Resources
Publication Date
11/09/2020
President Trump has imposed travel restrictions blocking the entry of certain immigrants who are outside the United States and trying to enter. These restrictions last through December 31, 2020. The travel restrictions apply based on type of visa and/or the country where the traveler resides or has spent time in immediately prior to their attempted entry to the United States. The restrictions do not apply to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders). This brief guide outlines which visas and countries are covered by the restrictions.
Resources
Publication Date
10/30/2020
Despite many changes to the DACA program, DACA recipients are currently allowed to travel abroad if they are approved for Advance Parole. This resource provides an overview of the requirements, tips, and considerations for traveling abroad under Advance Parole as a DACA recipient.
Resources
Publication Date
10/16/2020
On July 28, 2020 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a new memorandum that severely limited the DACA program. This announcement has left immigrant youth and allies working tirelessly to inform the community of the new changes and the rights DACA recipients have. This DACA workers' guide, prepared in partnership United We Dream and Texas AFL-CIO, is meant to answer some of the most common questions regarding DACA recipients and their rights in the workplace.
Resources
Publication Date
09/30/2020
For many immigrants, learning what their status is does not come into full scope until they apply for driver’s licenses, financial aid, travel documents, or other benefits that are a part of adulthood’s accompanying responsibilities. Regardless of one’s age, however, it is important that everyone understand the differences between the distinct categories recognized by the federal government so as to be well informed and exercise caution throughout daily life.
Resources
Publication Date
09/30/2020
This community resource is a condensed explainer for anyone with questions about DACA, with a brief overview on who can apply, who can renew, and what the recent USCIS changes to the program mean.
Resources
Publication Date
09/28/2020
With the federal government’s growing and constant threat to immigrants of all statuses, the following is a reminder worth noting: permanent residents, or “green card” holders, continue to have all the same rights. This fact sheet provides information on your rights as well as things to keep in mind if you want to travel outside the United States, have been convicted of a crime, or are eligible to naturalize to become a U.S. citizen.
Resources
Publication Date
09/14/2020
On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued a presidential proclamation cutting off some forms of immigration for 60 days, beginning on April 23, 2020. On June 22, 2020, the president extended this proclamation through December 31, 2020 and added restrictions to other immigrants seeking certain temporary visas. This brief guide addresses what this means, who it will most likely impact, and what it may mean in broader immigration terms.
Resources
Publication Date
09/01/2020
On July 28, 2020 the Department of Homeland Security issued a memorandum severely restricting the DACA program. Despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision fully reinstating the program, the Trump administration has issued another attack on the program. This community alert gives a brief summary of memorandum and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Implementing Guidance issued on August 21, 2020 and what it means for community members.
Resources
Publication Date
09/01/2020
While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on June 18, 2020 should have restored the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in its entirety, a recent announcement by the Trump administration has once again thrown the program and DACA recipients into limbo. This resource goes over frequently asked questions to help orient the community of this new change with DACA program.
Resources
Publication Date
08/20/2020
On March 12, 2020 households began receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census. Because of the pandemic, households now have until September 30, 2020 to complete their responses either online, by paper, or by telephone.
Resources
Publication Date
08/04/2020
These printable resources are practical information and easy steps for the immigrant community to follow when completing the 2020 Census. They are in English and Spanish and include the various ways the census can be submitted.
Resources
Publication Date
07/17/2020
This video details how to complete a DACA renewal application packet by walking through the various forms’ questions to highlight what they mean and focus on areas worth paying close attention to. As always, we highly encourage applicants to seek a consultation with a trusted legal service provider before submitting their packets. Namely this is so applicants can ensure they are submitting their information as accurately as possible and addressing the dimensions of their specific case that may or may not allow them to be eligible for other forms of immigration relief. In this one-hour walkthrough video, the ILRC’s Legal Outreach Coordinator, Abraham Bedoy, dives deep into each form required for a renewal so those taking on their own application packet (forms: I-821D, I-765, I-765WS, G-1145) can follow along to double-check their entries.
Resources
Publication Date
06/18/2020
On June 18, 2020 the U.S. Supreme Court sided with DACA recipients ruling that the way in which the Trump administration rescinded the DACA program in 2017 was unlawful. The decision is a huge victory for immigrant communities and their allies who mobilized to protect the DACA program.
Resources
Publication Date
04/20/2020
The ILRC’s Immigration Preparedness Toolkit is a resource-packed informational document designed to help immigrants with no legal status or in mixed status families begin to understand the immigration legal landscape and plan for their own journey through an ever-changing, complex system in the United States. This free toolkit offers in-depth, yet easily accessible information that outlines the basics about a variety of topics including: your rights during ICE confrontations, the different types of immigration options available, ideas for building your consultation roadmap, and tips on covering your bases while waiting for relief. This 13-page resource also incorporates links to other helpful reference documents, fact sheets, and tools readers can use to construct their own personalized plan.
Resources
Publication Date
04/09/2020
Over the years, various courts throughout the country have agreed that prolonging custody of a person solely based on an ICE detainer request is unlawful for numerous reasons. This practice advisory provides a summary of the court decisions related to ICE detainers and the arguments to challenge localities that continue to detain people for ICE. The cases discussed here illustrate some of the detailed arguments that are developing over what the Fourth Amendment requires and what is authorized or not by federal and state laws.
