Category Archives: May 2019

Latest Trump Attack on Immigrant Families Is Reckless, Dangerous, Advocates Say

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2019

CONTACT
National Immigration Law Center: Hayley Burgess (202-805-0375), [email protected]
Center for Law and Social Policy: Tom Salyers (202-906-8002), [email protected]

Latest Trump Attack on Immigrant Families Is Reckless, Dangerous, Advocates Say

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump this afternoon signed a memorandum ordering federal agencies to expand attacks on immigrants and their family members by targeting the U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who sponsor their relatives when they immigrate. The announcement, which directs agencies to develop policies within 90 or 180 days, will intimidate sponsors from reuniting with their family members and will deter lawfully admitted immigrants from securing services for which they are eligible.

The order comes on the heels of a series of attacks that would put immigration status at risk if families use public programs such as Medicaid or nutrition assistance. The memo released today targets the same immigrant communities but magnifies the assault by directing agencies to develop plans to sue the sponsors of immigrants who use certain public programs.

Immigrants who have sponsors already face multiple barriers to receiving services. This directive undermines individual and public health by increasing these barriers and chilling access to services.

The co-chairs of the Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign reacted this afternoon by releasing the following statement by Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, and Olivia Golden, executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy:

“Trump will do anything to send immigrant families the message that if you’re not white and wealthy, you’re not welcome — or even safe — here. And he doesn’t care that children and entire families will be harmed in the process. This is the latest in a string of desperate, dangerous attacks on our neighbors, our friends, our classmates, our families, and the communities they call home. We’re committed to fighting these anti-family attacks on every front. We urge leaders in Congress to take a stand against this administration’s brutal, reckless, dangerous, inhumane agenda.”

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NILC Statement Following Dream and Promise Act Markup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2019

CONTACT
Hayley Burgess, 202-805-0375, [email protected]

NILC Statement Following Dream and Promise Act Markup

WASHINGTON — Following the House Judiciary Committee’s markup of the Dream and Promise Act, Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement:

“This is a good day. In the midst of so much pain and trauma caused by the Trump administration, the House Judiciary Committee has taken an important leap forward to show us a more inclusive vision for our country. The Dream and Promise Act would bring long-overdue stability to millions of immigrants, including recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and other immigrant youth, as well as to people with temporary protected status (TPS) or deferred enforced departure (DED).

“And we’re equally pleased to see that those who tried to derail this important effort were seen for what they are: fearmongers who prefer to demonize immigrants rather than recognize our humanity and how inextricably linked we are to communities across the country.

“The Dream and Promise Act is the most encouraging step we’ve seen Congress take in years to provide permanent relief for community members who have had their futures placed in limbo by the Trump administration’s cruel actions to end DACA and TPS for so many.

“The timing of this legislation couldn’t be more relevant. With more than 100,000 DACA-eligible students graduating high school this year and looking to start the next chapter of their lives, we are reminded of how critical it is for Congress to act swiftly to pass bipartisan legislation — without harmful trade-offs — that will allow these young people to continue to contribute to the country they know as home.

“This bill is not perfect. It contains problematic measures that undermine fundamental principles of fairness embedded in our legal system and further narratives that only serve to criminalize communities of color. We are committed to building stronger alliances with our criminal justice reform allies so that one day soon we will dismantle this criminalization framework that scapegoats people of color, especially those who are struggling to make ends meet.

“Nevertheless, we urge the House of Representatives to pass this much-needed solution and send a message to the country that the immigrants who would be eligible for relief under the Dream and Promise Act belong here. This is their country too, and their families, communities, and our country will benefit greatly from their being able to remain here. The House must pass this legislation  without delay.”

