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.
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Biden Administration Partners with Private Prisons to Kill Popular CA Law to End Private Detention
Pasadena, CA - Today, an en banc 11-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that GEO could block California’s AB 32 (People not Profit, Bonta) from going into effect for the duration of the lawsuit, pending further review from District Court. AB 32 is a state law signed in 2019 which banned private prisons and private immigration detention centers in the state. A federal district court judge had largely upheld the law in the fall of 2020. But a three judge panel erroneously held that key sections of the law were likely unconstitutional in 2021, and today, 8 of the 11 en banc judges panel of the Ninth Circuit once again sided with GEO and the Federal Government.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist Maria Hinojosa, Honored at 2022 Burton Awards Ceremony
(San Francisco, CA)—Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Maria Hinojosa were honored at the 2022 Phillip Burton Immigration & Civil Rights Awards for their work to significantly advance the civil rights of all immigrants. The awards ceremony, held on Sept. 14, 2022, was the first time the event was held in person since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Named after the late Congressman Phillip Burton, U.S. Representative from California (1964-1983), the awards recognize those who carry on Congressman Burton’s legacy in support of immigrant and human rights.
ILRC Analysis: State Governments Dominate Federal Immigration Enforcement Policy
(San Francisco, CA)—An analysis by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) shows that state laws on immigration enforcement vary dramatically, and that this has major impacts on national immigration policy and the lives of immigrants in the U.S.
Biden Administration’s New DACA Rule Fails to Meaningfully Fortify DACA
(Washington)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is calling on the Biden administration to meaningfully fortify the DACA program, as promised by President Biden. Today, the federal government published a new DACA rule, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will continue to accept and process DACA renewal applications. However, the administration’s new rule represents yet another missed opportunity to protect immigrant communities. The administration's failure to expand DACA eligibility to include all immigrant youth who entered the U.S. after June 2007 is disappointing. The administration is also keeping intact eligibility disqualifications for certain immigrant youth who have had contact with the criminal legal system – despite how these communities are subject to biased policing practices, racial profiling and over-policing.
California Legislature Approves a Bill Addressing the Impact of Drug Convictions on California Residents
Los Angeles, CA –The California State Legislature has passed AB 2195, a first of its kind measure to prevent California residents from facing some of the worst collateral consequences of drug convictions, including federal immigration consequences, in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Pereida v. Wilkinson, 141 S.Ct. 754 (March 4, 2021). The bill creates an alternative plea option that can be offered at the discretion of the prosecutor as a substitute for specified drug related offenses. This bill holds individuals accountable – the alternate plea will carry the same criminal penalties as any drug offense without triggering the collateral consequences for both immigrants and citizens. AB 2195 was authored by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles). In response to the passage of AB 2195, Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer and the bill’s co-sponsoring organizations released the following statements:
Lawmakers & Coalition of Advocates Urge CA Legislature to Pass the CA IDs For All Bill – AB 1766
LOS ANGELES, CA – California State lawmakers, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - California, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) are calling on the CA legislature to pass AB 1766, which will expand access to state-issued identification cards to undocumented nondriver residents.
The ILRC Stands With Immigrant Communities Harmed by Supreme Court’s Political Decision on Immigration Enforcement
(Washington)—Yesterday, in yet another unabashedly political decision, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to keep a Texas judge’s nationwide order blocking President Biden’s guidance for determining immigration enforcement priorities intact.
As a Federal Court Heard Arguments on the Program, the Biden Administration Can and Must Continue Making DACA Available
(San Francisco, CA)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is demanding that the Biden administration use its authority to protect the DACA policy, expand it beyond its current parameters and come up with creative solutions now to give relief to all immigrant youth. The administration cannot wait until the 5thCircuit Court of Appeals hands down its decision on a case heard today vigorously contesting a Texas federal judge’s declaration last year that DACA is unlawful.
Biden Administration Should Immediately End Trump-era ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program
(Washington)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) called on the Biden administration to immediately stop processing immigrants under the Trump-era ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy now that the Supreme Court has ruled the program, also known as Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), can be ended.
Inhumane Policies at Texas Border Contributed to Migrants Deaths
(San Antonio, Texas)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) offers its deepest condolences to the families of the nearly 50 migrants whose lives were lost in a tractor-trailer on Monday in San Antonio, Texas. The ILRC stands in solidarity with partner organizations working to dismantle the anti-immigrant and racist policies put in place by Texas officials. We also call for an end to policies including Title 42 and ‘Migrant Protection Protocols (also known as Remain in Mexico) that are causing great harm to asylum seekers.
Supreme Court Dismisses GOP-led Lawsuit’s Attempt to Defend Trump-era Public Charge
(San Francisco, CA)—The Supreme Court’s decision today to dismiss an effort by 13 GOP-led states to intervene in a federal lawsuit to defend the Trump-era public charge rule, after the government dropped its defense of the rule, is a victory for immigrant families seeking essential health care coverage, housing, food programs, and many other vital services, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) said.