Resources
Publication Date
04/06/2020
These printable resources are concise handouts that serve as reminders for those in the immigrant community that are anxious about accessing healthcare or getting treatment related to the coronavirus (Covid-19) due to the potential impact on their Public Charge assessment. They are in English and in Spanish and include links to know your rights and locate legal service providers in your area.
Resources
Publication Date
03/23/2020
This guide is for individuals whose DACA expired after September 5, 2016 and are looking to file a “renewal” application in the coming months. The guide includes annotated forms I-821D, I-765 and I-765ws which form a renewal application packet. If an individual’s DACA expired on or before September 5, 2016 or was DACA terminated, they will need to file an application as a “renewal-initial.” This means that extra documentation will be needed in order for the application to be considered complete. That type of application packet is beyond the scope of this guide.
Resources
Publication Date
01/29/2020
This toolkit and webinar from ILRC, CLINIC, and the Center for Constitutional Rights provide and introduction and advice for how immigrant rights advocates can use public records act requests to get information on how immigrants are treated by local and state government agencies. These requests can be an essential part of campaigns to protect immigrant communities.
Resources
Publication Date
09/30/2019
This guide outlines steps DACA renewal applicants can take if their renewal is delayed.
Resources
Publication Date
09/04/2019
It is unlikely U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will carry out immigration enforcement operations at an early childhood education center, childcare facility, or First 5 site. Nonetheless, it is important for facilities to have policies that address the concerns of the parents, families, and communities they serve. Accordingly, the ILRC put together model policies for early childhood education centers, childcare facilities, or First 5 sites in California. The model policies are meant to serve as a menu of options to choose from and adopt as relevant for your specific site. These policies can be incorporated into existing policies and do not need to be adopted in their entirety.
Resources
Publication Date
09/04/2019
As a trusted institution in immigrant families’ lives, childcare providers can play a critical role in ensuring immigrant families have access to important information and resources during these turbulent and scary times. This resource provides ideas for how childcare providers can support immigrant families.
Resources
Publication Date
08/18/2019
Moving Texas Forward: Local Policies Towards Inclusive Justice was created for the many organizations and elected officials in Texas that are struggling to find solutions to disrupt the harmful arrest-to-deportation pipeline. Texas has helped deport more people than any other state. In fiscal year 2017, more than 395,000 people, or 17% of all deportations nationwide, were deported from Texas. Texas’ role in the detention and deportation of immigrants has increased under the Trump administration and will continue to increase because of SB 4. This guide attempts to provide a comprehensive and thorough look at some of the ways advocates, policymakers, and local law enforcement can work together to minimize the arrest-to-deportation pipeline.
Resources
Publication Date
08/08/2019
This community resource explains Freedom City Policies in Austin, Texas, an example of organizers, advocates and community members coming together to fight for the decriminalization of immigrants and communities of color. It gives an overview of the policies, why they were enacted, their impact on the community, individuals’ rights under the policies and actions that may be taken if police officers violate those rights. This information is useful for community members and advocates in Austin, Texas.
Resources
Publication Date
07/11/2019
This community resource provides a brief explanation of the Immigration Court experience. It gives an overview of what happens in Immigration Court, how to confirm information about a case in Immigration Court, and what a person in removal proceedings should do if they do not have an attorney to represent them at an upcoming hearing. This information is useful for community members and advocates working with the immigrant community.
Resources
Publication Date
06/18/2019
It is time that we pass laws to build communities that are healthy and thriving, instead of ones torn apart by criminalization, biased policing, incarceration, and deportation. To secure the full human rights of all members of our communities, we need a new way forward for immigrant justice—one that ends senseless divisions of “good versus bad” immigrants and recognizes that all communities deserve dignity, restoration and repair, not further criminalization. This one-pager explains A New Way Forward campaign.
Resources
Publication Date
06/13/2019
This community alert provides key information about upcoming changes to the fee waiver process, which allows some applicants to submit their immigration applications without having to pay the filing fee if they cannot afford it. In the coming months, one of the easiest and most straightforward ways of proving that you qualify for a fee waiver request will be going away. Find out more information about this upcoming change and submit your application now if you might qualify for a fee waiver!
Resources
Publication Date
05/09/2019
Starting in June 2019, Bexar County and San Antonio will implement "cite and release," a new administrative policy that seeks to reduce arrests. The policy directs law enforcement officers to use their discretion to issue citations for low-level, non-violent offenses.
Resources
Publication Date
04/17/2019
These flyers inform community members of the fact that it is very dangerous for any noncitizen, including a permanent resident, to discuss marijuana use with any official. This is true even if the person used marijuana in their own home and it was legal under the law of their state (because of medical or legalized marijuana state laws). Get legal counsel and get informed!
Resources
Publication Date
04/14/2019
The 287(g) program allows designated local law enforcement officers to enforce civil immigration laws. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the 287(g) program led to more than 7,000 deportations in 2018.
Resources
Publication Date
02/07/2019
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has faced many threats and experienced significant changes since it began in 2012. This toolkit was created to help inform DACA recipients about their rights as well as how other community members can support DACA recipients during these challenging times.