Tag: IMMIGRATION

Two Days Before Arbitrary DACA Renewal Deadline, Tens of Thousands of Dreamers May Be Left Unprotected

October 3, 2017

October 05 is #DACA Renewal Deadline – Trump Administration should extend arbitrary deadline and Congress should move Dream Act forward with renewed urgency=Washington, DC – With just two days remaining before we reach the October 5th DACA renewal deadline affecting more than 150,000 DACA recipients, the Trump Administration seems insistent on keeping the new and artificial … More Two Days Before Arbitrary DACA Renewal Deadline, Tens of Thousands of Dreamers May Be Left Unprotected

Dreamers and Allies Speak Out in Purple and Red States Across America

September 29, 2017

Washington, DC – Across the country, DACA recipients and a broad range of their allies are urging Congress to act quickly to legalize America’s Dreamers. This is happening not only in traditionally Democratic states, but in purple and red states as well, and is quantified in a range of recent polling. Below, we highlight some … More Dreamers and Allies Speak Out in Purple and Red States Across America

FOX News Poll Overwhelming Support for Pathway to Citizenship for Dreamers & Undocumented Immigrants

September 29, 2017

With Trump Disapproval ratings in the HUGE range! Washington, DC  –  A new FOX News poll is the latest in a swell of recent national polls to find overwhelming support from Americans, including Republicans, for Congress passing legislation that puts Dreamers on a path to citizenship.  Some key takeaways: 57% disapprove of the job President … More FOX News Poll Overwhelming Support for Pathway to Citizenship for Dreamers & Undocumented Immigrants

Protesting DONALD’s DUMPING of DACA

September 5, 2017

PLEASE – SIGN Senator Kamala Harris  PETITION BELOW: Via CNN:  The Trump administration on Tuesday formally announced the end of DACA — a program that had protected nearly 800,000 young undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children from deportation. The Department of Homeland Security will stop processing any new applications for the program as … More Protesting DONALD’s DUMPING of DACA

Families Face Unconscionable Deportation

May 23, 2017

CGRS Files Amicus Brief in District Court Case Involving Women and Children Detained at Berks County Family Detention Center in Pennsylvania Case Involving Women and Children Detained at Berks County Family Detention Center in Pennsylvania San Francisco, CA (May 22, 2017) – The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) and pro bono counsel Schnader, Harrison, … More Families Face Unconscionable Deportation

On Passover LA Police Arrest Rabbis Protesting Immigration Persecution

April 14, 2017

On the third day of Passover in downtown Los Angeles, 35 Rabbis, Priests, and Muslim activists — in a coalition of local faith-based groups were arrested for an act of civil disobedience. In protest of the Trump administration’s inhumane efforts to tear immigrant families apart, these leaders physically blocked the entrance to the local detention … More On Passover LA Police Arrest Rabbis Protesting Immigration Persecution

Marin County Resolution for Immigrants

March 22, 2017

With Board of Supervisors  resolution, relationship of trust and respect urged for everyone (County Press Release): Social equity has been a top priority for the County of Marin for many years, and the Board of Supervisors emphasized its importance again after the Marin community expressed concerns about the changing immigration policy in Washington, D.C. At … More Marin County Resolution for Immigrants

Trump Ban Challenged as Refugees Detained by the United States

January 28, 2017

Today the U.S. Government put its ban on Muslim refugees into action by detaining two Iraqis as they landed in the United States. Included is a contractor serving in a trusted position for the U.S. military in Iraq. According to the ACLU, lawyers for the two Iraqis who had been granted visas to enter the United States … More Trump Ban Challenged as Refugees Detained by the United States

Update on Alleged Immigration Raids in the San Francisco Mission

January 27, 2017

Know your rights Today people have expressed concern about possible ICE raids in the Mission, San Francisco . We have been informed that this was not a general  Immigration and Customs  Enforcement raid but a specific search for two individuals. Activists report that ICE agents came to Good Samaritan Apartments in the Mission in San … More Update on Alleged Immigration Raids in the San Francisco Mission

EOIR Final Rule on the Recognition of Organizations and Accreditation of Non-Attorney Representatives

January 11, 2017

Executive Office for Immigration Review Announces Final Rule on the Recognition of Organizations and Accreditation of Non-Attorney Representatives FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced a final rule titled, Recognition of Organizations and Accreditation of Non-Attorney Representatives. This new rule, effective Jan. 18, 2017, amends the regulations governing the … More EOIR Final Rule on the Recognition of Organizations and Accreditation of Non-Attorney Representatives

