Category Archives: News Releases

NILC Statement on Negotiations to Trade Anti-Immigrant Restrictions for Foreign Aid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Juan Gastelum, 213-375-3149
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on Negotiations to Trade Anti-Immigrant Restrictions for Foreign Aid

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Biden administration is entertaining Republican demands for more extreme anti-immigrant policies—such as proposals to expand fast-tracked deportations nationwide, undermine asylum law, and curtail temporary immigrant protections—in a foreign aid bill:

“The willingness of the White House to sacrifice vulnerable people is simply unacceptable. We call on congressional champions to stand up and do the right thing. Senate Democrats must reject these extreme anti-immigrant proposals, and instead work toward sensible solutions that live up to our legal and moral commitments to welcome those seeking safety.”

###

NILC Statement Condemning Anti-Immigrant Texas Bill SB 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Juan Gastelum, 213-375-3149
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement Condemning Anti-Immigrant Texas Bill SB 4

AUSTIN, Texas — Lisa Graybill, vice president of law and policy at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the passage of Texas Senate Bill 4:

“SB 4 is the latest attempt by Texas legislators to take federal immigration law into their own hands for personal political gain through hatemongering and intimidation. Both the politics and the law behind this bill are dead wrong. Texas law enforcement officers should focus on protecting the health, welfare, and safety of all community members instead of trying to become the immigration police. This bill will have real human consequences that all Texas residents will feel. It is an extreme bill that will endanger communities and lead to racial profiling of both immigrants and U.S.-born residents.

“Federal courts, including the Supreme Court, have consistently held that the federal government has the sole authority to regulate immigration policy. The Texas Legislature is wrong to have passed it, and Governor Abbott will be wrong if he signs it. We call on Texas to abandon this cruel, illegal scheme and recognize that immigrants make Texas and our nation stronger.”

###

NILC Statement on Reports that Biden Admin is Negotiating Changes to Asylum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Juan Gastelum, 213-375-3149
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on Reports that Biden Admin is Negotiating Changes to Asylum

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Biden administration is considering sweeping changes to the U.S. asylum system in negotiations with Congress around aid to Israel and Ukraine:

“The appalling proposals the White House is reportedly considering would decimate critical asylum protections precisely when they’re most needed. Together with other abhorrent actions happening at our borders on his watch, these sweeping changes would further betray President Biden’s previously articulated commitment to bring humanity and order to our systems to welcome people seeking safety. The United States’ commitment to help those facing crises around the world must also extend to those seeking safety at our doorstep. We urge the administration to reject linking the decimation of our legal asylum system with providing aid to Ukraine and Israel.”

###

NILC Statement on District Court Ruling Against DACA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279

NILC Statement on District Court Ruling Against DACA

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to a ruling from U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas finding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) unlawful:

“While expected, today’s court ruling is devastating. It impacts hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth and their loved ones, who have already endured years of uncertainty stemming from politicized attacks on DACA. Congress has failed to pass a permanent legislative solution, and it is urgent that they act now. We cannot allow court rulings to continue to upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth whose home is here. We demand that Congress pass a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and immigrant youth.”

###

Lawsuit Claims Indiana Law Discriminates Based on National Origin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2023

CONTACT
Juan Gastelum, National Immigration Law Center, 213-375-3149, [email protected]
Ariella Sult, ACLU of Indiana, 317-759-6425, [email protected]

Lawsuit Claims Indiana Law Discriminates Based on National Origin

ACLU of Indiana and National Immigration Law Center File Lawsuit against H.E.A. 1050

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of five Haitian immigrants who want to obtain an Indiana driver’s license or identification card.

The federal government may temporarily admit a noncitizen to the United States “for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit,” under “humanitarian parole.” In recent years the federal government has authorized the entry of noncitizens from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua due to humanitarian crises in those countries.

H.E.A. 1050 is a new Indiana law, passed during the 2023 legislative session, that creates a pathway for individuals on humanitarian parole to obtain Indiana driver’s licenses or identification cards, but only if they are from Ukraine.