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Dream & Promise Act Most Inclusive Dream Legislation in Decades

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2019

CONTACT
Hayley Burgess, 202-805-0375, [email protected]

Dream & Promise Act Most Inclusive Dream Legislation in Decades

WASHINGTON — Ahead of the House Judiciary Committee markup of the Dream and Promise Act — introduced by Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) — there is growing praise for the legislation. The legislation includes a permanent road to U.S. citizenship for immigrant youth, including recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and individuals with temporary protected status (TPS) or deferred enforced departure (DED); an increase in age limits to ensure protections go beyond young people, but also to people who’ve been in the country for decades; and strong due process protections and judicial review.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement:

“The first two years of the Trump administration have been marked by chaos and a complete decimation of long-standing pillars of our legal immigration framework. Immigrant youth and people with TPS or DED primarily from African and Central American countries were among those most directly impacted when the administration unlawfully attempted to end these programs, leaving millions in legal limbo after doing everything the government has asked of them.

“The Dream and Promise Act, as introduced, is more than a solution: it’s a blueprint for an inclusive, positive vision for the country that rightly recognizes immigrant youth and people with TPS or DED as integral members of our families, communities, and society. Those who will benefit from this legislation call this country home. It’s where they go to school, raise their children, run their small businesses, and are building their careers and purchasing homes.

“Though this legislation represents a progressive step forward, we also know it falls short of our vision for truly inclusive change in important ways. We have deep concerns about provisions added after its introduction that conflict with long-standing criminal justice reform efforts aimed at combating racial profiling and criminalization of youth of color. Specifically, the proposed legislation leaves people’s futures potentially subject to error-ridden databases that purport to track alleged gang members. These provisions are wasteful and contrary to the direction we have taken as a nation toward much-needed reform of our criminal justice system. Immigrants must not be left out of this conversation, and Democrats should not perpetuate a criminal narrative that harms so many communities of color across the country.

“Notwithstanding these serious concerns, we recognize that House leadership is presenting substantive policy proposals that address some of the largest immigration issues we face and are in strong contrast to the president’s punitive, cruel, and unlawful policies that serve solely to terrorize and separate millions of immigrant families. It is crucial that, as the bill moves forward, no further changes are made that threaten to undermine the inclusive vision we are fighting for.

“The Dream and Promise Act is a strong first step toward creating an immigration system that is in line with our 21st century needs. Members of Congress should use the markup process as an opportunity to discuss expanding opportunities for all of us to thrive. We will continue to fight in the halls of Congress and alongside our communities for a day in which all of us, regardless of country of birth or income, belong in this country we call home.”

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In White House Address, Trump Proposes Rigging Immigration System in Favor of the Wealthy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2019

CONTACT
Hayley Burgess, 202-805-0375, [email protected]

In White House Address, Trump Proposes Rigging Immigration System in Favor of the Wealthy

WASHINGTON — In an address at the White House Rose Garden today, President Trump outlined a sweeping immigration plan that would drastically impact family-based immigration. The proposal, known to have been drafted by Jared Kushner and Stephen Miller, would starkly alter decades of U.S. immigration policy by favoring immigrants with higher incomes and advanced academic achievement over families seeking to reunite with their loved ones.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement:

“From the first day of his presidential candidacy, Trump has made it clear that his anti-immigrant sentiments would shape his administration. Through every one of his immigration policy changes, Trump, together with Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon, is seeking to radically redefine who is worthy of being an American and what we look like as a nation. This latest announcement is part and parcel of the same strategy. This sweeping proposed change to our country’s immigration system is based not in values, but in white nationalism and an elitist belief that this country is only for the wealthy. This is not a serious policy proposal, but rather another attack on immigrant families and an effort to shape the narrative to rally his base.

“Actions speak louder than words. Behind the Rose Garden podium and beneath all the tweets, the Trump administration has been systematically dismantling our legal immigration and refugee system, bit by bit. The theatrics at the Rose Garden obfuscate the reality that this administration’s radical shift to a ‘merit-based’ system is already underway through regulatory changes that are an end-run around Congress. The biggest blow is coming shortly: a devastating wealth-test regulation targeting lawfully residing immigrant families who seek care for themselves and their children, effectively telling all but the wealthiest few that they are not welcome here.

