Press Releases
Immigrant Entrepreneur from Mexico Pays it Forward in Urbana, IL
Mauricio Salinas grew up poor in Puebla, Mexico. In 1986, as a 19-year-old fresh out of high school, he came to the United States looking for a better life. He worked in landscaping and as a food server, and managed to get an education at Parkland College in Champaign. Still,… Read More
Post Bulletin: Austin commission unveils “Strategic Welcoming Plan”
The Austin Human Rights Commission presented its “Austin Strategic Welcoming Plan” during Monday night’s Austin City Council meeting. Initiated in July 2016, the wel coming plan focuses on making Austin an inclusive community for all residents. Twenty people from local government, schools, businesses, and nonprofits created the plan over the… Read More
American Immigration Council Condemns Attorney General’s Decision Restricting Immigration Judges’ Authority
Attorney General Jeff Sessions unilaterally removed immigration judges’ general authority to administratively close cases. Ending the use of administrative closure will have far-reaching consequences for those in removal proceedings, including adding tens of thousands of cases to an already over-burdened immigration court system. Read More
Increase in Border Prosecutions Will Separate More Families
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting Director Thomas Homan announced today that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will be stepping up prosecutions of individuals along the southern border—likely resulting in the criminalization of asylum seekers and more family separation. Read More
Advocates File FOIA Request for ICE Documents on Detention of Pregnant Women
Through this request, the organizations seek more information regarding the treatment of pregnant individuals held in Immigration and Custom Enforcement custody and any system used to track and monitor pregnant detainees. Read More
Department of Justice Reverses Course on Legal Orientation Program for Now
Citing pushback from congressional leaders, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Executive Office for Immigration Review, part of the Department of Justice, will continue the Legal Orientation Program. Read More
DOJ Ignores Set of Recommendations to Strengthen Immigration Court System Efficiency and Effectiveness
In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the American Immigration Council received a partially redacted report written by Booz Allen Hamilton and commissioned by the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The comprehensive report investigated a range of immigration court issues including judicial performance reviews, Legal Orientation Programs, and procedural mechanisms, such as administrative closure, that can be used to streamline caseloads. Read More
Foreign-Born Residents Contributed $3.1 Billion to Michiana Region’s GDP in 2016
SOUTH BEND, IN – Immigrants in the Michiana region contributed $3.1 billion to the region’s GDP, and paid $212.8 million in federal taxes and $103 million in state and local taxes, according to a new research brief released by New American Economy (NAE) in partnership with United Religious Community,… Read More
Iowa Governor Signs Seal of Biliteracy Legislation to Address Increased Demand for Bilingual Talent
Des Moines, Iowa – Today, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 475 into law, which contains a Seal of Biliteracy program to recognize high school graduates with proficiency in a second language other than English. The important legislation highlights the need to leverage language skills as Iowa is faced with… Read More
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