People on humanitarian parole from other countries could also benefit from being allowed to drive or obtain state-issued identification. The plaintiffs in the case, for example, are authorized to work in the United States, all hold steady jobs, and have to rely on others for rides to work. According to the complaint, the ability to drive is of fundamental importance in American society, particularly in cities and towns in Indiana where services are frequently dispersed and where public transportation is not always accessible.

The lawsuit claims that by allowing individuals from Ukraine to obtain an I.D. but not permitting the same opportunity to Haitian refugees, H.E.A. 1050 represents national-origin discrimination.

The lawsuit claims that the new law is an unconstitutional violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, that it is preempted by federal law as a result of the Supremacy Clause, and that it violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d, et seq.

“Our clients are being denied access to state issue IDs solely because they are Haitians and not Ukrainians,” said Gavin M. Rose, ACLU of Indiana senior attorney. “Non-Ukrainians on humanitarian parole are left struggling to get to work, to keep medical appointments, to take children to school, and more, all because they cannot drive.”

“The federal government regulates immigration- not the states,” said Chiraayu Gosrani, an attorney with NILC. “The State of Indiana cannot create immigration classifications that conflict with federal law, and here they have done just that in an effort to unconstitutionally discriminate against people with humanitarian protections who are overwhelmingly immigrants of color.”

The complaint can be viewed at: https://www.aclu-in.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/dkt_1_-_complaint_no_exhs.pdf

###

NILC Launches “Freedom to Thrive” Portrait Pop Ups Across the Country

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

The National Immigration Law Center Launches “Freedom to Thrive” Portrait Pop Ups Across the Country

WASHINGTON — Today, The National Immigration Law Center launches their “Freedom to Thrive” portrait sessions starting in California, with Tennessee and Texas sessions planned later this year.

The Freedom to Thrive initiative is a narrative and cultural campaign to shift the hearts and minds of the American public and create lasting change that enables all of us to thrive. At the event, community members in Long Beach will share their stories and pose for their portraits as we explore what it means to thrive through storytelling. These portrait sessions will capture the vibrancy and resilience of immigrant communities and examples of what it means to have the Freedom to Thrive in the United States. These sessions aim to show the American public that we all deserve a society where we can pursue our dreams, engage in meaningful work, and live with joy, dignity, and love.

Victoria Ballesteros, Executive Vice President of Strategic Communications and Narrative at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement:

“The freedom to thrive belongs to us all. The portrait pop up in Long Beach, California, will be a celebration of the diversity and dignity of immigrant communities. Each of us has a story in our pursuit of joy, love, and the American dream. Yet, the reality of our present version of the American dream has prioritized individualism and the accumulation of wealth. Through this project we hope to infuse in the public consciousness a vision of freedom that is rooted in abundance and centers our interconnectedness and our human dignity, no matter how much money we have, what we look like, or where we were born.”

###

NILC Welcomes Eric Ha to its Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Welcomes Eric Ha to its Board of Directors

WASHINGTON — The National Immigration Law Center today announced the addition of Eric Ha, the Chief Administrative Officer at the International Justice Mission, to the NILC board of directors.

“NILC is honored to welcome Eric Ha to its board,” said Kica Matos, NILC’s president. “Eric’s commitment to protecting communities from violence and abuses of power is harmonious with NILC’s work to ensure that we build a 21st century immigration system where all of us, no matter how much money we have, what we look like, or where we were born, have the freedom to thrive.”

“NILC’s work to advance equity and dignity for all, regardless of immigration status, has long been an inspiration,” said Eric Ha. “As a member of NILC’s board, I look forward to continuing to advocate for and advance the rights of the millions of immigrants and their loved ones who call the U.S. home.”

Eric Ha serves as International Justice Mission’s Chief Administrative Officer and is responsible for ensuring strong, effective executive leadership and strategic management of the IJM global enterprise. Ha leads the Executive Office and manages the operations of IJM’s Global Leadership Team. Prior to this role, he served in several other executive leadership positions at IJM, including as Chief Risk Officer and General Counsel.