Immigration Attorney Explains Fears in Trump Land

November 10, 2016

Scroll down for Spanish Translation: By Sasha N. Westerman, November 10, 2016. As we settle into the reality of a Trump Presidency, after a campaign of attacks on immigrants,  many are weighing in on what to expect. Thank you to immigration attorney, Sasha Westerman for this realistic clarification in the following instances: LETTER TO CLIENTS AND … More Immigration Attorney Explains Fears in Trump Land

Lawsuit Filed Seeking Information on ICE Policies for Asylum Seekers

October 20, 2016

San Francisco – The ACLU of Northern California, the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP), the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at UC Hastings College of the Law (CGRS), and pro bono counsel at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila (RSHC) today filed suit against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for refusing to release … More Lawsuit Filed Seeking Information on ICE Policies for Asylum Seekers

U.S. Senator Calls for Investigation into Human Trafficking and Immigration Abuse by Trump Model Agency

September 7, 2016

United States senator, Barbara Boxer, (D-CA) has sent the Department of Homeland Security a letter asking for the immediate investigation of Donald Trump’s modeling agency after an August 30th publication by media outlet, Mother Jones, in which Trump’s company, Trump Model Management,  was accused of trafficking illegal immigrants willing to work as models. Bipartisan Report … More U.S. Senator Calls for Investigation into Human Trafficking and Immigration Abuse by Trump Model Agency

LGBT Asians Deeply Disappointed in U.S. Supreme Court Decision Denying Immigrants’ Rights

June 23, 2016

But is relieved that Court upholds affirmative action Washington, DC – Today, a badly divided U.S. Supreme Court issued a 4-4 decision in the case U.S. v Texas. The decision upholds a lower court’s ruling to block President Obama’s Executive Actions on immigration, which expanded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and created … More LGBT Asians Deeply Disappointed in U.S. Supreme Court Decision Denying Immigrants’ Rights

Hillary Clinton’s Vote for 2007 Immigration Reform Excluded Same-Sex Couples

February 24, 2016

Hillary can bash Bernie for voting against the 2007 immigration bill — a bill that would’ve separated families, left immigrants vulnerable to deportation, and created a new class of exploited workers — if she wants. I would’ve voted against it, too. Despite how wrong it seems on the surface, Bernie did the right thing. He must’ve had his doubts at the time. He must’ve wondered if he was on the right side of justice, or if he’d just buried his long progressive record in politics. Still, that Bernie’s capable of taking an unpopular position for the right reasons says more about him than Hillary would like you to know. … More Hillary Clinton’s Vote for 2007 Immigration Reform Excluded Same-Sex Couples

DHS Immigration Raids Reverse Policy of Deporting Felons, Not Families

January 5, 2016

By Hassan M. Ahmad, Esq, January 05, 2016. The Department of Homeland Security has begun launching raids against undocumented immigrants with recent orders of deportation. This reversal of prioritization shifts DHS’s focus to those who pose the least threat. The planned raids won’t focus on people with criminal backgrounds, or those who are threats to … More DHS Immigration Raids Reverse Policy of Deporting Felons, Not Families

Why Obama has won on the Immigration EO

February 17, 2015

Republicans roll off the Hill, while Democrats traverse Mt. Everest By Melanie Nathan, February 17, 2015. Republicans would be calling the Judge who barred President Obama’s Immigration Executive Orders ‘an activist Judge’ – albeit tit-for-tat – indeed he may be – but did the Judge fall into a trap? Do we really think the appeals … More Why Obama has won on the Immigration EO

NQAPIA Announces New Executive Director

February 2, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, February 02, 2015. The Board of Directors of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) is excited to announce that Glenn D. Magpantay is NQAPIA’s new Executive Director. Glenn has been with NQAPIA since the beginning, as one of the organization’s founders. Since 2009, he has served as NQAPIA’s Co-Director of … More NQAPIA Announces New Executive Director

LGBT Organizations Should Not Criticize Obama’s Immigration Move

November 21, 2014

A Statement on President Obama’s Immigration Announcement November 20, 2014, addressed to the  LGBT community of activists and organizations. By Melanie Nathan, of Private Courts, Inc. Conflict Resolution & Human Rights Advocacy Nathan@privatecourts.com Dear LGBTI Activists, Advocates and Organizations, Now that the dust is settling I want to again applaud President Barack Obama for his … More LGBT Organizations Should Not Criticize Obama’s Immigration Move

