The Golden Door: June 2022
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Supreme Court Rules to End Remain in Mexico Policy, Deadly Impact of Border Policies Still Felt
The Supreme Court ruled this morning that the Biden administration has the authority to end the Remain in Mexico program. Remain in Mexico, first put in place under the previous administration, is a senseless and racist border policy that forces asylum seekers to wait in dangerous conditions in Mexico while trying to exercise their right to seek asylum in the U.S. Read ILAP's full statement here.
This decision comes just days after more than 50 people died in Texas trying to access safety, security, and a better life for themselves and their families in the U.S. ILAP mourns this unnecessary loss of life and the tens of thousands of people who have been harmed and killed by inhumane border policies.
We call on the Biden administration to take every step possible to create a just and welcoming asylum system, including taking immediate action to end Remain in Mexico, putting an end to the equally harmful and racist Title 42 policy, and taking steps to address bias throughout every step and stage of the system, including in the Boston Asylum Office which serves asylum seekers in Maine.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for further updates!
CALL TO ACTION: #MainersForDreamers
June 15 marked 10 years since then-President Obama announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. While DACA has provided dozens of young people in Maine – and hundreds of thousands across the country – with opportunities that would have otherwise not been possible, they still hang in legal limbo and uncertainty, waiting for Congress to act and pass a pathway to citizenship.
Read the stories of two DACA recipient Mainers, Anthony and Gisselle here.
On the anniversary, ILAP joined forces with Presente! Maine and the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition to lead the #MainersForDreamers Day of Action as part of a national effort to honor the extraordinary leadership and advocacy of young undocumented immigrants, to make clear to Congress that Dreamers can’t wait any longer, and to let all DACA recipients and undocumented people across the country know: no son olvidados – you are not forgotten.
The work continues. Act for Maine’s Dreamers today by signing the petition below!
Celebrating ILAP Wins!
Each legal victory is a step toward change, made possible by our clients' resilience combined with the support of our expert staff, Pro Bono Panel attorneys, partners, and supportive community.
In the last month, we celebrated:
An approval of a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) petition for a young person from Ivory Coast
A SIJS-based green card approval for a young person from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
A grant of parole for a Ukrainian family through the new Uniting for Ukraine program
Congratulations to our clients and everyone who supported them!
Ways You Can Support Maine's Immigrant Communities
This spring has brought painful reminders that rights are not guaranteed and must be championed day in and day out. The challenges facing our communities are global, but there are clear ways to make an impact locally.
Together, we are empowered through action! Here are three ways to protect and advance the rights of Maine's immigrant communities. We we hope you'll consider committing to one - or all three!
1. SUPPORT ILAP
The George J. and Theresa L. Cotsirilos Family Foundation has generously agreed to match up to $10,000 in donations to ILAP and TODAY is the deadline. We’re $1,500 away from our goal and your support will help us in this final stretch!
With your support, we’ll continue to welcome asylum seekers with dignity, uphold the promise of protection for immigrant youth, and demand safety, freedom, and opportunity for everyone who calls Maine home.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to these efforts and for joining us in the thoughtful and sustained work ahead.
2. VOLUNTEER WITH MIRC
The Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition (MIRC) is looking for volunteers to help with their Culturally-Appropriate Food Program.
Sign up to help pack hot meals for delivery to individuals and families currently living in hotels and churches. Volunteer shifts are open Monday-Friday from 4:15-6:15pm and Saturdays 3:00-5:00pm at the Root Cellar in Portland.
3. INVEST IN IMMIGRANT-LED ORGANIZATIONS
We must all do more to invest in Black leadership for immigrant justice and address the historic underinvestment in Black immigrant communities. According to the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, only 1.4% of foundation funding for the pro-immigrant movement in the U.S. goes to groups whose primary focus is Black migrant communities.
Please consider supporting a new fund from Maine Initiatives that supports the immigrant-led and -serving groups leading the way in welcoming arriving asylum seekers to Maine.
