stipulated removal | foia lawsuit

• Immigrants' Rights Organizations Sue DHS for Public Accountability about Deportation Program That Sidesteps Legal Process for Immigrants (11/12/08)

• Backgrounder: Stipulated Removal (11/12/08)

• Complaint for Injunctive Relief (filed 11/12/08)

• Los Angeles Times editorial: Immigration Authorities Need to Release the Guidelines They Use in Deciding 'Stipulated Removal' Cases (11/14/08)

BASIC PILOT / E-VERIFY

• Basic Pilot/E-Verify Reality Check: Businesses Challenge DHS's Claims.  A Dept. of Homeland Security official recently described using E-Verify as "a bit less burdensome than ordering books for the first time from Amazon.com."  But that's not what U.S. businesses report. (Posted 11/5/08)

• Illinois is the first state to have enacted laws intended to protect employers and workers who are affected by Basic Pilot/E-Verify.  Read about them in "Continuing the Pioneer Tradition: Illinois' Basic Pilot/E-Verify Laws as a Model Policy." (Posted 11/4/08)

DISASTER PLANNING & RELIEF Feature article in IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS UPDATE: Addressing the Needs of Immigrants and Limited English Communities in Disaster Planning and Relief: Lessons for Government, Disaster Relief Agencies, and Community-Based Organizations (10/28/08)

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT LAWSUIT
Groups Sue for Release of Government Documents Related to Feb. 2008 Immigration Raid in Los Angeles.  The lawsuit alleges that immigration officials violated FOIA by failing to release information about the mistreatment of workers detained during the raid. The mistreatment included racial profiling, intimidation, and denial of access to counsel. (10/28/08) 

SOCIAL SECURITY "no match" letters 

• NEWS RELEASE: Civil Rights Coalition Charges That Finalized "No-Match" Rule Will Hurt American Workers and the U.S. Economy (10/23/08).  According to the text of the rule issued Oct. 23:  "[T]his final rule republishes the text of the August 2007 Final Rule without substantive change" (p. 7).  Implementation of the Aug. 2007 rule was preliminarily enjoined by a federal district court on Oct. 10, 2007.  The injunction remains in effect pending further court proceedings.

• Social Security Administration "No-Match" Letter Toolkit (3rd Edition).  Resources for organizers, advocates, and workers as they respond to no-match letters, launch campaigns to combat misuse of the SSA no-match program, and respond to the DHS rule published on Mar. 26, 2008.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) EXTENSION  SSI Extension for Refugees and Other Humanitarian Immigrants Enacted into Law.  The new law is effective as of October 1, 2008. (10/1/08) 

IN-STATE TUITION (AB 540, CALIFORNIA)  Martinez v. Regents of the University of California: California Court Ruling on In-State Tuition Is Not the Last Word.  Appellate court overturns lower court's decision dismissing a challenge to AB 540.  AB 540 remains in effect, however.  (9/17/08) 

LEGAL ARIZONA WORKERS ACT (EMPLOYER SANCTIONS) 

• 9th Circuit affirms federal district court's decision on legal challenge to Arizona act: opening, reply, and amicus briefs available, as well as 9th Circuit decision (posted 9/17/08)

• Erecting Its Own Tombstone: Arizona's Mandatory Basic Pilot/E-Verify Law.  Arizona's requirement that employers verify workers' employment eligibility via Basic Pilot/E-Verify has yielded negative results for the state, its businesses, and its workers.  Other states considering similar measures would do well to pay attention to these results. (Posted 4/29/08)

COLLEGE AID FOR BATTERED IMMIGRANTS  Federal Financial Aid for College Available to Qualified Battered Immigrants (Posted 8/12/08) 

RESPONDING EFFECTIVELY TO WORKSITE RAIDS  Feature article in IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS UPDATE: "The Los Angeles Rapid Response Network: How Advocates Prepared for and What They Learned from the Recent Workplace Raid in Van Nuys" (6/19/08) 

BENEFITS FOR immigrants in CALIFORNIA  Benefits for Immigrant Victims of Trafficking, Domestic Violence and Other Serious Crimes in California.  California SB 1569 provides state and local benefits to immigrant survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence and other serious crimes under the same rules that apply to refugees.  Read here about the benefits they may receive and what they need to show in order to obtain them.  (4/08) 

HEALTH CARE FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN  Facts about the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA).  Why legislation is needed | Primary health care for children and pregnant women saves money | Immigrants should benefit from health programs supported by their taxes | Flexibility and fiscal relief for states. (3/26/08) 

PRO-IMMIGRANT MEASURES  Cities and Immigration: Local Policies for Immigrant-Friendly Cities.  To help "elected officials, policymakers, activists, community-based organizations and city residents advocate for, design and implement progressive city policies toward immigrants."  (Center on Wisconsin Strategies, 1/20/08; link posted 2/13/08) 

• Pro-Immigrant Measures Available to State or Local Governments: A Quick Menu of Affirmative Ideas.  A menu of ideas for effectively incorporating immigrants into communities, investing in instead of marginalizing them.  (NILC, 9/20/07).