“We at the National Immigration Law Center will continue to advocate and litigate, and also educate policymakers and our communities to prevent the worst atrocities from taking place, but the damage to immigrant communities is already being done. The Trump administration is already taking a regulatory buzz saw to our nation’s legal immigration system, and it will devastate millions of families for years to come.”

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Reported Trump Regulation Threatens Immigrant Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2019

CONTACT
National Immigration Law Center: Hayley Burgess, 202-805-0375, [email protected]
Center for Law and Social Policy: Tom Salyers, 202-607-1074, [email protected]

Reported Trump Regulation Threatens Immigrant Families

Advocates promise unified resistance, urge massive public opposition

WASHINGTON — The Reuters news agency reported today that the Trump administration is preparing regulations that would allow the federal government to deport lawful permanent residents and other immigrants if they utilize any of an array of public programs aimed at reducing illness, hunger, and poverty.

Current law states that the government may not deport someone just for using public programs for which the person is qualified. Advocates for immigrant families, working families, health, nutrition, economic opportunity, children, older adults, and other communities have pledged to oppose the proposal, which Reuters described as likely to be formally proposed soon by the U.S. Justice Department.

“Our nation is at its strongest when all of us can utilize the food, health, housing, and other resources we need to thrive,” said Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center (NILC). “Immigrants are part of our families, communities, and society and should be allowed to use the programs their tax dollars support without fear of immigration consequences. This leaked proposal is yet another cruel attempt to close the door on new Americans and radically change our legal immigration system by creating a wealth test and doing an end-run around Congress. We are prepared to take Trump to court to defend our communities’ freedom to thrive.”

“The best way to strengthen our country is to strengthen the families who live in it. One-fourth of children in the U.S. today have at least one foreign-born parent, so our future depends on the success of immigrant families,” said Olivia Golden, executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). “We have to stand up against the cruel and harmful policies of this administration that threaten our society, reject our values, and force millions of families to go without the basic needs they need to thrive.”

“Public charge”–based attacks are reportedly a priority for Trump adviser Stephen Miller, architect of the administration’s plan to separate immigrant children from their parents and to jail them. If and when it is proposed, the Justice Department regulation will be subject to a public comment period before it can be finalized and implemented.

A related public charge proposal by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last fall was estimated to potentially affect about 26 million people nationwide. In addition to targeting immigrants with disabilities, who tend to be older and have lower incomes, that proposal would have put applications for admission to the U.S. or applications for a “green card” at risk if an immigrant uses Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or “food stamps”), subsidies for Medicare, or certain types of housing assistance, including Section 8 rent vouchers. The proposal drew more than 266,000 public comments, overwhelmingly in opposition.

The new Justice Department proposal is a companion to the DHS public charge regulation. It expands the impact by putting immigrants at risk, including people with green cards, if they’ve accessed programs that meet basic needs. Though the DHS proposal has not yet been finalized, there are already widespread reports of immigrant families withdrawing from critical health and nutrition programs, including for their U.S. citizen children. Even a proposal to expand the deportation criteria will greatly enhance this chilling effect, causing immediate harm to millions of people.

For more information about community education and efforts to fight back against this pernicious proposed rule, visit www.protectingimmigrantfamilies.org.

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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
3 de mayo de 2019

CONTACTA
National Immigration Law Center (Centro Nacional de Leyes Migratorias): Hayley Burgess, 202-805-0375, [email protected]
Center for Law and Social Policy: Tom Salyers, 202-607-1074, [email protected]

Regla propuesta por Trump amenaza a las familias inmigrantes

Los defensores de los inmigrantes prometen una resistencia unificada, urgen una oposición pública y masiva

WASHINGTON — La agencia de noticias Reuters informó hoy que la administración del presidente Trump está preparando regulaciones que permitirían al gobierno federal deportar a los residentes permanentes legales y otros inmigrantes si utilizan cualquiera de una serie de servicios públicos destinados a reducir las enfermedades, el hambre y la pobreza.

