The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit resource center that provides immigration legal trainings, technical assistance, and educational materials, and engages in advocacy and immigrant civic engagement to advance immigrant rights.
To speak to one of our expert immigration attorneys, learn more about a particular aspect of immigration policy or law, or to be added to our media list for updates, please contact media@ilrc.org
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ILRC Mourns the Passing of Board Member Eva Grove
(San Francisco, CA)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) mourns the passing of Eva Grove, who served as a Board member since 2009. Eva, who was 87, died peacefully according to The Grove Foundation which was founded in 1986 by Eva and her late husband, Andy.
“Eva was such a key part of the board and the ILRC as the chair of the Board Finance Committee, a member of the Board Executive Committee, and a thoughtful and consistent contributor to our strategy and direction,” said ILRC Executive Director Eric Cohen. “She was a willing and marvelous brainstorm partner and always had the humanity of the staff and community foremost in mind when sharing her opinions and ideas.”
Eva and The Grove Foundation were honored in 2008 by the ILRC with the Phillip Burton Award for Immigration & Civil Rights Policy.
Eva was the second ILRC Board member who has passed away this year--Alan Tafapolsky died on April 11. You can read the ILRC’s statement on Alan’s passing here on our website.
Eva is survived by her two daughters, Karen and Robie, and six grandchildren. Eva’s obituary can be found here.
ILRC Celebrates the Life of Board Member Alan Tafapolsky
(San Francisco, CA)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) celebrated the life of Board member Alan Tafapolsky during the annual Burton Awards held in May. Alan passed away on April 11 at the age of 61.
ILRC Executive Director Eric Cohen paid tribute to Alan during remarks at the awards ceremony in San Francisco. Many staff from Alan’s firm, Tafapolsky & Smith LLP, attended the ceremony in his honor. Cohen spoke highly of Alan’s deep involvement in the ILRC as a board member.
“When the PPP loans were offered by the federal government during COVID, he not only insisted we apply, but he offered up his firm’s CFO to help with the process,” Cohen said. “When I had some questions about promotions and job titles among attorneys at the ILRC, he immediately jumped in, shared his experiences, and gave his time and sage advice on the topic.”
“Alan was so well respected in the immigration law field. You knew that when you referred someone to Alan, everything would go well for the client.
With his partner, Tony, and others, Alan built one of the real powerhouse immigration law firms in the entire state, actually, the entire country,” Cohen added. “Alan was always kind and willing to give me his time and advice, it was always spot on, and I appreciated him for that.”
Alan is survived by his wife, Randi Silverman, and children Nina and Alex.
Members of Congress and Over 300 Organizations Unite to Chart a #NewWayForward for Immigrants
Bill offers a blueprint for policy rooted in compassion, fairness; takes steps to root out systemic racism from immigration laws
ILRC celebrates 60th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright by continuing to fight for access to counsel for immigrants
This weekend, the ILRC is proud to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Gideon vs. Wainwright, a modern triumph in safeguarding one of the most essential privileges of a democracy: the right to legal counsel in criminal proceedings. Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gideon 60 years ago, there have been significant improvements in ensuring all have access to legal counsel within the criminal context, but there is still a long way to go. As an organization that works to serve the immigrant community, we know there is more work to be done to ensure all within this nation have the protections of a thriving democracy.
ILRC Condemns Efforts that the Biden Administration is Reportedly Considering Reinstating Family Detention
(Washington)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) condemns any efforts by the Biden administration to reinstate family detention—first reported by The New York Times on Monday, March 6. Here is a brief statement from Nithya Nathan-Pineau, ILRC policy attorney and strategist:
“Reports that the Biden administration is considering reviving the inhumane and unconscionable practice of detaining families are completely shocking. The Biden administration should be working to dismantle the immigration detention system – a system rooted in white supremacy which along with this country’s criminal legal system, works to target Black immigrants and immigrants of color for arrest and deportation. Rather than dismantling detention, Biden is considering once again expanding the system to jail families including infants and children. Family detention has been condemned by human rights activists, the child welfare community and medical experts – because it is unjust, inhumane and detrimental to the growth and survival of families. The ILRC urges the Biden administration to stand on the right side of history and reject cruel policies such as family detention and work with us to end immigration detention once and for all.”
Biden Administration Must Take Executive Action on Immigration
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is calling on President Biden to use executive action to enact bold policy solutions on immigration. Specifically, the ILRC is demanding action to ensure immigration benefits are more equitable and accessible, and that the work to dismantle the enforcement, detention and surveillance systems is begun.
Supreme Court’s Decision to Keep Title 42 Intact is Another Blow to Asylum Seekers
The Supreme Court’s decision to keep Title 42 in place for months will continue to deny migrants their right to seek asylum, and the Biden Administration must act swiftly to help migrants being unduly punished by this racist policy.
Immigrant and Human Rights Groups Condemn Biden Administration’s New Denaturalization Policy
Last week, the Department of Justice released a new denaturalization policy. Instead of reverting back to the decades-long practice of reserving denaturalization for only the most egregious cases, the policy legitimizes the denaturalization apparatus that the Trump administration builded upon. The policy fully ignores concerns and recommendations that a broad coalition of advocacy organizations has repeated consistently since President Biden stepped into office. Alarmingly, under this policy, broad categories of people will continue to face the threat of their citizenship being taken away.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center Congratulates Nancy Pelosi on Historic Tenure
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) congratulates and commends the historic tenure of Nancy Pelosi, as the first and only woman elected Speaker of the House. The ILRC looks forward to future collaboration with Rep. Pelosi through her work on Capitol Hill, and as a member of our Advisory Board since 1988.
No More Excuses for Biden Administration Now That Title 42 is Struck Down
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) welcomed a federal court’s decision striking down Title 42 and we urge the Biden Administration to work quickly to process asylum seekers who had been expelled due to this racist policy. The ruling is clear that Title 42 had nothing to do with public health but was instead another hateful tactic deployed by the previous administration to keep migrants from exercising their right to seek asylum. All other policies implemented in the spirit of Title 42, especially Texas’s Operation Lone Star, should immediately cease operations.
Texans, Immigration Advocates Call on Biden Admin, DHS to Cut Ties With Operation Lone Star
Texans impacted by Gov. Greg Abbott’s racist Operation Lone Star were joined by immigration advocates Tuesday demanding the Biden Administration and the Department of Homeland Security immediately stop allowing federal funds and other assistance be used to support this harmful scheme.
Biden’s Marijuana Plans Unfairly Exclude Immigrants
(San Francisco, CA)--The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is pleased President Biden recognized the unjust punishment that the federal criminal system has inflicted on people who have used marijuana, and the disproportionate impact on Black people and people of color, and that he pardoned those with federal convictions. However, while the President states his goal is to alleviate “collateral consequences” of a drug conviction, his statement ignores one of the worst collateral consequences affecting communities of color: the cruel and bizarre punishments that are imposed on immigrants in the name of marijuana enforcement.
Fifth Circuit Court Fails to Fortify DACA, Sends Issue Back to Lower Court to Consider New Rule
(San Francisco, CA)--The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday failed to fortify the DACA program, and ordered a lower court to review the program in light of the final rule issued by the Biden Administration that is set to take effect on Oct. 31.
New Report Makes Clear: As Detention Capacity Increases, So Do ICE Arrests
Washington, DC — A new report from Detention Watch Network, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and Ceres Policy Research outlines the direct link between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests and the availability and capacity of immigration detention centers. The report - If You Build It, ICE Will Fill It - demonstrates that immigrants in counties with more detention space and counties with an overall higher carceral capacity are significantly more likely to be arrested and detained by ICE.