Members of Congress Call for Investigation into Boston Asylum Office Based on ILAP Report
Earlier this month, Senators Warren and Markey and Representatives McGovern, Auchincloss, Pingree, Trahan, Pressley, and Clark called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General to open an investigation into the Boston Asylum Office based on the findings of Lives in Limbo: How the Boston Asylum Office Fails Asylum Seekers. Read the Congressional request here.
The report was co-authored by the University of Maine School of Law's Refugee and Human Rights Clinic (RHRC), ACLU of Maine, and Dr. Basileus Zeno, Karl Loewenstein Fellow and Political Science Lecturer at Amherst College. Our results were clear and disturbing: the Boston Asylum Office’s asylum grant rate is half the national average due to racial and language bias, burnout, and other due process-eroding pressures.
Join ILAP and the other report authors to learn more about our methods and findings during Maine Philanthropy Center's Summer Learning Series on August 10 from 10-11am. Register here - it's free!
ILAP Marks World Refugee Day By Joining the #WelcomeWithDignity Campaign
For the first time on record, the United Nations projects that there are at least 100 million people around the world who have been forcibly displaced from their homes.
To mark World Refugee Day on June 20, ILAP released the following message:
ILAP stands in solidarity with all people in search of safety and security. We know that here in Maine, refugees and asylees contribute so much to make our communities stronger, more vibrant, and a home for all.
We are proud to announce that ILAP is a new, official partner organization of the Welcome With Dignity Campaign. As a member of the campaign, ILAP recommits to action and advocacy to transform the way the U.S. receives and protects people forced to flee their homes. We can and must #WelcomeWithDignity.
Learn more about the #WelcomeWithDignity Campaign here.
Registration for TPS for Cameroon and Afghanistan is Now Open
Cameroon TPS: The registration period for Temporary Protected Status for Cameroon opened on June 7, 2022, and will remain in effect through December 7, 2023. Read ILAP’s legal advisory here.
Afghanistan TPS: The registration period for Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan opened on May 20, 2022, and will remain in effect through November 20, 2023.If you are an Operation Allies Welcome evacuee/parole please read ILAP’s guidance below:
ILAP's Catherine N. Lindgren and Afghan Response Task Force Honored with Award
Catherine (third from the right) stands with other Task Force members during the award presentation at the AILA Annual Conference on Immigration Law earlier this month.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recently recognized the AILA Afghan Response Task Force, including ILAP Afghanistan Project Attorney Catherine N. Lindgren, with the 2022 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award.
As a member of the Task Force, Catherine is helping organize a national pro bono response to help individuals filing asylum and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications, as well as resettlement and advocacy efforts for the more than 70,000 Afghans who were evacuated to the U.S.
“I am grateful that ILAP had the vision to create the Afghanistan Project early on in this crisis,” said Catherine. “I want to use this recognition to remind Congress, and all of us, that to truly honor the sacrifices our Afghan allies and their families made to stand by the U.S., we must introduce and pass the Afghan Adjustment Act and drastically improve the SIV and parole processes for those left behind in grave danger."
Congratulations, Catherine and all Task Force members!
ILAP in the News
Spectrum News featured an interview with Executive Director Sue Roche about the Lives in Limbo report and resulting Congressional request. The request was also covered by the Portland Press Herald, WGBH, Law360, and WBUR, among others.
Policy and Outreach Attorney Lisa Parisio discussed the legacy of racism in the U.S. immigration system and what can be learned from the "Uniting for Ukraine" program on Amjambo Africa’s podcast.
Afghanistan Project Attorney Catherine N. Lindgren explained the legal challenges faced by Afghan evacuees in an Amjambo Africa article marking World Refugee Day.
Executive Director Sue Roche reiterated that seeking asylum is a legal right and outlined the process for immigrants seeking safety in the U.S. in the Portland Press Herald.
Maine Public's News Connect featured ILAP and our partner's #MainersForDreamers Day of Action on the 10th Anniversary of DACA. You can find more translated news in French, Spanish, Somali, and Portuguese here.
Spring Newsletter Now Available!
In case you missed it, the latest issue of ILAP's Immigrant Beacon is out!
Read about the impact of ILAP’s Mendez Rojas Project, celebrate our recent legal wins, dig into the background of the Lives in Limbo report, and learn more about our direct legal aid and advocacy work over the last six months.