Israel Includes Same-Sex Spouses under Law of Return Immigration

August 12, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, August 12 2014, Israel has decided that the law of return includes non-Jewish same sex spouses. Directly form the Haaretz report: The Law of Return, which gives Diaspora Jews and non-Jewish family members the right to immigrate to Israel, also applies to legally married same-sex spouses, Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Tuesday. … More Israel Includes Same-Sex Spouses under Law of Return Immigration

Dangerous Costly Bed Quotas hurts LGBT Detainees

May 12, 2014

Center for American Progress  | RELEASE: New Analysis and Infographics Show the Dangerous and Costly Effects of Detainee Bed Quotas Washington, D.C. — New CAP analysis and infographics detail the dangerous and costly toll of the congressionally mandated bed quota on our immigration system. Beginning in 2009, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or … More Dangerous Costly Bed Quotas hurts LGBT Detainees

Asylum Seekers Sue Obama Administration to End Unjust Long Waits

April 18, 2014

Department of Homeland Security Routinely Violates Laws Requiring Timely Reasonable Fear Interview Posted by Melanie Nathan April 17, 2014 A lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, alleging the government violated the law in thousands of cases, with individuals waiting in detention for many months for a ruling on their … More Asylum Seekers Sue Obama Administration to End Unjust Long Waits

U.S.A. Perpetuates the Criminalization of LGBT Asylum Seekers

January 8, 2014

Shocking revelation as we in the U.S.A. further the persecution LGBT Asylum seekers through systematic recriminalization of those seeking to escape unjust criminalization! By Melanie Nathan, January 08, 2013. Seventy Six countries criminalize homosexuality. Most recently we have focused on, amongst others,  Russia, India, Uganda, Gambia, Cameroon, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, Belize and Nigerian. We  are … More U.S.A. Perpetuates the Criminalization of LGBT Asylum Seekers

100 arrested in mass civil disobedience action for Immigration Reform

September 12, 2013

We Belong Together and allies are turning up the heat in Washington DC! By Cathy Kristofferson, September 12, 2013 As I write this more than 100 women are being arrested in front of the House of Representatives in Washington D.C. They are part of a mass civil disobedience action calling on Congress to pass immigration reform that … More 100 arrested in mass civil disobedience action for Immigration Reform

Cut from 50th Anniversary Dream Defenders want your 2 minutes

August 31, 2013

Our March Campaign Will Not Be Silenced By Cathy Kristofferson, August 30, 2013 At Wednesday’s 50th anniversary March on Washington celebration Dream Defender’s Philip Agnew and United We Dream’s Sofia Campos were denied their opportunity to speak at the last minute. The excuse given?  Officials said they had “run out of time.”  This follows the … More Cut from 50th Anniversary Dream Defenders want your 2 minutes

Challenging gay immigration entry bans in Belize and Trinidad and Tobago

July 17, 2013

By Cathy Kristofferson, July 15, 2013 Maurice Tomlinson, the Jamaican attorney and HIV activist who recently sued three Jamaican TV channels for refusing to broadcast gay positive public service announcements, will be in court again Wednesday. This time for the first hearing of his challenge to the immigration entry bans of both Belize and the Republic of … More Challenging gay immigration entry bans in Belize and Trinidad and Tobago

DEAD WRONG LGBT Publisher Refuses to Tell Binational Story

May 28, 2013

We as a community cannot reject the most vulnerable amongst us | Binational same-sex couples have already paid the heaviest price By Melanie Nathan, May 28, 2013. I started my advocacy work and writing the stories about the horrendous plight of same-sex binational couples back in 2009, when faced with the possible deportation of my … More DEAD WRONG LGBT Publisher Refuses to Tell Binational Story

The Special Rights Battleground of ENDA and Immigration Reform

May 2, 2013

Seems to be exactly where the Religious Right is digging in these days. By Cathy Kristofferson, May 02, 2013. Two legislative initiatives now underway on Capital Hill greatly underscore the fact that it is the Religious Right who is seeking ‘special rights’ not the LGBT community, as we are so often accused.  The Comprehensive Immigration … More The Special Rights Battleground of ENDA and Immigration Reform