ILRC Commemorates Ten-Year Anniversary of DACA Program But Remains Committed to Fighting For More Full and Permanent Solutions
(San Francisco, CA) --Today marks the ten-year anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. DACA was won through the leadership and organizing of undocumented youth, who often risked everything to fight for dignity and inclusion. DACA has provided stability to more than 830,000 individuals and continues to benefit over 611,000 people today. DACA recipients have been able to pursue higher education, secure employment, advance their careers, travel abroad to visit their home communities, and contribute to their families’ and communities’ well-being.
Judge’s Decision to Keep Racist Title 42 in Place Punishes Asylum Seekers
(Washington)—A Louisiana federal judge’s decision today to block the Biden administration’s plans to phase out the racist Title 42 policy continues to punish asylum seekers and pushes an extremely dangerous anti-immigrant agenda.
10 Organizations Urge DHS Office of CRCL to Investigate Houston Asylum Office's Mishandling of Credible Fear Interviews
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, 10 organizations filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) calling for an investigation of the Houston Asylum Office’s handling of Credible Fear Interviews (CFIs) for asylum seekers. The organizations are: the National Immigration Project, RAICES, Southern Poverty Law Center, Immigration Equality, American Gateways, University of San Francisco School of Law’s Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic, Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), and the Immigrant Rights Clinic at Texas A&M School of Law.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center Praises House Passage of the MORE Act
(San Francisco, CA)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. This bill would offer tremendous relief to immigrants because it would end federal marijuana prohibition, address the collateral consequences of federal marijuana criminalization, and take steps to ensure the legal marketplace and employment in the industry is diverse and inclusive.
Ending Racist Title 42 Order is Only First Step in Helping Asylum Seekers
(Washington)—The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) welcomes the end of the racist Title 42 order put in place by the Trump administration to punish asylum seekers—the ‘Remain in Mexico’ program also must be scrapped as well.
Civil Rights Advocates Urge Immediate DOJ Action in Light of Operation Lone Star’s Expansion, Potential Extremist Involvement in Its Creation
(Austin, Texas)—The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, Texas Fair Defense Project, and partner organizations submitted a supplemental Title VI discrimination complaint urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to formally investigate Texas’ Operation Lone Star (OLS) migrant arrest program.
DHS Secretary Mayorkas Comments to U.S. Mayors Betray Administration’s Commitment to Disentangle Local Police from Immigration Enforcement
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas yesterday betrayed the Biden administration’s commitments to disentangle local policing from the federal detention and deportation system and called on local law enforcement agencies to assist DHS in the enforcement of federal civil immigration law. His remarks oppose demands from communities around the country who have passed sanctuary laws and protections to avoid exactly such entanglement.
First Year of Biden-Harris Administration: A failure to make bold needed changes to immigration policies
WASHINGTON - The first year of the Biden-Harris Administration has been a marked failure on making bold and needed changes to immigration policies; instead the administration has trotted out failed tactics from previous administrations. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) urgently demands that the administration start its second year afresh by rejecting the racism which underlies our current immigration system and moving toward immigration policies rooted in racial justice.
ICE Continues to Ignore FOIA Request for Records on Enforcement Actions Outside the Scope of Priorities
(Washington)--Immigration advocacy groups filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit Tuesday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting ICE’s internal records on preapproval authorizations for enforcement actions against individuals who do not meet the criteria outlined in the Biden-Harris administration’s interim enforcement priorities.
Biden, Democrats Inability to Enact Bold Changes to the Immigration System is a Travesty
(Washington)—The Biden-Harris administration and Congressional Democrats have continued to embrace failed tactics rather than pushing for and enacting bold changes to the immigration system. As a result, immigrant communities continue to live under draconian policies which have come to define our country’s immigration system.
Civil Rights Organizations Allege Texas’ Operation Lone Star Targets and Punishes Migrants with Discriminatory Shadow Criminal Legal System
(Austin, Texas)—Today, major national and Texas immigrant and civil rights organizations jointly filed a Title VI discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding “Operation Lone Star,” with the support of over 100 organizations. Operation Lonestar is an unlawful, xenophobic, and racist program under which Texas law enforcement officers target migrants for arrest, jailing, and criminal prosecution for the state criminal offense of “trespassing.” Texas state agencies channel these arrested migrants into a shadow criminal legal system that violates fundamental constitutional rights.
The ILRC Denounces the Reinstatement and Expansion of MPP
(Washington) – In light of the recent reports that the Biden administration has reached an agreement with Mexico to not only re-implement, but expand, the Trump-era MPP policy also known as “Remain in Mexico,” the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) issues the following statement:
ICE Continues to Ignore FOIA Request for Reports on Enforcement Activities and Removals
(Washington)—Immigration advocacy groups filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit Monday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting ICE’s internal reports on enforcement activities and removals under the Biden-Harris administration’s interim enforcement priorities.
Watered Down Immigration Relief is Not the Goal
(Washington)—This morning the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better (BBB) Act: the next step is for the Senate to act on this legislation. Among BBB’s many provisions is language attempting to address the needs of our country’s immigrants. However, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) believes the watered-down immigration relief Democrats advanced in BBB does not meet the needs of immigrant communities who have bravely fought for decades for citizenship and a vision of immigrant justice that is inclusive. At its best, this so-called “Plan C” would grant temporary relief to some immigrants while millions of others are left out. At its worst, it would leave a detailed roadmap that future administrations could use to target vulnerable immigrant communities.