Advocating Against Family Separation
Nationwide demonstrations this week: https://truthout.org/articles/nationwide-demonstrations-announced-to-protest-immigrant-detention-centers/
Online petition from Jeff Merkley’s website: https://www.jeffmerkley.com/petition/child-separation/e/
MoveOn action page, free Close the Camps stickers: https://act.moveon.org/survey/closethecamps-sticker/
Sharing information from the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition regarding an upcoming event to raise funds for the efforts of the Response and Deportation Defense project.
More information and event page on Facebook.
Crossposting from the OWLS listserve:
Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services will be training attorneys on U Nonimmigrant Status for Immigrant Victims of Serious Crimes on Wednesday, February 20. Presenting the training will be several experienced members of the staff of Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services.
Please note that while the morning content is introductory, the afternoon content is intended both for practitioners new to immigration law as well as those looking to sharpen their U visa skill set and will include time for questions/discussion. A tentative agenda is attached.
Practitioners who complete this training are potentially eligible to represent a pre-screened Catholic Charities client and his or her family members pro bono, with technical supervision from Catholic Charities.
We are in the process of applying for 6 CLE credits, including Access to Justice credits.
What: U Nonimmigrant Status for Immigrant Victims of Serious Crimes
Where: 2740 SE Powell Blvd, 4th floor
When: Wednesday, February 20th – 9 am to 4:30 pm (1 pm to 4:30 pm for afternoon session only)
Cost: $40 (full day, includes lunch); $20 (afternoon session only)PLEASE FORWARD this message to any colleagues that you think may be interested in attending. Please call 503.688.2617 or email egumper@ccoregon.org with any questions or to RSVP.
Cross-posted with permission from Shari Lane (original post to the OWLS listserve on October 10, 2018). There is still time to file comments!
Two new proposed regulations have been promulgated, and I encourage everyone to comment: https://www.regulations.gov/
- Allows the federal government to detain children indefinitely (overturning the Flores Settlement Agreement), and allows waiver of the existing requirement of state agency oversight over facilities housing children.
Enter DHS Docket No. ICEB-2018-0002 for Proposed Rule (“PR”) titled “Apprehension, Processing, Care, and Custody of Alien Minors and Unaccompanied Alien Children.” Comment period ends 11/6/18
There’s so much that could be said about this, but I’ll say only this: the FSA ensures children are not warehoused in detention forever, and the state agencies are currently charged with ensuring child detainees are provided with education, health care, and other minimum standards of care are met. This regulation would eliminate both protections.
- Interprets existing “public charge” laws and regulations as likely to disqualify an applicant for citizenship, permanent status, or extension of temporary protected status if the applicant has ever received public benefits. Benefits that will be disqualifying include SNAP (food stamps), WIC (aid to Women, Infants, and Children), and Medicaid.
Enter DHS Docket No. USCIS-2010-0012 for the Proposed Rule (PR) labelled “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds.” Comment period ends 12/10/18
This rule applies even if the applicant only received benefits for a short period of time, right after arriving in the country with nothing, having fled natural disaster or violence, and having followed the proper procedures for authorized entry.
Some healthcare providers are already reporting that, based on the announcement last month that the rule was going to be proposed, even immigrants who are here legally with applications pending or whose status is up for renewal have been refraining from seeking medical care until the situation is dire, for fear it will result in denial of their application.
Sample language for making the comments can be provided by one of the many, many organizations opposing these regulations. . . . The most important action is to reference the PR number and state your opinion. It only takes a few minutes.
And from a follow-up email:
I did find out that the final version of the proposed “public charge” regulation exempts refugees, and it sounds like it won’t include WIC.
Last week, The Washington Post published a perspective article on The American tradition of caging children, by Lalitha Vasudevan. The article traces the history of youth incarcerations dating back to the country’s first juvenile court in 1899 and draws comparisons in treatment between truant children caught in the juvenile justice system and those now being detained at the border.
While some Americans have been angered and terrified by the government’s actions at the border, and some have been moved to act to help the children, we have yet to see an enriched national conversation about how we punish children and how we decide what children are worthy of our empathy.
. . .
