict.
  • Jun 21, 2018: Over 650 faith organizations and leaders urge administration to extend and redesignate TPS for Yemen
    Jun 21, 2018: On June 20, 2018, CLINIC and Church World Service delivered a letter signed by over 650 faith leaders and organizations from across traditions urging the administration to grant an 18 month extension and to redesignate TPS for Yemen, demanded by Yemen’s ongoing war and catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

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Press Releases

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  • Apr 10, 2019: Injunction blocking ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy validates legal challenge
    Apr 10, 2019: SILVER SPRING, Maryland – A California federal judge took an appropriate first step April 8 by issuing a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts the administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, said CLINIC Executive Director Anna Gallagher. The Migrant Protection Protocols, as the administration calls the policy, force non-Mexican asylum applicants to stay in Mexico while waiting for their cases to be heard.
  • Mar 28, 2019: Expansion of 'Remain in Mexico' policy unnecessarily escalates dangers for vulnerable...
    Mar 28, 2019: SILVER SPRING, Maryland—The Trump administration’s expansion of the Remain in Mexico policy to El Paso, Texas, piles on to its two-year history of cruel and unjustified attacks on asylum seekers.  
  • Mar 11, 2019: DHS’s late decision on Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan and failure to protect those who...
    Mar 11, 2019: SILVER SPRING, Maryland—The administration’s decision not to redesignate Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan, allowing more people to be covered by it is “morally reprehensible,” said Anna Gallagher, executive director of CLINIC. 
  • Feb 27, 2019: More than 500 interfaith leaders and groups urge the administration to terminate immoral ‘Remain in...
    Feb 27, 2019: SILVER SPRING, Maryland – More than 500 interfaith leaders and organizations have called on the Department of Homeland Security to end its so-called “Remain in Mexico” policy (Migration Protection Protocols) that requires asylum seekers at the southern border to wait in Mexico for months - or even years -while their asylum cases are processed in the United States. A letter delivered to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Feb.
  • Feb 21, 2019: Case before attorney general challenges core definition of family as a 'particular social...
    Feb 21, 2019: SILVER SPRING Maryland – As co-counsel to a Mexican immigrant threatened by a drug cartel because of his family, CLINIC filed a brief with the Justice Department Feb. 19 in Matter of L-E-A-, a case which may have wide repercussions on future asylum eligibility.
  • Jan 29, 2019: CLINIC calls on DHS to end its latest attack on asylum seekers
    Jan 29, 2019: SILVER SPRING, Maryland – CLINIC is calling on the administration to prioritize human lives above its baseless and immoral “Remain in Mexico Plan,” or the Migrant Protection Protocols. 
  • Jan 23, 2019: Trump Administration’s Policy between ORR and ICE Keeps Families Separated
    Jan 23, 2019: SILVER SPRING, Maryland – The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., joined a class action lawsuit, as an organizational plaintiff on an amended complaint, on behalf of the more than 10,000 children currently being held by the Trump administration in detention centers across the country. 
  • Dec 20, 2018: The administration’s ‘catch and return’ policy is fraught with problems and morally off track
    Dec 20, 2018: SILVER SPRING, Maryland - The Department of Homeland Security’s newest plan to prevent asylum seekers from applying for safety in the United States leaves them in danger, and possibly violates their due process rights, said the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. “DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen claims that asylum seekers will have access to immigration courts and attorneys while in Mexico, but fails to provide details as to how the plan will be implemented,” said Jeanne Atkinson, CLINIC’s executive director.

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