La ley actual establece que el gobierno no puede deportar a alguien solo por el uso de servicios públicos para los cuales la persona es elegible. Los defensores de las familias inmigrantes, de las familias trabajadoras, de la salud, de la nutrición, de las oportunidades económicas, de los niños, de los ancianos y de otras comunidades se han comprometido a oponerse a la propuesta, que, según Reuters, probablemente será propuesta oficialmente muy pronto por el Departamento de Justicia de EE.UU.

“Nuestra nación es más fuerte y saludable cuando todos podemos aprovechar de la comida, de la salud, de la vivienda y de otros recursos que necesitamos para prosperar”, dijo Marielena Hincapié, directora ejecutiva del Centro Nacional de Leyes Migratorias (NILC, por su sigla en ingés). “Los inmigrantes son parte de nuestras familias, de nuestras comunidades y de nuestra sociedad, y se les debe permitir usar los servicios que ellos apoyan con sus impuestos sin temor a las consecuencias de inmigración. Esta propuesta es otro intento cruel de cerrar la puerta a los nuevos americanos y cambiar radicalmente nuestro sistema de inmigración mediante la creación de una prueba de riqueza y con fin de evitar pasar legislación por los canales normales del Congreso. Estamos preparados a demandar a Trump para defender a nuestras comunidades”.

“La mejor manera de fortalecer nuestro país es fortalecer a las familias que viven aquí. Uno de cada cuatro de los niños en los EE.UU. tiene al menos un padre nacido en el extranjero, y por eso nuestro futuro depende del éxito de las familias inmigrantes”, dijo Olivia Golden, directora ejecutiva del Centro para Ley y Política Social (CLASP, por su sigla en inglés). “Tenemos que enfrentarnos a las políticas crueles y dañinas de esta administración que amenazan a nuestra sociedad, rechazan nuestros valores y obligan a millones de familias a vivir sin las cosas básicas que necesitan para prosperar”.

Los ataques basados ​​en la “carga pública” son una prioridad para el asesor de Trump Stephen Miller, arquitecto del plan de la administración para separar a los niños inmigrantes de sus padres y encarcelarlos. Cuando se proponga, el reglamento del Departamento de Justicia estará sujeto a un período de comentarios públicos antes de que se pueda finalizar e implementar.

Se estimó que una propuesta sobre la carga pública relacionada a esta y realizada por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de los EE.UU. (DHS, por su sigla en inglés) el otoño pasado podría afectar a aproximadamente 26 millones de personas en todo el país. Además de dirigirse a los inmigrantes con discapacidades, que tienden a ser mayores y con ingresos más bajos, esa propuesta habría puesto en riesgo las solicitudes de admisión a los EE.UU. o las solicitudes de residencia si un inmigrante usa Medicaid, el Programa de Asistencia de Nutrición Suplementaria (SNAP, por su sigla en inglés, también conocido como “cupones de comida”), subsidios para Medicare o ciertos tipos de asistencia para la vivienda, incluidos los comprobantes de alquiler de la Sección 8. La propuesta atrajo más de 266,000 comentarios públicos, abrumadoramente en oposición.

La nueva propuesta del Departamento de Justicia es un complemento a la regulación de la carga pública del DHS. Expande el impacto al poner en riesgo a los inmigrantes, incluidos a los residentes legales, si han usado servicios que satisfacen necesidades básicas. Aunque la propuesta del DHS aún no se ha finalizado, ya hay informes de familias inmigrantes que se han retirado de servicios críticos de salud y nutrición, incluso para sus hijos ciudadanos de los EE.UU. Una propuesta para ampliar los criterios de deportación incrementará enormemente este efecto escalofriante, causando un daño inmediato a millones de personas.

Para obtener más información para educar a la comunidad y sobre los esfuerzos para luchar contra esta regla perniciosa, visite www.protectingimmigrantfamilies.org.

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