Let the collective outrage extend into the ongoing conversation about criminal justice reform, another area that is vulnerable to draconian actions in the name of so-called positive change. The shelters in which the 12,000 migrant children are being held currently charge $750 per day per child. Consider how else those funds could be allocated to support the flourishing, rather than detention, of young people.
Next Thursday, October 11, join a Livestream conversation with the American Immigration Council regarding Children and the Long-Term Effects of Family Separation. Click here for more information and to register.
On Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 in Portland, join the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) in partnership with Catholic Charities’ Center for Immigration Defense, for a two-day Introduction to Removal Defense course which will include basics of asylum law, withholding, CAT, bond proceedings, removal proceedings and cancellation of removal. CLE credit is being applied for. Click here for more information and to register.
According to court documents filed about a week ago, more than 400 migrant children remain separated from their parents. Read the full article at the PBS News Hour website.
We recently reached out to a number of groups to gather particularized information about their volunteer needs. We received the following update from Catholic Charities of Oregon:
While we are not serving people directly at the border, we are and have been consistently serving refugees and immigrants of all status. We would love to have our attorney colleagues at OWLS (and non-attorneys too) volunteer and contribute in the following ways. While monetary donations are always gratefully accepted, here are some other way they can help:
Immigration Legal Services:
Catholic Charities legal volunteers participate in the day-to-day operation of Immigration Legal Services under the supervision of an attorney or accredited representative. Legal volunteers assist clients with their humanitarian and family-based immigration applications and petitions at all stages of the case. Tasks include interviewing clients, translating personal declarations, drafting motions and memoranda on legal issues, and preparing evidence for submission to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to work on motions and briefs for litigation in immigration court and attend immigration court proceedings. Volunteers work closely with attorney supervisors and receive regular one on one instruction and feedback related to their assignments. Catholic Charities requires a 12 hour/week commitment during regular office hours. If this option is not a good fit, our office also manages a pro bono attorney training and referral program for active members of the Oregon State Bar. Please email Sheridan Rueter at srueter@ccoregon.org if you are interested in volunteering with us. Thank you for your interest.Refugee Resettlement:
The RR Refugee Restart Kit request is attached. We are always looking for kitchen kits, bathroom kits, new pots and pans, and new underwear in various sizes (for male, female, adult, and child). We could also use cell phones that are unlocked, in good working condition without cracks, and preferably no more than a couple years old. Opportunities to volunteer with refugees can be found on our website and our next Refugee Services Volunteer Training is on August 13, 2018.
An invite was extended by the Oregon Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society to attend the following CLE at Perkins Coie on August 1, 2018, from 4:30 to 6:30.
Please RSVP to Kristina Holm.
ACS Oregon: Protecting Immigrant Detainees’ Access to Counsel: An Update on Innovation Law Lab v. Nielsen
Please join the Oregon Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society for a discussion on the ongoing litigation regarding the right of immigrant detainees being held at the Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution to access legal counsel.
Featuring:
Nadia Dahab, Attorney, Stoll BerneMs. Dahab currently serves as counsel for one of the individual detainees as well as the Innovation Law Lab. She will discuss the claims asserted by plaintiffs-petitioners and the temporary restraining order issued by Judge Michael Simon.
The program will be immediately followed by the ACS Oregon Lawyer Chapter’s summer social.
From Facebook:
A walk to inspire a more compassionate, generous, and welcoming Portland!
Parks for New Portlanders, in partnership with Portland Sunday Parkways, nonprofits, and refugee and immigrant organizations, invites you to walk with Refugees and Immigrants.
Join community members and elected leaders as they gather at Gateway Discovery Park for in a one-mile walk to Knott Park, alongside our refugee and immigrant neighbors in a show of support. This event recognizes the unique experiences of new Portlanders, of all ages and backgrounds.
– Hear refugee and immigrant stories
– Enjoy diverse music, food, and other family activitiesWe welcome all neighbors, faith-based organizations, local businesses, neighborhood associations, and nonprofits to join us on this walk to inspire a more compassionate, generous, and welcoming Portland!
The event is planned for Sunday, August 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Gateway Discovery Park in NE Portland.
OWLS Unite Families 