For Immediate Release: February 15, 2018
Contact: Jareyah Bradley, jareyah@balestramedia.com, (908) 242-4822
Available for Comment: Immigration Experts on Congressional Amendments and Senate Floor Immigration Debate
Immigrant Legal Resource Center Able to Discuss Impact of Provisions on Sanctuary Cities, Unaccompanied Minors, Gang Allegations
Today, debate over immigration is continuing in the Senate with members of Congress discussing a solution for the nearly million immigrant youth who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, rescinded by President Trump in September 2017. Reports of the negotiations and amendments under consideration include potential provisions that would slash legal immigration, erode due process protections, and unlawfully punish cities with sanctuary policies that decline to participate in federal immigration enforcement.
Experts from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) are able to speak to the need for a clean DREAM Act, without tradeoffs that further criminalize and marginalize immigrant communities, as well as proposals on the floor and the threats they pose to immigrant communities. ILRC develops comprehensive resources on immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies, provides legal guidance to attorneys, and educates community members and local law enforcement on their legal obligations to immigrant residents. They also offer legal expertise on complex issues related to family immigration, unaccompanied minors, and gang allegations.
The following experts from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center are available for interviews:
- Sameera Hafiz - Senior Policy Strategist who leads ILRC’s advocacy and engagement on federal immigration policy
- Angie Junck - Supervising Attorney who oversees several of ILRC’s programs, with a focus on the intersection of the immigration and criminal legal systems
- Amanda Baran - Consultant to the ILRC and former senior-level official at the Department of Homeland Security
- Rachel Prandini - Immigrant Youth Project Attorney at the ILRC focused on policies affecting the rights of immigrant youth and unaccompanied minors in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems
Related resources from the ILRC:
Vote No on the Secure and Succeed Act of 2018: Analysis of how this proposal would give the federal government license to criminalize and marginalize immigrant communities through racial profiling while slashing legal immigration options for children and others fleeing persecution and violence.
Vote No on the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act (Heller 1954): Analysis of how the Heller amendment would codify the demonization and criminalization of immigrant youth by eroding due process protections, stripping away legal immigration benefits from entire communities, and exacerbating family separations.
Vote No on the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (Toomey 1948): Analysis of how this amendment would attack local communities that prioritize constitutional policing practices and building trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. (Available by request.)
Report: The Rise of Sanctuary (with interactive map): Resource that shows the significance of sanctuary, sanctuary protections on the rise and local policy tools to increase and strengthen them in the face of mounting attacks from the Trump Administration.
Policy Brief and Case Examples: Meaningfully Addressing Gang Violence: Brief on flawed gang databases, the immigration consequences arising from allegations of gang affiliation, and problems with current legislative proposals.
Policy Brief: Reject Kate’s Law and The Further Criminalization of Immigrants: Brief on proposals to expand criminal penalties for illegal entry, which is already over-prosecuted and harshly punished.
For interviews with attorneys and experts at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, please contact Jareyah Bradley at jareyah@balestramedia.com or (908) 242-4822.
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The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policymakers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC’s mission is to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities. www.ilrc.org