Immigration Benefits and Relief
The immigration laws and regulations provide some avenues to apply for lawful status from within the U.S. or to seek relief from deportation. The eligibility requirements for these benefits and relief can be stringent, and the immigration agencies often adopt overly restrictive interpretations of the requirements. Learn about advocacy and litigation that has been and can be undertaken to ensure that noncitizens have a fair chance to apply for the benefits and relief for which they are eligible. Providing avenues for legal status, protection, and family reunification is vital to ensuring humanitarian protection for immigrants. We are leading policy changes that open more opportunities like asylum, visas for victims of crime or human trafficking, and relief for long-term residents. Explore the resources below to learn more.
Where Doug Jones Stands on Immigration Policy
Doug Jones, a former Democratic prosecutor once considered a longshot in Republican-majority Alabama, narrowly won the state’s Senate race Tuesday evening in what may ultimately prove to be a needed boost for immigrants’ rights on Capitol Hill. Jones’ stance on immigration was largely captured during the contentious Senate race,… Read More
The Dream Act Could Add Millions to Your Congressional District
Current and former recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative are asking Congress to recognize the impact they and other Dreamers have on the United States, and to subsequently pass legislation that protects them from deportation and places them on a path to citizenship. One of… Read More
The Senate Has Confirmed Kirstjen Nielsen as Secretary of Homeland Security
This afternoon, the United States Senate confirmed Kirstjen Nielsen to be the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As Secretary, she will oversee an ever-growing agency which includes the enforcement and services functions of immigration, airport security, disaster relief, the Secret Service, and more. During her confirmation… Read More
Dreamer Movement Gains Support as Deadline for a Legislative Solution Approaches
A growing coalition is voicing its support for finding a permanent, legislative solution for the young immigrants thrown into limbo with the recent termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative. With more and more Dreamers losing their status by the day, a groundswell of support is… Read More
As DHS Ends TPS for Haiti, a Pattern Emerges. What Comes Next?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week that it would be ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. 50,000 Haitians, along with hundreds of thousands of nationals from other countries, now face an uncertain future which could result in deportation to a country struggling to recover from… Read More
Judge Grants Temporary Reprieve From Deportation to Indonesians Fearing Religious Persecution
After being lured to participate in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiative that promised a reprieve from deportation, 51 Indonesian nationals suddenly were at risk for removal once again when the government agency decided to abruptly terminate the program. But on Monday, a federal district court judge in Boston… Read More
Senate Releases Homeland Security Funding Bill as Battle Over the Dream Act Looms
With the deadline for government funding fast approaching, the Senate Appropriations Committee finally released its draft version of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) funding bill—and Congress is feeling the pressure. Not only does Congress need to pass a bill by December 8 to keep the government open, but some… Read More
USCIS Will Now Consider the DACA Applications That Got Lost in the Mail
When a slowdown with the U.S. Postal Service caused over 100 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals renewal applications to arrive after the October 5 deadline, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services said there was nothing it could do—the rejection was final. But in a reversal announced on Wednesday night, USCIS… Read More
DACA Termination Affects Thousands on a Daily Basis
In the months following the government’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, more than 8,500 young immigrants have already lost their protection from deportation. Without DACA, immigrants who have been in the country since they were children lose protections that have enabled them to… Read More
USCIS Is Receiving a Record Number of Citizenship Applications
The average processing time for United States citizenship applications used to take five to seven months – already a lengthy timeline for immigrants waiting to get their citizenship vetted and approved. A spike in applications before and after the 2016 presidential election has caused that wait time to double. Yet,… Read More
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