Before joining IJM, Ha spent nearly a decade at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago where he managed large-scale commercial litigation, provided regulatory and strategic counseling, and conducted internal investigations. Prior to joining Sidley, he served as Advisory Counsel in IJM’s Chennai field office where he worked on cases to rescue victims of forced labor slavery and human trafficking. He also taught constitutional law at the University of Miami School of Law and served as a federal law clerk to the Honorable Jorge A. Solis, Chief Judge of the Northern District of Texas.

Ha earned a B.A. with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was a Public Interest Law Initiative Fellow.

###

NILC Statement on Court Order Blocking Biden Admin’s Asylum Restrictions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on Court Order Blocking Biden Admin’s Asylum Restrictions

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California’s order that is set to block President Biden’s asylum restrictions:

“The federal court’s decision validates what’s been evident for months – that the Biden administration’s attacks on the U.S. asylum system are unlawful and immoral. Seeking safety on U.S. soil is a legal and human right, and the Biden administration should never have imposed these cruel restrictions in the first place.

“The Biden administration must abandon its inhumane and illegal efforts to obstruct asylum access and instead reaffirm the President’s repeated promises to welcome people seeking safety with dignity.”

###

NILC Statement on the Supreme Court Decision in Affirmative Action Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on the Supreme Court Decision in Affirmative Action Case

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action programs in the cases Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admission v. University of North Carolina:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision on affirmative action undermines nearly 50 years of progress in the fight against systemic barriers to education for students of color. While we are appalled with this outcome, NILC is resolute in our commitment to continue working alongside our communities for a more just and equitable society in which all of us can access a quality education. We are all better off when every person in our communities can access the tools and supports we need to thrive.”

###

New Data Underscores Urgency of Lifting DACA Recipients’ Exclusion from Health Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279

New Data Underscores Urgency of Lifting DACA Recipients’ Exclusion from Health Programs

As Biden administration weighs policy changes, data shows inequities persist

WASHINGTON — A report published today by the National Immigration Law Center shows that recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), who are currently excluded from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), are disproportionately uninsured and face significant health disparities. The report comes as the Biden administration prepares to reverse the exclusion that has kept DACA recipients from accessing public health coverage.

Under DACA, immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and meet other requirements can access temporary protection from deportation along with work authorization. DACA recipients are considered lawfully present. However, in 2012, DACA recipients were excluded from public insurance programs otherwise available to other lawfully present immigrants.

Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, said: “Our health is interconnected, and a community’s health depends on all residents having access to care. DACA recipients contribute daily to the success of this country but have been unjustly denied accessible and affordable insurance options. The data in this report underlines the clear need to lift these barriers as soon as possible. We welcome the Biden administration’s steps toward addressing this injustice. It is imperative that administration act deliberately to finalize its proposed rule so DACA recipients can access the health care they need as soon as possible.”

This report analyzes findings from a 2022 survey of over 800 DACA recipients, administered by Tom K. Wong of the University of California, San Diego, United We Dream, the National Immigration Law Center, and the Center for American Progress. Topline findings include:

27 percent indicated they are not covered by any kind of health insurance or other health care plan.

71 percent reported they or a family member had been unable to pay medical bills or expenses.

57 percent of uninsured respondents believe they face barriers to affordable health care coverage due to their immigration status.

51 percent of uninsured respondents are not aware of any affordable care or coverage options available to them.

This is the second annual report by NILC tracking DACA recipients’ access to health care. This year’s report, released during Mental Health Awareness Month, includes new data on DACA recipients’ access to mental health care. Nearly half (48 percent) of respondents who indicated they have experienced mental or behavioral health issues say that they are not receiving counseling, therapy, or psychiatric services from a mental health professional. Within this group, 56 percent report that costs are too expensive, 47 percent report lack of time to access care, and 34 percent report inability to find a mental health care provider who meets their cultural or language needs.

The report highlights the urgency of removing the barriers that prevent many DACA recipients from being able to access affordable care, and notes that the Biden administration’s rule is a first step. The report includes additional policy and legislative recommendations, including that Congress must pass a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and immigrant youth.

To view the full survey results, visit this link.

###

111